Wondering why I bother

[Kris10Leigh]

I am so angry at the moment! Every time...EVERY TIME we start really chipping away at the debt, tightening our belt and so forth, this happens!

Two days ago we got the cell phone bill. We each got new phones (free with rebate I might add!!!!). Apparently they charge two months in advance. Never mind that we are previous customers! In addition, DH was out of town for a month and made business calls enough to go over his minutes. All that to the tune of $364! Our plan is for $110 and his company reimburses most of it!

Today , a CC company that I PAID OFF IN MARCH called to tell me my balance is now four months past due and I owe $413! Huh? DH has charge prescriptions and a purchase from LL Bean to the card and did not bother to tell me! The bill totaled $279. The rest is from not paying the bill!!!!!

Why am doing the challenge to not spend money for a week? Why? It doesn't matter. So I save a little money here. The sky will open up tomorrow and drop another huge bill in my lap!

Not a happy camper today! And of course DH is not answering his phone, so I can't yell at him! At least you guys don't have to read this if you don't want to.

[Kris10Leigh]

On the bright side, because I am generally the eternal optomist, having just yelled at DH about this he is now totally onboard and has agreed to extend the "no spend challenge" another week with the exception of purchasing a gift for his mother's birthday. Even more than that, he has agreed to spend only $25 on her gift. Before he did not like that idea.

So, things are looking up.

[Ima saver]

Poor gal, things will get better. Why did you not get the bill 4 months ago? [

[Ima saver]

Sounds like you and dh need to sit down and talk.

[Kris10Leigh]

Ima, I was trying to leave that part out of my story. Thanks alot!

I am an avoider when it comes to mail and it is a problem and I am trying to deal with it. Yet another step toward getting these bills down is making an effort to actually open my mail.

I thought the card was paid off!! So when I got the mail, I probably just ripped it up and threw it away. DH pointed that out to me as well. (Kindly, I might add.)

Yes, we do need to talk and we are. I just get obsessed with things and he thinks this is a passing obsession. But I think that he sees that even if it is a passing obsession, at least it is a good one!

[Ima saver]

I am funny about opening everything, even stuff I thought was junk. I almost threw away a check cause I never heard of the company and thought it was junk.
You need to convince your husband that saving money is not a passing obsession, it is going to be your new way of life!!

[Kirbycruiser]

Your not alone! My DH is a spender too.

[katwoman]

Sorry to hear about your difficulties.

I used to do the same thing with the mail, so I understand. It is easier to bury your head in the sand rather than face those bills. If I got over it so can you.

May I make a few suggestions?

~Make a list of ALL the cc's you and your husband have. Get on each website and sign up for the email alerts. Get alerts for "payment due by" and "date payment posted". This has SAVED me in more ways than I can tell you.

~Get an inbox. This box is for bills to be paid ONLY. Of course, this means you'll be opening up each piece of mail. It will do no good to just toss the envelop unopened into the inbox. You have to take the bill out and toss the inserts, then lay it flat with its accompanying return envie. Keep postage nearby as well. Go thru this inbox at least 2x a week.

~Get a portfolio that has 13 pockets. There should be Jan-Dec tabs included. Everytime a bill is paid, be it by check or automatic debit, file it under the month the payment is actually made. I keep my portfolio next to the couch, near the phone. This way, ANY questions I have about the current years bills are literally at my fingertips!

The above tips have worked beautifully for me. Let me know if you like any.

[Ima saver]

Good ideas!!

[boefixepa]

Keep up the battle, don't let these "little" (Ouch) set back derail you. You will get ahead and you will conquer and overcome!

[markio26]

maintain..... plan........organize..... soon it will be automatic.... without any emotion.....hth.

[jodi]

Another suggestion: I signed up for My Portfolio through Bank of America (many banks have similar programs). It lets me put all my accounts in one place. When I log on, I see all my savings and checking accounts, all three credit card balances, our student loans, Roth IRAs, and Sharebuilder account on one page. I can tell with one glance if I have any outstanding balances. It's so easy. I check it every day to see my net worth, but you could check it once a week to monitor any changes in your credit card balances.
Sorry to hear you are having a rough week. I hope it gets better soon

[tgavin71]

I know how frustrating this sort of scenario is. We were in the same situation. I would scrimp and save. Putting money aside for bills, christmas etc only to find out that hubby would go to the bank and seeing the a balance of say $700 would just withdrawl whatever he needed without any consideration for the consquences..such as missing a mortgage payment or the embaressment of having to put groceries items back because I didn't have enough in the bank to cover the cost. When ever I confronted him about it his response usually involved either "I earn it so I can spend it on whatever I want" or " just put it on the credit card".
Now it is completely different and we are on the same page financially. Although it did take me walking out the door with two small children and filing for divorce for him to wake up. I hope you don't have to take such drastic action.
I give my husband spending money in cash. When that's gone that it and he gets no more. He knows that I won't accept any excuses for over spending.
I wish you both well on your journey to financial freedom.