When you are trying to get out of debt and it becomes that long, long road of seems like forever, it is easy to get bored and start to do stupid things again. All of us can suck it up for a little while and then we get frustrated, bored, lonely, jealous, unhappy, angry, you name what ever emotion triggers you and you are off spending.At least I am.
In order to not do this I have to feel like I am making progress. When you are paying off the smaller bills to snowball this very effort and progress can keep you going. If you use the strategy I have it is a long way between big pay offs like a car, or a major loan. This is where the small strategies come into play.
Now I have never been one to really look at small strategies. I go back to the lists of the" top 10 things you shouldn't buy to get out of debt". My miracle lists. (This is what I call them) If you read and implement this list you will be out of debt in a day or two. Well, actually you will just have given someone a hit on their account and that is okay. There is no miracle. There are some good ideas. If you do any research on this subject you will see they are the same ideas, over and over. So what do you do?
Well I poo, pooed most of them or I was already doing those things so they didn't help. (again looking for the quick fix) So I stopped being a spoiled brat and really looked at different things that I wasn't doing, (that I thought were worthless) and decided to implement them. Words pay no debts, but actions do.
1. study you bills make sure they are correct. What did I discover?
a. cell bill was wrong for a long time, I got a huge refund and a bill dropping from $156.00 a month to under $90.00. So add $66.00 more to our monthly budget.
b. Review insurance and switch company. 3 cars from $176.00 a month down to $66.00 a month. Savings of $110.00 a month. Yes that is right.
c. Watching internet bill and catching the reup date to keep the bill at low rate. Saving $9.00 a month.
d. Watching yellow pages add to make sure only shop was included in contract (I missed this last year). $22.00 a month savings.
e. Noticed points on an old card and insisted on collecting them. $100.00 gift card
This one thing alone garnered me $280.00 in free money, but also $207.00 monthly to put toward debt. That is a big old heap of change. Will it make a difference? You bet it will.
2. Study your utility usage and block the energy leaks.
a. I have been actively turning off all lights when not in use. I have (had a bad habit of leaving things on out of laziness and my dislike of the dark). Our electric bill is down about $25.00 from last year.
b. Actively hanging heavy shirts and pants to dry and then fluffing them for 10 minutes in the dryer. See above electric bill.
3. Staying out of stores. I don't have a total here, but believe me when you have no temptation you don't spend as much money. I can't even put a figure on this one. Just leave it to me to say I have more discretionary income. Most of which goes to my debt.
Have any of you ever implemented a new strategy that you thought was nuts and found out it worked?
Tomorrow starts a new month. A new month to see what I can accomplish on the pay off department. I am actually looking forward to March in so many ways.
Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.
Kim
While talking to an ATT agent about something, there was a lull while she looked up something. I had already read my bill, but noticed something peculiar. I asked her about it. She said it should not be on my bill. I asked her how long I had been paying this extra amount. She looked--14 months!!!!
ReplyDeleteI asked her to give me credit, but she could only take off five months. I was calm, waited until she had done so and asked to speak to her supervisor who could only take off up to one year. I was calm and asked her to take off that seven months she could. Then, I asked to speak to her supervisor. I thing I had to get a call back. But, I did get the last two months returned to me. Close scrutiny...lol...once in 14 months...and persistence returned money to me. Point is...always ask for supervisor no matter how far up you have to go.
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DeleteI went through all our bills when my husband left me and while I knew he was a spendthrift, by golly what a difference it made after he left and I attacked all the bills. I easily knocked about 1,000 euros a month(yes you read that right) off my bills, and that didn't include his car insurance and phone. Even now, 8 years later, I am still making cuts and they do add up (says old sexy here sitting here with a pair of my ex' longjohns on under my pjs). Anna
ReplyDeleteSounds like you made out a lot better. Good for you.
DeleteLife is way too short to spend it with a jerk. Good for you Anna. You're my kind of girl.
DeleteYou really have made some huge savings there! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Deb
DeleteThat's fine mom but if I come home to find you drying paper towels I'm putting you in a home.
ReplyDeleteDang, I will get them cleaned up before you get here.
DeleteLOL!
DeleteIf you know that you aren't being billed correctly then you have to keep fighting to get it corrected. We switched internet providers and started having issues the day after installation. After having a tech come out and several phone calls we cancelled. I was told it would be under their 30 day money back guarantee. I fought with them for months to reverse monthly charges and cancellation fees. When they never followed through on applying the credit I filed a complaint with the attorney general. Funny how that got things moving. My persistence paid off by saving us almost $300.
ReplyDeleteIt is so aggravating when companies think if they ignore you , you will give up. Many people do and this tactic usually works for them.
DeleteMy one change - Moving out of my cousins home! I definitely saved money this month!
ReplyDeleteI knew it would. I know you get lonely but the money savings is everything to reach your goals.
DeleteI have no problems with overspending money. My kryptonite is chocolate and weight control. Everyone out there has their demons.
ReplyDeleteYeah I am right there with you. Chocolate and keeping the weight down ugh I hate it.
DeleteAwesome job cutting down those monthly bills! That debt will be gone before you know it.
ReplyDeleteI really hope so, it will be so nice.
DeleteHave you watched the documentary on Netflix called "Minimalism?" I highly recommend it. Also, a blog called "Not Buying Anything" is very helpful in helping you see the real cost of consumerism. You can find a link on my sidebar. It has been my inspiration in guiding me toward a simpler, clutter free life.
ReplyDeleteI think I have but will watch it again. I am trying to become more minimal but with mother most things are impossible.
DeleteYou. You are going minimal? Ha ha ha 😂👮
DeleteI need to stay out of the stores. If I go, I will buy something because it is a good deal. Shopping is such a rush!
ReplyDeleteRecently, I started reviewing my CC bill. ( for months I just could not even open the envelope) and have found a charge from the gym my husband belongs to that he is paying for from his paycheck. Have to follow up with the gym and get that taken care of.
Good for you. I know shopping even when it is a good deal can be a very bad deal. You need to find something else that gives you a rush. I found out I can get the same rush from saving money. How frugal can you get at making a good meal. Post a chart and mark off how much money you save when you don't shop.
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