become debt free

1. Not creating more debt
2. Saving in advance for purchases

I want to know what it feels like to have money coming in and not have to send it all out on stuff I’ve already done, used, experienced, etc.

I’m pretty stoked that I decided to split the budget so that both of us can become responsible for our own expenditure.
So the first month is up and I’ve stuck to my payment plan which puts 41.23% of my wage on debt. I am pretty proud of that – putting away $1684.00 in my first month! It’s tough, but not rediculously tough .. I can sustain it. At this rate, I will be complete by April 15th 2011 :|

My job was on the chopping block. I was not reappointed in my county. My administration listed various reasons, one of them being they felt I was better suited to middle school, not high school. I really enjoyed high school though, I felt like I connected more with students and was able to impart knowledge to them. Self doubts surface when someone tells you that you aren’t cutting it. My students all expressed their disbelief and I do have some contacts set so that they can keep in touch. I’m not sure if I’m staying here as jobs are so scarce. I am trying to get back in, but most of the jobs they’re hiring for my subject area are in high school and I don’t know if they’d take a chance on me. I hate these feelings of not knowing. I do not like being in this state of confusion and just NOT knowing.

Good note though, my debt is less than half what it was when I came back from Seattle, WA. My car is in the last year of repayment, my credit cards are down, even my student loan is down too! I feel really good looking at all that. I paid ahead my year of car insurance so that’s a plus. I do have some money saved up for my summer and I guess now until I get another job. I am taking July off though-my nieces are coming over and I want to enjoy them.

Don’t feel too over confident where you are. Do your best and strive. I made the mistake of feeling like I was doing great, when administration obviously didn’t feel the same way. I’m not saying to kiss butt per say, but jeez, if it helps-do it! I am doing a lot of that now and really praying for a teaching job. I don’t know. I’ll post again when I do hopefully.

I grew up soo poor lived in desperate situations. I dont want that trend to continue through out my life. i want to decide how to eliminate debt from my life…to be honest its so out of control, the ultamate answer may be bankruptcy…i could declare all but my school debt…I guess this is step one…

I have taken this step in order to look at my debt clearly without any illusions about how much I owe. Trying to work out a budget.

Mailled Jo the budget today – hopefully she reads it this time, and CUTS UP the credit card. I’ve been living for a while without a backup now and it can be done. If you don’t have the money for it – YOU CAN’T AFFORD it.

I think I’ve set up a realistic budget I just have to work on getting the percentage of salary going on debt to be higher. Currently: 35.39% and 41.42% ... together: 39.79%

Credit Card 2 is successfully paid off!
Now onto Credit Card 1. I thought we would have paid more of this off this month, but unfortunately not. Still aiming for Oct. 26th for a payoff though.

Financial issues all around USA and world are just really coming home to roost inside my continually changing brain.

I see the crisis and feel compelled to point out what about the people who are doing right? Who are paying bills on time, and extra, etc.? It seems wrong to help out those who got themselves in the fix, when the housing market was buy buy buy. I know this is harsh but it feels like we’re rewarding those who make mistakes, instead of letting them learn from them. The whole mess with AIG should show what a mistake giving money/bailout is for many people. I think AIG should give back all the bonus money they’re talking of getting and take serious pay cuts.

This has really been a new reality here in my city and county. We are high in unemployment and supposedly the city south of us, Port Saint Lucie has been quoted as being the hardest city to get a job in, if not Saint Lucie county being the hardest county to get a job in. There is a thirty million dollar budget cut in education next year, and as the end of May nears, I wonder if I will have a job. I’ve heard so many rumors of how they are going to cut people and also on top of that extra, as they anticipate an even bigger number of budget cuts by then. It is a scary time to be working, with the possibility of your job being on the chopping block.

I’ve been working still on cutting down credit card debt, but it seems like I’ll make progress and then an emergency or disaster strikes. I still hope to have a credit card or two paid off, but majorly now I’m working on cutting down balances and NOT putting anything else on them. If I don’t have the money, I shouldn’t get it. Very basic, very simple and oh so hard to stick with.

Credit Card 2 is going to be paid off by April 15th. We have a large portion to put towards the cards this month and instead of separating it between the two will pay the min. on the larger card and pay off the smaller. Then onto Card 1. It is hard to leave a large balance on Card 1, but I already feel relieved at the thought of having Card 2 paid off.
Here we go Debt Snowball!!!