Location: When I dare to be powerful -- to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.
Posts: 9,502
Finally enough ahead to start a debt snowball...
In the last month, since Don started staying at the academy, we have managed to break even. And today I find out that Don is getting a raise the 10th of May. It ends up giving him about $400 more every month take home. Well with the shorter commute he will have (only 30 miles and not 75 in traffic) and the night shift he will be on (NO traffic) that will cut down on gas again.
He finally sees the finanaces. He is finally really willing to be frugal, and understands how stressful it has been. Yes I have been talking about it, but this is a shift in him too. He is changing, growing, understanding that this is life, and that he will eventually get the things he wants, but sometimes the instant gratification isn't worth it. (Esp considering, he gets a lot of the backlash from my stress). And between this and me being able to cook again/sew again etc, I feel confident that we can start putting this next raise towards debt. Most of it. Every month. There is one thing we NEED to get before summer (a new computer case and motherboard) which we will have to put part on credit. But after that, we are going on a credit card strike. And my dh has concented.
For me it isn't the payment on the van that I hate. It is the payment on the groceries from last years layoff, and having to put gas on there because we couldn't up the gas budget as much as we needed to when he got his last raise. I don't mind the house, car, and school loans. Those are "reasonable" debts in my mind... but the going out to eat because "We don't have enough for groceries so why not spend $30 on dinner (on credit)" moments took us a lot when I was pg and sick. Those BUG me... I want them gone. I want to make most of those things gone in the next year. And so however big this raise is, we will start paying extra on our debts. The fact that he is also dedicated makes a world of difference. Because this means it will actually happen. I have an incredible amt of willpower with EVERYONE but my husband. I adore him, and always want him to get what he wants... even if I go for two years without new bras becuase he wanted his Xbox 360 it happens. (And up until this last year, he didn't even notice I did this. When my underwear started falling apart and I was wearing the same 3 pairs of pants in a rotation he noticed... not before. Men are so oblivious...)
Anyway, I am babbling... but I am really happy about this small shift in understanding. And the fact that we are nearly ready to start putting the "extras" on the credit cards. That could be up to $400 a month on the credit that we have aquired. That will mean that within 6 months one of our big cc's will be gone. Within 1 year, half of the largest one we have and the second largest one will be gone. If we can keep it up for 18 mos, we will have our Escape (which we now can't sell because my mom is taking her car back, another post entirely) paid off too. Even those three things... even if that is ALL we do. I will feel SO wonderful about it. And tax return is in there. Buffer our savings too...
Oh god... please keep this trend in his thinking going. If we can, we will have such a successful year.
Val
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Val; Living the dream we have been working towards for over 5 years.
Mama to Alex, Cyan, and Logan. Wife to my very best friend.
Oh good Val!!! What a blessing. After our talk on the phoen the other day, I talked to my dh about finances too and he reminded me that he gets a raise this month too Hope it is a good one, we need it. Call me so we can set up a playdate! Can't wait to see Logan again
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Kristan ~ Mama of 5 girls & 1 boy
Val, that is wonderful!! I totally know what you mean about the $30 on credit because we can't afford groceries. It got me into a lot of trouble this past Holiday season and it will be a year before I see the light!!!
Congrats!!
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Tracey, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth ~1 John 3:18
That's great that there is starting to be some hope. It's comforting to feel a little more control because you know what's going on instead of feeling like you're drowning in this out-of-control debt storm. You have all the skills you need to make every dollar stretch. And Hooray for Don coming around. Baby steps are awesome!
Kerri
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Mama to Cole (9), Naomi (8), Adam (7), and Noah (4)
All adopted - All breastfed
Wife to David for 12 years!
Breastfeeding Counsellor and Doula
Accepted into midwifery school for February 2009!
We are moving to New Zealand on January 29th
Yikes, there is TONS to do before then. Gulp.
Location: firmly planted in the postmodern pastoral economy
Posts: 12,991
That's awesome!! I know I finally have dh on board just in the past six months (only with a minor blip in his thinking because he was itching for a tractor so badly, LOL) and it's made a huge difference. Just - ALL the difference. So I think this is going to be a big turning point for you! Yay!
Oh - we just bought a new motherboard for our computer (our old one died, and we need it for Jake's speech software or we wouldn't have even replaced it) and it was $50. We deliberately picked trailing edge technology because we didn't have the $2-300 to replace it with a newer one, but it's just fine and plenty fast for our needs.
__________________ Be realistic: Plan for a miracle. ~Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
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"If you only believe what you see, then you are limited to what's on the surface. If you only believe what you see, then why do you pay your electric bill?" Dr. Wayne Dyer
I hear you. Sounds like you were doing my books. We to just got one of two cars paid off and it feels wonderful. And with me working I'm not spending as much if any money I'm to busy. Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for sharing. It's nice to know your not alone. In the sea if CC and debt. Here's to free selling LOL.
Sorry sometimes I just think I'm to funny.
Hope it is a good one, we need it. Call me so we can set up a playdate! Can't wait to see Logan again 
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