What woke you up?

[PrincessPerky]

I was talking last night with my husband and wondering why did it take us so long to get drastic about reducing costs and paying the credit card bill? How did we get this far in before we noticed the problem! I mean we knew since before my daghter was born that it was going to be an expensive pregnany, and we knew we needed to cut expensis to afford an extra person. So why did it take us a year to finally do it!

I suppose I might say it was when I found this site that I realy managed to do it. But I went looking for this site for the silliest reason that my house was getting in order and I could find the bottom of my desk at least once a month to do the check book. (www.flylady.com , I know it is silly but it works for me) I also was managing to get dinner on time everynight (mostly) and laundry wasn't sitting on my couch every day waiting to be folded (just some days) so I sort of had this shorter to do list, and managing the finances moved up. Anyway on the list of things I need to learn to do, finances is better than dusting!

So I was just wondering for anyone else who was/is in debt, what did it take to wake you up? Or were you always careful?

[akaivyleaf]

Re: What woke you up?

For me, I think the light came on when I no longer had a financial crutch. I knew I had to do something or fall flat on my face trying. Then I prayed about it and really came to understand about being in debt as compared to a slave who has a master. As my ancestors had massa's, I didn't want to bring that tradition into the 21st Century so....

I'm proud of my accomplishments and I'm always prouder to walk in a store and walk away without purchasing something I won't be so happy to own when the bill comes.

[Tree0164]

Re: What woke you up?

We got serious after we ran up a ton of credit card debt after we adopted our oldest son 4 years ago. Plane ticket to Russia along with various in country costs all added up to over 20k. It took us almost 4 yrs to pay off we but did.

[DivaJen]

Re: What woke you up?

For us it wasn't a matter of waking up so much as committing to a one-income lifestyle in Southern California. That isn't easy to do, but it's a choice we were willing to work hard for.

[miclason]

Re: What woke you up?

I have always been pretty aware that I needed to improve my finances, and have managed to do it several times: after my divorce, after my pregnancy...it's just that I got hit with 2 years of supporting my parents and got fired in the midst of that second year, so this time it's way tougher than before (the debt is much higher) I really felt I needed additional help! (In the past, it was just a matter of putting away the cards and using them just as a last resource....I have been debt free in the past...but, this time, with the paycut and everything ...2003 was an awful year! 2004 was slightly better (financially, although the last week we lost Dad..)

[PrincessPerky]

Re: What woke you up?

I am sorry about your Dad. I am sure 2005 will be a better year for you.

[terry1156]

Re: What woke you up?

I'm very sorry to hear about your dad too. A loss in the family is always a trying time. My prayers are with you.

I finally pulled my head out of the dirt when I realised I'd be retiring and we didn't have anything to retire on. The last thing I wanted to do in my later years was to have to work at something I didn't enjoy just for the money. That is when we really began tightening our belts.

[amomof4]

Re: What woke you up?

I was always a tightwad, even as a littler girl. My mom always called my her "Little Jew". I didn't know what that meant, but if it meant having money, I wanted to grow up and become a Jew. I don't know, but maybe that's why the Jewish people have a special place in my heart. Or it could be the Jesus was a Jew.

Then I married my husband who is the complete opposite. It became a race to see who could spend the most money. If I didn't spend it, he did, so what the heck. I spent it. Then just recently are credit card debt was $36K When we sold our house, $36K went to the credit cards and the rest to taxes. That was a big wake up call.

Now I'm playing a game to see how little money I can live on. My husband lives in a different state than I do. He pays all the bills. I get $1,300 a month, keeping in mind that it only pays my expenses. I changed the billing address to one of the credit cards to my address, and I pay it off with my allowance. I now mostly use the checking account. I do get gas at night when the station is closed. I could go in the day time, buy I leave a christian track at each of the pumps, so it's worth it to me to go at night.