pay off credit cards

I made my final payment today! Whoo-hoo! Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Hooray! This is a good thing :D.

This is the month where I’ll pay off my last credit card. Woo-hoo! I pay it out of check 2. I got my first check of the month last week. I owe less than $140 in credit card debt at this point. I think I’ll take myself to Texas de Brazil to celebrate. Why not? I’ve been throwing that bit of money to credit card companies up until this point.

I mailed in my final payment on a credit card this morning. Yea, hooray!

And, I did cancel AmeriPlan so they should not bill me next month.

Only one card to go….

Tomorrow, I will mail a check that brings my lowest credit card balance down to $180-ish. My economic stimulus posted today and half of it is going towards that blasted card. It felt so good to write a decent-sized check to wash away the debt.

Still, it’ll take June & July’s budgeted amounts to take care of the balance. Progress made is progress though, eh. July—that means that I really, really, really need to cancel AmeriPlan (health discount plan) before then so it’ll stop being charged to my card.

Oh. And July is better than October (though it’s not my June goal :/).

And may I say—this increased cost of living sucks!

=)

I just updated my budget for the 2008 year. It’ll change slightly in another month or so once my raise is applied but by very, very little. I plan to change my cell plan with the difference. Big effin deal, right? Anyhow, my hope was to save a lot early in the year and move some of that money into debt payoff beginning April. Well, a few categories weren’t included in my budget Jan-March but are very important to me (health kinds of things). The biggest difference is I now have to pay my part for company health insurance (better than being uninsured). After struggling with my numbers for over a hour, I’m now paying the same amount towards debt that I was previously paying—8.59% of my income, not my preferred 10%+. That leaves me with about $460 in credit card debt even if interest was not added (at year end). I’m praying for generous tax returns, remembering the economic stimulus payment, and trusting for financial blessings and breaks to get rid of my credit card debt this year. I’m disappointed. Looking at the facts, it’ll be october when i pay off my next card. :/

I’ve drafted a budget for Jan- March. I’m paying $100 on my lowest balance ($135 total). I want to focus on increasing my savings those first few months of the year. By April or May, I should be able to pay $175-$200 on my lowest balance. I still need to consider transfering some or all of my debt to a no interest credit card. 2008 is a new year. Maybe I want to make some different decisions.

I feel like some kind of cheater because I’m paying less on credit cards for November & December… because of Christmas gifts. Also, I’m saving to have some repairs done on my car. It’s almost time to reevaluate my level of debt and I’m scared.

• I am not using credit to purchase gifts this holiday season.
• I’m taking a few months to save to pay for car repairs. This is a responsible action.

I mailed in my final payment citibank payment last weekend. Yea for progress!

I was drafting my 2008 budget the other day, which caused me to look at my remaining debt. I really think that I can pay off my other two cards. It won’t be the easiest thing ever, but it’s feasible. Just sharing.

I received my latest bill for that card I plan to pay off this year—486.06. I pay $68.75 a month and I plan to be done before Jan??? That’s a lofty goal. 68.75*4 (Sept. – Dec.)= 275. That’s 211.06 left, plus interest (another $20 max).

okay, I’m breathing. Spending less on food will give me another $80, bringing the balance to 131.06. The $150 from savings can cover that. okay. It’s possible. I’ll make it (but darn, I can’t use the Dec. pymt for Christmas gifts b/c I’m still going to have that payment! I tell my clients they can relax with their debt pymt money for a month or two if they finish paying a balance at the end of the year. I don’t want them increasing their debt to borrow for presents.).