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re: Credit card and bullshite debt??

Posted on 7/24/13 at 7:52 pm to
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 7:52 pm to
quote:

LSU alum wannabe



What's your income? That is a big factor.
Posted by Will Cover
St. Louis, MO
Member since Mar 2007
38536 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 8:51 pm to
quote:

Credit CONsolidation


Your answer lies within.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 9:09 pm to
quote:

Credit CONsolidation


Your answer lies within.



For most.

Did it ruin my parents' credit for a long time? Yes.


Did it get their rates lowered down to 1% on every card except Discover? Yes. (They tried on their own, but, no luck.) This was 6 years ago, I think it's harder for them to get rates lowered these days.

They also paid it all off. For them, it worked. Their credit has recovered nicely.
Posted by Will Cover
St. Louis, MO
Member since Mar 2007
38536 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 9:14 pm to
For every great story, there are 10 bad ones.

Glad it worked for your parents.
Posted by Martini
Near Athens
Member since Mar 2005
48838 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 9:15 pm to
A friend of mine owns a few rent to own furniture stores. He could buy and sell me three times.

We paid everything then went to work on our mortgage and doubled up and paid another note at the end of the year and it was done. Just because you have a good interest rate doesn't mean you shouldn't pay it. When you pay that last mortgage payment and you own the roof over your head it's a glorious day. If you get in a bind you just don't double up but as long as you can do it.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 9:34 pm to
quote:

For every great story, there are 10 bad ones.



Absolutely, that's why I said

quote:

For most.



They were hell bound to pay it off. Worked their asses off.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 9:36 pm to
quote:

A friend of mine owns a few rent to own furniture stores.


Damn, bet he rakes in $$$.

quote:

When you pay that last mortgage payment and you own the roof over your head it's a glorious day.


Posted by AutoYes_Clown
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Oct 2012
5175 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 9:56 pm to
I haven't read this entire thread, but something is sticking into my side about the OP. You say your wife went back to school taking away an income. Not only does that take away an income, but puts speculation in earning more once done. Thats the mentality of: Borrow for bachelors to earn more when done, borrow for masters to earn more when done, borrow for doctorate to earn more when done... done, now where's my job? I would seriously consider suspending higher education to go to work and put away debt now.

That of course, involves changing your wife's mind.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 11:12 pm to
What's your projected timeline to be debt free?
Posted by LSU alum wannabe
Katy, TX
Member since Jan 2004
26989 posts
Posted on 7/24/13 at 11:56 pm to
quote:

What's your projected timeline to be debt free?



2018 with the Ramsey calculator.
Posted by LSU alum wannabe
Katy, TX
Member since Jan 2004
26989 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 12:01 am to
quote:

I would seriously consider suspending higher education to go to work and put away debt now.


It is definitely on the back burner.

She is back to work and has been. From a pure income standpoint we are better off than we have ever been. It is just the damage that was done in the meantime.

But she is pissed at herself and motivated. And I actually like PB&J sandwiches.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 4:37 am to
I understand the eating out. That's the biggest piece of fat my wife and I can trim from our budget. A litte planning goes a long way. We've done well this week on eating at home and taking our lunch.

For us, we are very yo-yo on cooking and heading out to eat.
Posted by tirebiter
7K R&G chile land aka SF
Member since Oct 2006
9204 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 10:53 am to
quote:

And we are not "struggling". The debt is just looming and we are sick of it. It is just time to suck it up. And the "debt snowball" appears to be the best method.

Before the car notes we went 3 years with both vehicles paid and it was glorious. It is what allowed us to built up the nice down payment for home. One car is paid next month. The second is gonna be a couple years after that.


Actually, if you do not have excess current cash flow, seeing that you don't have significant savings nor investments, you are struggling. No one is judging anybody but that is clear to everyone.

The objective is to build enough savings after a note is paid to be able to pay cash for subsequent vehicles, not have to finance them in the future, unless one is able to get excellent financing deals and can make a higher margin keeping money invested. Like someone wants to buy a $25k vehicle, is offered .49% financing or similar, and has investments paying yield on cost of > 6% or similar, then it makes sense to use financing.

I have a relative who has consistently made poor decisions with revolving debt ongoing more than 25-yrs. This person is otherwise quite intelligent and very good at math, yet has no time for budgeting or life planning, and once again finds herself with a high balance on a CC and very little in the way of savings while being fully employed her entire working life. It drives me crazy to listen to the conversations of why "x" happened yet again.

Good luck with improving your situation. I am not a Ramsey fan, but if it works go for it. Someone like Clark Howard would seem to be much more helpful longer term for a broader audience regarding consumer habits and getting more for one's money.
Posted by LSU alum wannabe
Katy, TX
Member since Jan 2004
26989 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 6:45 pm to
Also curious where you gurus find a balance between savings and "you can't take it with you"?

