I'm on my way
1 week ago
I’ve budgeted, I’m making more than minimum payments, and I’m looking forward to the day debt is behind me.
People who have done this
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How to pay off all my debt
It made me
relieved
 "I paid off all the debt I had let other people acumulate on my behalf."
How I did it: When I started my new job, I immediately had my bank transfer a portion (about 10%) to savings. Then, I looked at what I HAD to pay on bills (debt-based) every month. I also looked at anywhere where I could be a little leaner. I found I had to pay several hundred dollars a month in minimum payments and had about a hundred left over. I then divided the total over the weeks in a month. I set up automatic bill pay for each debt and broke the amount up to pay a little on each bill every WEEK. As I paid things off, I used the money from the paid bill and sent it to another bill. I paid off almost 6000 in debt in 42 days (6 weeks). Lessons & tips: Its ok to start small. Even if you pay $10 per week to each bill, you are doing something. It also helps if there is a month you would have trouble paying a bill-you are usually ahead, so the company doesn't require a payment. The money is much more manageable when you are dealing with such small amounts at a time. Resources: Bank Automatic Bill Pay. I personally use SunTrust and they are GREAT! |
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More "How I Did It" stories
It made me
Peaceful
How I did it: It was not easy. I locked up all my credit cards! Literally. Did not buy anything that was not an absolute necessity. Set up a budget for paying them all off. Paid off the higher interest cards first, paying just a little over the minimum amount on the other cards and a few hundred bucks every couple of weeks on the higher-interest ones. Once the higher interest ones were paid, I took the money I was paying on them and put it on the next-… Read how I did it…
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
rvmc We love because it is the only true adventure.
Bank loan
4 weeks ago
is gone. Student loan with IRD is gone. Now there’s just Studylink student loan and the loan to Dad. Getting there. Keep positive…
kikimasu is back to posting on her journal instead of in this public place.
Exciting that the end is in sight!
2 months ago
I got my free credit reports this past week and everything is spotless. I now have two credit cards and some student debt left to pay. The total is about $16k. Even with my trip next month, I should be below 15k by the end of the year. Of course, as soon as I get it down a little lower, I’m looking into grad school, which means more debt unless I can get a job at the college first. We’ll see how it goes. But at least I can THINK about grad school now. I wasn’t willing to go with all the debt already looming over my head so I’ve been putting it off. Now it feels like time to start studying for the GRE. Yay!
rvmc We love because it is the only true adventure.
Getting there.
3 months ago
Two years ago debt was about $20k.
As of today it’s $14k.
In a month it will be $12k.
By June next year it will be paid off.
I’m making regular fortnightly payments, and also saving up what I can for lump sum payments.
I can’t wait to be debt free. I can taste it.
kikimasu is back to posting on her journal instead of in this public place.
Ahead of schedule!
3 months ago
Two of my debts were wiped clean unexpectedly, which means I’m already below my $20000 goal for the end of the year. We’ll see how much more I can knock off by December. Very exciting! Of course, I’m taking a trip in October, which will accrue a little debt, but I’m trying to be smart about it so it won’t set me back too much.
Ameliarator had fun make a pillow fort with her daughter!
YAY!!!
4 months ago
10,000 (Husband’s credit card)
14,500 (Student loans)
6,500 (credit card)
31,000 dollars left to go
31,000/45,000: Amount paid off 14,000 dollars already!!!
I won some money and we put it all towards bills! I never ever gamble… but I put a dollar in a machine cause i was waiting for my friend to finish her game! Lucky!
Ameliarator had fun make a pillow fort with her daughter!
Yay for income tax
5 months ago
We filed our income taxes and got some cash back. We used it all to pay off 3/4 credit cards. Now we still have 2 loans out (10,000); 2 student loans (22,500); and the last credit card (6,800)
So 38,500 dollars left to go.
But that’s 38500/45000 So for the first year of paying off our bills, we have done pretty well.
We will have 12,500 paid off by Christmas.
Then we will be down to 26,500… YAYS!
Debt is driving me crazy!!
6 months ago
So, I’m 21 years old and approx $23,000.00 in debt with NOTHING to show for it. I just can’t help buying clothes, food, books, etc. I think I’m addicted to spending money. I am DESPERATE to pay my debt because I would like to quit working full time and go to university.
No one knows I’m in debt because I hide it from my family and friends, I hate feeling guilty.
I really do lack self-control and discipline.
Any suggestions? My debt is controlling my life!
BrittaP03 It is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
2 more things
6 months ago
paid off last week—and the amount on my student loan keeps getting less!
kikimasu is back to posting on her journal instead of in this public place.
So far so good
8 months ago
After college I was about $60,000 in debt with credit cards that were charging me 29% interest. I thought I would NEVER get out of debt.
Three years ago I was at about $40,000 in debt with better interest rates and a better job.
Now I’m at about $29,000 with very low interest rates and the best job I’ve had so far. It finally seems like the end may be in sight! If I continue to pay at the rate I’m paying now, I should be able to knock $9000 of this off this year. I’m also not adding any new debt, which is definitely helpful (not as helpful as winning the lottery, but we do what we can).
