I feel like "will it ever end??"

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-1999
I feel like "will it ever end??"
2
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 4:24pm
I've gotten out of debt...and I've been carefully using my credit card and paying the bill for ages.

I've just got so many expenses and I feel like when will it ever end? It's one thing after the other...food, gas, car insurance, bill for car inspection, something's wrong with the engine in the car, bought flowers on the weekend (yeah, I know), Automobile Assn. membership, would like to buy a few new clothes since all my clothes are so old, I NEED new glasses, dentist, you name it...I would like to buy a three month gym membership and pay for a couple of fitness classes...I took out the cash for the classes but I spent it...shoe repair, Avon (yeah, I know).

I've been charging it. I'm starting to sink. It's depressing. I'm still adjusting to being single after 7+ years. It's different, that's for sure.

Anyway, I CAN take the money out of my savings to cover the credit card bill, I just desperately don't want to. I think I have enough left from this paycheque combined with my paycheque next Friday to cover the September statement balance, but it will still take what's left of my paycheque on the 31st to pay off what I've since charged....my mum said to just take the money out of my savings and start again...but I am worried that if I do that I might slip back into my old habits. I put my birthday money in the savings account and I sort of feel like if I took the money out it would be spending my birthday money on bills...I just don't want to slip back into my old habits.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Tue, 10-05-2004 - 4:41pm
The fact you don't want to slip into old habits means you can do this. You can. If you feel more comfortable leaving the money in savings, leave it. I think that sounds good. That way you have to feel the pain of having the extra money come from your paycheck to pay the credit card bill. If it hurts, you will feel better when it is paid off. I think I've had so many problems because I've always found an easy way to get out of debt. When I was younger my mom would pay it off, then I floundered for years with horribly high credit card balances, and when my marriage ended we sold our house and got enough to pay the credit cards off. So what did I do? Even knowing better, I charged, justified purchases that were more want than need. But it's okay. I'm going to pay them off and one of these days prove to myself (not anyone else) that I can keep them paid off. You can do it too.

My weakness is always Target, Walmart, and KMart. If I go to any of them, I will spend money on things I didn't know I needed... and all if it out of my budget. I recently when over everything I spent from Jan-Aug and I've spent thousands at those stores, and that is what I put on my debit card, and I know I've charged a lot too. Some of it is stuff I need, clothes for my daughter and things, but I know a lot of it is wasteful. All little stuff that adds up to a whole lot. I just can't go in those stores any more.

I was thinking, because I have a plan to get credit cards paid off by next June, that I hate it will take that long, but if I don't stop using them, it will take even longer. I thought, I can stop. I don't have to keep charging. I have scaled back so much, no cable, second guessing my purchases and putting stuff back, I can do just a little more. I really need some more clothes, but I can wait. One pair of pants next pay check, one sweater the next. That is how I should be doing it.

Ok, I just rambled all over this reply. But I feel better. I hope you do too.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2003
Wed, 10-06-2004 - 4:19pm
Not sure if this is comfort, but you don't have to feel like you're alone. I just sat and added the bills I need to pay next week, and they came to over $500. Of course, it's typical that's about what my pay packet will be for next week (if I get my reimbursed expenses!) and it will leave me with $20 in the bank and I have zero food in the house - I mean zero! This means that I will probably pull money out of savings and use the amount available on the credit card for the week. I do get paid weekly, and have a commission check coming on the 15th. I have no clue what the amount will be, and since it's processed at corporate - no one here can tell me. Thank god it's a commission + paycheck because my mortgage is due the next day! I can luckily drop the check at the credit union that day to be processed.

I have about $28.00 till Friday, and I have to buy a client lunch tomorrow so that's over $20 gone - leaving me about $5.00. I have v. little gas in my car, and I have to pick my client up. I know I have zero money for the weekend, and have not been able to complete the transcription which should help me with some bills. I also hope I have calculated my account correctly. I can't afford for a check not to clear and I have 3 out there at the moment. I might find that I pay less on my electric and cell, and try to pay in full the following month, but it's just such a terrible game of catch up. I wasn't expecting the $50 for the leak under my kitchen sink, or the $80 for the dry wall work. That's $130 I hadn't budgeted for and I've already used up my brand new line of credit. I have to meet clients for lunch and go to luncheons that I have to pay for up front. One next week is $20 - I'm going to have to ask for a check for that one. I just maxed up my other credit card paying for a lunch at a business function for Friday as well.

I'm going to have to let my BF know that I'm seriously broke for the weekend. We pretty much split meal prices, but we eat out all weekend long since he has a big appetite and we never cook or eat out cheap. He always wants to eat really well and it's costly. It's going to be Ragu for me tonight and I'll get the pizza at the luncheon tomorrow because it's huge and gives me dinner for that night! How I'll eat next week - we'll see, but I realise I'm meeting someone for lunch on Monday too, again business related. I could go on and on like this, and I'm glad to do it here rather than hve my poor BF hear about it all.

It will end, you have to have faith it will. I believe that I can work hard enough to earn $$$ to pay it down and enough control with my spending that it doesn't become worse.