Garden Club - May 2016

[Anonymous]

@nursepower,

There's definitely hope, although you may have to make some decisions that won't be easy. Since you & your husband both make decent money, you should be able to steadily pay down the card balances you have. Your having no income for the moment makes things challenging, but not impossible. 

First, I'd look at your expenses and (at least temporarily) drop anything that is not necessary. For instance, do you really NEED the San Diego trip, or is it a want? I'd classify it as a need only if it's for a family emergency or a function that could play a pivotal role in your being able to resume work or otherwise increase your joint income.

Once you've eliminated a lot of expenses, do your best to charge as little as possible on your cards until you get the total owed to something you can pay off in one month.  

Then with any extra money leftover after paying all your minimum payments, make extra payments toward the cards with the highest interest rate. That will prevent your debt from growing too fast.Keep doing this and paying off one card at a time until they're all paid.

[Anonymous]

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@nursepower wrote:

To answer Petrovius and for full disclosure....oh boy.

Company          What I owe    Amt to be    Limit

                                                     under 30%   

East West	$274	($120)	$400
Playstation	$392	($150)	$500
Quicksilver	$427	($150)	$500
Apple Visa	$0	($150)	$500
Belk	$0	($180)	$600
B of A	$525	($180)	$600
Freedom	$407	($240)	$800
NewEgg	$0	($240)	$800
VS	$0	($300)	$900
TD Visa	$955	($300)	$1000
Sears MC	$536	($300)	$1000
Barclays	$0	($315)	$1050
BP Visa	$0	($360)	$1200
Merrick	$622	($180)	$1200
Cabela’s	$601	($300)	$1500
Overstock	$0	($75)	$1500
Dillards	$500	($450)	$1500
Best Buy	$1325	($450)	$1500
Dress Barn	$0	($465)	$1550
Target	$1000	($210)	$1700
Home Depot	$0	($600)	$2000
Macy’s	$225	($600)	$2200
L & T	$0	($675)	$2250
Old Navy	$648	($450)	$2300
Brooks Bro	$0	($705)	$2500
Chase Slate	$1821	($750)	$2500
Kohl’s	$2603	($900)	$3000
Quicksilver	$0	($900)	$3000
AEO Visa	$739	($900)	$3000
TJX MC	$2227	($1050)	$3500
Toys R Us	$685	($1110)	$3700
Dell Stacy	$1570	($1200)	$4000
Wal-Mart	$632	($1200)	$4000
AMEX	$3665	($1200)	$4000
Amazon	$2660	($1145)	$4600
JCP	$818	($1500)	$5000
Discover	$4527	($1500)	$5000
Sams	$407	($1785)	$5950
PayPal	$4423	($1800)	$6000
Marvel MC	$0	($1800)	$6000
Ebates	$3839	($2100)	$7000
*Kay’s Jeweler	$0	($2280)	$7600

Yes, It's alot. These are my cards. My husband has about 15K in his name. We make pretty decent money. I can make all my minimums and a bit more. But my County job is a substitute position and I wasn't allowed to work for 2 months, then went on a scheduled 2 week leave and a week of snow days so I lost about 6K I could have used to pay cards. I'm working on it. And in the next 3 months I have to charge about 3K more for a San Diego trip. 

Tell me there's hope and no bankruptcy is not an option. 

My utilization is approximately 36%

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There is absolutely hope, especially as you're already making more than minimum payments. Part of this is learning and growing with credit; the other part is that hard times hit us all and we get through it. I wish you the best of luck. If you aren't comfortable posting this here, post it on your refridgerator or something. I find it tremendously helpful to cross things off my "to do" list as I accomplish them, and it might help keep you from apping to have a reminder of your goals.

[nursepower]

Thank you for the support. 

San Diego is not a neccesity. It's that my mom who is in her 70's has it on her "bucket" list to see the Pacific Ocean. Do I want to pay down the cards or do I want to take my mom somewhere she would remember for as long as she has left? Mom wins hands down. I think I'm just in a funk because of the job situation. When I was bringing in 1K every two weeks I was very motivated at paying down. Then I had some rough spots of not working and charged up again. 

The next few weeks should be good with work until the end of June so hopefully I can cash flow the trip. 

Thanks though for not judging!

[tcbofade]

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@nursepower wrote:

Thank you for the support. 

San Diego is not a neccesity. It's that my mom who is in her 70's has it on her "bucket" list to see the Pacific Ocean. Do I want to pay down the cards or do I want to take my mom somewhere she would remember for as long as she has left? Mom wins hands down. I think I'm just in a funk because of the job situation. When I was bringing in 1K every two weeks I was very motivated at paying down. Then I had some rough spots of not working and charged up again. 

The next few weeks should be good with work until the end of June so hopefully I can cash flow the trip. 

Thanks though for not judging!

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You're too worried.  If you're making all of your minimum payments on time and you're having a temporary rough spot, you'll be fine... it just takes a little time.

[myjourney]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Checking in, and behaving

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I'm so proud of you

[myjourney]

To my GC family 

Welcome all new members 

Feel free to make some new friends and ask for help if needed 

Bravo to all those who have remained committed (regulars)

I'm proud of each and everyone of you 

[Anonymous]

Day 58. Each day I get less interested.

[myjourney]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Day 58. Each day I get less interested.

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Bravo well said and done 

[Anonymous]

I ballparked a month, but upon confirming I'm at Day 24... have the itch so posting. Is this what AA is like?

[myjourney]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I ballparked a month, but upon confirming I'm at Day 24... have the itch so posting. Is this what AA is like?

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Lo to AA 

We have your back as well so stay strong and don't do it