Can I brag a little?

[Kelsey1224]

Well...with all this news about economic hard times, I am rejoicing because hubby and I just paid off our last credit card. A year ago we owed over $16,000 on that card (it just crept up on us)...and...after much reorganizing of our budget, etc., and chipping away at it every month...it is finally paid off.

Other than our mortgage and his Lexus car payment...we have absolutely no debt!

We actually have 3 major credit cards with over $70,000 of credit available to us...but we don't owe any of them a single dime! Woohoo for us.

This has been a goal of ours since we hope to retire next year. It was suppose to be this summer, but things got delayed a year.

God willing, I hope we never owe a credit card like that again!

[speedygirl]

Congrats! That has to be a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders.

[Anniston]

That is just SUPER!! What a great accomplishment in a year. So many others would be well served to have been as dedicated as the two of you!

[Urban Cowgirl]

Congrats you should feel super proud about that!

[YankeeMary]

I don't think that is bragging at all. I think you accomplished a huge goal and you are proud of yourselves, and rightly so. Congrats to you both, I know it wasn't easy.

[fleabones3]

That is awesome and you have every right to brag!! Congratulations and you know now if you charge something .. pay it off that month

[ElleGee]

That's HUGE accomplishment. You should be ecstatic *nod :)

[sandooch]

That is great news! I'd be bragging, too.

[DBackFan]

I know that feels sooooooo good Kelsey! We are almost there ourselves. If and when our mobile home park sells we will have everything paid off except the house.

[dangerousfem]

that is great... congrats!

[missteena]

Good job! I hate owing ANYONE money.

[OmaLisa]

Congratulations! That must feel awesome.

[buglebe]

Congratulations! That is wonderful. We are retired and I never intended to let credit cards get the better of us again. That happened to us in 85 when my husband collapsed with cryptococcus and never worked another day. But we have let our credit cards creep up too, and it is hard getting it down on our limited income. Credit cards can be wonderful things in a desperate situation but they can also make it so easy to spend money you don't have. Congratulations again. That was work well done!!

[dv8grl]

:congrat

[Kelsey1224]

Congratulations! That is wonderful. We are retired and I never intended to let credit cards get the better of us again. That happened to us in 85 when my husband collapsed with cryptococcus and never worked another day. But we have let our credit cards creep up too, and it is hard getting it down on our limited income. Credit cards can be wonderful things in a desperate situation but they can also make it so easy to spend money you don't have. Congratulations again. That was work well done!!

I can so relate. Both hubby and I have very good jobs and make great money, so it was easy to not even pay attention to the balance on the card. We always paid more than the minimum and we didn't struggle to do that. And, we used the excuse that the card was generating airline miles. We have definitely been living the good life!

However, even though our retirement income should be sufficient, our income will be drastically reduced when we retire. It suddenly became evident that the debt on that card would affect how we lived when we did retire. Definitely an "aha" moment. What I am most proud of is that we almost never charged anything all year...and what we did charge was for the convenience and the protection of using a charge card. Those charges were paid off immediately. So, that did show hubby and I that we can do it!

If I could give any advice to young couples it is to not charge what you can't afford to pay for up front. Of course, that is easy to say. And, I realize that many people are using those charge cards to just help them get by.

[CLARKS4]

Congrats! Brag all you want that is a big accomplishment.

[dinosmom]

Absolutely, brag away! Thats a HUGE accomplishment! Congrats!!!!!

[diana_circe]

Congrats! I am so happy for you!

[gmyers]

Wow thats a really big accomplishment. You have every right to brag. I bet it feels so good to be out from under that.

[janelle]

Like Dave Ramsey says---"Credit cards reek." We have only one and use it sparingly, plus pay it off each month. My hubby use to rob Peter to pay Paul--take money from one credit card and pay down the another---in the lean years but stopped that as soon as he could. I know he doesn't worry as much anymore.

Bet you feel a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Congrats.

[CAMSmama]

That is AWESOME!!!! congrats!