Confession

Posted by: curiousillusion on: September 14, 2009

In: curiousillusion
Comment!

Sigh. I feel guilty. Really guilty.

Let’s start from the beginning: January 1st. I made a resolution, if you will, regarding my finances. My resolution consisted of saving money from each paycheck, not using any money from my savings account, and to stop using my credit cards – I really want to pay them down/off.

I was doing really well too. Everything was going according to plan. Then August came around. August marked three occasions: the start of my 6 weeks between paycheck, my sudden realization that my wardrobe was not new job appropriate, and the beginning of school, aka my visiting teacher supply stores to buy things for my classroom.

Suddenly everything came crashing down. Everything I worked so hard for the past 7 months has been erased. I’m so angry with myself. My credit cards have been used and abused, my savings account depleted (although that was necessary and something I had come to terms with due to my paycheck gap)… Something needs to change.

So I’m going to. The credit cards are going to be out of my wallet so I won’t be tempted to reach for it. My goal is to not use a credit card, well, at all, for any reason. I’m going to ban myself from online shopping, firstly because I always return most everyhing I buy online but also because I don’t need to waste any more money. And as soon as I get my first paycheck from my new job (should be in about 2 weeks, cross fingers), one of the first things I’m going to do is put as much as I can afford into savings. That is, after I’ve made sure to pay more than the minimum on my credit cards.

I wish I could say this is something that will all go away soon, but unfortunately this hole that I’ve dug myself into has been years in the making. But I will dig myself out. I will! Now uh, no lectures please. It’ll make me feel worse than I already do. :(

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Meg

Hi there! I know we're strangers but I saw your post and just had to offer some encouragement!

I totally understand where you're coming from in this post. I was unemployed for over three months after graduating from college, and my husband and I were forced to use credit cards to pay a lot of bills and other expenses during that time. I am a saver big time, so to go through money that I had saved or to put a lot on credit, it made me (and still makes me) feel guilty. I've worked now for about two months, and we've begun to recover, but the road to paying down some of those cards is a long one.

I wish you the best of luck! It sounds like you are on the right path to getting everything straightened out. Don't be down, I know it's hard, but you're making really good decisions and you will get through this!

Fabulous

I never understood why grade school teachers had to buy their own supplies for the classrooms. That's beyond me. I worked at a daycare and any time I needed supplies I would tell the director and she'd order my supplies. Maybe its an American school thing?

But its a good thing that you realize that your finanical situation is a mess. Too many people have problems with money and choose to ignore the situation completely. I'm sure that you get everything in order shortly.

zoeo

try this:

http://www.amazon.de/How-Simplify-Your-Life-Pra...

How to Simplify Your Life

this book could help you to manage your finances

JPP

I completely understand dropping way more money than anticipated on the dang childrens for the classroom. Get back on the budget girl. You can get back on track.

TotallyHeather

I'm in the same boat...

Lissa Arsenault

I know what you are talking about. You CAN do it! I am doing it now too. Leave your cards at home. If you can, try using a set amount of cash per week (like the TV Debt show lady says) for spending. I switched from buying what I wished to only buying what I needed, and eat out less too. Made a big difference for me. (Risachan)

Classroom Confessions

I've been there girl! Hang in there and I think it is a great idea to leave the cards at home so you are not tempted. A few months ago I got rid of all my credit card debt and now I am carrying a rather large amount again. It stinks, but it happens sometimes.

Shop Girl*

Ahh we all get ourselves into situations we don't mean to get in from time to time. The important thing is that you're taking steps to fix it, and I know you can! :)

last year's girl

If it makes you feel any better I could tell you how much I spent when I was over your side of the ocean...

I'm putting my credit card in the freezer once I'm done unpacking, which I think is a trick I learned from The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic. I don't want to cut it up in case we do need it for an emergency, but if it's trapped in ice I will at least have at least a day to figure out if the purchase really is one!

curiousillusion

Hee hee, I've read those books. I would try that trick but I have quite a few cards... and then I'd have to explain to my parents...

mattstratton

The "freezing the CC in ice" trick used to work for me, except for that one time I got into a total panic and realized that buy running hot water over the ice block, I could melt it in about five minutes.

But in principle...it works :)

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