How did you feel when you stopped the credit game?

[lrprn]

I'm just not used to having no emergency source of funding.

That's the hard part for all of us while we learn how to live within what we actually make. The instant money allows too much purchasing without much thought about whether it's really needed or not, and (worst of all) how we are going to pay for it.

About half the folks here in the forums had to file because we got over-extended on our credit cards and other loans and kept robbing Peter to pay Paul trying to make ends meet. The real problem was we were living beyond our means. The crash to reality (bankruptcy) is a long fall for sure!

Hang in there, keep scrimping and saving. You'll build up little bit by little bit to take care of those emergencies like your car. Don't expect things to feel good overnight - they won't like when we give up any emotional addiction - but the good feelings about living within what you make will come in time...it's a promise!

[ichb]

Newbe in cc detox

Two weeks ago when DH and I learned of our situation which is due to bad choices and oblivion and finally came to a head with a change in his medical insurance, we took every piece of plastic out of our wallets, we ordered new check cards (silly us we thought we were nickle and diming ourselves with those.) But we are only going to use the check cards if we really need a visa logo for something like buying airline tickets, etc. And have been using this weird green paper with numbers on it.

Very strange feelings.

Thank goodness I found this forum so I can post instead of purchase.

[oldrocker]

How do i feel...scared. Cards were used as emergancy loans not day to day stuff, last year it was my MIL funeral and a cat that needed surgery. And there is my fear. We have 10 cats and 3 dogs. Eight thousand of our debt was to save a cat and a dog in the last year and half. Last week we lost my 14 yr old shepard, Hannah was old and had health problems this last 8 months and I miss her dearly. What scares me is what if its one of our younger critters, with no cards to borrow on, how will I feel if I have to put one down because we can't afford the treatment to save them. This is my greatest fear at this point. We have already started an "emergancy fund", will never be enough to save one, but will at least get us in the door and see what the problem is.

Other then that I feel somewhat liberated. I hope my lawyer is as good as he seems to be (my case is going to be a little complicated since I own a busines).

[Phillymanhere]

love these answers

Thanks guys for all the wonderful and encouraging responses.
I walked to my car last week and noticed that the cover to the signal light had been busted. Someone had hit me and driven off apparently. (Living in a tight-parking area of a big city.)
Anyway, went to get it fixed; decided on the discount shop, $100 bucks ... didn't plan on that and wow, it felt weird to be paying with my VISA checking card.

I'm definitely going to have to do the count-every-penny thing for a full month or two. Really count everything, notice where the money is going and where I can possibly save.

The trick for me is to do the cost-cutting in a smart and sane way. I've been eating really well for a while now, and I'm getting in better shape and losing weight. I want to reduce my grocery costs, but don't want to start buying food that I won't eat or really enjoy.

Definitely planning on limiting coffee, and sandwiches at work, etc. Taking my lunch and making my own coffee will actually save me a bundle, I think. Heck, $100 a month in reduced spending is huge!

Anyway, thanks for all the responses ... Got two more weeks to get through the month. I got my taxes back, $460. I have that in savings and don't want to touch it ... Anyway, this is going to be interesting, I can see that now.

[epiphany]

I stopped paying B of A last July because it was the biggest creditor. I had been credit juggling and finally there was no more credit to juggle. I still thought I would catch up and I continued to charge piddly amounts on other cards. I also continued to try and pay everyone, but was never able to catch up on that big one. Eventually had to stop paying other creditors as there was no longer a well to tap.

I think my last charge was in November for a very small amount (less than 20 bucks). I made the decision to file on 12/21 after finding this site and reading a bunch. I then stopped paying all but one creditor (I have a reason for paying this one and am trying to pay it off before I file).

Anyway, I am so used to paying cash now and like others, the thought of charging anything makes me sick. I just want this over. Still paying off the lawyer because things keep coming up...business license fees, car registration, smog test, auto repair, had to catch up on car insurance...on and on and on it goes)

However, I don't worry about bouncing my rent check anymore and I know this will be filed soon. I am so much less stressed than I was when I was trying to make all those payments. And looking forward to being even more stress free.

ep

[chloe0724]

My husband and I are still in the process of weaning off the card use. As of today, the cards will no longer be used (just got paid). It's been a strugle to adjust the thinking. Crunching the numbers and living off a strict budget is daunting, but it has to be done.

