[TechGuy]

Wow, do I actually agree with Buck?

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by TechGuy

Wow, do I actually agree with Buck?

I had discussions with a group of my associates about paying bills and debt. There are always 'ways' to get out of debt. You just have know 'the ways' to do it. The problem with most consumers and debt is that they 'personalize' the debt; you have to look at your personal debt as a buisness does. These associates seem to understand this every well and they were right. I've had family members tell me the same thing.

The only thing I don't like is when people talk to me like I don't understand what they are talking about when I do - it really ticks me off.

I hope you all understand what I am saying .

If you talk to Mr. Trump or any rich person and they'll explain it to you.

[Drabdr]

There are some really good gems in these threads.

1. Start saving; save something. I found that when I was in high debt, I seem to be creating an endless circle of nothingness. Take something and start saving it. This does two things, first being that you have some money for an emergency, and second, it will give some self worth.

2. Sit down, and establish a different lifestyle. The lifestyle is what got you into the jam, is it not? If your weakness is eating out, then work together trying to find a fun way (and probably a whole lot more healthy) way of eating at home. Get with some friends and switch off nights cooking at home.

3. Call the credit card companies and request a lower interest rate. Amazing how often it works.

4. Now... this is just me personally... I try to stay away from the debt restructuring and consolidation loans (only if you are in dire need). But... this depends on your debt ratio, and how quickly you can pay the loan off.

5. Pick up an evening job a couple of nights a week. A 100 or so a week can make a pretty good difference. Too, you might can work somewhere that can give you discounts on things you need.

6. Gosh... I know this is so trite... but go over that budget, several times. It would probably amaze you what you could live without. Could you go without satellite for a year? I think we could all read a little more. Just saying... that could add up over a year.

7. Establish realistic budgets and forecast. Now... most of us don't like discussing our personal issues. But... you really need a social group to help keep you accountable.

[BanditFlyer]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

I had discussions with a group of my associates about paying bills and debt. There are always 'ways' to get out of debt. You just have know 'the ways' to do it. The problem with most consumers and debt is that they 'personalize' the debt; you have to look at your personal debt as a buisness does. These associates seem to understand this every well and they were right. I've had family members tell me the same thing.

The only thing I don't like is when people talk to me like I don't understand what they are talking about when I do - it really ticks me off.

I hope you all understand what I am saying .

If you don't talk to Mr. Trump or any rich person and they'll explain it to you.

There was a guy on the radio selling an investment as if the people he was talking to had money to invest/spend but were completely ignorant about how to do it.

That just told me who he was trying to sell to - stupid wealthy people. A very specific market niche. I'm not in the group he's talking to so I won't buy his message.

The next time your friends talk down to you, pat them on the head and tell them you're proud of how much they've learned so far. And that it reminds you of yourself a few years ago.

[perfectlyfrank]

The way I got trapped by Mr. Visa was the way they kept increasing my credit limit.
I had a card with a credit limit of $25 000.
I managed to nuke the principal by using a line of credit at prime plus 2% interest rate and then paying off the line of credit comfortable payments at a time. I ate a lot of peanut butter and lost 20 pounds due to the involutary weight loss program and just plain fiscally generated terror.
I recommend a low limit card ($1000.00 limit) for emergencies and pay cash or do without.

Best Wishes All.

[hewee]

B of A keeps send me saying I am pre approved for $50,000 and I know they are crazy because with a limited income of $14,000 a year so I can not have any interest on any cards no matter how small the payment is. I got a $10,000 limit on the costco american express. But I only get what I can pay in full each month.
How can B of A ever think I would be able to pay them back unless I pay them for the rest of my life

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by hewee

B of A keeps send me saying I am pre approved for $50,000 and I know they are crazy because with a limited income of $14,000 a year so I can not have any interest on any cards no matter how small the payment is. I got a $10,000 limit on the costco american express. But I only get what I can pay in full each month.
How can B of A ever think I would be able to pay them back unless I pay them for the rest of my life

Answer... they don't! Late last week I got a credit increase of about $300. That was on my first credit card. So between my three credit cards I have about $25,000 of credit available to me right now. That is twice my current net savings.

I remember when I made $14,000, man it suck! I am tired of being poor, but most of that is my own doing and it up to me to correct it.

Keep up the good work. Keep to your budget. I have done much what I did what I could to dumb down my budget a bit. I am thinking of doing more.

To bad I need to buy new pair of sneakers and boots. More money I have to spend, but I have no choice.

Update Wednesday, Oct 14 2008: I was reviewing one of my accounts and recieved yet another credit increase. This was on my citi-american express; yea baby now if only I had something to spend it on.

