10/21/09: Starting point
Seven cards for a total of $6,887.96.
10/24/09: Paycheck #1
Five cards for a total of $6,597.63.
Total spent towards debt repayment: $290.33.
11/6/09: Paycheck #2
Three cards for a total of $6,651.46
Total spent towards debt repayment: $439.66.
Oh, good lord.
Although I've knocked out two more cards and put $439.66 towards debt repayment, I've actually ACCRUED debt in the last two weeks.
This is what happened: one big surprise (Lucy's foot and the $190 bill) and a bunch of frittering away with the Visa. Sure, I needed new clothes! How about dinner out? Why not? I've got a Visa!
Okay, so this has to stop. Like, right now. The Visa goes back into the wallet, not to be seen again UNLESS I have another Lucy-needs-the-vet kind of emergency. And no more buying bagels from the coffeeshop!
I can't believe I accrued debt. Ugh! I'm really disappointed with myself. I'd planned on doing the daily budgeting with the PearBudget spreadsheet starting in January, but perhaps I need help now. UGH!!
Debt, and a bad surprise
November 6th, 2009 at 06:49 pm
November 6th, 2009 at 07:39 pm
November 7th, 2009 at 06:34 am
Try not to get frustrated. Life happens. Your best bet is to take the card out of your wallet and store at home instead for real emergencies like you mentioned. Plan a set amount that you will pay every month like any other bill and then whatever else you can throw at it at the end of the month, great.
What I have done is set up two different checking accounts. X amount goes into checking account number 1 and pays all bills. Nothing else comes out of that account. In fact, all activity is automatically deducted and I don't have to touch it. Included in that account was my regular payment to the credit card companies. Account 2 is for all other expenses. On pay day, whatever my daily balance was the day before, that is the amount of extra money that got sent to the credit card.
Good luck!
November 7th, 2009 at 02:35 pm
November 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Jerry