Tl;dr: just dipped into 10k plus of savings to pay off 4300 of credit card debt that I had from 4 years ago.
When I got out of college I made several financial mistakes: I took a position in another state that paid very little (32k), leaving my parents home and paying for my own move (yeah I left living rent free to move to another state for a piss poor sales job. It was 2012 and I was convinced that I wouldn't be able to find any type of employment so I jumped at first chance).
Got an apartment that was in a bad area but it was 500 a month; about 9 months into this job I got fired due to not meeting sales numbers. During that time I had been "living it up" and charging thousands to my card every month. I also purchased a small condo with down payment help from my parents.
After getting fired I sunk into a deep depression, and started having panic attacks. Took another sales job that paid even less and charged on my card for the sake of surviving. At my lowest, I got angry and started attacking the problem: low income and cutting expenses.
I interviewed at over 20 places and cut expenses down to food, gas, electricity, and rent. I turned down several job offers that didn't pay anywhere near what I needed to achieve my goals (which was primarily not having a shitty life and not loosing my condo). I soon secured a position, while not what I liked doing (sales) did manage to pay 48 k.
I kept my budget pretty tight but started to enjoy a few small comforts; was also determined to get the fuck out of Arizona so I started spending money that wasn't going to minimum paymentsat improving my property.
I could have realistically paid off this card at that time with a disciplined payment pla, but I was constantly scare of being fired. I chose to make minimum payments and pad my savings to well over 12 months of living expenses, then into the property.
March 2016 I took another job that paid 53k but was not sales; July 2016 I was promoted and asked to move Washington state on the companies dime. Income went from 53 to 80k. Still was crippled by the fear of getting fired or something medically happening so I still didn't pay the debt in full.
I sat looking at my credit union account (thanks pf banks are for suckers); I have 12 months of expenses in savings, company match on my 401k, and plenty in checking to meet monthly expenses including some fun trips I had planned.
It took everything in me to click to pay that 4300 in debt down; I expected a rush of finally being out of credit card debt but I don't. Not sure if it will sink in but I thought I would share
Submitted June 02, 2017 at 07:57PM by pm_me_your__steak http://ift.tt/2qLaiKJ
