Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Just like I said in my last post, I feel like I am taking two steps forward and one step back.

I worked a day over the summer doing interviews for open positions at my school site and I got paid for it! Yeah! I made $223! However, I accidentally overdrafted my checking account (which I NEVER do, I probably haven’t done that in 5+ years), and have to pay a $36 fee.

I’m so annoyed by the overdraft because I transferred $50 one day early into each of The Kids’ accounts. If I had actually waited until payday, I would have been fine. I didn’t realize all of our checks hadn’t cleared and I had an outstanding check.

The Husband also must have had a small bit of overtime because his check was slightly higher than normal. This helped offset the overdraft fee; but I’m still so bitter about it!!!!

Once I opened my account and saw how much my little extra check was, I went online and sent a $200 payment to the credit card. Though I’m happy I can send a little unexpected extra this month, thus two steps forward, I’m very upset by the overdraft fee, thus one step back.

I know every little bit helps in my quest for debt freedom, I just wish I hadn’t had such a spendy summer.

I finally peeked at our credit card balance and it wasn’t pretty. It’s over $20,000! Yikes, I can’t even believe it. I am really hoping that after all the payments and interest in the next two months that I can bring it back below $20,000. The card closes in a couple days and then I’ll get a statement a couple days after that. I’m just hoping that it stays below $21000 after finance charges. Either way, my goal by the end of September, or my October statement, is below $20,000 and as a stretch goal, below $19000. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but right now, any downward progress would be just that, progress.

I know it doesn’t look like it, or probably read like it, but I am working hard to lower our credit card debt. I have paid cash for many things over the last month that I would have charged just a few short weeks ago. I have also done without some things that aren’t necessities. I have said no to myself many times. (Less so to The Husband and Kids, but baby steps.) I am trying hard to determine the difference between needs and wants and only buying those decided as needs.

I even went to the mall with The Daughter over the weekend and only bought planned for expenses: insulated water bottle, toiletries, and food. In fact, I went into a shoe store and didn’t even buy any shoes, though I was tempted. (Shoes are my vice.)

Baby steps… literally.