Debt. Free. 2010.

Purging

debtfreeby2010 — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:12:55 +0000

Today I started purging. My stuff. I realized that of the 500+ books that I have in my apartment, I’m in love with about 300 of them. And I decided that … Well, make that 375 of them. Anyway, I decided that I was going to sell them on half.com. So I put about 40 or so up for sale, and I’ve already sold 1. I also decided that I no longer needed all the DVD movies that I had, so I put those up for sale too. These include seasons 3-6 of Sex and the City (seasons 1 and 2 seem to be missing…I suspect my evil roomate), Bottle Rocket, Office Space, etc. Good movies!! Movies that people like to watch and will hopefully want to buy from me. I am keeping only my absolute favorites: The Sea Inside, Avalon, Hoosiers, Koyaanisqatsi and Powaqatsi, Lovers of the Arctic Circle, and my stretching DVD. Now, who knows if these things will sell, or if they’ll sell in 5 years, but I’m excited to be making a move. I WOULD sell my CDs too, for like $.50 just to get rid of them, but they’re all in one of those wonderful Case Logic books. I’d sell that thing too, if it weren’t full of CDs that half.com won’t sell because they’re lacking jewel cases. Who uses jewel cases anyway? I mean seriously. Anyway, I’m busy getting rid of stuff and it feels GOOD!!! I think I’ve become “gazelle intense,” like Dave Ramsey (whom I LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.) talks about.

Speaking of Dave Ramsey, I got his Financial Peace University stuff in the mail today. For those of you (how many of there are you? I suspect less than 1, since I’ve told no one of this endeavour) who don’t know who Dave Ramsey is, he teaches how to be responsible with money and how to dump debt…not by filing for bankruptcy, but by working hard and sacrificing, and most of all, by not using credit or credit cards. You can check him out here. I, as you all know, learned that lesson too late, but it may not be too late for you. So ya, that’s why I got the second job and am busy selling all my stuff and take my lunch to work every day and make coffee at home every day and eat dinner at home or at my boyfriend’s place every day. Gazelle Intense.

For those of you who don’t know how good it feels to get rid of stuff, you should try it. It feels like losing weight. You know how good you feel when you lose 10 pounds and you’re running and you’re like “wow, I can run really fast,”? Well, that’s how getting rid of stuff feels. I guess that’s how making the move to get rid of stuff feels, because so far I’ve only gotten rid of one book and two seasons of Sex and the City. But you get the idea. It’s kind of like losing weight without having to go to that stupid gym.

But I’m going to be FREE of debt!!! FREE!!! In like 3 years, but still. Free.

Breakdown

debtfreeby2010 — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 00:53:10 +0000

So today I broke down and basically cried all morning. I’m not where I wanted to be at 28. It was good to cry and be honest about my emotions…even though it was embarrassing and in front of my boyfriend. But then I pulled myself together and worked on some financial stuff. I asked for a forbearance for my student loans so that I can focus on my credit cards. I feel a little bit better about things. I just can’t wait to start my part time job and have an extra $150.00 per week. And hopefully I can pick up extra shifts and make even more money.

A breakdown occasionally isn’t a bad thing. At least I haven’t broken completely, despite being completely broke. But not for long!!

Change #2

debtfreeby2010 — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 16:30:02 +0000

Today I start my part-time job. I will be working one or two shifts per week as a waitress, in addition to my full-time job as a social worker. I am planning on putting all of these extra funds towards:

1. Getting a $1,000.00 cushion in an ING account.

2. Starting my debt snowball.

In addition to cutting up my credit cards and starting a new job, I have made the following changes:

1. Making coffee and breakfast every morning, consisting of a bowl of cereal and an egg or a bowl of oatmeal, saving approximately $3.00 per day, $15.00 per week, $60.00 per month.

2. Making my lunch every day, consisting of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, string cheese, and apple, and a bag of almonds, saving approximately $5.00 per day, $25.00 per week, $100.00 per month.

3. Abstaining from alcohol completely, saving approximately $200.00 per month.

4. Not eating out or ordering food, and trying to eat inexpensively, yet healthfully, while at home. For example, instead of fresh spinach, I eat frozen. It is just as good for you, if not better, and a million times cheaper. This probably saves about $200.00 per month too, which is probably the net difference after I count how much I spend on food from the grocery store.

The only thing I worry about is the impact that me working two jobs is going to have on my relationship. I am with a wonderful guy who is quite the opposite of me in terms of spending habits. He’s a saver. And he has amassed a small fortune in only a few years. Granted, he is not a social worker and makes 5 times what I do, but still. Anyway, being with him has taught me the value of being financially secure. And reading Dave Ramsey has taught me that I don’t need to make what he does to be financially secure. I just need to be smart, and be willing to do without, if necessary, and really only do without until I can save up the money to pay cash.

Greetings.

debtfreeby2010 — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:34:08 +0000

About me:

I’m 28.

I live in New York City.

I work as a social worker.

I have $18,000.00 in credit card debt.

I am ready to make a change in my life.

Change #1: No more credit cards. Not even you Banana Republic card, you who has outfitted me in my myriad black sweaters and then sent me coupons in the mail. Not you, Citibank, who has sent me far and wide and given me miles upon miles that I am never allowed to use. Not you anymore, Amazon Visa card, offering me discounts for filling up my bookshelf with books that I haven’t read……yet. Or you, Shell Mastercard, encouraging me with your low interest rates, to gas up now, pay later.

No more. Cash only.