Curbing Consumerism Club: 2009 Edition Part B

[dr. twiggers]

Well....our previous thread got shut down...we just talk too much!!!!


Feel free to continue here....I'll see if I can get a mod to sticky!

[Loganz]

getting in on the new thread - the old one really did run LONG!!

I guess to refresh (for new posters to see)

I was in deep CC debt at the beginning of 2009. I paid off over $16k in less than 5 months - HOWEVER - I lied to my DH and used my CC's after they were paid off - granted, the total amount I charged is only $6k - however, it is apparent that I cannot be trusted to keep plastic in my wallet - I am just too tempted by Saks, Neimans, ShopBop, and a few local boutiques that I tend to wander into when Visa and MC are with me.

So - I have given my cards to my husband to hide - and I am paying off the new balances -

there - that is all of it - oh, and I go to therapy for this shopping compulsion so feel free "new posters" to ask me questions if my situation sounds parallel to yours!

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

got out my glue stick!

[dr. twiggers]

Thanks Swanky!!!!

My update for any newcomers:

As of 1/1/2008 my husband and I had $66,187 in credit card debt, a mortgage, a truck lease that we owed about $10K on, an RV, and $72,000 in student loans.

Within the first 7 months I had paid off about $50,000 in credit card debt. This was accomplished by selling pretty much everything we owned (all the crap we bought on CCs, including all the fancy purses and designer goods I could never afford). Then I got a bit distracted over the summer and lost some focus.

In the fall I refocused and terminated the truck lease early (cost a lot of money) and also saved around $3,000 for a cross-country move related to my job.

I have been able to get the credit card debt down to $5,500 as of today and my husband just quit his job to move down to Miami to live with me! So, that means we are losing about $80,000/year in income. Yea, it hurts. However, it's just forcing us to re-evaluate our priorities in life. I have just implemented a very strict budget, and I actually have some money saved away (which never ever happened before).

I don't know when I'll be credit card debt free.....but I'm trying hard to knock it down. I made mistakes over the last 2 years in this process (we'd be CC debt free if we hadn't made some bad choices)....but I've learned from them.

Ack....I could go on and on!!

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

That's verah, verah impressive. Good job!

[dr. twiggers]

Thanks Swanky :-)

Well, today is the 25th of the month....and rent payment didn't arrive. I guess this is going to be a monthly occurrence that she uses the grace period :-( Fortunately, we have her $1400 deposit and we can use that to make the mortgage payment while waiting for her rent check to arrive.....plus we can play the 'use the grace period' game with the mortgage company.

I'm not really that stressed, but hubby is. He tried to contact her tonight to let her know we are moving on 8/31 and that she'll be getting a letter with the new address....her cell phone has been disconnected and she isn't answering the home phone number (although neighbor says the garage door is open). Again, I told him to stop stressing....nothing we can do until she is 5 days late.

DH is just all stressed out about work and everything. It's kind of driving me nuts!

[Loganz]

hmmm...^^^ cellphone disconnected - that is NOT a good sign. I am hoping for the best for you guys but, what a headache if she is already in over her head and can't pay her bills.

[d3899]

Referring to the old thread!
Nola... teething is a strong possibility at 8 months, but it could also be an ear infection! My DD had her first one (combined with teething AND chicken pox) at 8 mos & I didn't catch it at all. She would just cry at night...sleep, wake up & cry... endless cycle! During the day she was fine b/c they wake up from naps, so you don't notice, or they are more upright in swings or seats. Ear infections sometimes happen combined with teething, so you may want to check.

That's all from me for right now!; my battery is about dead.

I DO bet we pick up some new members since the thread will be shorter for a bit. :) So advanced WELCOME!

[windycityaj]

Well..we are just a couple of chatterboxes aren't we?

Here's my short and sweet story: history of impulsive shopping all my life. Penchant for expensive things, eating out, travel, etc. I basically spent my 20's in a huge amount of cc debt, but was living the high life so didn't really care.

In my 30's I was married with a baby..racked up more debt buying baby clothes, the latest stroller..etc....you get the picture.

late 30's...discovered tPF...nuff said. The addiction/spending cycle is in FULL swing!

In my 40's now and DH and I got super serious about reducing our debt about 2 years ago. We have reached many of our personal financial goals and I discovered this wonderfully inspiring thread!! This journey has taught me that some new more fun and healthier addictions/goals, and to learn the value of a dollar. I'm not cured, but the people on this thread speak my language!!

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

I know y'all know this, but if you stay on topic this won't grow too quickly and get closed again. . . . just sayin'

[juneping]

this thread grows so fast.

