So I'm looking at my totals left to pay, and I have to say: It's the first time I've actually tallied it in several months. And it's both motivational and embarassing to see it: $16,139.
For you Dave Ramsey listeners, I'd be one of those people who Dave beats up, by saying, "You've got a big shovel to clean up this mess (meaning the income) -- you can clean this up in three months." Now, if I lived somewhere else, yeah, he'd be right. But that shovel I've got doesn't go as far where I happen to hang my hat...
But realizing that my debt amounts to just $16K is really kind of uplifting, and has given me a second wind. We've had some "expense creep" in recent months -- we re-upped the Netflix subscription (though at the $4.99 plan, the lowest possible), and I had to increase my cell phone minutes because I'm using the phone more...But I can probably cut in other areas - and yes, I'm still working on ways of increasing the income. Those will come in the next few months, so I should stop stressing.
Just ruminating -- thanks for listening, and thanks for all being in there, fighting the good fight!
Added non-mortgage debt totals to sidebar
June 2nd, 2007 at 07:30 pm
June 2nd, 2007 at 07:47 pm
June 2nd, 2007 at 07:51 pm
June 3rd, 2007 at 04:41 am
June 3rd, 2007 at 04:43 pm
Amber: Well, the Netflix addition was at the request of SO -- and we actually spend very, very little on entertainment (no movies in theaters EVER, no expensive meals out, no theme park visits, no big days at the mall, very little travel, etc. etc.) that the few bucks on Netflix won't make a dent. But I do need to be careful of "nickel and diming" myself into big spending...I track the budget obsessively, so it's OK for now.
Phone is a different question. I ditched the landline a while ago, because I never used it. I am working at home more now than I used to, which involves long hours on the phone. Hence the increase in cell phone minutes (and no, my company won't pay). I was thinking that something like Vonage might be a good solution (if Vonage doesn't go under because of patent infringement).