Oct 14, 2008
The Daily Poverty Party.
Welcome to Bossy’s Poverty Party, an online support group for reining in spending, getting your finances in order, and climbing out of debt. Everyone basically knows what steps to take, but it is nearly impossible to climb that mountain alone.
So every day nearly every day over the next year, Bossy will use this space to report her spending and missteps, along with cheap recipes, savings tips, and suggested tricks and goals.
You are looking at what Bossy’s husband was doing last night instead of going over bills with Bossy. He was watching baseball—and because Bossy was monopolizing the family room and the only decent television, he was forced to stand in the middle of Bossy’s son’s room watching the playoffs on a postage stamp. OK, he didn’t always stand. Sometimes he sat in a broken desk chair.
And if you’re wondering why Bossy wasn’t bugging her husband to make time for the discussion about their various accounts and debt, she didn’t need to: her husband was bugging her to make the time. But Bossy had some pressing work to get done, where pressing work equals watching reruns of The Rachel Zoe Project.
However, Bossy and her husband did manage to set the alarm in order to go over their various accounts and balances early this morning:
So the first thing Bossy did was separate out her house mortgage from the rest of their debt. Although technically Bossy’s house contributes to the overall amount of money they owe, it also accrues value and isn’t the same as a draining balance on a credit card.
However, a few years ago Bossy and her husband took out a home equity line of credit against their house’s value in order to consolidate their debt (for things like school. And life.)—and to finance a few home improvement projects (new roof, new fireplace.) And this amount, Bossy counts. Boy does she count it.
As a matter of fact when Bossy saw the amount of their home equity line of credit—$42,853—Bossy died. Goodbye, Bossy!
But then she was resuscitated, and lucky thing, because after that amount, her other balances looked like the scattering of coins she used to throw in the bottom of her plastic grocery bag. Namely: Bossy and her husband owe money on their 2001 Honda (purchased used; balance of $3,215), their Mastercard #1 ($14,250), and their Mastercard #2 ($2,200).
The grand mal seizure total = $62,518
Now if that doesn’t make you feel better about yourself, Bossy isn’t sure what else she can do. Perhaps don pink tap shoes and hop-shuffle-ball change?
Has everyone gone off to research the exact balance of what they owe?* It has to be an exact number, because then you can watch that exact number drop. If the amount you owe is vague, then your commitment not to spend will be vague.
Then Bossy will meet you back here tomorrow for the next step she plans to take: befriending the balance.
* note: Bossy doesn’t expect you to share your debt amounts, unless you want to. There is plenty of other information to pool.
Check below for the list of blogs already participating in the Poverty Party. And don’t forget to comb the comment section for links to entertaining Poverty posts across the web.
[...] [Technorati] Tag results for credit wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt You are looking at what Bossy’s husband was doing last night instead of going over bills with Bossy. He was watching baseball—and because Bossy was monopolizing the family room and the only decent television, he was forced to stand in the middle of Bossy’s son’s room watching the playoffs on a postage stamp. OK, he didn’t always stand. Sometimes he sat in a broken desk chair. And if you’re wondering why Bossy wasn’t bugging her husband to make time for the discussion about their various acco [...]
Listen up, Bussy. You should never let your credit cards get up there if you have home equity. You should have a home equity line of credit (not loan) which, although its interest rate is variable, is ALWAYS less than a credit card! EVERY month, before you accrue interest, pay your credit card off completely with your home equtiy. Then get your home equity interest payment, at least, automatically deducted from you checking account. That way, it gets paid and you don’t have to think (much) about it.
Yes. I do feel better about my own situation now. Really, I do! I know you wanted exact numbers, but all I have to offer up are ca. $39,850 payoff amount on my mortgage and $300-some on MasterCard. The Card always gets paid in full each month, so that’s a bonus. But math is tricky! My house is only worth 75k to begin with and my entire year’s GROSS salary is just barely over 1/3 of that. Considering those factors, I think I’ve been Poverty Party-ing for a long time now… For once I’m a trend-setter! Beans & rice anyone? But still. YOUR numbers make my head swim, Bossy! So I DO feel better.
