Is it helpful to have people here who don't have unsecured debt
or is it annoying?
I'm not asking for huggles or snuggles or asking people to ask me to stay. That's not what I'm getting at. I'm just wondering if it is even helpful to hear from people who don't have unsecured debt anymore.
I often wonder if it is helpful to hear from btdt (although admittedly not as far in debt as some are) or if it just seems like bragging.
I feel like I understand the problems, but don't want to come off as a person who just can't relate yk?
Arggg..ds needs the computer for school. I'm not sure if this is coming out right. I may have to clarify later.
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I think it's the MOST helpful! To see someone who has gone through it and came out the other side unscathed and for the better inspires me even further!
Just because you are in a different place today than "last year" (whatever that means for you) doesn't mean you don't have vivid memories of what worked and what didn't. I've been criticized in the past for not being able to speak to something because of where we were at that time and it doesn't mean the years upon years of not being able to even make ends meet didn't happen.
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I was just worrying that I was coming off as bragging. I just didn't want anyone to feel like I was kicking them when they were down if I talk about my vacation or something.
Location: if this were the wrong decision you'd already know it
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And, by unsecured debt you mean credit cards? Does it or does it not include a vehicle payment?
Either way - can I pick your brain?
Once you get the credit cards paid off, how do you keep it so that you don't ever get into that position again?
We've paid them all off, but I need to keep them open in case we end up needing to travel unexpectedly for Jack or if something comes up with the house, kwim? But, I don't want to fall back on them for random things, either. (Even if it's groceries - we can make do and it's so easy to just charge some groceries here or there, yk?) And not only that, but what happens when you're in between that phase of having paid off your credit cards, but not yet having a cushion in the bank account (which is what we're working on now, but will obviously take some time to build up).
I was just worrying that I was coming off as bragging. I just didn't want anyone to feel like I was kicking them when they were down if I talk about my vacation or something.
I think so highly of all of you in this forum.
you had to have started somewhere, right? and paying down/off debt gives you bragging rights, IMO. i strive to be debt free and consider those who have BTDT to be a great resource!
And, by unsecured debt you mean credit cards? Does it or does it not include a vehicle payment?
Either way - can I pick your brain?
Once you get the credit cards paid off, how do you keep it so that you don't ever get into that position again?
We've paid them all off, but I need to keep them open in case we end up needing to travel unexpectedly for Jack or if something comes up with the house, kwim? But, I don't want to fall back on them for random things, either. (Even if it's groceries - we can make do and it's so easy to just charge some groceries here or there, yk?) And not only that, but what happens when you're in between that phase of having paid off your credit cards, but not yet having a cushion in the bank account (which is what we're working on now, but will obviously take some time to build up).
Anyway - I'd love to hear your input.
well...we don't have our cc paid off..but i put them in a ziploc bag with some water and put them in the freezer. if i need them...i have to thaw them...and they aren't there for a 'just b/c' reason when i'm at a store or whatever. i have to really think about if i want to use them. now the other problem lies in the fact that i have the card number memorized...so um..that doesn't help online.
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oh and i definitely think a 'been there done that' voice is always welcome. if you come in here with your 'nanny nanny boo boo shame on you's" THEN we'll kick you in the rump!
I don't post much...pop in from time to time. Just wanted to say that it is very helpful to hear what has worked for others and what has not worked. If we were all in the same boat, then obviously changing things isn't working...so the more perspectives the better :-)
Location: if this were the wrong decision you'd already know it
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Quote:
Originally Posted by juliebelle
well...we don't have our cc paid off..but i put them in a ziploc bag with some water and put them in the freezer. if i need them...i have to thaw them...and they aren't there for a 'just b/c' reason when i'm at a store or whatever. i have to really think about if i want to use them. now the other problem lies in the fact that i have the card number memorized...so um..that doesn't help online.
Oh, man - I hear you there!!! The stored CC numbers are the worst for me.
I also have our mortgage insurance linked to one credit card, which I really should change to avoid that extra step. I'd rather have nothing on there at all.
I have heard the freezing idea. DH keeps all of the cards in his wallet (because they're way too much of a temptation for me at home online).
For avoiding cc debt, I love Dave Ramseys idea of doing whatever you can to save $1,000 cash that is very easily accesible but set aside for emergencies.
We did whatever it took to get it, and now if we need to use any of it we do whatever we can to top it off as soon as we can and it has indeed kept us out of cc debt.
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And, by unsecured debt you mean credit cards? Does it or does it not include a vehicle payment?
Either way - can I pick your brain?
Once you get the credit cards paid off, how do you keep it so that you don't ever get into that position again?
We've paid them all off, but I need to keep them open in case we end up needing to travel unexpectedly for Jack or if something comes up with the house, kwim? But, I don't want to fall back on them for random things, either. (Even if it's groceries - we can make do and it's so easy to just charge some groceries here or there, yk?) And not only that, but what happens when you're in between that phase of having paid off your credit cards, but not yet having a cushion in the bank account (which is what we're working on now, but will obviously take some time to build up).
Anyway - I'd love to hear your input.
Well, I actually consider a car payment unsecured debt or at least debt I never want to have. That's not to say I haven't had it, but much of our preparation has been spent trying to avoid a car payment. Dh and I went rounds on this about monthly money out vs. buying a car every 3-6 years. Many variables go into this decision, but we came back to avoiding a car payment altogether and paying ourselves that car payment and purchasing outright.
As for avoiding CC debt, we do much as Julie did. We simply put them away. Reaching for them seemed like an obvious first choice, but if they aren't available, a person can often get creative. For a long time, we saw them as only to be used for reservations of some sort. Obviously, if there was no money there wasn't going to be a reservation. You have a different situation though. You have to have a monthly hotel reservation right?
So, I guess I'd just try to eek out $5-$10/day "somewhere" and use that as your travel money.
Clearly, when you sell your house, things will be different. However, that isn't happening right now, so you have to live day by day. That means not "living for when the money comes in." This is your reality now. No sense pining for what will happen. It will happen when it happens and a lesson will have been learned.
We have made some disasterous choices in the past and I've just tried to learn something from them and avoid repeating my mistakes over and over.
Sometimes a person is trying to avoid debt. Sometimes the focus is on increasing monthly income. Sometimes the focus is on reducing monthly expenditures. It's a juggle more than a balance sometimes.
For avoiding cc debt, I love Dave Ramseys idea of doing whatever you can to save $1,000 cash that is very easily accesible but set aside for emergencies.
We did whatever it took to get it, and now if we need to use any of it we do whatever we can to top it off as soon as we can and it has indeed kept us out of cc debt.
I think this is an excellent idea. We've done variations on that such as saving our tax refund, saving gift money, eliminating all subscriptions and extra services (including cell phones!), selling stuff, etc...
I'm just wondering if it is even helpful to hear from people who don't have unsecured debt anymore. 
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