Debt Dumpers - 2015

[Dentam]

So... it's cold and snowing here today. Plenty of time to obsess over my debt. I'm thinking of taking out a personal loan from the local credit union to consolidate the balances on my cc's that charge interest. I'd keep the balances on the two cards that have 0% interest rates. Thoughts? I know I'll need to compare the interest rate offered by the credit union for the loan against my current interest rates on the cards.

 

[nevamichelle]

Hi everyone! I just started stalking this thread last night (so excited to see it) and skimmed through tons of the pages. I love that there is a place that holds us all accountable and to discuss the ups and downs of getting out of debt!

I have been wanting to do the Dave Ramsey FPU program for a while and finally bought the home study kit. My husband agreed to do it with me (with him being a firefighter, he doesnt have a set schedule where we can go to the classes), so hopefully we can both be on the same page soon for the start of the new years.

Also, I read on some earlier pages about people getting some part time jobs. Here's an idea if some of yall are artistic... I work day hours for a property mgmt company, but I also work part time for a Paint 'n Sip studio as an art instructor. In case you don't know what that is, you get to eat, drink, and be merry with friends while we teach you how to paint a picture for beginners. It's tons of fun! I have an art background, but majored in something else in school so you don't have to have an art degree. Just be outgoing, not afraid to teach crowds of 4-45 people and know how to paint. I get paid $18 an hour and the 2-4 week nights I work, I'm there from usually 6:15-9:30ish, give or take an hour or two if I'm teaching a longer class. I also work a few classes over the weekend. Just an idea if you want something that you don't need training or a degree for, but also want better than minimum wage I bring home about $1400 a month from working part time there. So look up a place near you if you're interested!

 

[gracie1]

Murphy strikes again. Took the minivan in for an oil change and it needs tires, brakes and some coolant flush thing. $1500. It's all safety stuff, so needs doing now. Not sure why we keep needing tires on this car, have been buying every two years and they are always saying they're wearing out, even with rotations. We have two more years left paying for the other car (we always do this so we only have one car payment) but at this point not sure it will last that long. It's a 2004, close to 200k miles and we're starting to get to that point where each repair is $$$$. Sigh. I said to DH I'll have to start a car repair fund in addition to all the other funds I have going. Pretty soon, all our paycheck will be one big fund and nothing else!

Ugh.. I feel for you! Car repairs are never cheap. I need to have about $1500 of work on my car as well. It was diagnosed in May of this past year and I just wanted to get through till the new year and so far so good! The thing is - the quote I got from Goodyear I was curious about so I called the dealership and they gave me the same price! So I will probably take it to the dealer. My next oil change I will have them diagnos everything and see.

 

[gracie1]

So how is every one doing with their Christmas shopping? I believe I am done - I mean I have to be done!! I love shopping for gifts!!

 

[Angeejoe]

Hi everyone! I just started stalking this thread last night (so excited to see it) and skimmed through tons of the pages. I love that there is a place that holds us all accountable and to discuss the ups and downs of getting out of debt!

I have been wanting to do the Dave Ramsey FPU program for a while and finally bought the home study kit. My husband agreed to do it with me (with him being a firefighter, he doesnt have a set schedule where we can go to the classes), so hopefully we can both be on the same page soon for the start of the new years.

Also, I read on some earlier pages about people getting some part time jobs. Here's an idea if some of yall are artistic... I work day hours for a property mgmt company, but I also work part time for a Paint 'n Sip studio as an art instructor. In case you don't know what that is, you get to eat, drink, and be merry with friends while we teach you how to paint a picture for beginners. It's tons of fun! I have an art background, but majored in something else in school so you don't have to have an art degree. Just be outgoing, not afraid to teach crowds of 4-45 people and know how to paint. I get paid $18 an hour and the 2-4 week nights I work, I'm there from usually 6:15-9:30ish, give or take an hour or two if I'm teaching a longer class. I also work a few classes over the weekend. Just an idea if you want something that you don't need training or a degree for, but also want better than minimum wage I bring home about $1400 a month from working part time there. So look up a place near you if you're interested!

I've going to a painting class like that before, it was fun!

 

[Dentam]

I checked the credit union's website and it doesn't look like the interest rate for a personal loan will be small enough to make it worth doing. My highest interest rate card should be paid off in March luckily and it has a lower balance so I'm paying about $20 in interest a month on it now. I'm going to call my other two cards that are charging interest and see if they'll lower my interest rates on those. Apparently if you have a perfect history of paying on time (which I do) they will often do this. Worth asking!

 

[bababear_50]

I checked the credit union's website and it doesn't look like the interest rate for a personal loan will be small enough to make it worth doing. My highest interest rate card should be paid off in March luckily and it has a lower balance so I'm paying about $20 in interest a month on it now. I'm going to call my other two cards that are charging interest and see if they'll lower my interest rates on those. Apparently if you have a perfect history of paying on time (which I do) they will often do this. Worth asking!

I checked into doing a credit card debt consolidation loan at my credit union and I was surprised that I was better of transferring everything to my "no frills" visa.
I am hoping to have it paid off by April 2016,,,,,if Murphy doesn't strike again--just got hit with a new washing machine,,yep right before Christmas.

