| Author |
Family Matters:  Paying bills  |
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 10 2007 : 08:39:57 AM
|
Hi Ladies-
BF and I have been scrimping and saving to be able to pay off a $800 University bill so we could get him re-enrolled in college. We were disappointed to find out yesterday that since he had been out of school for so long, some of his loans went into repayment status. Between us not being home (for phone calls) and our address changing so much we were not aware of this and his loan defaulted! Yikes!
So anyway we got into a Federal Loan Rehabilitation program that fix the problem in 6-8 months. (Just in time for next semester!)
So the money I had been scrimping away now gets to go to pay off the bills that I had only been paying the minimum on so we could save the $800. It is so nice to have the feeling of a "Clean Slate" with all my living expense bills. I didn't realize how much stress it was to put off so many bills- like electricity. Luckily this (which I admit is usually not a good idea at all) only had to happen during December.
Now as long as we continue to be frugal and don't run bills up again- we are on a good path for financial recovery.
So I guess what I am saying is that, while I normally hate paying bills- today was almost fun. God bless the internet and instant pay and God bless my job! My Microsoft money forecast even looks like it won't cause me to bankrupt to be out of work for a month when the baby comes, in fact our budget will easily be able to accommodate it!
I hope everyone else is recovering from the Holiday stress and financial craziness that most of us get sucked into.
Alee |
|
|
faithymom
True Blue Farmgirl
360 Posts
Faith
Sandpoint
ID
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2007 : 09:46:39 AM
|
Awesome, Alee!
It's so nice to have things taken care of and reducing your debt is almost like getting a raise.
Congrats!
"All television is educational television. The only question is, what is it teaching?"-Fmr. FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson |
 |
|
|
Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2007 : 09:52:03 AM
|
| Good job, gal pal. It's sort of like a game to see the balance get chopped down to nothing! High five to you, Nance |
|
|
|
KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2007 : 11:03:35 AM
|
I tell you--I credit this messageboard with much of my desire to live frugally and payoff debts--to simplify our lives in SO many more ways.
I too am paying off debt this month--mostly just piddly bills that I hate to pay, and it really is freeing, both mind and spirit. Taking things to Salvation Army and GoodWill does very much the same thing for me!
Wishing you much luck and success in your money management....My husband isn't very good at this game, but I try to see if I can live on $8.00 a week for lunches, coffee's, extra's etc...Makes me be creative, and keeps me remembering what IS important, and it often doesn't have anything to do with a $15 lunch or buying things I think I want but really don't need.
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
|
|
|
BarefootGoatGirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1495 Posts
Corrine
North Carolina
USA
1495 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2007 : 10:04:07 AM
|
Good Job, Alee! Hubby and I are working to get out of debt too and it feels so good to have everything windup in the black! Enjoy your month off with baby!
Trina
'
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23 |
|
|
|
hollyhock81
True Blue Farmgirl
125 Posts
FARAH
IN
USA
125 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2007 : 7:34:12 PM
|
| I know how you feel,My Husband has a student loan,its a dark cload that follows us.That and the mortgage payment.But if you're wise and have a plan things will be fine,and you seem to have both going for you. |
|
|
|
JenniferJuniper
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Jennifer
New Hampshire
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2007 : 1:37:16 PM
|
Alee, I can emphathize. I defaulted on my student loan 4 years ago b/c at the time I was making so little I could barely make rent, let alone the minimun on the student loan. They tacked on almost $20k in "legal fees" which doubled my total debt. I'm slowly paying it down on an income-based scale, but I'll be in repayment for up to two decades due to having to pay the additional $20k. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to stay on top of the student loan, they can get nasty. But, at least you can write off the interest on your tax return.
Last January I made a strict budget; throughout 2006 I paid off my (used) car 7 months early & paid off all but $400 in c/card debt by this December. I hope to get that last $400 off by next month. And boy does it feel great! In a previous post I wrote how I gave up all shopping for Lent; that helped my budget and perspective tremendously. And Jonni, yes! I'm so much more creative when I impose a strict limit funds, you would laugh to see how I tore up the house this weekend looking for odds and ends to make Valentines with (I signed up for the Valentine exchange on the Holidays board).
Stay the course & you'll soon see the light at the end of the financial tunnel. I'll send a prayer you way! |
|
|
|
daffodil dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Jayne
Hamilton
Victoria
Australia
805 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 6:19:52 PM
|
Alee,
Hope all is going well with you and baby. I have been thinking of you (re your previous posts) and are glad to hear that things are looking up for you. Just make really sure that you are looking after yourself - you and baby are the most important issue at the moment. Easy to say, I know - luckily for me, hubby and I bought a house really young which we renovated and sold for a profit - did that with another house and now have virtually no mortgage. Although we are looking at buying our dream farm soon, which I think will require a new mortgage. But early on, interest rates were at 18% and over half our small income was going to pay the mortgage. It was very scary at times.
Just look ahead - it can be done and you will definitely get through it.
Best wishes,
Jayne |
|
|
|
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 07:37:23 AM
|
Hi Ladies-
Doug and I just got back from an emergency trip home. His last Grandfather died. Now he just has one Grandma left. It was a nice ceremony in which his brother and he were both Pall Bearers. I think it was good for him to have the closure after his grandfather being sick for a long time. It was wonderful for both of us to get to see family and I met gobs of his that I had never met before.
Unfortunately the trip took money :( but on the other hand, his brother gave us some as a "I don't care if this comes back" type of loan which was amazing and is already helping :).
Microsoft Money continues to have a cheery outlook which makes me feel good :) Being able to look down the road and see how things can turn out is great. I know we will get these bills taken care of and that hope is what really helps keep me focused on saving and not spending :) |
|
|
|
Past Blessings
True Blue Farmgirl
1083 Posts
Brenda
Orchard Prairie
WA
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 2:09:43 PM
|
Hi Alee,
I am so sorry to hear of the death of your husband's grandfather. It is so hard to lose the ones we love. I am sorry the trip cost you, but the value of going was priceless. Stay faithful to your goals of being debt free and God will bless you in ways you will not expect. I have always been amazed that when our mindset is on living debt free, even when problems like this arise, we still seem to move forward. Sending a prayer of peace and joy your way during your time of loss . . .
Brenda
Past Blessings . . . Celebrating Life as it used to be . . . when people loved God, loved their families and loved their country. |
|
|
| |
Family Matters: Paying bills |
|
Paying bills
