Monday, September 3, 2012

Kate Has Debt: How I Got Into This Mess


In my new series, Kate Has Debt, I am tackling the big questions about debt, starting with
How Did I Get Into This Mess?!
 
One word: 
Shopping.
 
I am an online shopper, an impulse-buyer, a deal-lover. I can't pass up a $5 cute shirt from Old Navy, a $10 print from Etsy, or a $1 bowl from Salvation Army. I don't buy large ticket items, I buy A LOT of small ticket items. 
 
I buy Charmin toilet paper, lots of fresh produce, and tons of books.
 
I am suckered in by "BUY 2, GET 1 FREE" body wash deals and $25 sheet sets (FOR A QUEEN!). 
 
I am out of control.
 
A few more words:
Keeping Up With The Joneses
 
It's hard to say you can't do what everyone else is doing because you can't afford it. It's hard to sit at home when your friends are on a trip, at the movies, or in a new restaurant. It's even harder to realize you may not see a movie for YEARS because of this hole you're in. Time to climb out.

{via}
 
It's pretty sobering to realize that I am not in debt because I am struggling to pay my rent, buy my groceries, or fill my gas tank. I am here because I buy too much STUFF.
 
I even made a list of 
 
THINGS I AM SO LUCKY I DON'T PAY FOR
(AKA WHY THE HELL DO I HAVE SO MUCH DEBT)
 
1. Gasoline
2. Health Insurance
3. Copays, Prescriptions
4. 401k Contributions
5. Breakfast & Lunch 5x A Week
 
How can I not manage to pay my bills on time and in full with benefits like that?
 
Poor, poor management. 
Which is going to change - but how?
_________________________________________________

Stay tuned for:

-- The tools I'm using to get out of it --
-- What I hope to achieve --
-- How I'm going to make sure I will never be here again --

1 comment:

  1. Im exactly the same I buy a lot of small items and tell myself Im not spending a lot!

    ReplyDelete

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