Taking a real look at my state of debt
So... BJ kinda yelled at me yesterday about using my credit card... There's an outdoor patio table at World Market for $150 that looks amazing. I was pissy and grouchy and I don't like to be yelled at about my money because usually I do fine, you know? I have a comfort level and usually (prior to buying the house) if I got over that level I would tighten up the belt and get back under that limit. I have 1.9% APR on my card right now but he asked the right question last night of... "for how long?"... He also brought up the point that if I'm charging the groceries (I do put money on the card after every purchase but sometimes not the complete amount I charged) I'm negating the savings I'm having on my coupons. Anyhow... I just procrastinated for about 15 minutes and figured out where my money is going from this next paycheck and I have $400 after all the bills are paid... if I figure $200 for groceries and gas, I can put $200 to my cc.
I basically figured out that if I don't charge another dime on my cc and I allow only $200 from each paycheck for groceries, clothing, gas, etc. I could pay $200 to my cc every paycheck... that's including putting money in savings (getting 4% on it) and paying extra to the mortgage and car loans. Even with the money I have outstanding from the Cowboys tickets, I won't pay off my cc at that rate until the first week of February. That's a long time away! Kinda freaking me out! Anyhow... yeah, so... I need to start living within my means... or rather, I need to start figuring out what my means feels like. Annette is frugal, Jaime is frugal, BJ's a tightwad. I have great examples around me and I need to stop and take stock. That table at World Market is a form of "Keeping up with the Joneses" and capitalism gone amuck. It's not really a comparison of what a specific other person has but of me wanting the house perfect NOW.
... Really need to figure things out. hrmmmm.
I basically figured out that if I don't charge another dime on my cc and I allow only $200 from each paycheck for groceries, clothing, gas, etc. I could pay $200 to my cc every paycheck... that's including putting money in savings (getting 4% on it) and paying extra to the mortgage and car loans. Even with the money I have outstanding from the Cowboys tickets, I won't pay off my cc at that rate until the first week of February. That's a long time away! Kinda freaking me out! Anyhow... yeah, so... I need to start living within my means... or rather, I need to start figuring out what my means feels like. Annette is frugal, Jaime is frugal, BJ's a tightwad. I have great examples around me and I need to stop and take stock. That table at World Market is a form of "Keeping up with the Joneses" and capitalism gone amuck. It's not really a comparison of what a specific other person has but of me wanting the house perfect NOW.
... Really need to figure things out. hrmmmm.