life help: I’m in debt $28,700.00 and when I pay it off I will be completely debt free. - Help.com

olrik wrote:
John-I identified with your post just now. I’m 39 and feeling my age as well. I don’t thing I’m as in debt as you but today I just got a subpoena for a bill I’ve been neglecting. I’ve been out of work for a few months and taking care of my mother who is handicapped. Sometimes I feel my life is spinning out of control and it is hard to get it back on track. I know I’m just in a slump right now and I will get myself out of it, and I’m not trying to tell you to quit whining. Everyone makes bad choices. Just know that being on the right track, no matter what your situation, is half the battle. It may take time for you to get to where you want to be, but you’ll get there.

We have a lot in common, my mother is disabled and living with me also. I have been on my job for 7 years and I’m on pace to make $47,000.00 this year. I would suggest that you get a commercial drivers license. You can be trained in 3 weeks and start out making over $30,000.00 a year right off the bat. As far as the debt goes, once you get back to work, you can put a little money back and call them and offer a negotiated settlement, offer them like 1/3 of what you owe and if they agree get it in writing and then pay them and your done. Most debts have been written off and someone else has bought it for pennies on the dollar so they will be willing to take a lot less than you really owe cause they aren’t losing anything. Well, I hope you find a good job soon, that will definitely get you out of you slump, I’m sure!!!!!! Thanks for you words of encouragement!!!! John….

sstrd wrote:
18K in savings? Why don’t you pay down your debt with half of that? I’ve never been in debt for more than 10K, but I’ve also never had any savings. Now I’m about to be 40, terminally ill and terminally depressed.

If you are still able to work and you have your health, keep plugging along. My father always told me that we will be in debt for the rest of our lives anyway, so try to focus at least 1/2 of your attention on the things that give you joy while you are able to do so. Believe me, life is too short.

I can’t take out of my 401K, the taxes and penalties would take approximately 40% of that figure, I’m not willing to take that kind of hit. You are terminally ill, is it Cancer???? I have my health so I have absolutely nothing to whine about I know. Thanks for you kind words of encouragement. Don’t believe that thing your Dad told you though, I would recommend a talk radio show for you to checkout. I think that you would really enjoy it, cause its about Life!!!!! check it out www.daveramsey.com

OccultPizz wrote:
It’s part of growing up. My wife and I use to incur so much debt, we eventually paid it off through a debit relief clinic. I have found paying money off really doesn’t help unless a person has made life changes that keep them from the self destructive behavior that put them in debt in the first place. ~smiles~.

If the 1% of the elite rich in the world shared 4% of their income the entire world would have everything it wanted, but then again its not about helping each other is it? It’s about absolute power! The haves and the have nots ~grins~.

Anyway, I hope you find the answer to your problem ~smiles~.

I agree with you totally, thats why I plan on teaching my kids differently so they don’t have to go through what I have, ofcourse they have gone through what I have because my financial decisions have effected them their whole lives, and you are right again I have made the life changing decisions that will keep me from every putting myself in debt again. Even though I don’t have much, I don’t believe in world Socialism, redistribution of wealth, cause if all the rich elite were forced to do what you said then, if those people who got their money didn’t make the life changing decision that made them do self destructive thing to put themselves in debt then they would just put themselves right back in debt wouldn’t they???? I think the statistics are that most people that win the lottery, end up divorced and completely broke in a few years. Money is only a blessing to those who have their money but their money doesn’t have them:

Matt.19:18-19 - He (the one who came and spoke with Jesus) saith unto him (Jesus) Which? (commandments) Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (19) Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self. See The Great Commandment(s) and Ten Commandments.

Matt.19:20-22 - The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (21) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me. (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions (wealth).

So Jesus tells us even though we keep the commandments, if we wish to be perfect, we must sell all that we have and give it to the poor and follow him (Jesus) and teach.

Matt.19:23-24 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (24) And again I (Jesus) say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

So the more wealth that you have and do not share it with the poor, the less likely it is that you will enter the kingdom of God or heaven. See - Mammon or Faith Notice that in verse 23, Jesus said, the kingdom of heaven, while in verse 24, he said the kingdom of God, - they are the same thing. See - The Husband and The Bride–The Kingdom of God

Matt.19:25-26 - When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? (26) But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

gimli wrote:
Be careful about using the 401K to pay down your debt, as you most likely will incur penalties and tax. You might, however, consider using your current contributions to pay off the loan faster, as might be paying more in interest on the loan than you are gaining on your payments into the 401k.

What makes up your debt?

I have $20,000.00 on a Capital One credit card at just 1.9% which is costing me around 50.00 a month. The other is Best Buy $6,400.00 it is on 0% if I pay it off in a certain amount of time, and the last is $2,300.00 that I owe Furniture Row, which is also on a 0% if I pay it off in a certain amount of time. So I continue to contribute to my 401k no because my employer matches any of it cause they are to cheap to do so, but because if I do, it will put me in a higher tax bracket and it will all go to uncle sam anyway. I’m just totally focused on getting out of debt and it is going to take time and I want to be debt free now!!!!!

gimli wrote:
John, If you are listening to Dave Ramsey, you’ll be in great shape before too long! He’s not afraid to tell it like it is, is he?

Do you listen to Dave????? I’m an over the road truck driver so I spend alot of time with Dave everyday, what else am I gonna do when I’m holding a steering wheel for 11 hours a day????? I really enjoy his show, I would recommend it to anyone, it really is inspiring!!!!!!

ixluvxboy wrote:
i kno how u feel

Well talk to me tell me all about it!!!!!!!!!!

christineobier wrote:
Hi,it ain’t that bad at all,smile!
YOU SURELY aren’t that badly off dear,consider myself in £ 20 k and salary attached already and i’ve got 2 kids to feed and pay child minding for.andd…. the list is long,
you are on the right track, just carry on paying what you can and remember, don’t whine over yesterday’s choices, yesterday is gone live fully today and don’t burden today with tommorrow’s worries, tommorrow is a speculation and today is the tommorrow you already worried about anyway.
have fun!!
Xtin

Thanks for the words of encouragement, I hope your situation improves also, you sound like a really wonderful person so I’m sure that it will… Thanks again John..