Compulsive Debtor's Finance Blog

I made $13.32 on eBay today, so it's going into the challenge. The new total is $8,011.56.

Here's a conversation I just got done having with a Delta Dental lackey (seriously):

Me: Can you tell me why Delta won't pay for an emergency exam I had last month for a tooth infection?

Delta Lackey: Because we only pay for two exams a year.

Me: Yes, but this wasn't a regular exam. This was an emergency exam. I woke up and my tooth was throbbing and my face was swollen up like the Sta-Puff Marshmallow Lady.

Delta Lackey: But under your plan, we only cover two exams a year.

Me: So, how was my dentist supposed to diagnose me if he couldn't examine me?

Delta Lackey: I'm not sure.

Me: So what you're telling me is the next time I have a toothache if I've already had my two regular cleanings for the year I will need to wait until the next year to get the toothache examined if I want Delta to kick in its share of the bill?

Delta Lackey: Yes or pay out of pocket for the exam portion of the emergency.

Me: Doesn't this seem a little bit absurd to you since I'm already paying you all my money for dental insurance to begin with?

Delta Lackey: Yes, I see what you're saying.....

I decided over the weekend (after hearing back from all three of you) to do the unthinkable and take some money from my vast savings to pay off a wee bit of my vast debt. This will give me a little bit of breathing room and allow me to speed up my debt snowballing, plus will free me from Chase forever. (My husband assures me that when I'm old and decrepit he'll support me with his vast retirement, so that was an added incentive.....)

So, yesterday I called Vanguard and got the ball rolling on the payout. I did have to switch my remaining 401K to an IRA to make all this happen, but I should have the check in my hot little hands by the end of the week and be a little bit less in debt by next week.

When I got back from running yesterday, I had a message to call Chase. Apparently they have an answer to

I actually went to the post office today to mail some packages and couldn't figure out why it was so crowded.... DUH! April 15. TOMORROW!!!!

I'm adding a whopping $3.65 to the challenge from the eBay proceeds. The new total is $7,998.24.

I am thinking the unthinkable.... I am thinking of dipping into my vast savings to pay down my debt. Specifically, I am thinking of paying off my United Mileage Plus card, which has a balance of $23,867.86.

Why this sudden change of heart? Well, basically, I'm tired of Chase trying to set me up to fail.

Yes, I'm have decided that Chase -- the bank behind the card -- would love to see me not be able to make my monthly payment on time and in full. Thus bringing more money to its coffers in the form of late fees and increased finance charges.

You see, yesterday I got a letter from Chase saying they were raising my interest rate. I called and politely asked "WTF?" and they transferred me around to four different people -- disconnecting me altogether at one point. I finally got Jamie, who I have to say was one of the nicest, most helpful credit card employees that I have ever spoken to.

I nicely walked him through my situation (nicely always being the key when asking credit card companies to play fair). He then walked me through Chase's situation. I then nicely pointed out to him that Chase was setting me -- and others in the same position -- up to fail and dig a deeper hole for themselves. He said he fully understood my situation/point and even admitted he's in the same boat himself. He then walked me through my options. And, without outright telling me what to do, suggested highly what I could do to get Chase to lower my interest rate even more instead of raising it.

As we were chatting, he took some info from me and said he was going to submit a request for a lower rate for me. He said it's unusual for Chase to accept the request on the first try, especially considering my current state (which I won't bore you with the details). I said I appreciated him at least trying. He said if it didn't go through to make sure I call back monthly to see if I could eventually get it approved. I said I would. He then said he'd have an answer for me in the next 48 hours.

Then I obsessed about it overnight and I decided if Chase doesn't agree to at least leave my interest rate alone then I'm going to take the plunge and dip into my retirement funds to pay off the card, and be rid of Chase and credit cards forever. (Yes, Chase is my one and only personal credit card debt.)

I have already figured out that I can save the money I was putting toward the card and in 5 years have the total amount I withdraw from my retirement fund paid off. I will have to investigate my investment options, though, since I'm pretty sure my husband and I have priced ourselves out of the Roth IRA market. But, that's a minor inconvenience for something that will ease my mind greatly.

I am still digesting it all while I wait for Jamie to call me back. Even if Chase does agree to leave my interest rate alone, I'm kind of leaning toward just cutting my ties with them altogether.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking do I really need this financial news when I just gave notice at the office job to focus on building up the booming side business even more?

I DON'T THINK SO!

Now, tell me what you would do and explain your reasoning? Also, tell me what you know about the Roth IRAs income limits. (And, be nice! I'm not in a very good mood here. I'm having a bad hair day. ...)