Here's to lifestyle changes!!!

[justplaintired]

In the beginning of this lifestyle change it was quite an adjustment. Thinking about what needs to be paid and what we need for groceries, gas... was hard. Before we paid the cc and used them to live on, so once we quit charging and quit paying it was weird to go and pay cash for things and have to stop and think, if we buy this will we have enough for that?? We had to learn to think of priorities first. Food, gas, utilities... I even take a calculator to the grocery now, just like in the old days before we had a cc. I kinda like that!

I can honestly say now it's getting easier. I have accepted that we can't have, nor do we need everything right now. Some things will just have to wait. Big things will require saving.

When I think about using a card, it does make me feel almost sick. I will always regret that first cc and know for us this will be our way of life from now on. No more cc! That brought a smile to my face, seriously!

[AMISLANDER]

I got a few charge cards after everything was over...use them carefully now. My FICO is at 670 presently and just paid off Hooters (29% interest) and cancelled the card...paying off my other two cards ($200 balances for each), in next four weeks which brings me to one card with a balance...use it for my gym membership. Feels good not to worry anymore!

I hadn't used a cc since 2001 until 2006 so I totally understand what it is to pay cash...I've always paid at least $100 on all my revolving balances which has jump started my credit...you can't live without a card in this day, but being smart about the use is the key.

[Stilltheone]

We stopped using our cards in Feb. of this year and it actually felt a little weird....(I'm probably in the minority here) I had depended on those stupid pieces of plastic for so long to help pay for my utilities and groceries that, when I realized I didn't have them as a "backup" anymore, it made me nervous. Technically, they weren't even a backup because they were all maxed out anyways, but still....it felt weird.

NOW, after filing, I feel TREMENDOUS relief to be rid of them. It feels good to be able to pay cash for my groceries and utilities now.

Right after we filed, we gathered up all of our credit cards, about 25 of them, and placed them in a pile on our kitchen table. We just stared at them and said "These ruled our life..." and it was a good feeling to be able to cut them up.

[toomuch]

How do i feel...scared. Cards were used as emergancy loans not day to day stuff, last year it was my MIL funeral and a cat that needed surgery. And there is my fear. We have 10 cats and 3 dogs. Eight thousand of our debt was to save a cat and a dog in the last year and half. Last week we lost my 14 yr old shepard, Hannah was old and had health problems this last 8 months and I miss her dearly. What scares me is what if its one of our younger critters, with no cards to borrow on, how will I feel if I have to put one down because we can't afford the treatment to save them. This is my greatest fear at this point. We have already started an "emergancy fund", will never be enough to save one, but will at least get us in the door and see what the problem is.

Other then that I feel somewhat liberated. I hope my lawyer is as good as he seems to be (my case is going to be a little complicated since I own a busines).

I totally relate to the fear of not being able to save one of our pets due to no money. I would find a way...somehow.....hopefully. I have one now that I have been fostering for 4 months and I can't afford to medicate him anymore...no one will take a cat (bad ear infections). By the grace of God, a sanctuary in Va said he could come live there so I'm driving him up there this weekend.

Now....to the topic. Hubby and I are definitely in cc detox. It is very scary not having any savings or any money, cards, nothing to fall back on. He is having a much harder time than I am because I'm the one who actually pays the bills and works out a budget. He's used to my *magic wand* and I don't have it any more.

He filed a 13 and had his 341 meeting last Friday. I'm still waiting to pay off a car that my stepfather cosigned on so it won't ruin his credit. I will rejoice the day I file!! I can't wait. We are both 53 and we don't need any cc payments going into our old age.

It is a rude awakening.....but I'm grateful there is a way out of this deep, deep hole we are in. It will all be okay after a while.

Toomuch

[fslady]

I'm still learning

I'm 15 payments into 60 Ch 13 payments so I don't think I'll have a credit card again for a looooong time! Going without is really kind of liberating - I can't put an impulse buy on a card and then wonder later how to pay for it. My biggest challenge to put some away each month for the unexpected car/medical/you name it emergency. I've worked toward that by cutting way back on eating out, taking my lunches, and getting rid of extra tv cable packages. I learned my lesson about credit cards!