[hewee]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

Answer... they don't! Late last week I got a credit increase of about $300. That was on my first credit card. So between my three credit cards I have about $25,000 of credit available to me right now. That is twice my current net savings.

I remember when I made $14,000, man it suck! I am tired of being poor, but most of that is my own doing and it up to me to correct it.

Keep up the good work. Keep to your budget. I have done much what I did what I could to dumb down my budget a bit. I am thinking of doing more.

To bad I need to buy new pair of sneakers and boots. More money I have to spend, but I have no choice.

Update Wednesday, Oct 14 2008: I was reviewing one of my accounts and recieved yet another credit increase. This was on my citi-american express; yea baby now if only I had something to spend it on.

I don't want any more of a credit increase. I like to see the credit rate go down. Not that I am paying any interest because I pay in full. But if something ever happen then I like to have a lower interest rate. Then again if I really needed something I would do better to go to my credit union and get a loan.
I am trying to keep within my limit but after moving and my rent almost 3 times more then before it is not easy and I used up a whole lot of my savings. Not so bad there because some things I needed to get and I pay for them in full. But I can not save like I had been doing for years anymore because of the high rent.
Like I got a new fridge. Had one I got for free from where I moved from and it was a big side by side. But it was also over 30 years old. It cost a lot to run. I got the new one at Kmart that is a Sears Kenmore and it was last years model so was 20% off to clear them for the new models. But I did not get it and I got Kill A Watt and checked out how much power that old frodge was using and it was using over $1800.00 a year. So went back to Kmart and they only had the one floor model. But I got it for 30% off. It is not a side by side but has lots of space in the fridge but I could use more freezer space but just have to learn to shop and not get things like I have been used to doing because I had lots of freezer space in the old one.
But this new fridge will pay for itself in 2 to 3 months in the power I save to run it and then the adding savings each month because it cost so much less to run.
I even added taped up empty boxes and water jugs to help fill in empty space in the fridge so that it will use less power to cool.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by hewee

I don't want any more of a credit increase. I like to see the credit rate go down. Not that I am paying any interest because I pay in full. But if something ever happen then I like to have a lower interest rate. Then again if I really needed something I would do better to go to my credit union and get a loan.
I am trying to keep within my limit but after moving and my rent almost 3 times more then before it is not easy and I used up a whole lot of my savings. Not so bad there because some things I needed to get and I pay for them in full. But I can not save like I had been doing for years anymore because of the high rent.
Like I got a new fridge. Had one I got for free from where I moved from and it was a big side by side. But it was also over 30 years old. It cost a lot to run. I got the new one at Kmart that is a Sears Kenmore and it was last years model so was 20% off to clear them for the new models. But I did not get it and I got Kill A Watt and checked out how much power that old frodge was using and it was using over $1800.00 a year. So went back to Kmart and they only had the one floor model. But I got it for 30% off. It is not a side by side but has lots of space in the fridge but I could use more freezer space but just have to learn to shop and not get things like I have been used to doing because I had lots of freezer space in the old one.
But this new fridge will pay for itself in 2 to 3 months in the power I save to run it and then the adding savings each month because it cost so much less to run.
I even added taped up empty boxes and water jugs to help fill in empty space in the fridge so that it will use less power to cool.

Man I need to work on those typos. Anyway, yes buying old appliances that cost more to run is a bad idea. You made the right choice buying a newer more energy efficient device, even if it was the floor model.

Originally Posted by jonasdatum
Answer... they don't! Late last week I got a credit increase of about $300. That was on my first credit card. So between my three credit cards I have about $25,000 of credit available to me right now. That is twice my current net savings.

I remember when I made $14,000, man it suck! I am tired of being poor, but most of that is my own doing and it up to me to correct it.

Keep up the good work. Keep to your budget. I have what I could to dumb down my budget a bit. I am thinking of doing more.

To bad I need to buy new pair of sneakers and boots. More money I have to spend, but I have no choice.

Update Wednesday, Oct 14 2008: I was reviewing one of my accounts and received yet another credit increases. This was on my citi-american express, yea baby now if only I had something to spend it on.

[dcannaday]

There is a guy I listen to on the radio called Clark Howard. Try checking out his website at WWW.CLARKHOWARD.COM He is very informative and has a great website. Hope this helps. David.

[hewee]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

Many I need to work on those typos. Anyway, yes buying old appliances that cost more to run is a bad idea. You made the right choice buying a newer more energy efficient device, even if it was the floor model.

