Day 162

I was looking over my first post when I started this blog just this past June and at that time I was paying over $400 in interest a month on my debt...the good news is that I have paid off enough debt that I pay just over $100 a month now in interest :) -- YAY!

I remember the day when I made it to $10,000 on the amount of debt paid. I was paying my PST at the bank as I owed money...so much that there was a lien on my business and car. I paid the bill and cried as I walked out of the bank because it felt amazing to make it to the $10,000 mark. It's been a adventure! From hiding my car from a bailiff to not answering my phone in fear of a creditor asking for money that I didn't have.

I was adding up my debt yesterday on how much I owe and how much I paid and my numbers where not adding up. I forgot that I had included the car (secured debt I have a problem paying -- terrible) on the debt amount but I was counting it to what I have paid. I've sort of looked at the car debt like a bill. However, I have struggled so much with this loan I'm wondering how I missed counting into the debt. I was hiding my car for a few weeks in fear of the bailiff, not sleeping at night worrying about the car being gone in the morning...how could I forget this bill?!! I still struggle with it.

So adding the car in the amount of debt paid I am now at $25,588 in total debt paid in 162 days :) Of course I can't help but to wonder what would I have done with that money if I wasn't paying off debt. I have always been terrible with money so I think I would have blown it on a lot of nothing but I would have bought some gear for business. I'm in my sixth month and I love that I have been able to pay this much and I am totally thankful for all the help I have had in doing so. Change, I thank you the most as your blog brought me here.

I was feeling pretty terrible about failing on all my goals last month but I'm catching up and I'm focusing on the positive. $25, 588 in 161 days is pretty good and I know it's a slow process to pay off debt and there are setbacks in most things we take on in life, right?!!

Total Debt Paid: $25,588

Day 160

OK, so I’m catching up and since Nov 1^st I have paid my gas bill on the house, an outstanding Express Toll Route bill, over paid on the VISA, the hyrdo bill for the old house is now paid for, my cable/internet bill is paid and I PAID OFF my Future Shop account! The Future Shop account was the priority bill to pay with it’s high interest. Now I’ll have to work on the Visa. I’m terrible for paying bills but I am working on a more organized system

The Visa is a huge problem. Every time I pay it down I out more stuff on it for business that I never have the money for. I just ordered over $3000 worth of product last month and this month I would like to buy about $400 worth or props for the business. I’ll try to use PayPal for that and my Visa is going in a plastic bag full of water and it’s going in the freezer so I can’t use it. I’ll do that now – ok done! Now I may have to move it to someone else’s freezer for better keeping.

I finished reading ‘Debt Management’ and from it have learnt a lot I need to put into play. Today I transferred my drugs to another pharmacy which will save me just over $2 a month. And I closed 2 of my four bank accounts – less bank fees.

I also have a budget in place to use as a guideline. After all a budget is suppose to be my financial life raft in all this…the biggest tool in pulling me out of this mess. So I better get use to following one to help me out here.

Total debt Paid: $23, 813

Day 158

I actually failed on EVERY goal last month

1. pay bills on time -- nope!

2. buy a washer & dryer -- I bought a $2400 computer, biz expense needed...other one crashed

3. no movie rentals -- ugh!

4. blog at least three times a week -- ugh!!!

5. pay off future shop bill -- I owe just over $100. I should have paid it

6. no new clothing -- I bought cloths for work

7. get child support -- still no success here - he doesn't want to pay

8. finish reading 'managing debt' -- I'm pretty much done

New month new goals and lets hope I do a lot better this month. I would like to watch more debt programs. I really like them, they motivate me and I learn form them. I actually watch them writing notes for myself.

Today I watched 'Maxedout' and it's a Canadian show. I have not thought about where I spend most of my money but is on my business. In Oct I spent over $3000 on new equipment. This month I will spend about $2000 in new equipment. It's really eating into what's left for debt payment. 

totally feeling like a failure I need to forget last month and try again with new November goals

1. I will not rent any movies

2. Blog at least three times a week (helps me to focus)

3. Watch as many debt programs as my schedule allows

4. I will not buy new clothing (winter boots not included...needed)

5. Read more on debt with the books I have

6. The Future Shop bill will be paid off

I do have a few expenses this month for the business. I'd love to buy that needed washer and dryer so I can stop using my mothers but I'm not sure I'll have the money. I still need to pay the deposits on my hydro and gas bills bills for the home and commercial space. The commercial space gas deposit is $500! YIKES!!! I think I need to consider ways to make more money :(

I did spent less than $10 today...I need more days like this

Total Debt paid: still not sure but hopefully I'l figure it out tomorrow

Day 153

I can't believe how much time has passed since my last post!

Work is very busy -- crazy busy!

Paying off debt has been going slow but I plan on getting a lot done this month. I did purchase some needed equipment for the business. $$$ I spent about $3000 there but I have improved my work flow and am getting this done a lot quicker :)

My future shop account will be paid off thins month! Yay! One less account on my debt list!

I still need a washer and dryer. Laundry piles up like crazy in my house now that I actually have to find the time to go out to do laundry. 

I closed three of my accounts today and now only have two. My one account was costing over $30 a month in bank fees so all I was doing in that account is being done in one of the two still open. Yay to saving money! 

I bought winter clothes for my son and that was a $300 bill -- yikes! But it had to be done. 

I was thinking about money yesterday and how much I make a year for being a single household income and I really do well -- I just need to work on learning how to manage this money. Oh, and still no child support from my sons father, ugh! 

I'm off to check on everyone else now. I hope your all well! 

Total Debt paid: No idea right now since I closed one account where debt was paying off through online banking. I should have checked into that! Whoops! 

Day 135

I spent $84.66 today on stuff I really didn't 'need' . It was all baking stuff: cookie cutters, baking sheets, cookie decorating stuff and some and pancake molds so I can make my son Halloween shaped pancakes...yes, I really didn't need the molds!

Day 137

I've been reading a lot about credit counseling and I'm actually glad I was denied the counseling when I was looking into it back in June...it was brought me to this blog and my inspiration (change can be a good thing) but the agency I was talking to had radio adds (very costly, I've had them so where does that money come from???) and they charged $100 to set up the plan plus 10% of my total debt -- yikes. Not until reading more into the book I am reading I have learned that this form of credit counseling is only out to take my money. It would have cost me about $5000 just to have them help me. Instead I pay for internet, and I have bought a few books and I am doing just fine :)

I still have so much to do this month to keep up

Total Debt Paid: $23,003

Day 125

It's Oct 1st and with a new month I think I'm in need of new goals with strict discipline. The bills are beyond what I can pay this month and cut backs will have to be made if I plan on paying my bills on time, buying a washer and dryer and putting money away to debt.

The process has slowed down again on how much I have put to debt. I seem to do this...have set backs but will pick up again and this month I plan on having another great month. I'm totally broke today, yesterday and the day before living in my overdraft. I will be paid $900 today and out of that will pay my rent, gas and groceries for the week.

October Goals

• pay bills on time
• buy washer & dryer
• no movie rentals
• read more debt blogs
• blog at least three times a week
• pay off future shop bill
• no new clothing for me
• get child support
• finish reading managing debt
• find ways to save for debt
• track all incoming and out going money
  

I just found some money saving tips that I will need to consider:
#1 Avoid temptations.
#2 Use grocery coupons and buy generic items.
#3 Don’t use credit cards.
#4 Make a list.
#5 Pay yourself first.
#6 Cut out your vice habits and drains on your dollars.
#7 Shop at discount stores and outlets.
#8 Buy used.
#9 Downsize.
#10 Postpone purchases.

Total debt paid: $22,253