I understand your plight a great deal. For the last two years I have only paid for things based on the money I had in my checking account (with the exception of gas for my car because I wanted to reduce that to a single payment each month so I could track the spending better). I even started a community debtproofliving after reading the book my Mary Hunt of the same title so that if anyone else wanted to share their struggled toward the goal of rearranging their spending priorities, we could support each other. (Still, hasn't been very active in the last few months.)
As a result, the debt management plan with my credit counselors has gone from $20K+ in unsecured credit card debt to less than $15K, even though the interest is still killing me even on the closed accounts. My school loans, also unsecured debt, are being paid down more than before. I feel more in control of my spending than before because I have a clear budget, and my bills on services and secured debt are actually getting paid, and I have been able to establish saving 10% and giving 10% from my paychecks, the results of which have been amazing. (Because you should always SAVE, even when you are aggressively paying down debt.)
It had changed my whole attitude. Yesterday, I picked up "Scrubs" Season 1 on DVD, then put it back down because I realized that in my budget this month, I wanted to pay for a plane ticket to Florida, and that $30-some dollars might truly affect my ability to afford it. A true realization that the money I have RIGHT NOW is only the money I really have to spend.
I also learned to redefine a true financial "emergency," but then I could go on for paragraphs talking of that alone.
I definitely recommend that book (Debt Proof Living) if you want to read it. It is kinda "common sense laid out as a plan of action." WE ALL NEED A PLAN that is clear and precise to keep us from going astray in tempting times!
So... offering my support in your plans and letting you know of some other tools out there that those of us who have had to discipline our spending have used toward success!
As a result, the debt management plan with my credit counselors has gone from $20K+ in unsecured credit card debt to less than $15K, even though the interest is still killing me even on the closed accounts. My school loans, also unsecured debt, are being paid down more than before. I feel more in control of my spending than before because I have a clear budget, and my bills on services and secured debt are actually getting paid, and I have been able to establish saving 10% and giving 10% from my paychecks, the results of which have been amazing. (Because you should always SAVE, even when you are aggressively paying down debt.)
It had changed my whole attitude. Yesterday, I picked up "Scrubs" Season 1 on DVD, then put it back down because I realized that in my budget this month, I wanted to pay for a plane ticket to Florida, and that $30-some dollars might truly affect my ability to afford it. A true realization that the money I have RIGHT NOW is only the money I really have to spend.
I also learned to redefine a true financial "emergency," but then I could go on for paragraphs talking of that alone.
I definitely recommend that book (Debt Proof Living) if you want to read it. It is kinda "common sense laid out as a plan of action." WE ALL NEED A PLAN that is clear and precise to keep us from going astray in tempting times!
So... offering my support in your plans and letting you know of some other tools out there that those of us who have had to discipline our spending have used toward success!
BRAVO TO YOU FOR TAKING CONTROL! :-)
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