Over at the NCN network you can find many charts that show the progress of the debt repayments of all the members. My chart, which is also listed in the left lower sidebar, can be found here.
My current level of debt stands at around $17, 000 (bad, bad Save Money!!!) and I have paid off 14% of what I started with since I joined the network. While this is a bit embarrassing, especially when people who know me read the blog, I think it has really helped me to work on bringing down the debt.
I remember an ad where someone asked how we would act if our debt had to float above our heads so that everyone who walked by could see it. I am thinking that if the few people who actually know me that read my blog make me feel so awkward…..then I would just lose my mind if my debt was visible as I walked down the street.
Since I can’t erase the memories of the people who know me and my debt levels it just makes me work harder to eliminate the debt so that those people can see smaller numbers. Joining a site like the No Credit Needed Network has also given me some great tips on ways to make the little bit of money that I do have work for me.
I have found ways to save money and to get things cheap (and FREE) that have really helped me to keep my money in my pocket the bank.
This is my first time here, and I think it’s pretty cool!
I’m looking forward to see your net worth go up as I try out your tools for my own sake. Thanks!
How many coffees did you already aquire?
Wow. What a great blog. I really need to start tracking my debt in terms of percents. My credit debt is around 6,100. Not terrible, not great.
Blogging about it here:
When you start tracking your finances you get a better picture of where you are and what you have to do to get out of debt.
3 years ago I made the final payment on my mortgage and became debt free. When I started my debt repayment plan I had almost $40,000 in credit card debt. It took 15 years but it was totally worth it! It would have taken less time if we had been more diligent about saving money.
Good Luck and thanks for the great site.
@ CFO:
It just feels to me like it will never end so sometimes I get really frustrated. I see that sometimes I am able to get some extra money and pay something off and then in a short while I have some emergency and have to go spending again.
I have been carrying my debt for about 5 years now but only got into the budgeting and all of this personal finance about 2 years ago.
I was very ignorant about ALL things financial (still am) so I was not looking at the long term effects or the best way to manage income and expenses.
You kept up with it for 15 years so that is inspiring…you did not give up so I won’t either.
@LuLuGal,
I fell off the wagon plenty of times! The hardest part is the first few years, it gets much easier as you go along!
Ok, well I am hoping this is my hardest part now because it is REALLY difficult.
Hi, wanted to let you know how informative and helpful your blog is. The sites as well as the different topics are aids that give even further tools to use in the fight to be debt free. You offer alot of advice without all the junk advertising. Thanks and keep up the good work.
I know exactly what you are saying…that is the huge reason that I am trying to remain anonymous while giving specific information on my site.
The first step in reducing your debt is by tracking it.When you start tracking your finances you get a better picture of where you are and what you have to do to get out of debt
Thanks for posting. I have been struggling with debt since I was married 8 years ago. I was great at managing money when it was just me but when my husband came into the picture I was completely lost. Just recently I moved in with my parents while the hubby is overseas and I have learned so much. I still need to learn somethings about saving money. Every time I get extra money I pay down debt. I leave 100 in the account at all times which is sometimes hard to do with a kid. But I have been able to pay off almost 8 grand! We still have 29 grand left. That is a sad amount when I was debt free only 8 years ago. But the major part of that is our car that we got. Next time we buying used. Thanks for your blog and I hope that I can learn to save money by listening to some of the advice you have on this site.
Yes it is hard to be back under a mountain of debt when you were once living debt free. I was debt free for a while but now I have a lot more as I decided to go back to school full time.
The important thing is that you have the drive to get back out of debt and you are taking small steps every month to make that happen. I am glad you dropped by and I really do hope some more of my tips and experiences help you out.
Let us know how you are doing with the debt payments!!!!