I need to come up with something else to blog about. Instead, all I've got today is another addition for the challenge of $31.60. That brings the new total up to $7,994.59.

I shipped another eBay item today. My proceeds after shipping were $31, which I'm adding to the challenge. My new total is $7,993.99.

I also rectified my shipping dilemma with eBay by picking up a flier at the post office that outlines the exact costs for flat rate shipping. It's illustrated and includes international rates, so it'll be much easier to use than eBay's shipping estimator.

Sold some more stuff on eBay yesterday, so I'm adding $21.81 to the challenge. The new total is $7,962.99.

I sold some stuff on eBay last night and got it all shipped off this morning so I'm adding $26.40 to the challenge. The new total is $7,941.18.

I need to be better about calculating postage. I always underestimate the shipping costs and then end up using more of my proceeds for shipping than I would like. Any suggestions from eBay sellers out there?

****

I got up early to do some work on the booming side business (soon to be the only business) and I also swam a mile. I'm now exhausted and it's only 11 a.m. Not a good thing since I need to go into the "office" job today to give notice and maybe get some work accomplished there as well. It's shaping up to be a high caffeine day....

I have decided to give notice at my "office" job tomorrow. I will work through the middle of May, but it's time to clue them in.

I was going to wait until May 1 to give notice, but went back to the "office" job yesterday for the first time in two weeks and realized I really do not want to be there any more.

Since the booming side business is still booming and is more than enough to meet my financial needs, I feel like I am doing the right thing.

Yes, the booming side business could come crashing down, but for now I'm willing to bet that it'll keep me going for a while.

Got a small freelance check of $50 today so I'm putting it toward the challenge. The new total is $7,914.78.

I just read

I noticed a slight drip under my kitchen sink this morning, so I called Vince the Plumber to come take a look. Normally, I'd just hand my husband a wrench and tell him to go at it, but about once a year my kitchen sink backs up (usually in the middle of the night) and I end up calling the plumber to snake the line out since it requires some heavy industrial snake to clear it every time -- not something the average homeowner can rent.

Instead of waiting for the big flood that usually accompanies the back up, this year I'm taking preventative action and having Vince snake the line out even though there's no problem yet.

It'll probably cost a couple hundred bucks, but it's better than the cost of a midnight visit from Vince the night before we leave on vacation (which has happened in the past).

Vince is coming tomorrow afternoon. I can hardly wait to see him for once....

While standing around after the shindig last night thinking about how much my feet hurt in high heels and wondering when my husband would be done chatting up some stuffy guys in suits, I was approached by a banquet worker carrying a tray of centerpieces from the evening's dinner. She asked if I would like to take one home. (This was after the event was over.)

My husband paused long enough to say "Yes, she would" before carrying on his conversation.

I'm thinking this is his way of saying "Thank you" for being his arm candy despite being a walking germ factory. What a deal he got, huh.....

After swinging by the gas station ($48) and hitting Starbucks for my venti black iced tea sweetened ($2) this morning, I drove way out south for my meeting, which was actually a training session that covered stuff I didn't really want to learn. (Too much information for a job I'm quitting in a month anyways....)

Then I stopped in at a spa/salon to get an eyebrow wax. I rarely splurge on such things, but I noticed yesterday while dressing for my fancy schmancy dinner that my "eyebrows" were becoming an "eyebrow." Yes, unibrow was threatening to show itself, which might be OK if you're Frida Kahlo but not if you're me. So I thought the $36 (with tip) was money well spent.



After that painful experience (try it sometime guys....), I had every intention of getting my running shoes, but first felt the need to eat lunch so I stopped for a fish taco ($7). As I was sitting there chowing down, it occurred to me that I still felt like poo so I came home instead of driving across town to the running store.

All in all, still a spendy day....

I picked my husband up on the way to the fancy schmancy dinner (which was lovely by the way) and he ended up paying for parking, so I technically had a no-spend day yesterday.

Today, though, I have to drive to another town for a meeting and I need gas in the car so a no spender isn't going to happen. I also need Starbucks, which I haven't had forever, so I'm treating myself in hopes that I'll survive sitting through a work-related meeting that I'm dreading.

Depending on my energy level after enduring the meeting, I might stop and get new running shoes with some birthday money I've been hording. So I'm not even anticipating a "low-spend" day.

I'm taking my red, chapped nose and seal bark out tonight since my husband needs a date for his work event.