I actually don’t have a lot of debt (besides mortgage and student loan). And I never carry a balance on the credit cards. The problem here is there is no income to match the outgo. GAH!
VUBOQ has been drinking LOTS of gin recently.
You should never let your credit cards get up there if you have home equity. You should have a home equity line of credit (not loan) which, although its interest rate is variable, is always less than a credit card.
WAIT…the real Susie Orman…or just a quote from the smart Ms. Orman?
All of these comments are very helpful. Home equity credit line…etc. etc.
As Johnny Carson used to say, “I did not know that”.
And…
I think it’s cool that Bossy shares her finances. Most people are so funny about doing so.
But things shared are things learned. At least that’s how I learn.
Kudos to you for sharing your battle with finances! We have $2523 in credit card debt and $8600 in medical bills. Our health insurance sucks! Huge premiums, high deductibles. We pay it ourselves as husband farms and I work part-time. It sucks. We have cut back on every fricking thing we can think of. But, bit by bit we’ll dig our way out.
Did someone just call you Bussy? ;o)..
Seriously tho. Debt happens. It is a FOUR letter word, and unfortunately for most if not ALL of the middle-class it is a fact of life. I actually sat down and STARTED doing the same look at how much I owe dance yesterday and then oh look FOOTBALL IS ON!
I made a monthly budget worksheet where I can fill in what amounts I owe for each bill that month, and I list the full balance of both credit cards, not just what the payment is. It helps to know, but unless I pay much more than I owe each month, the balance doesn’t seem to go down much.
Yes, ideally, paying off the full of balance on credit cards would be the way to go but life happens. We don’t have big balances on our credit cards but we use an Excel spread sheet to list the two cards, the balances, interest rates, and what we are paying each month to know when they will be paid in full. Fortunately, that will be three months. I think that is okay considering we used them in part to pay for our Big Fat Scandinavia Trip. For now, they stay in a drawer and are not used.
What I would like to step shuffle ball change is my student loan. ARRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
I just paid off one loan and am rolling over that monthly payment onto my car loan ($2,300) and this month, I can pay off my only credit card. The next on my list is to get my stuff that is in storage in Vermont ($73/mo) out here to me in California. Storage in Vermont is cheaper than storage in Calif. It might be cheapest for me to fly back to Vermont, get rid of almost everything, and rent a truck to bring what little is left out west. We will consider this next year.
Oh Bossy, that total makes me want to throw up a little.
When you figure this out, you are not counting the entire balance left on your mortgage are you? If so, kill me now. You are just talking monthly bills and credit cards?
I think you are brave to share this so openly. For most of us, finances are a dirty little secret
Oooo. You are much braver than I am, Bossy. I’m totally afraid to know the actual total. I’ve got all that and I’ll raise you another mortgage. It’s only money, right?
Quick Note:
The credit card in question has a lifetime fixed interest rate of 3.9%, about 1/2 to 2/3 that of the home equity credit line, and is not attached to the house as collateral.
BH
We don’t have any debt but have a difficult time living on our income. Husband was totally disabled Sept 2001 – he gets SS of $2,100/mo net after medicare. We have some investment income, maybe $6,000- $10,000 yr (varies) and I take the minimum from husband’s IRA. His supplemental health insurance is $193.75/month, my health insurance is $900/month. NJ real estate taxes are a bitch, $6,000/yr for a 1,200 sq ft condo, no basement, no garage. Condo fee is $3,000/yr. Husband also has stroke related expenses – formula for feeding tube, disposable underwear, comfort bath washcloths because he is unable to use the shower. I have cancelled netflix, buy used books at garage sales, cancelled cell phone 3 yrs ago, wear my clothes till they fall apart, cut driving down to 75 miles per week. I buy a lot of food at day-old bread store and expired food at the Shop-Rite (approx 25% of regular retail). Haircuts are every 10-12 wks instead of every 5-6. I don’t really know what else to cut but am always looking for hints.