Good thing is the money saving I will get. I may even go to Sears Oulet 40th Anniversary sale. They are having because they well have them marked down from 25%, 40% and 50%. It is only a couple blocks away too. Now there is something wrong with them like a dent or what ever. But if I can get one cheaper and or better like a ENERGY STAR one I can save even more money to run it. Plus if it is one of the ENERGY STAR models that Smud or Sacramento Municipal Utility District has on it's list you get a rebate from them of $40 or $75 but it has to be on the SMUD's eligibility list .
You can also get $35 when you turn in your old operating refrigerator or freezer from them.
I can still return the one I got to Kmart so I think I will go look to see. Even if I just go to Sears and not the Sears Oulet I would have so many more models to pick from. I like the side by side of the old one but in this place the freezer door will not open as far because it hits the wall so it makes it hard to get things in and out and the bottom rack that slides out would hit the door shelf so it made it even harder to get to it. Plus the old one you can not adjust any of the door shelfs. Where maybe the same today that is newer if you can adjust the shelfs inside and on the door around you can make it more easy to get to. Plus maybe getting a bottom freezer one would be OK. Not sure on that but never look at them really. I like to have more freezer space then I have now on the new one but think I will have to stay away from the side by side. If I owned this place I would just cut a hole in the garage wall and move it over there so you only see the door in the kitchen. Then move other things over where the fridge space is at now. Did that at my dads years ago. For him it was even better because the house had no dishwasher so that went into the same place with another cabinet by it and more counter top. Then we moved the garage door over to put the fridge where the garage door was at. Worked out great too with the dryer, washer and fridge all side by side on the other side in the garage. Even the water line to the fridge was easy to do because the washer was right there beside it.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by hewee

Good thing is the money saving I will get. I may even go to Sears Oulet 40th Anniversary sale. They are having because they well have them marked down from 25%, 40% and 50%. It is only a couple blocks away too. Now there is something wrong with them like a dent or what ever. But if I can get one cheaper and or better like a ENERGY STAR one I can save even more money to run it. Plus if it is one of the ENERGY STAR models that Smud or Sacramento Municipal Utility District has on it's list you get a rebate from them of $40 or $75 but it has to be on the SMUD's eligibility list .
You can also get $35 when you turn in your old operating refrigerator or freezer from them.
I can still return the one I got to Kmart so I think I will go look to see. Even if I just go to Sears and not the Sears Oulet I would have so many more models to pick from. I like the side by side of the old one but in this place the freezer door will not open as far because it hits the wall so it makes it hard to get things in and out and the bottom rack that slides out would hit the door shelf so it made it even harder to get to it. Plus the old one you can not adjust any of the door shelfs. Where maybe the same today that is newer if you can adjust the shelfs inside and on the door around you can make it more easy to get to. Plus maybe getting a bottom freezer one would be OK. Not sure on that but never look at them really. I like to have more freezer space then I have now on the new one but think I will have to stay away from the side by side. If I owned this place I would just cut a hole in the garage wall and move it over there so you only see the door in the kitchen. Then move other things over where the fridge space is at now. Did that at my dads years ago. For him it was even better because the house had no dishwasher so that went into the same place with another cabinet by it and more counter top. Then we moved the garage door over to put the fridge where the garage door was at. Worked out great too with the dryer, washer and fridge all side by side on the other side in the garage. Even the water line to the fridge was easy to do because the washer was right there beside it.

Cosmetic damage is of no concern! Your first priorities are $$$ and structural integrity.

When is the Sears 40th sale? I need a new stationary bike for my cardio. Also, I am working on the earlier typo, sorry.

[hewee]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

Cosmetic damage is of no concern! Your first priorities are $$$ and structural integrity.

When is the Sears 40th sale? I need a new stationary bike for my cardio. Also, I am working on the earlier typo, sorry.

I know it is the money I will save because even if I pay more for it the savings from using it is what counts.

Well the Sears Outlet 40th Anniversary sale is from Oct. 16th to Oct. 29th.
Note it is the Sears Outlet stores.
New, one-of-a-kind, out of carton, discontinued, used, scrarched and dented merchandise.
Hurry in! Limited to stock on hand.

40 Gifts to gave away

Enter for your chance to win a $4000 Sears Outlet shopping spree.

The one we got here just moved to a nice new store that is bigger then the warehouse looking place they had for over 30 years.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by hewee

I know it is the money I will save because even if I pay more for it the savings from using it is what counts.

Well the Sears Outlet 40th Anniversary sale is from Oct. 16th to Oct. 29th.
Note it is the Sears Outlet stores.
New, one-of-a-kind, out of carton, discontinued, used, scrarched and dented merchandise.
Hurry in! Limited to stock on hand.

40 Gifts to gave away

Enter for your chance to win a $4000 Sears Outlet shopping spree.

The one we got here just moved to a nice new store that is bigger then the warehouse looking place they had for over 30 years.

Thank you, sir.

[hewee]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

Thank you, sir.

Your welcome.