Crushing Debt - Need advice paying it off

[me in socal]

LivingAlmostLarge - I have 401ks from 2 previous jobs. Both were (at the high) about 50K each now about 30K ea. I also Have $2k in a ROTH and another $2k in a 529 for college. I think now that I'm not working, I need to concentrate on paying off debt before saving up again. At this point, I can live on my current budget when (if?) I get a job again. That way, I can snowball the debt payments and get saving sooner. If DH sees me as committed to maintaining a debt-free lifestyle, he will help me out.

This is the second time I've run up debt like this. However, I have a nagging feeling that if we had combined accounts in the beginning and he saw my spending patterns early, he would have been able to help me nip this in the bud awhile ago. Hindsight is always 20/20, no?

KTP - We file jointly.

Seeker - Our insurance is through costco. Never stupid enough to get AAA in CA. Used to have Allstate for 10 yrs then switched to 20th Century now it's been Costo for 3 years now. It's been the best rates for us. They may have a roadside assistance plan too that I can check up on the rates.

Yes, CA is a communal property state so everything is 50/50 for the most part no matter what fancy pieces of paper say. And you're right, the child is ours.

Thanks again for all your critical advice and thoughts. I do appreciate it!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

How old are you? I love AAA in CA, they gave us the best service for everything.

I am trying to predict long term what the repercussions are for not having a joint account when you don't have equivalent salaries. I wonder what will happen in the future.

So then it would affect the future. But for now it's hard to get traction because you have a lot of debt which can and will affect your future savings goals.

[rusty2832]

[quote=Lindahfx;212693]I- consider eliminating the following: AAA membership, netflix, and car maint. fund


I would definitely keep the AAA road club membership in case your car breaks down and you have to call a tow truck. It is a worthwhile expense to keep. I pay mine by the year. I paid the extra AAA Plus dues for years and finally my car conked out and I drove it under 200 miles as far as I could before it totallly died and I got towed back home free. The road club is a keeper expense.

[rusty2832]

[QUOTE= We can bump down to a lower svc level. ....Reduce AAA memb to basic level (now or at renewal in Oct)

Before you take action on lowering your AAA membership services, consider this. If you have AAA Plus, those help calls have priority over regual AAA members; if you have AAA Premium, those members calls have priority over both AAA Plus members and AAA members. Last summer when it was really hot here my car died at a gas station. I waited nearly 3 hours for a tow truck and it would have been longer. The driver told me he because I had upgraded to the Premium option this past year, my call was booted ahead in line. After waiting 3 hours in the sun, while it wasn't really fair to the others that were ahead of me, I was very glad I had opted to upgrade to premium service. My point: you get what you pay for. You may not use it hardly at all yet when you do need car help and you have Premium you are closer to the top of the line and you will get speedier service. This is something that only your family can decide. Is it is worth less money to wait longer for a tow truck to rescue you?

[wnlbutterfly]

Being a substitute teacher that works solely in the grade schools. I can assure you that taking your child out of Pre-K now won't be a problem.
She/he starts school in the fall. Let her spend this time with you now, because she will be going to school for the next 13 years (and hopefully onto college).

She probably already knows everything she/he needs to for K right now...very basic stuff and you can work with her at home. Main things are counting (I believe they have to count to 20 to exit K), basic colors, you can work on printing her name and as long as you read to her/him everything will be fine.

I am certain your child is picking up on the stress over the budget also.