orangemomma, I think knowing that it takes a bit to work out a budget is good. Having it written down helps so much!
I wanted to share a link with you about a blogging momma that used DR's plan to pay off their house in 33 months so she could stay home full time with their child. Encouraging ideas - http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/10/top-4-tips-to-getting-rid-of-debt.html
thanks for the linky lilac!
Hello all! This is my first post on this forum, but we've been doing Dave Ramsey for a while. We're officially out of consumer debt! We still have student loans, but as of the last time I did our debt snowball calculations, we'll have all of my husband AND MINE paid off when I graduate college (which is something considering how many loans I have!). Still a few years to go on that (I'm only going part time since I have two daughters to take care of), but it'll be great to graduate without the prospect of all that debt looming over me. It also means that I should be able to stay home for our next child without worrying about paying 250 a month in student loans! Yay!
I guess we've been pretty lucky in our journey so far. Most of the beginning baby steps were already taken care of for us (I've always been a stickler about paying bills on time, even if it means I end up buying groceries on the credit card) and my husband is on salary so it's fairly easy to plan our budget before getting it. My main difficulty has been keeping in the budget. I grew up in one of those households that if we didn't have the money for something, we just bought it on a card or withdrew from the line of credit. For the last few months though I've been doing strictly cash envelopes (minus bills which are taken directly from our checking account) and it's working great! Seriously, if you haven't tried them yet, you should! It seems intimidating to work all in cash, but it's actually really freeing for me! After having tracked every purchase for years, it's nice to just be able to spend what is there without worrying about whether or not we have enough, because if it's there it's there!
Nice to meet you all! Good luck in all of your journeys!
I think my post should have been it's own thread, sorry!
which post are you referring to something anonymous? lactating girl seems I've seen you around MDC for years? Do you mean that you're new to the getting out of debt thread? Welcome
yay, I got my deposit check back from my last rental! The check is for more than I planned, she returned a 'fee' in addition to the deposit! However i'm not sure of how to cash it, lol. I have no bank account and no desire to get one. The check is made out from a non name bank that the nearest branch is about four hours away. It looks like a personal check but it is printed by the real estate company. Can I take it to a check cashing place? How much will they charge to cash it?
SomethingAnonymous, I guess you must have edited your comment on this thread, since I don't see a comment further up that was from you. Getting out of debt is big stuff. Feel free to join us if you like.
mamayogi, congrats on the bigger than expected refund - on the bank account front, I am curious why you don't want one? Because of fees? Have you tried a credit union? They generally have no fees, but a small required "held deposit". It is $5 at my bank. Those check cashing places probably will take a big chunk of your refund as a fee. Why give them some of it? It might be worth it to open a credit union or bank account just to avoid getting docked with fees for cashing the check, even if you just close the account later.
orangemomma, I think knowing that it takes a bit to work out a budget is good. Having it written down helps so much!
I wanted to share a link with you about a blogging momma that used DR's plan to pay off their house in 33 months so she could stay home full time with their child. Encouraging ideas - http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com/2012/10/top-4-tips-to-getting-rid-of-debt.html
Great link! Thanks for this I've been sifting through it all morning! I have not been consistent with putting our budget into excel, so I'm using her basic notebook idea in hopes that I will track everything. I really want to see where we are before I get my 1st paycheck form my new job. I know how easily it gets spent when I'm not keeping good records!
I am afraid to open a bank account because of how my ex used mine in the past, it is really unrational of me since we are no longer together though. My mom said she can deposit it in her account then when it clears give me the money, like a third party check even though I was under the impression banks did not do those any more!
On another note, I got a bill from a collections agency regarding the daycare account I was concerned about. It did not show up on my credit check when I called TransUnion a couple of weeks ago. The bill had my kids last name not my last name! Does this mean it will not appear on my credit? I really don't want to pay it because the recruitor for the daycare told me that they took the state subsidy but failed to mention they bill the parents for the first month till the subsidy clears at the end of the month. So basically the parent has to pay a month week by week then they also get paid by the state which seems wrong to me! Should I call to dispute it or would that then put it in my real name? In this particular situation I am more concerned about keeping my credit clean then doing what is 'right' and paying a bill that I only have because the director of the program lied to me.
mamayogi, it sounds like a bank account in your name only might be a place to assert your independence and develop your confidence in money management. You know you aren't going to mismanage your money in that account. Your name will be the only one on the account so how you handle the money in the account will be your business alone. Shop around and find a bank or credit union that doesn't have any fees or at least the fees are low. It would seem the less you have to deal with others cashing checks for you (whether it be check cashing stores, relatives or friends), the better off you will be.
I don't know much about collections, but let me see if I have the situation correct. Your daycare charges a certain price for child care, but it is greater than what the state subsidy is to pay for child care. You thought what the state gave would cover the whole price, right? If that is the issue, I would say work out a payment plan with the collections agency, since that is where the issue is now. They would rather get something than nothing, even if it is a small amount each time you can pay (biweekly, monthly, etc).
mamayogi, it sounds like a bank account in your name only might be a place to assert your independence and develop your confidence in money management. You know you aren't going to mismanage your money in that account. Your name will be the only one on the account so how you handle the money in the account will be your business alone. Shop around and find a bank or credit union that doesn't have any fees or at least the fees are low. It would seem the less you have to deal with others cashing checks for you (whether it be check cashing stores, relatives or friends), the better off you will be.
