Finances - an optimistic update
I am slowly succeeding at whittling away my outstanding personal debt. The credit-related debt is taken care of with monthly installments over the next five years.
I started out in January with what was pretty much a zero balance in my bank account and having accumulated too much personal debt for my comfort. I needed to start whacking away at that or it would just perpetuate itself. I've been pretty aggressive with it, but it's important to me to return what people are owed as soon as I possibly can.
The amount of personal debt I started with in March was $3,874.38
As of now it is $1,490.88. I still owe $2,383.40
A big chunk of that got paid off with my $1,650 tax refund. Yay refunds!
I've also dome some calculations to see how I'm faring as I get halfway between paycheques. I've calculated the difference between my next paycheque and my outstanding bills, and for the first time in ages, I'll have gone down to a zero balance on all the bills I've been slowly catching up on since January... my telecommunications bills are all I get anymore... cell phone, home phone and internet. I don't really get other bills now that I have no credit cards or credit line. I just get statements.
Right now it's so financially tight that I can't really afford to do anything much. I'm just getting to the point at which I can begin to live within my means. Once I pay off my personal debts, I'm looking forward to having a little fun again.
I'm actually at the point at which I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not an oncoming train. I can envision a time in the not-too-distant future when I won't have to be quite so strictly frugal and can start actually saving some money. It won't be until five years from now, but I'm hoping to have begun saving in other respects by then as well.
I'm learning to be fiscally responsible. Next step: Fiscal planning.
But one step at a time, folks. One step at a time.
I started out in January with what was pretty much a zero balance in my bank account and having accumulated too much personal debt for my comfort. I needed to start whacking away at that or it would just perpetuate itself. I've been pretty aggressive with it, but it's important to me to return what people are owed as soon as I possibly can.
The amount of personal debt I started with in March was $3,874.38
As of now it is $1,490.88. I still owe $2,383.40
A big chunk of that got paid off with my $1,650 tax refund. Yay refunds!
I've also dome some calculations to see how I'm faring as I get halfway between paycheques. I've calculated the difference between my next paycheque and my outstanding bills, and for the first time in ages, I'll have gone down to a zero balance on all the bills I've been slowly catching up on since January... my telecommunications bills are all I get anymore... cell phone, home phone and internet. I don't really get other bills now that I have no credit cards or credit line. I just get statements.
Right now it's so financially tight that I can't really afford to do anything much. I'm just getting to the point at which I can begin to live within my means. Once I pay off my personal debts, I'm looking forward to having a little fun again.
I'm actually at the point at which I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not an oncoming train. I can envision a time in the not-too-distant future when I won't have to be quite so strictly frugal and can start actually saving some money. It won't be until five years from now, but I'm hoping to have begun saving in other respects by then as well.
I'm learning to be fiscally responsible. Next step: Fiscal planning.
But one step at a time, folks. One step at a time.