ILuvBama I believe was the one saying how he has a great job and makes good money but drives a $4000 car? Just as an example. What is your "thing"? Everybody has something that brings them joy? What is yours? Obviously you can't bankrupt yourself doing it or buying it, but what DO you splurge on? Anyone who says "nothing" I would ask why? And again where is your balance of financial responsibility and "can't take it with you?"
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 6:52 pm to
quote:

Everybody has something that brings them joy?


quote:

What is yours?


Watching football, playing fantasy football, and being able to sleep at night knowing I'm set financially. We don't live paycheck-to-paycheck. It's an amazing feeling.

Also, my first child will be born soon, and I'm looking forward to being a dad.

Also, the money I make works for me.

quote:

but what DO you splurge on?


Eating out quite a bit. I'm currently working on that.


quote:

"you can't take it with you"?



Correct, but, I'm not leaving my future children with a butt load of debt and I'm not a deadbeat.




If your situation doesn't change and doesn't change quickly, you'll die at work. My dad realized that and did something about it.


This post was edited on 7/25/13 at 7:01 pm
Posted by man117
Los Angeles
Member since Jul 2009
674 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 7:52 pm to
No one is saying never spend money, just that some of us show restraint and pick and chose.

Not attacking you personally, but watches, badass tvs, great vacations are all great if you can afford them. If you love them all great. But for me my thing is knowing i can provide for my family. It's important knowing if something breaks in my home i can take care of it. My son needs something i have it.

I love cars, but i work on my 14 year old car while my wife drives a 13 year old one. We'll get new ones eventually but saving is more important for me at the moment. I won't be working check to check to pay for a car like a lot of people i know. Not knocking you. Just saying joy doesn't have to come from buying stuff.
Posted by LSU alum wannabe
Katy, TX
Member since Jan 2004
26989 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 8:37 pm to
Was just wondering where people on here find balance. There is a line between running up x-amount of dollars and telling all creditors to f{#k off and dying like my aunt. Old and alone in a SHITTY house in south Crowley that was falling down around her head. With $300k in the bank.

I am NOT saying I represent that balance just a discussion.

Someone mentioned Clarke Howard. What is his suggestion of how to get out of my situation? How it differs from Ramsey?
Posted by man117
Los Angeles
Member since Jul 2009
674 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 9:14 pm to
No one can set your balancing point except yourself.

Maybe your view on the subject is different since it appears you're older than me. You could leave cash behind, but maybe you won't stress about how to pay your bills your entire life. Go check out Vince Young's story. He blew through 20+ million thinking, "Well, you only live once".

I'm not saying that's your mentality. I'm just presenting it as the opposite of your aunt. What's the difference if I leave 300k worth of the cars behind or money in the bank? I'm not taking either with me.

Like I said, I love cars. I modify mines, but reasonable mods cost wise. I could "afford" to dump a ton of money into my car or buy a brand new one cash, but I have different goals. Once I have a bigger cushion, I'll build my car more. If I die before I build it fully, oh well, it's not the most important thing in the world.

No ones knocking you....you want the answer how to get out of the mess and we're telling you. No one is coming offer you a bunch of extra cash to spend tomorrow so you need to cut cost.

Some people value possessions, I like possessions, but I value the peace of mind of knowing I could stop working for the next two years and my family would be taken care of.

You have to understand you don't DESERVE everything. I have multiple family members who have newer cars and phones, bigger tvs, but are crying and fighting about their bills. It's not that serious.....It's an easy problem to solve.
Posted by foshizzle
Washington DC metro
Member since Mar 2008
40599 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 9:39 pm to
quote:

Just because you get "free money" doesn't mean you should take it


Absolutely you should take free money. So long as you use the money for something that pays a positive return. Not for a TV of course, but a 0% card offer is fantastic b/c it lets you pay off something else that is a higher rate.
Posted by wegotdatwood
Member since Aug 2009
17094 posts
Posted on 7/25/13 at 9:46 pm to
quote:

Absolutely you should take free money. So long as you use the money for something that pays a positive return.


He didn't, so, he shouldn't have.

quote:

Not for a TV of course,


Well, that's what he bought @ 0% while he was 40k in debt.


quote:

but a 0% card offer is fantastic b/c it lets you pay off something else that is a higher rate.


I agree, but the OP is buying things he shouldn't be buying with the debt he has.




I also think mentally it can get people who don't manage money well, to get used to a financed life.


My bil and sil do this. They don't own a damn thing. Furniture financed, new boobs financed, wood floors financed, car that's not paid off financed and currently getting a new car that will be financed.

Their mindset is paycheck to paycheck without a thought going to retirement.


It builds and builds and then you have a shite ton of debt.
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