Howdy guys! Finally brave enough to post here.
So my contract position of 1 year just ended at a well known tech company and I was getting a good amount of money ($89k) for NC, but I was too stupid with money to pay off my comparatively small debt of $4,707 and save money. I managed to save $9k, which would be enough to to live off frugally for a year, but my roommates both decided to bail a day before the rent of $850 is due. I may be able to convince one of them to remain and the other to at least pay his share (my brother), but I'm not counting on that. We've been wanting to move to CA for a while but have kept spinning our wheels for 2 years. So he's just taking the leap with $6k he's saved (~$3k of which he'll buy a car with).
I'm confident I can get a position as a Product Designer in CA (just outside LA) with my resume, and I want to stop being afraid to finally make the move from NC. I want to lower my debt amount and pay it off at once (especially since it's mostly rental debts from hard times), get a secured credit card (I've never had one), and start fresh in a new place. I've settled two collection amounts before, but I halted after an awful experience with the agency that holds 3 out of 4 of the remaining collections. I tried calling, and politely negotiating a lowered settlement amount. The guy preceded to berate me and say even if I paid one of the amounts in full, they wouldn't give me any proof/receipt unless I paid all of it. Any attempt to get proof of payment in writing was shot down nastily and then he just outright hung up on me. That was a year ago and I haven't tried to settle it again.
Here's a breakdown of what I owe/have:
| Debt | - | - | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency | Creditor | Balance | |
| Agency #1 | Cable company | $361 [High Balance: $99] | |
| Agency #2 | Dorm Rental ABC | $1,023 | |
| - | Dorm Rental ABC | $594 (cosigned 'mate who bailed) | |
| - | Apartment Complex | $2,729 [High balance: $2,663] | |
| - | - | - | $-4,707 |
| Cash | - | - | |
| Bank A | CH: $3,100 | S: $20 | |
| Bank B | CH: 0 | S: $5,926.29 | |
| - | - | - | $9026 |
I've got ADHD which I've thankfully finally addressed and began treating in the last 3 months, and it's hard to get motivated, so this is the kind of thing I need to light a fire under my ass. I want to hit the ground running. If I stay to deal with this alone, I will fall into deep depression again. I've already gone back to my lazy tendencies with not having a job and I can't keep going like that. I'm already itemizing my bills, and I'm going to sell all my things (mostly consoles like the Switch, Gaming PC, 2 Xbox Ones, 4K TV, etc) and hopefully get at least $2.5k~ after staying here for another month.
Finances aren't my forte, but I would love to get some advice on this. How to approach it all? I've looked at the FAQs and have always lurked here, but I'm overwhelmed with information and I do better 1 on 1 with things.
Thank you so much!
Edit: I also have a Car Loan with a balance of $8,735 (monthly payments of $373), but it's a loan I took out for my older sister and she pays it. I want to take that out of my name, but have considered taking it over. It's an SUV though, with 8 seats that I don't really need. She's often late on it, and I want it off my name, but she's still not transferred it over to herself and I've not been in touch with her for a month and some change.
Submitted June 04, 2017 at 04:26PM by overanalysissam http://ift.tt/2sEZw5b