 

[bababear_50]

So how is every one doing with their Christmas shopping? I believe I am done - I mean I have to be done!! I love shopping for gifts!!

Hi Gracie
I keep on thinking I'm done then I remember someone or something else. I think I need to make a final list and stick to it. I also love shopping for gifts, but I need to stop trying to "equal' everything out because the way it looks I am going to be one of the first members of the 2016 Debt Dumpers Thread.
Hugs to you and happy "budget shopping"
Mel

 

[bababear_50]

Murphy 2
My car oil change just cost 235.00 because the "serpentine belt" needed replacing.
I did hmmm and haw and then the guy said "you know this controls your power steering and you could just loose all power steering" ---nothing like scaring a already nervous winter driver here.
OK I do not need any more "Murphys" for awhile.
Hugs Mel

 

[gracie1]

Murphy 2
My car oil change just cost 235.00 because the "serpentine belt" needed replacing.
I did hmmm and haw and then the guy said "you know this controls your power steering and you could just loose all power steering" ---nothing like scaring a already nervous winter driver here.
OK I do not need any more "Murphys" for awhile.
Hugs Mel

Yes - I had the serpentine belt break on my last car - good grief was that horrible! You definitely loose the power steering!! I still drove it to the mechanic but that was a work out!!

 

[gracie1]

Hi everyone! I just started stalking this thread last night (so excited to see it) and skimmed through tons of the pages. I love that there is a place that holds us all accountable and to discuss the ups and downs of getting out of debt!

I have been wanting to do the Dave Ramsey FPU program for a while and finally bought the home study kit. My husband agreed to do it with me (with him being a firefighter, he doesnt have a set schedule where we can go to the classes), so hopefully we can both be on the same page soon for the start of the new years.

Also, I read on some earlier pages about people getting some part time jobs. Here's an idea if some of yall are artistic... I work day hours for a property mgmt company, but I also work part time for a Paint 'n Sip studio as an art instructor. In case you don't know what that is, you get to eat, drink, and be merry with friends while we teach you how to paint a picture for beginners. It's tons of fun! I have an art background, but majored in something else in school so you don't have to have an art degree. Just be outgoing, not afraid to teach crowds of 4-45 people and know how to paint. I get paid $18 an hour and the 2-4 week nights I work, I'm there from usually 6:15-9:30ish, give or take an hour or two if I'm teaching a longer class. I also work a few classes over the weekend. Just an idea if you want something that you don't need training or a degree for, but also want better than minimum wage I bring home about $1400 a month from working part time there. So look up a place near you if you're interested!

Welcome!! Feel free to post away with us! The best part about this group is we're not judge mental!! I believe this is the third year of this thread so you could go back to the other years if you have time and want to check things out! We all come on here to vent, get ideas and advice and celebrate our successes! We're glad to have you!!!

 

[dayvewc]

Welcome!! Feel free to post away with us! The best part about this group is we're not judge mental!! I believe this is the third year of this thread so you could go back to the other years if you have time and want to check things out! We all come on here to vent, get ideas and advice and celebrate our successes! We're glad to have you!!!

Oh, I'm not so sure about this. I would judge that several of us (me first!!!) are quite mental.

 

[Gena001]

I teach high school, and actually have been tasked with creating a (much too short in my opinion) series of lessons for our Juniors and Seniors. It will be done during our "Career Action Plan (CAP)" classes, and needs to last no more than 5 days (in the shortened class period of CAP, so about 150 minutes total).

I keep running into the problem of there is just TOO MUCH stuff to include that I think they need to know. I pretty much know that I want to include:

• Banking accounts
  • Checking
  • Saving
  • Credit Cards
  • Retirement
    • IRA's
    • 401(k)
• Payment accounts
  • Mortgage
  • Car payments vs. lease
  • Furniture and large appliances
• Budgeting
• Insurance
  • Life
  • Medical
    • Major medical vs supplementary
  • Home / renters
  • Auto

On all of these things, I think they should see and know how to fill out applications, be able to read and understand all the fine print, be able to calculate real ongoing costs, etc. Feel free to add anything else you think should be included. lol. This is what I'll spend my Christmas break doing.

The state of Missouri has a required Personal Finance test that all high schoolers must take and pass to graduate. You can take the semester long class or you can try to test out. There are a couple of other classes that overlap, but even if you take those, you still need to pass the end of course test. Most kids, I think, take it their sophomore year.

 

[Gena001]

Murphy strikes again. Took the minivan in for an oil change and it needs tires, brakes and some coolant flush thing. $1500. It's all safety stuff, so needs doing now. Not sure why we keep needing tires on this car, have been buying every two years and they are always saying they're wearing out, even with rotations. We have two more years left paying for the other car (we always do this so we only have one car payment) but at this point not sure it will last that long. It's a 2004, close to 200k miles and we're starting to get to that point where each repair is $$$$. Sigh. I said to DH I'll have to start a car repair fund in addition to all the other funds I have going. Pretty soon, all our paycheck will be one big fund and nothing else!