Bossy, I give you lots of points for bravery. I’ve managed to fall behind on my student loan payments and I’m TERRIFIED of calling them and finding out the actual balance and how to get back on track with them. I’ve been avoiding it for months.
But, if you can do it, I can too. I will call first thing tomorrow morning. (I would today but it’s not a convo I want my coworkers overhearing!) Time to get back on track.
PS – Husband cannot be left alone so I can’t work unless he goes to a nursing home at approx $367 per day. Adult day care is $80/day for 5 hours if I wanted to work part time.
I’m right there with you, Kathy from NJ. My hubby is totally paralyzed and gets SS & retirement disability. I had to take early retirement at 55 yrs. old to take care of him. After working there 30 yrs. my whopping retirement is$272/mo. after med. ins. premiums are taken out. One thing that we keep learning over and over is if you have nothing and are on welfare, the govt. can’t give you enough. If you were able work for a living and managed to acquire anything at all – house, car or anything over $2000 in assets you are SOL, except for the two quickie medicare baths a week. whoop-tee-do.
I paid off my mortgage this summer. I have no credit card debt. I owe a little on a car, $6,747.82–bought new in ‘06. That’s all I owe-period. I’m about 15 years away from retiring. But my investments don’t look so good after last week. I’m a teacher in Texas so you know how much I make. I should be breathing easy, but I don’t…why?
Thank you for the poverty party. Your bravery has inspired me to (eek!) look at my habits and balances. I’m going to share this site with friends and family that are also trying to curb their credit addictions.
Thank you for being so open. I am taking a deep breath and will be following along, and cheering for you in the process! I have $4298.98 in student loan debts and $3631.48 in credit card debt. My student loan should be paid off by June 2009 and I’m *hoping* to be able to pay off my credit card by January 1st. I’m a renter and my car is paid off, though I suspect possibly on its last legs.
I bet my mortgage could kick your mortgage’s butt! My mortgage: $284,600. Beat that! Wait. Is this a contest?
Don’t feel bad, Bossy – that home equity line of credit helped you accomplish several goals, it wasn’t just wasted debt.
One of our tenants is a repo man, and you should see some of the fancy-shmancy cars/trucks/boats/motorcycles he’s been hauling. Talk about out of control spending!
Dave Ramsey-Financial Peace. I’ve eliminated most of my debt in the last few years and I run a business that has never had a debt load. My dh and I keep seperate acct’s however because he is an instant gratification kind of guy and I refuse to participate in his debt load.
I bought Peanut M&Ms on the way home from work Friday, and now I’m questioning my wisdom.
Not sure I can be as open as you, Miss Bossy, but I appreciate the solidarity. : )
Bossy! Thank you for starting this and sharing your own debt. I personally owe 8,125.28 in credit card debt (ACK!!!!) and $8,747.66 on my car (bought new in 2005)…oh my effing gawd! I am really good about making payments on time and paying more than the minimum on my credit card but still. That cc total makes me freak out. I’ve been cutting way back to reign it in but it still makes me feel like I’m gonna pass out!
Raise your glasses girls! Here’s to poverty!
I saw Susie Orman’s post, and I thought Bossy had hit the big time, but upon closer inspection, I realized the name was not spelled the very annoying way Suze Orman spells her name and by annoying, I mean difficult for me to pronounce correctly when I read it due to some kind of undiagnosed reading dysfunction I must have.
Bossy-
It can be done! When my husband returned from Iraq we looked at our priorities and paying Mastercard monthly forever and ever wasn’t a part of the plan. So in a little over a year we paid off all our credit card debt (approx $13,000) and now our home (had owed $124,876, now $0 owed) and both our cars. Now keep in mind Bossy we ate lots of tuna, peanut butter and ramen noodles (which by the way no longer taste the same as they did when I was a kid). We also didn’t go to the movies or even rent movies, got rid of cable as well as the home land line. Didn’t take fancy vacations during that time or buy each other gifts, but in the end it didn’t matter. So in an effort to not sound too “Dave Ramseyish” – - – we’re debt free and never felt better. Keep up the great work Bossy in the end you’ll be glad you did it and you’ll also be teaching that beautiful daughter of yours to have a healthy respect for money.