I had planned on getting a manicure, so my hands wouldn't look like I was just digging up the back 40 (which I was). However, I'm trying to conserve my energy today, so I've decided to skip it and save some money.

I do have to pay for valet parking at the hotel where the event is being held since there's no way I'm hoofin' it in high heels. (And, yes, that money will be coming from my husband's parking stash.....)

This is the dress I've decided to wear (since I know BA and DisneySteve were dying to see it....):



Hopefully it won't clash too much with the box of tissues I'll be carrying with me.

The good thing about being sick was that I didn't go anywhere to spend money -- not even to the tailor shop to pick up my husband's tuxedo pants for tomorrow night....

In case you missed it, I very briefly posted a link to my other secret blog with a warning that the post would expire very soon. Sure 'nuff, it's gone now. Back to just me and my boring ol' financial life....

After a very fitful nap (#*&% phone and email ping), I got up to make some chicken noodle Cup o' Soup. While the water was boiling for the soup, I stumbled out to the garage to get a Pepsi from the trunk of my car (still from the original 12 pack -- that's how little I drink). I was pleasantly surprised to find it nicely chilled already. No need for ice or anything. Maybe I should unplug the fridge each winter and instead just drive around with all my food in the trunk of the car!

(I think I have a fever and am becoming delirious now....)

Yes, Mini Me made it back to school after a lovely spring break and left me with her cold. Between my achy tooth and clogged sinuses, my head is one big stuffed-up mess. And, tomorrow is the first of my two formal dinners that I mentioned last month.

It should be lovely:

My husband: "This is my wife, Karen."

Me: Achoooooo.... Pardon me for blowing snot all over your tuxedo...."

One year ago today is when I started this blog. As I recall, I was busy digging under the couch cushions for spare change and rolling coins last year.

I've definitely tightened the spending belt considerably since then. I gave up cable, trimmed my grocery bill from more than $100 a week to $50 a week and generally turned into a frugal fanatic -- while still managing to enjoy my life.

If you'll look to your left, you'll notice that I've managed to carve $12,000 from my debt while socking away an additional $15,000. Not bad for one year.

The state tax return came and my mother gave me $200 for my birthday last week, so I'm adding $236.44 to the challenge. The new total is $7,864.78.

Went to the dentist this morning for the achy tooth. The doctor cleaned it up and then shot the gum full of antibiotics to try to clear up some infection. He then referred me to a periodontist to most likely have the tooth yanked and an implant put in. I've secured an appointment for three weeks from now for the initial visit. I'm hoping to put off the BIG pain until after the new insurance kicks in this July....

Gil the Grocer came back with my missing bag of stuff. He felt bad that he messed up the order so he threw in some extra tater tots. Funny, because I never buy things like tater tots, but I wanted to make a tater tot casserole to see if Mini Me would possibly like it (she hates everything resembling food....).

My tooth is feeling better, so I might be able to hold off on the dentist a while longer.

And, I did manage to get six things listed on eBay today. I still have plenty left on the dining room table, though, so I'll get back on it later this week.

Gil the Grocer just made his weekly stop here and I ended up with $102.54 in groceries for $63.38 (including delivery) after coupons. Most of the stuff ended up in the basement mini mart since it was on sale, but not necessarily what we needed for this week's meals.

I am, however, having Gil redeliver a bag of things that he overlooked while unloading the truck, which is one of the negatives of having groceries delivered. At least if I'm doing the shopping and delivering, I have a pretty good chance that all my groceries will end up in MY house and not someone else's.....

I have been collecting stuff to post on eBay tomorrow and right now my dining room table looks like I'm holding a garage sale in my house. Here's what it looked like before I filled up the other side of the table:



My husband used to brew his own beer, but gave it up so he's given me all his brewing stuff to sell. I don't even know what half of it is. I don't want to push my luck with him, so I'm not going to point out to him that he could sell the stuff himself and put the money toward the new mattress he's been whining about.....

I got another freelance check in the mail today plus a Pinecone check, so I'm adding $700.50 to the challenge. The new total is $7,628.34.

My husband is itchin' to buy a new $3,000 memory foam mattress for our bed and I'm itchin' to pay down a credit card. He keeps asking me when we can buy the mattress. I was just sitting here trying to figure out how to distribute the freelance money (between savings and debt) and he started whining about the mattress again.

I think I'm going to have him sleep on the couch for a few nights, so he'll shut up about a new mattress and be happy with what we've got.....

Stop the presses!!!! The IRS wasn't joking. They deposited $2,641 into my checking account first thing this morning, so I'm putting that toward the challenge. Forget