pay off credit card debt by september 2007

i’m in a bit of a crunch right now. i am using all of my savings to get myself started at the argyle (if i get in!) and won’t be able to effectively start paying down debt until october of this year. while it’s not bad to wait that long (b/c i like the idea of four $300 payments to pay off the cut up target card!) i won’t make this goal by march 2007. i am going to reshift this goal. i am going to reshift the focus of this goal completely.

Former title was get out of debt by march 2007

and apparently i was declined because of loan mispayments that were supposed to be wiped completely from my credit report.

i’m upset about it. i will continue to pay as i am, working the debt down on my own, but i am concerned about my ability to pay it off by my march 2007 deadline.

i know i could go to any chase bank and apply, but for some reason i feel i should go back to the chase bank i originally applied at and reapply there. that means i cannot apply until tomorrow. i mean, that’s totally okay b/c i have wait this long already.

also, as i continue to pay down debt, even at small amounts that won’t get me out of debt completely, i am able to cut down how much i ask for with the loan.

i had 33 for insurance, 44 for 401k and another 40 for taxes taken out. it felt pretty hefty when i took it all in. however, when i pull out of my kelly insurance at the end of the month it should all equal out… just keep that in mind.

weekly insurance removed = bi-weekly insurance AND 401k

today i have $250 in cash stowed away. i don’t know what to do with it. i am unhealthily attached to some of my friend’s possessions and i want to break that. i also need new work clothes. i also want to pay off debt. i also want a bed frame.

i’m so confused as to which course of action to pursue. i’ll likely sit on it until i get this week’s tips and work through the whole dilemma again.

when i first separated i went to the bank to ask about a loan. they said that my credit was fine for it, but b/c i had been doing full time volunteer work for a year and had no work history to substantiate my ability to pay back the loan.

i think now, with the experience at both jobs i have the financial backing to go through with it. wouldn’t that be exciting? from four recurring debts to one!

i would like to continue to make larger payments to my cards and pay them off, but now i need to save for the india trip. i will have to make just minimum payments until july. i guess that’s just two months – really not too bad in the long run.

considering moving to smaller apartment in october, as money saving option. want to stay downtown, b/c the west side, although better for the money, just isn’t appealing.

approx 2450 a month
855 rent
200 car (until 900 paid off – maybe with time off for india savings)
274.40 school loan
70 electric
70 gas (auto)
67 insurance
180 tithe
100 savings
61 phone
35 dsl
that leaves approx 500 for groceries and credit cards
...

what about a loan? I could pay off my two personal loans and my credit cards and only have one monthly payment.

i paid off the balance due and then they refunded me a huge finance charge. now i have negative fourteen bucks credit.

i wonder if i’ll ever get that money back, or if it’s just a ploy for me to use it!

with the taxes sent in it’s just a quick matter of time before a chunk of this is taken care of.

Ten year old college credit card: paid off with tax return
store credit card from 1998: approx 1,400 high interest
it pays to credit card: approx 2,500 moderately high interest

i think that it’s going to be minimum to it pays to and then three to four hundred on store card to get it paid off by june. then roll that over to it pays to and done by late winter. once the car gets paid off i can move that two hundred over as well.

i didn’t mind keeping the cards in the divorce. and i’m excited that each of the cards are down. the tax return will complete wipe out a card and then it’s just a few hundred a month on each till they’re clean. i think it’s going to be done before year end.

i can’t believe i’m doing it. no more credit card debt.