You originally had planned to get rid of the CC in in one year, yet it ended up taking three (I read in your blog). So you found it harder to do than thought. Maybe you have only one third the
patience that your originally thought you had. Yet you did do it, so you surely did cultivate at least some patience over those three years! Give yourself some credit! You did good and you can patiently continue to say "no" to spending part of the time, and say "yes" to the future through some savings.
Remember that you can save for many purchases ahead of buying them. Even with Christmas, I hope you will set goals for at least some of your purchases, rather than put them on CC immediately. If you are religious, by the way, remember that Christmas is not a single day, but a "season." You know--the twelve days of Christmas, as in the annoying partridge in a pear tree song? If you are brave enough to expand the days of gift-giving, you can delay some of your purchases till actually after Christmas Day. That might get you to another pay day, not to mention get you into the post Christmas Day sale period.
I know that could be majorly changing the way your family celebrates, but perhaps you can delay just a little of it. If your children are older, they might appreciate receiving a promissory note to go shopping
with you to pick out that new coat or video game or whatever.
I really commend you for paying off the CCs. I am glad you will not be among those who find themselves stuck with 30% interest rates. You've done it, and you can continue doing it.
