Watching credit card balances decrease (Dec. bal  $6796.84  Jan. bal $6632.35) and learning to live within our means.  Truck was paid off in May which means I don't have to find odd jobs just to keep us afloat.  Overnight hospital stay cost about $1,000 out of pocket after insurance pays.  That's a killer!  FSP only has a balance of $200.  Oh well...

 Creidt cards were not good- I'll post for three months.  We had two birthdays and two parties in December- 45 for Christmas, about 12 for New Year's Eve.  Our gift and entertainment budgets were the highest for the year. 

Went  down to 4 credit cards this month, so it will be easier to pay on unemployment.

Dec- 6 credit cards $30,925

Jan-6 credit cards $31,885

Feb-4 credit cards $31,932

The house-

Dec 3 loans $251, 209

Jan 3 loans $250,914

Feb 3 loans $250,683

Hope to get dh to cut up cards!  He ends up charging gas, food- we just can't do that at all.  Looking forward to the house going under $250K in two or three months.  My cards that I went to have cheaper interest, hopefully the numbers will start falling faster with 4, instead of 6.

I think we are the deepest in debt on here.

latenightleader:

 I think we are the deepest in debt on here.

 Just wanted you to know that I am right there with you so BOTH of us are the deepest in debt on here!  I have pretty much the same amount of credit card debt but working hard to change it.  You are definitely not alone!  If you are like me, when I see others balances of $5-6K I am so jealous and I can't wait to get to that point but sometimes, it seems like that will never happen.  Oh well, all we can do is try to do our best, right?  And support each other because what I try to tell myself is that even $20 paid off is better than nothing and all those $20 will add up over time.  It's easier to just ignore it and think, oh well $30K in debt, what's another $100?  But I know that we can make a difference, that's why I'm here!

 Anyway, I really just wanted to tell you that you have a partner in debt on here!

Jen

Tracy, We are not far behind you with the amount of debt we have and we don't have as many mouths to feed.  So don't feel bad. I know the feeling though, that for every step ahead you get, it seems something else comes up and knocks you back. Trust me I know the feeling.    I take heart that at least our mortgage principal goes down a bit each month. If nothing else.

My Family's Interests . . . you are so right; it is seriously 2 steps forward, 1 step back, isn't it?  Actually, sometimes it's 1 step forward, 2 steps back.  I agree, at least the mortgage goes down regardless!  We'll all get there eventually, it will just take time, patience, and diligence (I hope!!).

Best wishes!

I haven't posted here before; but I need to.  We have several bills owing thousands of dollars.  I don't know the exact amount of each bill, but it's a lot.  Then we just found out the DS1 will need sever orthodonture work starting immediately.  Even with the work, he may need to have several jaw surgeries.  So I need to be very strict so that we can come up with the down payment and the monthly amount.

We don't have dental insurance so this is going to be hard.  However, we do have a flex plan that starting in October we'll be able to take some of the bills from that.

I know you'll be seeing me here more and more.

 Jenn and MFI- thanks!  I feel like I've done everything I was supposed to to have a financially fit life, went to college, got a degree, got a second degree, worked really hard, and still the numbers look so bad!  It's nice to know that we can support each other in our fight to get back to less debt!  I can't wait until we all gradually drop down in debt by having small victories- $1,000 off, then another, and so on!