Decided

[vaneramos]

I decided to use Dad's line of credit to refinance my debt, so I will owe him the money at less than one-third the interest rate I'm currently paying. It makes the most sense because we won't risk losing control of the property in case I find myself unable to make payments. We agreed on a minimum monthly payment that should not be difficult to manage. The total value of the loan includes an additional amount to set up an emergency fund in savings, as recommended by the debt counselor. The entire transfer will go through April 15.

So I can set aside the problem of debt for now and concentrate on changing how I use money. I didn't review my budget last week with hangnaildhole as planned, so we'll do it this weekend instead. I get confused when it comes to separating weekly from occasional expenses and so on (and when I lose track, it's easy to overspend whatever money happens to be available), so it will be essential to set up a system that's easy to remember. I also need to work on a list of inexpensive activities to distract me when I am tempted to spend money.

Comments

[abendstille.livejournal.com]

that sounds perfect! I´m glad the two of you could agree on doing it that way. I bet you feel great getting things under control and problems out of the way. Great stuff!

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is a tremendous relief. This also is turning out to be an object lesson in what I can do (in just a few weeks) to improve my life.

[jwg.livejournal.com]

Excellent move to reduce expenditure on high interest rates and get the loan issue settled.

Here:s my suggestion of inexpensive activities that you are really good at, like doing, pass the time away, and other people can enjoy the results: writing and photography.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ah, but writing doesn't qualify. I'm already working hard at that every day. Honestly it feels like work most of the time, and I might just stop, except that the alternative—not writing—makes me aimless and unhappy.

Photography, on the other hand, is a pleasant distraction.