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I Need to be here!
| Tue, 02-07-2006 - 8:39am |
Hi everyone. I am a long time lurker, occasional poster here who really needs to get serious about some debt.
| Tue, 02-07-2006 - 8:39am |
Hi everyone. I am a long time lurker, occasional poster here who really needs to get serious about some debt.
I just wanted to pop in with a word of encouragement. I too, wasdebt, drawn to your story. I have problem with books as well, and find it very difficult to pass up a good book. I have a few suggestions.
1. Go to your library. We have a standing Sat morning date at the Library. The kids and I go, and I get my book fix. Get to know your librarian, she is a huge help to me, she orders books for me all the time. Also, get a bag and hang it ona doorknob, thisi s the library bag, and as soon as you are done with them the library books need to go back in the bag. This way they are alway ready to take back, and you can avoid nasty fees. The other thing I have done was tell people I would like books as gifts, in this past year I have gotten several books, and a couple gift cards when I normal would of recieved soemthing I probably wouldn't have enjoyed as much. I couldn't go cold turkey from my books, so I had to find something that worked for me.
2. Do your best to pay your minimums. Get things current, and then try and stay up to date. I had a period of at least a year, where all I did was manafe to stay current, and not acquire any new debt before I was able to start to pay things off.
3. Look for ways to cut back on expenses. We were able to cut back on several things, we went a basic dial up internet service, saving $ 40 a month. No cable, no satellitte, saving $ 75 a month. Changed cell phone plan to couple plan, both our phones now cost less than one did before.
4. I was REALLY embarassed by my debt as well, so much so that I tneded to just stick my head in the sand and ignore the problem. DSG is a great place to come and talk, and grt support, opinions, ideas. Don't worry we've all been there!!! Come post....you'll feel better, I promise!! (LOL!) For me learning I wasn't the only one struggling with these issues was a huge eye opener for me.....
Hi Kel - thanks for posting!
All my best,
Danni
Hi there! Great to see you posting again. :-D
I'm a big book lover also. Do you have a library anywhere close to where you live? If so, maybe you could use that for your books. Maybe make a once-a-week trip to the library and get several titles. Enough to last you for a week, depending on how quickly you usually finish a book. Bring your daughter along too! Most libraries have a children's section with a special reading area and maybe some puzzles or small toys to play with. Check if your library offers children's videos. If they do, tell your daughter she can pick out a few movies to take home for the week. It's cheap and an inexpensive way to entertain her (and you and Dh) on a rainy day/weekend. :-D That might save you some money, and sometimes it's just fun to get out of the house, especially during these cold winter months. :-D
No need to feel embarrassed posting here. We're all in the same situation, and we do understand the stress. :-D
Congrats on coming up with a payment plan for your cards! That's great that you're planning and budgeting ahead like that.
Pat :-D
I'm fairly new here too. The ladies are all wonderful. I too am a book lover, while my library is out of the way and I don't have much time to read books any more my co-workers and I often exchange books we own when we read something we like. Also a co-worker goes to the library because it is near her home and they let her take paperbacks without checking them out, it goes on the honor system, so she'll take 10 paperbacks to read and pass on 2 or 3 when she is done for me to read. When I return them she takes them back to the library. Luckily we all have similar tastes in books. I also have a soft spot for cookbooks, I see one and I want it, but it doesn't fit my budget too often. Recently I wandered into a thrift shop on my lunch hour, for less than $10 (my lunch money for the day) I bought 8 books, 2 cookbooks that sold for $25-$30 new I paid $2 for, some of the others were 25c-$1. I felt good buying them for cash and getting such a deal. Maybe if you set a budget for books you want to add to your permanent collection you can try the thrift stores or used book stores, just make a budget and stick to it. Best of luck with your debt reduction, you can do it and this board is a great source of support and inspiration.
Pam
Proud sister of a Marine:
thanks so much for the warm welcome everyone! You are all so sweet. It is great to have a place where you can really open up.
Thanks for the book habit suggestions! I actually do have a library near by and my daughter and I go there every saturday. (last week they have a book sale! They actually still sell books at ten cents each! I got 9.....yeah, i know i said no new books, but these weren't new and it was ninety cents. ) Our library has a pretty good selection actually and I always find something. I don't know why I am so tempted by new books, there is just something about seeing my book case all full of new shiny unread books.
Thanks for sharing your experiences...
I'm a book fiend as well, but I don't really want to tie much of my money up in books I'll only read once. So, I buy used -- good website is alibris.com or use the library. I'm in a book discussion group, doesn't cost much, nothing if you use a library copy and you get to talk about books! Great fun! Maybe you can start one up with friends instead of going to B&N for entertainment. I know I have to stay outa that place! And the craft store--that's MY personal downfall zone.
I buy one hardback per month from zooba.com for $10, mainly for gifts. I can usually find some good titles, esp. children's books in garage sales, too. Happy reading!
If I could, I'd buy and operate a bookstore!
momsacupcake
Oh, I have a suggestion! Have you heard of Bookcrossing.com? This always sounded so fun to me but I don't have time really. You basically go in search of books that people have left in public places and/or 'release' your own books out into the world and then everyone can track the book's travels on the website. Thought maybe this would be a fun way to learn about new authors/books without spending time in the danger zone of B&N. Their site seems to be really slllooowww today but maybe it's just a weird thing today.
Peg