My old post is gone because it was just a questioning post but thanks to this sub I'm so much closer to freedom!
I had 13k in credit card debt. I was drowning and after looking at all my interest I realized I wasnt making a single dent! I had ELEVEN credit cards and even though people said not to, I closed the ones I was prone to spend on and am down to 7.
Bank of America 24.99% - Closed
American Eagle 24.69% - Closed
Maurices ?? Never used - Closed
Kohls 24.99% - oldest account and not closing but paid off.
Care credit 26.99% - paid off. 2nd oldest card.
Capital one x2 - I called and after paying off my lower balance I combined the two cards to a 1000 balance 21.99% this is now my gas and pay off card. I've been using it properly and they've doubled my balance.
Amazon store 23.49% - just paid off the last bit with my new job! Might close as its only good for amazon
Chase Slate 23.49% - paid off and merged 200$ of the balance to my chase freedom as they wouldnt do the full amount due to age of account. Might close.
Chase freedom 22.99% - this was paid off and I did a split balance transfer between it and my American Express. 1.2k no interest until Jan 2020. Expected pay off in March of April.
American Express 22.49% - 1.1k no interest December 2019. I pay this off either end of February or March.(tax return coming in is going straight here)
After a lot of discussion with my partner I did a debt consolidation loan of my high balance/interest. He was adamant and cosigned with me on this and we refinanced my car due to registration issues and fighting with my out of state credit union.
Total debt consolidation loan was 7.5k in August. I'm down to 6.999$ I believe interest was a flat 9.49% or 8.49%. Current payment is round to 179$ a month.
Car loan. 8k now at 7549$. Payment 176$ rounded monthly. Was 200 a month
I changed jobs as suggested! I applied 8 times to the same job until I got interviewed and hired. Jump up 2$ an hour with more over time opprotunities.
We put me on my partners phone plan and that saved me 80$ a month! Right now because he makes waaaaay more than I he doesnt expect me to pay it yet. (Tmobile 40$ a month)
I went through USAA and updated my annual mileage and since my job is now a 15 minute drive I average 5000 miles a year. Started saving me 30$ a month starting this month. 168 -> 138
Thanks to my new job I am no longer spending 240$ on gas, it is down to 70-80 a month. Filling up twice a month instead of maybe twice a week.
Stopped spending so much on eating out food, which was a problem on my old job. Saving anywhere from 140$+ on take out.
My monthly Bill's went from 940 to 620ish a month.
Car insurance: 138 Car payment: 175 Loan: 179 Chase: 25 American xpress: 35 Pretax takes of biweekly paycheck Medical: 78 401k: 68 50% match up to 6%. First ever 401k
Income: 1539, going off an 18% tax take out. I can earn an extra 180 a month (not the taxed amount) picking up a single extra shift a month. Which I plan to do.
Left over income after bills I'm saying is 600 a month. If I get paid what I have figured, as my paychecks are still in orientation and training, I want to keep 200 aside a month to cushion myself. (I work nights with differential but have to take some 8 hour day classes for my job)
I hope to have everything paid off in early 2021
Currently rolling: American Express Chase Debt consolidation Car Save up for a down payment for an Suv. Which we have been discussing about needing for a year. I'm planning on waiting until late 2021 for this take on. And private selling my car after a professional cleaning We have two german shepherds we ship around and putting them into a Chevy Sonic or Toyota Camry isnt the best. My car is already almost at 100k miles so we will see how much she has left in her! Hopefully more than 2 years.
I ended up leaving my original job in October due too high stress, bleeding gas money and poor management. I had enough saved up to last me until my first paycheck on January 22nd. I felt proud I was able to actually save 3 months of bills and now I'm having to do it again but I'm feeling good about my situation. Hell I have even lost weight. It's a good year and I thank you all for all the great advice I have read in here!
Tell me if you have some more advice!
Submitted February 06, 2019 at 08:07AM by Razzail http://bit.ly/2UIbIju