Take heart Boss. I agree with Andrea’s Sweet Life about the home equity line of credit. We took one out too about a year ago, for about the same amount of money, and I must say I’m enjoying our finished basement, brand new second bath, and new back yard patio. It’s not like we blew it on something we can’t even see. Now the $14,000 on the credit card? Yeah, I’d work on that one first.
My husband and I just paid off $13,000 of credit card debt! And we are a single income family! (He is a grad student.) We were enormously proud, I mean, never been prouder. It was hard as . . . something super hard. Like granite maybe. We’re even managing to put aside some dough in the 401k. We still have our mortgage and six (count em, SIX) figure student loan debt, and 2 car payments, but otherwise we were doing ok. Note I said “were.”
Just as we emerged from cc debt and were ready to start saving up a rainy day fund, a $3k hospital bill + $1200 surprise tax bill + $2k car repair (all in the space of, you got it, ONE MONTH) has put us back in effing debt. It’s enough to make you cry. But I’m going to join your party to get right the hell back on the wagon and pay these down, too. Right now, excluding student loans and mortgage, we owe $17966.92. Excluding car loans, we drop to $6930.53.
My povertous tips include – no haircuts, $1 shampoo, no eating out except birthdays and anniversaries, no gifts for birthdays or anniversaries or Christmas, cut meat out of the bulk of our diet, never let food spoil, limit driving, and limit gift giving to immediate family. Unless it can be homemade for less than five bucks. We’ve managed this way for about 3 years. And *sigh* I thought we were done, but we’ll keep on keeping on.
It is hard. It is sucky. I am 30 and sick of being poor. But hell. I remind myself that most of my friends who have cute throw pillows on their couch, spend lavishly on birthday cards and hair highlights, and go out for martinis or steaks once a week are probably doing it on credit. So I’m not as bad off as I think I am.
I totally want to join the party, but only if student loans don’t count. Student loans don’t count, right? Because I had to go to school and, hey, I shouldn’t be held accountable for anything I did while I was still technically a student, right?
OK Boss, I’m going to send you my magic spreadsheet which helped me get out of debt the last time. I had some very good advice which was ‘pay yourself first’ – so each month, out of my paycheque, I deposited a small amount into savings. When I got a rise, I would raise the deposit by the same amount so I kept living on low wages and skimming from myself and my savings paid for holidays and eventually, helped pay down my debt.
I am too frightened to look at my bank balance at the moment but I am becoming inspired to do so very soon… will get that xl sheet over in a few days… have to remove incriminating evidence first!
Thanks a mil. Now I feel guilty about scheduling a cut, highlight, eyebrow waxing for tomorrow. I can join the party AFTER I make myself pretty right?!
I did kinda half-a$$ start a spreadsheet a couple months back. I’ll have to make this commitment. If you did…I will too.
is see your mastercard 1 and 2 and raise you an amex. this is cool what you’re doing.
Hey BH- what the heck kind of credit card do you have that only charges 3.9%? I want one! My home equtiy line is costing prime minus 1.25% which I figure must be about zero by now. (Bank of America)
Sorry BOSSY, I didn’t mean to call you Bussy. Even when Heather wrote Bussy, I didn’t see the u !
The fact that you want to get out of debt and not SEEK WAYS TO GO DEEPER INTO DEBT (a trait I was once married to and which seems to be a theme with some people: Spend now, worry about paying later, if ever. Does that sound familiar? Oh wait, i’m not talking politics here. Seriously.)
My point* if there is one to be found* is that your debt is a debt but you can achieve its eradication. Most people in high income brackets have MUCH debt and if something happened, where something equals LIFE’s unexpected events, then those people would be farther up the creek without the paddle as you might be. Yours is a quicker and easier row home, whether you know it or not, even without the paddle.
