One of my goals was to have little or no credit card debt by the the b-day. I've been working on it aggressively the last year or so, but we all know how easy it can be to slip up and need that one thing or have that one emergency. So... even some of my best attempts have left me feeling like I'm spinning my wheels.
I had one small victory when I paid off a credit card for Belk's in March. I say with confidence that everytime I see that zero balance, I get all jumpy and excited. It just reminds me that there is a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
But today... today I wrote two checks and am paying off two more credit cards (one has had a rolling balance for 8 YEARS), and writing these checks makes me want to just have a worship service. It just feels so good. Plus, this leaves me with only two credit cards -- and under $600 debt.
I hate the bondage that credit cards create, well... I hate the bondage that my foolish spending habits allowed them to create. With these CC's paid off, it puts my long term goal of being completely debt free (I'm talking student loans here peeps) by the time I'm 35 well within my reach.
Along with my own personal victory, my immediate family is also working towards the goal of being credit card debt free by year end too.
If you are working towards getting out of debt, make a decision to get serious. My first big hurdle was giving up a gas card that I had. I just decided one day that I wasn't going to put anymore on it, and start buying gas out of my checking account. It doesn't sound hard, but when you consider that I have an average monthly gas bill of $550, it definitely adds up. I had to bring my lunch one day, or be more cautious with my purchase on another, but now, two years later, I don't miss my gas card at all. There were no rewards for using it, so I feel like I did a good thing. I do have one card that I use because I get some incredible reward benefits, but when I charge something on the card, I force myself to write a check equal to that amount and have a payment process the same day. I have slipped up a few times, because it happens, but I'm definitely more cautious about what I buy now -- moresonow than ever.
God is so Good!!!
3 comments:
Awesome!! Have you read Dave Ramsey's book? We are working to pay off debt too and succeeding. It's a great feeling huh?
I haven't read his book, but I read Larry Burkett's stuff a long time ago. I do get some of DR's newsletters and stuff. Larry Burkett has a really awesome plan for kids too; do you know if Dave does?
yes, Dave has a plan for the kiddos. We have them enrolled with our credit union in the Saver's Club. Save Ramsey's focus is all ministry based and many churches teach his class "Financial Peace University" What he teaches makes sense and is pretty reasonable in how to go about it.
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