Advanta Credit Line

Today I wanted to see if the credit crunch was having an impact on my credit cards so just for fun I logged in to my Advanta credit card account and processed a credit line increase:

To my surprise they added an additional $2000 to my credit line making the new limit $5000. I have never used this account, I opened it back in early 2006 to do a balance transfer but my total credit line at the time was only $2500. The ongoing rate for this card is 7.99% and they also have 5% cash back on gasoline purchases and electronics.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to use this card, the balance will remain 0.

HS

CITI Professional

We did some magic numbers with our money this week and we paid off our CITI Professional Card! The feeling this morning was amazing, the thought of not making a payment to this card next month is astonishing!



Our goal next month is to get rid of Best Buy, my plan is to sell some stuff around the house, downgrade my Iphone, spend less and stay home. I updated the credit card balances on side bar. I can’t wait to just have one card left one there.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

HS

Hurricane Ike

I apologize for the lack of updates, but Hurricane IKE caused massive damage on the Houston and Galveston area. We live in north Houston and our house has no damage other than one palm tree that fell to the ground. I am very thankful that we have power again and that I don’t have to file any claims or apply for FEMA aid.

We had a couple of hundred dollars left over in the checking account when the storm hit. So far we’ve spent $ 60 on gas, $60 on eating out and $25 on beer. We have not used any credit cards or added any additional debt- so I’m proud to say NO hurricane Ike debt. Pay day is Friday so I’m hoping things go back to normal.

Here are some pictures:

Galveston, Texas:


Gaveston, Texas:


Seabrook, Texas:


Clear Lake, Texas:


Downtown Houston:


HS

Burned Out On Debt

I’m getting burned out on all this debt stuff again. We seem to be going nowhere with credit card debt. Stuff keeps coming up every month and I feel like we can’t reduce the debt. One thing I’ve learned is that life goes on while you try to get out of debt. Family and friends will continue to have birthdays. Someone will get married this year or have a baby shower, so we will have to purchase gifts. Our HOA fees this year will be another $875 dollars! My car will probably break down or the dog will need expensive medications. The wife will probably need more contact lenses and I’m sure my dentist will find something wrong with my teeth that our insurance won’t cover. I’m sure the price of gas will go back up and groceries will probably continue to go up. It is all very frustrating, feels like the paychecks barely cover most of the expenses and debt payments.

The spouse and I received our raises for the year, the spouse got a 2.5% increase and I got a 5% raise that I feel I don’t deserve. Together this will bring in an extra $150 dollars a month. I know, I should be thankful that at least we got something, but something tells me will be in the same boat in the coming months, living paycheck to paycheck.

To make matters worse, a close friend told me that debt is a part of life, something you never get rid of and it stays with you forever…I don’t know what to believe anymore.

I wish $10,000 would fall off the sky in to our backyard…

HS