Monday, October 7, 2013

Patiently waiting on the smaller bill...

It is frustrating to have a small bill and, and though having enough money from other goals to cover it, not being able to pay it off (without robbing other goals). Just seeing it sit there staring me off upsets me.

Today while looking around my own blog (I don't spend much time in my actual blog, but through blogger's dashboard), I see that I'm at $750 for my smaller credit card. So close, yet so far... When I first started following blogs, I remember thinking that when people have less than, say, $500-600 compared to their bigger debts ($10k+), they should just pay that in one swift swing. Boy, how naïve I was! Everyone's job looks so much easier when they're not the ones performing it.

That card will be paid off in December due to snowballs, so I am not in a rush to throw any more extra money on it (besides, it is not interest-bearing card).

As a challenge to me from myself, I want to see how much I can gather before year's end from my PT job's income, which continues to go unaccounted for and squandered. I may be working well into the end of November, but nothing's secure. My first milestone will be $500. Assuming I work at least every Saturday, this goal should take roughly a month and a half. Once I do meet the goal, I'll raise the bar. Who knows, I may be able to salvage my car-funding goal which was forsaken back in April. This money will not be set aside for anything in specific... besides just saving for saving's sake.

Sometimes I just get tired of having to decide about what goes to what goal. I think next year I will just put all the saved money in a pot and distribute it once it gets to a certain milestone. Any change that can get me refocused on my efforts is worth a try, no?

16 comments:

  1. I totally get it. I have $900 left on a student loan from high school ( I went to private school). It doesn't accrue interest, and I could pay if off, but then I may not be able to pay off my husband's loans ($8250). I'm really trying to push to be debt free by the end of the year, but I don't want to be miserable either. I can't decide what to do. Maybe I'll be okay waiting until January or February 2014...

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    1. Yeah, that's part of the issue... tightening the rope too much to get to the goal or wait until the time is right.

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  2. I hear you. I've got one that's almost gone...need to be sure I kill it off. It is a fairly high interest rate, too.

    Peace <3
    Jay

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  3. I know how you feel. Look how well you have done. I am so proud of you.

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  4. I know how you feel! I have been paying off DH's MRI bill of almost $1000 at $75/mo (they set me up at $25/mo and there was no way I was taking over 3 years to pay it off.) Some months I paid $100, but I'm down to my last $96 owed. I have it in my EF, but I don't want to reduce that in case I need it for something else...but come the end of this month that is finally paid off.

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    1. Yeah! This one is only $40, but even the extra $10 accumulate over time.

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  5. Have you tried setting up a 'snowball' system for your debts/bills? Paying off a bill feels so good. Sometimes when money goes to many different things, it dilutes your effort to get anything done.
    You are working hard, and I have no doubt you will meet your goals!!

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    1. I have big snowballs going on, but they're focused elsewhere (the SL1). I'm trying to refocus my part time job's funds to do something I can track.

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  6. The change might work, but if you don't have the small goals to accomplish will you lose your focus? On the other hand, the change might be inspiring and motivating! You can do it Tanner!

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  7. I hope you got a proper tire for your car, your father's opinion be damned.

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  8. I had a funny idea--you could find the exact tire he wants to have on YOUR car, then use the money for his gifts to buy it. When he asks you where his gifts are, point to the tire on your car and say "There you are. The tire you insisted on me getting. That's your present. Merry Christmas!"

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    1. Haha. That's a funny idea indeed. But the problem is that tire is an after-market/custom made... the original tires are 16", but these are 15" and by a company no longer working. I've done that technique with other things, though. Especially around the holidays!

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    2. The point is, don't let your dad dictate what goes on YOUR car. What exactly is he gonna do if you defy his wishes? It's not his car, it's yours. And really? Giving you crap about how you take care of your things? Is that how he shows his gratitude for all the stuff you paid for for him?

      I sure hope you replaced the tire and are not driving on the donut any longer. I actually find it outrageous that he insist that you put a custom made tire on your car. Why is he doing that, exactly?

      Unbelievable. Seriously.

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    3. 1) It's his car, really. Under his name, anyway, though I use it full time.
      2) He'd do nothing if I 'go against his wishes'. He knows his stuff, so I trust him. It makes me uneasy, but he is a bit unorthodox like that.
      3) We ended up buying 4 original wheels, and need to buy 2 tires (they're 16" vs 15")
      4) He just wanted the car to match instead of having all mismatched wheels. Not sure. Cosmetics?

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