I am one of those who can access in about two minutes what I owe thanks to the BEAUTY AND WONDER of the internet. However, I choose to live in the State of Denial.
I thank Bossy for making me realize I need to live in another state. I hear Hawaii is lovely this time of year.
And just to be clear – I am nowhere near a high income bracket and never will be nor do I want to be. I am barely making ends meet, but most of that is due to negligence in the bookkeeping department. Oh, plus the earning department, but I’m not much on details.
So, off I trot to do anything but tend to my bills or finances.
Shit. I’m not sure how I missed the whole poverty party thing. I mean, it might have been because I was all, I can afford groceries and nice clothes and my husband works in alternative energy (hello, job security).
Then? THEN?!! The retirement savings statement came. Holymarymotherofgawd.
Okay, I need to go to my safe place now. Babbling brook, mossy forest, cool weather, la la la.
i would go to my safe place, but i can’t see it beyond the mountains of debt. *sigh*
thanks for sharing openly and honestly Bossy. you are providing much needed financial inspiration & support!
Well, to answer one of the questions, the 3.9% Credit Card is one from a Credit Union, that offered 3.9% interest for the life of the card for balance transfers.
The transfers were free (many cards charge 3% or so of the balance for that privilege!)
So, the balance transfers were made from higher interest cards (which were then closed), and the MasterCard sits safely tucked away, unused, making this what amounts to a low interest loan.
BH
Crazy Aunt Purl has a great excel spreadsheet for being held accountable for monies going out and coming in. You can find her at http://www.crazyauntpurl.com. Just do a search “Budget Spreadsheet” and it will come up.
I graduated from college in 2002 and I went to college on scholarships and grants. I worked three jobs through college, most days getting up at 4am to start my first job. But my income from making coffee, giving tours and working for the school paper didn’t pay enough, so I still had to borrow approximately $10,000 every year of my undergraduate education; I also spent a year studying in a program overseas which was the very best decision I ever made. However, this meant I left school with $52,000 in student loans. I subsequently died after walking across the stage to receive my diploma.
Then, after being given CPR, I went back to school to get a teaching certification; there are no scholarships for teaching certification programs, at least not where I lived… those three semesters cost me $30,000. That’s right sports fans. I now owe $80,000 in student loans and I’m a public school teacher.
I also have a husband, a child, a mortgage and one car payment, not to mention our credit card that we have used to pay for food in tight times, (like that unplanned 6-months of bedrest/in-home nursing care when I was pregnant.) I think I will be dead before I’m out of debt.
PS- I linked to you today…
http://stephaniekscott.blogspot.com/2008/10/bossys-poverty-party.html
CageFreeHubby was a bit snarky about Bossy’s debt until I pointed out our $30,000 minivan loan. Uh, huh.
“Damn, I keep forgetting about that!” he says.
Easy to do since we now live in a moving vehicle so said minivan sits, unused, on the other side of the country while we try to figure out how the fook to dump it in this market :*(
Meanwhile, in our temporary lack of income, we’re getting creative with beans and eggs ;-p
Bossy-
I know I’m a little late to this comment party, but I thought I’d toss my 2 cents in. My husband is a full-time learner (which is kind of a job in this country. they pay him a small amount) and I am at home. We put our savings (1% of our income to start, then raised it a little with each paycheck) into a Money Market account (which is still paying 8-12% interest) rather than a savings account. When my Husband’s father passed away and we received the Life insurance settlement, it also went into the MMA and we now live on the passive income.
It’s not enough for us to eat out all the time, but neither do either of us have to work. I do sewing for people for my “fun money”, which I can stay home doing, thus keeping the kid out of daycare.
We do have student loan debt (about 40,000 between the 2 of us) and about $200 on a credit card that I keep forgetting to pay off, but nothing else, thank G-d.
Well, I for one, am grateful to Bravo for offering such lighthearted fare as Project Zoe and The Real Housewives of Atlanta ( Team NeNe!). Where else can I forget my troublesome debt and sit back and enjoy some well coifed ladies in their fine fur vests and big old honking jewels?