[canadianstudies]

I almost had a heart attack when I saw the other thread was closed, lol!!!

My story:

I'm a graduate student currently finishing my MA, and will be starting my PhD at another school (in another town!) in just a few weeks. I'll be commuting to and from my current city- I'll be in Small Town about 3 days a week, with the rest of my time spent here. The commute is about 6 hours roundtrip.

I'm married and own a condo that we paid way too much money for- I have a sneaking suspician we're upside-down on our mortgage, as unfortunately, we bought at the height of bubble. :( DH and I make prepayments on the mortgage every month. We currently owe just under $212k, and my goal is to be under $210k by the end of the year. I anticipate we'll be living in the house for at least 4-5 more years.

I am definitely one of those 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' type of people- despite my disability, I've worked two jobs- between 30-50 hours a week- since my last year of high school. I've won many scholarships and fellowships throughout my 6 years of university, meaning I've always been reasonably financial comfortable (well, for a student, lol). I've never taken out student loans. I like to think that I'm proof that anyone can succeed if they're willing to work hard!

This summer was the first time I've been unemployed since I was 16- I really needed to focus and finish my MA thesis (which I am defending in a little more than a week!) Thankfully, I will be employed come September at New School as a teaching assistant. I can't to have money coming in again!

I've never had cc debt. DH has no cc or student loan debt. We currently do not own a car, though we have begun to save for one.

Over the past two years, I've really been attempting to curb my consumeristic tendencies, especially as they relate to handbags- when I first joined tpf, I went on a buying frenzy, using money that could have been better spent on purses I still haven't used. Because I work really hard, I tend to think that I 'deserve' nice things- when really, the two aren't related at all! I also tend to buy things when I'm feeling lonely or depressed, which is definitely not healthy! This being said, I'm committed to selling/donating bags I don't use, and limiting my bag purchases.

I'm currently living on a set budget, and will be for at least the next year (as it costs thousands of dollars to commute to and from City to Small Town). I've already spent 4 months on this budget, and am generally doing really well- and I haven't bought a single bag! I find that I'm being much smarter with my money- not buying things just to buy things. Hopefully this will continue as I embark on this new chapter of my life!

[simmmchen]

Thanks, Swanky (I think we are mostly on topic in this thread, though!)


My story:
Recently graduated with a MA in mathematics and had a job with a company I loved. They had to lay off 20% of their work force, so as a young person I was OUT! So I'm looking for a job and trying not to get too depressed about it all.

Financially, I need to be smart with my money, since my whole family basically has money problems, so there is no one who could help me if something happened to me! I've been living on a pretty strict budget since Jan 09 and it's working great for me. I am glad I was able to save a lot in the couple of months I worked full-time, so that now I don't have to worry (yet) about being unemployed.


In response to the old thread Curbing Consumerism Club: 2009 Edition

windycity, Allison, VanessaJean, Nola, thank you so much for your encouragement and compassion! I am better today, because I made myself work on my applications yesterday. I have sent two of them out today If they are actually hiring, they should be very interested in me. (My old company is the market leader in this very specific little field in automotive engineering.)

Allison, I wouldn't have to move for the university job. For any other job I am applying for I would have to move to a major city. I'd rather move and not stay in this boring place any longer, so that's why it's been stupid of me not to be more proactive about it. Anyway, I'm glad I sent out applications today. Maybe they'll contact me in time (before I have to give a definite answer to the university people).

Nola, I hope you figure out your DD's problem and she'll feel better soon!

[Nola]

Alison, I´ll answer your q´s here: Does she have a comfort object? No, she doesn´t really even have a favorite toy so I don´t know how to go about that one.
How long has she been screaming? I´ve tried with extreme discomfort to let her scream it out as some recommend, she screams 15 mins and it doesn´t do any good. That´s usually when I go in as I can´t take it anymore.
Was she falling asleep on her own before? Yes. She seems to have upper teeth coming in but all the books say it only takes about 2 days for the nasty part, but it´s been days and days.

[dr. twiggers]

Awww Nola, I hope your DD is feeling better soon....or you figure out the cause of the crying. I can only imagine how frustrating it is!!!

Loganz: I hope it's just some fluke with the renter. I personally think she is someone used to living a much higher end lifestyle when married...and now that she is divorced she is going broke trying to continue that lifestyle. I mean really, there was no reason why she needed to rent a house for just her and the two kids. She could have easily saved $600-700 month by renting an apartment. But it's not my business....I just want my rent payments on time :-)