Being in control makes such a difference

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2004
Being in control makes such a difference
13
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 9:26am
Up until 3 months ago, I never paid cash for anything. With the credit card companies offering all of these incentives to use the cards, I always rationalized it in my mind that I would pay off the balance shortly, and with the cash back on certain cards, and the coupons I would recieve, I would actually come out ahead...Of course, in order for you to really benefit from those cash back offers, etc, you have to actually pay off the bill every month, although that became impossible as the debt became out of control over the years. It got to the point where I wouldnt even shop at places that didnt take credit cards, as I never carried cash...3 months ago, my husbands job security became VERY shaky, and I had to face reality....I sat down and figured out all of my expenses, ordered all 3 of my credit reports, and seriously started figuring out how to straighten out the mess I made....I was very fortunate that citibank offerred me a 0% balance transfer, no fee through the life of the loan...I couldnt believe it. So I paid off the citibank card, (using another credit card balance transfer)so it had a 0 balance (otherwise I would be paying the interest on prior purchases till the new offer was paid off), I moved all of my cc balances over, (including the original citibank debt) AND our 2 car loans, I cut up all of my credit cards except the citibank one and 1 other for emergencies (which is never in my pocketbook), and started paying cash for everything (with the very small amount of cash that I have budgeted myself every month). I also switched car insurance companies, and got rid of things that we had gotten used to but didnt really need...milk delivery, extra cable channels, the gardener, etc. We have stopped eating out and ordering in 3-4 times a week. I began buying things in bulk at the grocery store and going through all of the circulars that came to the house for groceries, and stopping at 2-3 grocery stores every 2 weeks or so. We dont eat meat for dinner every night anymore, and I have become very creative with leftovers. I figure at this rate, we should be out of debt in 4 years or so (not including the mortgage).

What I didnt realize was how much my thinking would change. I used to go into stores like walmart and just toss things in the cart without even thinking. Now, I go through all of these questions in my mind with each and every thing I pick up in any store (even grocery stores)...Do I really need this, do I have something like this at home already, do I have enough cash on me? Instead of spending 100.00 or more at walmart, I find myself spending less then 15 or 20...and I dont feel guilty afterwards. Before, I would always have this nagging guilt in my head as I was walking around stores, but it was very easy to put it out of my mind with that "rush" I would get as I was shopping. I am also working on getting 6 months worth of expenses in our savings account, so I dont have to be sick to my stomach in case something happens to affect hubbys job. I am sleeping better at night, and I dont hate going to the mailbox anymore....I really believe the hardest part was actually facing all of the bills head on, and working on fixing the mess...Now that I have a direction to go, life is so much sweeter.

~Dawn

Great survey site that really does pay cash

http://www.surveysavvy.com/?id=1517115

 

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Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 10:32am
Good job!!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 2:06pm
That's awesome.

Good for you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 2:53pm
What an inspiration you are! I was in the exact same boat 14 months ago. Now I live life exactly like you described. We don't eat out all the time. I cook at home. I clip coupons. We will be debt free in 3 years and I know I will NEVER dig myself - and my family - in to that hole again.

Thanks for having the guts to confront your situation and for sharing it with us.

Carley
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 3:03pm
Your change in habits and success are inspirational. If we all think about it all of us can have shaky job situations and visits from "Murphy". You made good decisions to get things under control before the worst happened.

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2004
Wed, 09-15-2004 - 6:29pm
To be perfectly honest, up until a few months ago, I had my head buried in the sand....It was so easy to ignore the whole thing then to confront it. But I also feel that due to all of the changes we made, we will finally be in total control of our lives....If hubby really wants to leave his job for another-either here or in another state, we will be able to do it if we want to. After the scare we had a few months ago, we felt so helpless...It is such a scary feeling thinking that we may lose everything we have worked so hard for, especially if it doesnt have to be that way.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2004
Thu, 09-16-2004 - 2:54pm
Thanks for posting that! Glad to hear how well things are going for you!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 1:28pm
Are you a member of the surveysavvy? What do they pay per survey?
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 2:36pm
Hi. They pay anywhere from 5.00-75.00 per survey. The only problem Ive noted is that they dont send surveys very often, but when they do, they pay like they say they will-many other survey places I've dealt with never pay you. .


http://www.surveysavvy.com/?id=1517115

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 4:27pm
Thanks. I sure don't want to give out info, s s number ect... to the wrong person. Of course anyone looking in/at my bank acct would feel sorry for me and maybe deposit some money in there for me!!! About how many surveys do you do a month? Thanks. donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-23-2004
Mon, 09-20-2004 - 7:47pm
Hi. They didnt ask me for my SS number...So far I did 1, and when I requested a check, they sent it very quickly...

 

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