OK I'm obsessed...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
OK I'm obsessed...
15
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 7:00pm

OK I think I'm obsessed with debt. I have spent so much of the last few days running numbers, setting up spreadsheets, reading this and other boards and just thinking about our debt and what to do. I don't mean this in a desperation "What are we going to do" way, but more of a being excited to be working on it way. I'm obsessed!!! LOL

Anyone else feel like that?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2003
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 7:11pm

Oh, yes, absolutely!! I have my binder full of budget sheets and bank account info and I constantly play with the numbers to see if I can squeeze any more $$ out to pay off debt. :-) I also pre-plan (on paper) what to do with extra income we bring in (dh's moonlighting, my babysitting, eBay sales, etc.).

Generally, I think it's a good thing, but every now and then my dh thinks it stresses me out too much and takes my binder away, LOL!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 7:26pm
Yes, I am so bad when it comes to that; or good, depending on your perspective. I go over my budget pretty much every day, I check my bank balance, go over deposits, withdrawals, look for ways to cut corners constantly. It drives me crazy, but I feel better when I do this. I feel like I need to be on top of things at all times. I think this comes from living paycheck to paycheck in the past and never having enough money to go around, and now that I am making more money, I want to make sure that I'm in good enough shape that I don't have to stress, even though I STILL STRESS! stupid, I know. But I am hoping one day, I can lighten up and be in a position not to worry so much. I hope that day is soon because I am driving myself nuts!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 9:26pm


Oh yeah, it's become like a new "hobby" to me. LOL! It's just that it's such a big goal that I want to acheive, and I love how just the journey towards being debt-free makes me feel. I love checking out books from the library and searching internet sites for money-saving tips and making notes in a little notebook for ideas to look into.

Pat

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 10:25pm
Yes lol I'm also going to get wrinkles and high blood pressure from so much worrying about this obsession. I just want my debt to go away. lol
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
Sat, 01-15-2005 - 11:35pm

ITA. I am constantly checking our accounts online, looking at quicken, running what if scenarios with our debt reduction planner, etc. Yesterday was payday and DH and I went grocery shopping today. After each stop, i would quickly balance the checkbook and announce "Okay, we have this much to make to the next payday. Will that be enough?, No wild shopping sprees allowed." I about drove DH insane. At least this way he can't say he didn't know how much we had! After announcing it all day long, he was ready to put tape over my mouth just so he didn't have to hear how much we had left LOL. I must say, he is a very patient husband. Money is all I want to talk about and he feels as long as he knows how much we have, he is happy. He even calls before taking money out of an ATM or asks before he buys so much as gas for his car or even a candy bar! How many people can say their spouse is like that?

Another part of my obsession is checking here several times a day and reading the posts. I also come to this board before I go shopping, even to the grocery store, just for a reality check as to what I need to do to banish debt from my life forever!

Kellie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Sun, 01-16-2005 - 8:28am

I check my balances everyday and try to get creative with saving money, too. I think if this is stemming from enthusiasm and positive thinking, this is good. I am having a hard time getting my numbers down, but I'm not out of control with spending. I think we need to be excited and energized and know that we can resolve this debt issue, and that we also must know we all have our own styles of approaching it....so what may seem like negative obbession to another may be the right apprach for someone else.....This debt journey takes time, and we need to do what we think is the best way for ourselves to work on it and stay on our paths.

Littlesbigs

Avatar for gidgetgirl
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 10:04am

Yep, I hear you!!! DH and I just had a "State of the Financial Household" address- LOL! It went really well and I'm really excited. We found areas where we are BOTH falling down, he complimented me and said I'm doing well with our finances (organization, paying, budgeting, etc.)

We're bummed that it will be a few more years before the non-house debt is paid off- we have about $24k to go, but we'll get there, and get organized house-wise and enjoy frugal life in the meantime.

Gidget

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2004
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 2:12pm

I feel obessed too!

On the days I work at my PT job I bring my whole binder with me and update it and mull it over and over (the PT job has A LOT of down time). All the other days I have my "disc" with me which is a disc of all my spreadsheets that I pop in at work and home if I have time and again update and mull it over some more.

I call the telebank system and check for cleared checks a couple times a week and then go over my checkbook to make sure I haven't made any errors. I check my bills the day after their cycle ends for what the interest was and the new balances and due dates, etc... then of course I go back and update my disc and binder some more :o)~

It's quite a cycle but it's also the one that is going to get me debt free some day :o)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2004
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 2:43pm
I am laughing so hard right now after reading all of those responses, the all fit me to a T! I know I am obsessed with my debt and watching it get smaller. I actually love it when I send in a payment, no matter how small. My boyfriend couldn't believe it when I told him that some months I will send in as many as 8 payments to one card! He thinks I'm nuts! :)
~leanne

~leanne

deciding to be happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect, but that you had decided to look beyond the imp

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
Mon, 01-17-2005 - 2:48pm

Me too!

I check numbers every day, try to figure out new ways to save, and am on this board every day. I am determined though, that this time we will get out of debt completely.

Being a little bit obsessed is probably a good thing, because if I just let things be, then I fall back into the old ways, where I only pay the bills once a month, and don't really pay attention to how high the credit cards get. Now I have spreadsheets, so it's impossible to avoid.

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