Feeling pensive

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2006
Feeling pensive
16
Tue, 02-17-2009 - 11:31am

I am finding it hard to be motivated today. I am a bit distracted by the state of our finances right now. We will be able to pay down some of our credit card debt ($4,000 out of $20,000) with our tax refund but not as much as I had hoped. To be honest I am not sure what our best plan is for paying down the rest of it since our budget is literally to the dime every month. I know it will work itself out in time; it always does. Till then it will be snowflaking small flakes where we can.


The bigger concern is that sooner or later we are going to need a new car; it is just a matter of which one is going to die first. In order to take on a new car payment we will almost certainly have to defer one of our student loans. Again, I am not sure what the best approach is but I have faith that it will work out. Absolute worst case scenario is we can live with one car. It makes getting to work a hassle for me; but a doable hassle.


Are we living a little above our means right now? We were but it comes with buying a house I suppose. Should we have kept our credit spending a little more in check? Of course, especially around eating out I am sure. I guess this is our way of feeling the economic downturn, and now it is time for us to love our new home, stay in more and save everywhere we can. We are both very lucky to have our jobs and I do feel glad that we have some money in savings. It’s not a lot but it helps me sleep at night.


So nothing drastic, nothing major just life...one day at a time....


The good news? It is sunny out and I can see the grass (and not snow) at the field across the street from my office!)

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2007
In reply to: smoochdog
Tue, 02-17-2009 - 7:38pm

{{{HUGS}}} Michelle.


Some days things seem more frustrating than others, don't they?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
In reply to: smoochdog
Wed, 02-18-2009 - 8:52am

"debt fatigue"


Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
In reply to: smoochdog
Wed, 02-18-2009 - 9:59am

Teresa I agree completely with what you are saying. At the beginning it was easy to throw money at this thing because I could find it by cutting back, cancelling things etc etc. Now its hurry up and wait. I try to have something each pay that I can send to the CC's but often, its only


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
In reply to: smoochdog
Wed, 02-18-2009 - 10:45am

:)


I think I am "feeling the pain" more right now because the last debt I have is to my parents.

Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
In reply to: smoochdog
Wed, 02-18-2009 - 11:59am

Thats a great idea! A snowflake fund!! I like that!!!


I meant to mention in my first post, one of the things I have started doing now that I can't control the money situation as much as normal (as in I just stare waiting for the numbers to magically change rather rather then figuring out new things to sell etc. etc.) is try to take control of other parts of my life that I have also let slip, namely my health.


You may remember in some previous posts that I gained a heck of a lot of weight over the holiday. I also was sick 3 times requiring time off work (thank heavens for sick days), got two cold sores (they only ever come out when I am stressed, tired and run down) and was in general feeling blah. Now that I don't focus as much time and energy on the debt, I can start working on me again. I created an exercise plan, committed to my first goal (10k in


Bex -

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-25-2003
In reply to: smoochdog
Wed, 02-18-2009 - 12:00pm

oooh...yes, I too think the numbers will change if I stare at them long enough. Or if I punch them into the calculator in a slightly different way.

Pages