Eureka - I understand you completely! My van is a '94 w/ 215k miles on it. We got it in 2004 as it neared 100k miles. I think the tired were new when we got it, then I do know we did a new set in January 2008...I put one the next set in October 2012 and they are still looking good. I was only driving 9 miles to work and did most of my shopping on way home, etc. Not a lot of extra trips. I now work 15 miles from home (for the last couple years), but my hubby swears by the tires we get from Sam's Club... In fact, we don't usually have a membership, just buy it when we need to get tires. I'll look at the tires tomorrow and send you a note. As much as we love the performance of a soft compound tire, it doesn't make sense on my 'ol van.

 

[Gena001]

So... it's cold and snowing here today. Plenty of time to obsess over my debt. I'm thinking of taking out a personal loan from the local credit union to consolidate the balances on my cc's that charge interest. I'd keep the balances on the two cards that have 0% interest rates. Thoughts? I know I'll need to compare the interest rate offered by the credit union for the loan against my current interest rates on the cards.

Cold and snowing... funny how different it can be. Here in the midwest we just set a record high temp of 72! The last few days we're all running around in shorts, but next week we'll be bundled up & taking cold medicine - I bet!

 

[Eureka]

Cold and snowing... funny how different it can be. Here in the midwest we just set a record high temp of 72! The last few days we're all running around in shorts, but next week we'll be bundled up & taking cold medicine - I bet!

DC area was 70 yesterday! Unusual, but I'll take it!

 

[Eureka]

Eureka - I understand you completely! My van is a '94 w/ 215k miles on it. We got it in 2004 as it neared 100k miles. I think the tired were new when we got it, then I do know we did a new set in January 2008...I put one the next set in October 2012 and they are still looking good. I was only driving 9 miles to work and did most of my shopping on way home, etc. Not a lot of extra trips. I now work 15 miles from home (for the last couple years), but my hubby swears by the tires we get from Sam's Club... In fact, we don't usually have a membership, just buy it when we need to get tires. I'll look at the tires tomorrow and send you a note. As much as we love the performance of a soft compound tire, it doesn't make sense on my 'ol van.

Thanks...the place we go to is a Goodyear place, so they definitely know tires.

 

[bcwife76]

Murphy strikes again. Took the minivan in for an oil change and it needs tires, brakes and some coolant flush thing. $1500. It's all safety stuff, so needs doing now. Not sure why we keep needing tires on this car, have been buying every two years and they are always saying they're wearing out, even with rotations. We have two more years left paying for the other car (we always do this so we only have one car payment) but at this point not sure it will last that long. It's a 2004, close to 200k miles and we're starting to get to that point where each repair is $$$$. Sigh. I said to DH I'll have to start a car repair fund in addition to all the other funds I have going. Pretty soon, all our paycheck will be one big fund and nothing else!

Ugh, car repairs are the worst The car I primarily drive is a 2013 so at this point it's only oil changes and basic upkeep (although 2 months ago we did have an issue that needed to be taken care of and it was under warranty so $0 for us). The car dh drives mostly is a 2003 and has over 260,000kms on it (so close to 200,000 miles). He's quite handy so does a lot of the repairs himself but of course there's stuff he can't do. This year alone we've sunk over $1200 into it. We need it to last a bit longer though as we really don't need two monthly car payments!

So how is every one doing with their Christmas shopping? I believe I am done - I mean I have to be done!! I love shopping for gifts!!

Almost done! Have spent a bit less this year than last. Only have one or two more gifts to get, some stocking stuffers and that's about it!

 

[gracie1]

Ugh, car repairs are the worst The car I primarily drive is a 2013 so at this point it's only oil changes and basic upkeep (although 2 months ago we did have an issue that needed to be taken care of and it was under warranty so $0 for us). The car dh drives mostly is a 2003 and has over 260,000kms on it (so close to 200,000 miles). He's quite handy so does a lot of the repairs himself but of course there's stuff he can't do. This year alone we've sunk over $1200 into it. We need it to last a bit longer though as we really don't need two monthly car payments!



Almost done! Have spent a bit less this year than last. Only have one or two more gifts to get, some stocking stuffers and that's about it!

My car is a 2002 - and I refuse a car payment right now - lol!! I look at it if I only have to sink some money every couple years in it I'm happy. Last year I put on new tires and also had some work done so it was costly! This year nothing but next year will be round about $1500 - probably less. So I'm happy about that - plus with the age you have to get things replaced because their just wore out!

 

[dayvewc]

So, I had a six-month check up with my doctor the other day (it was all good).

When I went in to the clinic, the receptionist told me that I had a balance on my account. (I knew this).

I explained that I had been juggling paying down all the different medical bills as money was deposited onto my HSA account each month from my check. She said that if I would bring in a check stub, she would see if they could get a reduction on some of my bill. I told her that I was willing to bring in a check stub, but I didn't think I could get a reduction as I was fairly certain I made too much to qualify for any assistance.

She looked at me and said "bring in your checkstub. I can find a way to get it reduced."

They have my check-stub now. Just waiting to hear back from her. Fingers crossed.