I don't know much about collections, but let me see if I have the situation correct. Your daycare charges a certain price for child care, but it is greater than what the state subsidy is to pay for child care. You thought what the state gave would cover the whole price, right? If that is the issue, I would say work out a payment plan with the collections agency, since that is where the issue is now. They would rather get something than nothing, even if it is a small amount each time you can pay (biweekly, monthly, etc)
So the mystery with the daycare goes even deeper; I called the state subsidy and they did not pay anything! They said they never recieved a bill from the daycare in my name! The collection agency has my first name and my kids last name on the bill. Since the daycare never billed the state for their portion they are trying to charge me the whole amount under the wrong name! The account has not shown up on my credit report and I doubt it will because it is not in my name.
The daycare charged parents by the week instead of waiting for the subsidy at the endof the month. So basically they would get paid twice, once by the parent then again by the state. I was never told this when I signed my kids up, just that they accept the state subsidy. After my kids were there for a week she said I had to pay or leave by the next morning.
mamayogibear, I hope you can get this cleared up with both the state and the day care center. I can only imagine that it is tough finding a daycare provider that accepts the state subsidy. Is there a state ombudsman that can assist you with this obvious lapse in care by the daycare provider?
AFM, DH is working an extra day of overtime today. He hasn't worked an overtime Friday in a long time. Usually it is just 4 ten hour days. Today is an extra 8 hours and it couldn't come at a better time - we need to reload our savings to cover travel expenses at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
So I went back through my bank account and created a budget for September and October. We have been paying all extra money towards CC bills. Our grocery bill has been in check and there have not been much extra spending. I did buy some clothes for my new job, but I've only worn one thing the rest is still in the bag with tags on. I'm mostly working from home right now so I'm going to return the rest of the stuff I bought (about $150 worth)! I think that keeping the notebook will really help me to see where it all goes. I'll be much more conscious of if I really need something or not. Like I said I used to track on Excel but I got out of the habit because it was a pia. Hope that the notebook idea sticks! I'm so impressed with that blog where they payed of their house in a few years! My wheels are-a-turning!
mamayogibear, I hope you can get this cleared up with both the state and the day care center. I can only imagine that it is tough finding a daycare provider that accepts the state subsidy. Is there a state ombudsman that can assist you with this obvious lapse in care by the daycare provider?
AFM, DH is working an extra day of overtime today. He hasn't worked an overtime Friday in a long time. Usually it is just 4 ten hour days. Today is an extra 8 hours and it couldn't come at a better time - we need to reload our savings to cover travel expenses at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This is from quite a while ago and I no longer live in the same state. I have complained to numerous places like the state subsidy, the bbb and the franchises corporate office regarding the directors deceptive recruitment practices. I just hope my complaints did not make it where they connect me to the account since they put the account in the wrong name!
Does anyone know how long a dispute with NCO takes to resolve? I just paid off one bill with them that was mine but there is another bill that my ex put in my name! I faxed in a statement showing I lived at a different address and that my ex is now in prison for identity theft. I know the account will be removed (I don't see how it could not be) but no one at NCO will tell me how long it takes. Thanks
lilacvioletiris - thanks for the link to blissfulanddomestic - helpful! How are things going with your little brother and his finances?
trekkingirl - what's the news on the house front?
I know it's the 20th of the month and a little late to set goals for October - but this is what I have written down in my planner.
1. Get current on all bills - I just got paid and for the past two weeks I took on extra shifts for a coworker's vacation. So, there should actually be enough money to do this! Of course, the real question is can I KEEP current?
2. put $100 into my emergency fund
Hi Girls, Just carry on while I read along. I seriously need to get back on track. Too much credit card spending again lately. 
Never too late to set goals, orangemomma. Keep up the good work!
Payday is Friday for us, we get paid bi-weekly. I have $25 left in my grocery budget and after I pick up a few essentials today (milk, eggs, peanut butter, yogurt, etc.) we should be all set. I am happy that I have been able to stay within budget and follow my meal plan pretty well the past two weeks. Now to make a plan for the next two weeks and try to fine-tune my shopping and budget. I would like to spend less but would also like to figure out our usage so I am not stopping for things here and there during the week. Baby steps, right?
We have a week off from our FPU class but we still need to catch up on our other lesson. With dh and I working opposite and going in various directions with the kids all week long, sitting down and doing the homework and having a budget meeting has been our biggest challenge.
Hoping today is a productive day for me and a day of getting organized. Have a great week everyone!
I made my T.J. Maxx returns today (the clothes that I had bought for my new job) I just kept one pair of black pants. I ended up with $165 back into my checking account!!! I've been working form home in pj's anyway! I can buy clothes when I need them and in the mean time I can use that $ to help the cause! My goal is to be done with CC debt in 3 months!!!
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