Monday, September 15, 2008

One step forward, two steps back

Well, I was doing so good at paying off my debts and not racking up any more. But I back slid. For a while I thought that I might just not mention it on here, but I think it's important for me to share my triumphs as well as my mistakes. I mean, nobody's perfect and this is a blog about my journey to financial freedom. So here's what happened.

I ran out of money at the end of the month (shocking, I know) and was on a business trip where I would be unable to collect my pay until I returned home. I had no money to pay for my parking at the airport, so I charged it on one of my cards. Then I was getting ready to go on another trip and need to buy some stuff to get ready to go (i.e. shoes to go with my dress, make-up and some other skin care things) and since I didn't have any money, I had yet to deposit the check, I charged that too. All in all, the damage done amounts to $285.91. However, I am currently working on getting my parking paid for by my company and that was about $93. This morning I scheduled a $150 payment, which almost covers my new debt.

Instead of letting myself get overly depressed about it, I decided to respond pro-actively. I took my credit cards out of my wallet and put them in my day planner where I can't get to them to charge on them. I know what you're thinking, "Why don't you just cut them up?" and part of me would say that you're right. But there's another part of me who just can't let go because I keep thinking that I might need them. A while ago I wanted to start selling Beijo bags, which are totally awesome purses made out of vinyl and the whole reason why I got a second credit card, and I still would really like to do it. I feel like cutting up these credit cards would be the end of that opportunity. Maybe one day I will feel like I can cut them up without the feeling of something lost, but until then I'm just going to hide them so that I won't be tempted to charge on them anymore.