Ah-hem, back to my debt. I am of the Scarlet O’Hara variety and choose to think about it another day. After all, tomorrow is another day! But, seriously. We just bought this house three years ago, took out a home equity line of credit, opened our own small business, had our third child, and I still have student loans.
I guess buying Mini Boden baby clothes is a no-no, right?
Oh Bossy, I was so well prepared to do the poverty party thing with you until I got started. Now I am just depressed. I have tons of debt and no extra money to pay on anything. I consider it a good month when the lights stay on and I can flush the toilet.
P. S. Tell Bossy’s husband I was right with him last night, trying to do dishes and laundry while popping in to watch the playoffs. Once they got up to 9-1, I let it go. Go Rays!! ( I could care less for either team, but I always love the underdog )
can I get in, even if our parents our helping us with the problem. if they don’t help us we might die without the resuscitation part.
please?
OK, throwing in my 5c again. I worked in a bank for 20 years so I’ve seen it all …or most of it anyway. (Please don’t throw things at me)
Renegotiate those interest rates! Every bank wants your business/debt/first child. Even 1/2% makes a big difference on large debt…..and pay weekly instead of monthly, even if it tics your bank off.
If you have more than 1 credit card ask your bank to put the second one in reduction. That means you can’t draw on the card anymore, hand it in, and are committed to paying it down to zero. ‘caus we all know that temptation….we have a little credit again and those shoes are sooooo tempting. (or for Bossy boots)
That’s a drop in the bucket. Even if I don’t count my $300,000 in student loans, we have well over $180K in debt.
Now don’t you feel better about your debt?
Other than our mortgage, which is big b/c we live on the OC, we pay off our joint credit card monthly. My monthly personal debt (we keep separate accounts for personal spending) is usually between $800-$1100. This varies according to gas prices because I drive a lot, and also because I just bought the bitchin’ cowboy boots for which I’ve been hankerin’. I pay off my credit cards each month.
FWIW, I owed roughly $75,000 in student loans after law school (I had no college debt) and managed to pay it off eventually. You’ll get there. Baby steps, Bossy. Baby steps!
Bossy!
Thank you so much for doing this. My husband and I have finally decided to get serious about our spending and debt as well. It helps to admit how much debt you’re in to others. And, although I have told family and friends that we are hurting financially, I have not given them THE NUMBER.
But, I’ll tell the Internet, that we have as much debt as Bossy. Not including the mortgage.
Uggh!!! We have a plan now and we already feel better.
Looking forward to following your Poverty Party!!!
I’ve officially joined the Poverty Party with my joint Poverty Party/Blog Action Day post. I’m considering doing a weekly blog post for the Poverty Party, but we’ll see how that goes. Anyway, here’s my first one:
http://blogs.brocknet.net/eriepressible/?p=1899
Good for you Bossy!
Don’t forget that your Home Equity Line of Credit interest paid is tax deductible. At least that a little bit of good news! :-/
I’m trying to save in several ways. I just wrote a post about using coupons…
http://www.suburbanfizz.com/2008/10/coupons-part-deux.html
[...] When last we saw Bossy she was contemplating her grand mal seizure total = $62,518 debt. [...]
I was feeling really good about myself until you revealed how little you owe in car payments. Our car payments kill us.
Bossy,
We’re working on ours, been working really hard for the past 6 months. Oh, honey, it’s hard work every stinkin’ day. I won’t tell you our debt, but I will tell you we’ve managed to save and pay off over $10,000 and that just seems impossible to me. So, keep it up girl. We’re using Dave Ramsey’s plan. Beans and Rice baby!!
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[...] And you should too because you see how well things worked out for the Bossy family. [...]
You, Bossy, are a brave soul.
Also, while I feel a bit better, I realize that I don’t have a house (just a condo), and my child is 3mos (not in college or whatevs). I could make my situation worse over the next 15 or so years if that would help you??