Dave Ramsey support thread - October 2011

[ravenhart]

Hi - I'm new to this thread.

I'm starting at pre-step 1. I had a budget for last month and working on November's this week.

We don't have cc debt nor a mortgage but do have a
1. stupid loan
2. furniture loan - did pay off 1 piece last week - 3 more to go
3. medical
4. past stupid debt

We also don't have an EF started so once I get past prestep1 I will have to get started on it.

[cody82414]

Hi - I'm new to this thread.

I'm starting at pre-step 1. I had a budget for last month and working on November's this week.

We don't have cc debt nor a mortgage but do have a
1. stupid loan
2. furniture loan - did pay off 1 piece last week - 3 more to go
3. medical
4. past stupid debt

We also don't have an EF started so once I get past prestep1 I will have to get started on it.

Welcome!!

[KmmCo]

Okay, so I did a bad thing the other night and charged some gas ($40) because I didn't have any cash with me and I didn't want to be caught short on gas with the snowstorm coming in. Not quite the right direction on the credit card ....

When I get paid this weekend, I am gonna schedule my credit card payment +$40 for the gas.

Guilty, guilty, guilty of doing a bad thing ....At least, I am very aware of my spending now and realizing how that pattern of whipping out the credit card got me in my financial mess in the first place! (I really wish I didn't have to keep a card on me at all, but work dictates that I have one for any travel emergencies that come up. It kind of makes me think about if someone in AA had to carry a bottle around with them all the time ... the temptation is just always too close for comfort ...)

On the good side, I just saw my mortage balance dropped below a certain amount that was making me a bit uncomfortable (because I know I was upside down on the house I live in). At least that is going in the right direction. The credit cards are shrinking, just not as quickly as I would like. I guess I am impatient for the debt to be gone completely!!!

[cody82414]

I guess I am impatient for the debt to be gone completely!!!

I think that most of us feel this way or have felt it at some point.

baby steps, baby steps

[Spanelli8706]

I think that most of us feel this way or have felt it at some point.

baby steps, baby steps

Yep, I completely agree with Cody.

[na99ers]

Yep, I completely agree with Cody.

agreed as well, but i think the journey is the most important lesson...after battling debt for so long you are much less likely to pick a fight with it again

[My3sons]

charged some gas ($40) because I didn't have any cash with me

Here's what I just did recently and I don't know why I didn't do it earlier.

I used to whip out my credit card if I couldn't find my debit card. (Sometimes the debit card was it in a different compartment in my wallet, floating loosely in the bottom of my purse or in the washing machine at home.)

I opened a separate checking account with its own debit card and put $150 in the account. That way I was able to take the credit card out of my wallet and have the new debit card in case an emergency arose or if I just couldn't find my darned other card.

I know you said you had to keep the credit card with you for work, but this might help with buying small necessities when you don't have cash.

[ravenhart]

Okay, so I did a bad thing the other night and charged some gas ($40) because I didn't have any cash with me and I didn't want to be caught short on gas with the snowstorm coming in. Not quite the right direction on the credit card ....
When I get paid this weekend, I am gonna schedule my credit card payment +$40 for the gas.
On the good side, I just saw my mortage balance dropped below a certain amount that was making me a bit uncomfortable The credit cards are shrinking, just not as quickly as I would like. I guess I am impatient for the debt to be gone completely!!!

One good thing is your aware!! That's not spending mindlessly which leads to cc debt. Now that your aware you need to be prepared - stash some cash in your wallet and "forget" about it. I typically keep at least $20 on me folded as tight as I can get it that I put separate from any other cash -that way if there is a small emergency like needing gas, etc I have that to use. Someone once told me if you have a $100 bill in your wallet - folded like I did that you are never broke.

I think that most of us feel this way or have felt it at some point.

baby steps, baby steps

Those baby steps are so hard!! LOL! Yes that's what I have to keep telling myself. I'm finally doing a budget every month and even though it isn't "balanced" I do know how much extra I have to come up with every month. Does that count?

Here's what I just did recently and I don't know why I didn't do it earlier.

I used to whip out my credit card if I couldn't find my debit card. (Sometimes the debit card was it in a different compartment in my wallet, floating loosely in the bottom of my purse or in the washing machine at home.)

I opened a separate checking account with its own debit card and put $150 in the account. That way I was able to take the credit card out of my wallet and have the new debit card in case an emergency arose or if I just couldn't find my darned other card.

I know you said you had to keep the credit card with you for work, but this might help with buying small necessities when you don't have cash.

Great Idea!! Goes with the thought I had of being prepared! Although I can't stand not having any cash on me. I had a bank at one time that would only allow 10 debit transactions (especially on the weekend) until those cleared it would come up declined - even if you had a million dollars in that acct - got rid of that bank quickly since my card was denied at a restaurant and fortunately I had enough cash on me.