The Ups and the Downs

Hi everyone-

It's been a long time since I had a chance to log in, and I have really missed participating in and reading all the new topics. When I have some time, I'll have to sit down and read over everything I missed. Nothing like staying informed!

So let's see, I didn't quite think this should go in my "progress" thread, as this is somewhat of a personal update.

Anyway, I now work 12-14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was up for a promotion at my main workplace that I have been wanting for 5 years. It would have increased my yearly income 25K more than what I am currently making. Unfortunately, after accepting myself and a few others for the few positions that were available, the company made a TON of cut-backs, so our new positions were nulled before training even started. Sooooo disappointing, but you soldier on.

So in a continued effort to battle my debts,
I took a second job that was 6 days a week, 4 hours a day in the call center for a Home Remodeling Agency. I worked there for about a month, and found that not only was cold-calling not the type of work for me, but I wasn't making much profit considering the amount I spent in car gas to drive to two jobs everyday, especially when the call center job was a good half-hour commute one way from my home, then another half hour straight from there to my main job, and then from there to home. So I ended up quitting so I could find something else.

Remember that paper route that seems to be the running "get a job" remark around here? Well, I got one. I had never done anything like it before, so I had no idea the amount of work I was looking at when they told me the only route they had available was 300 papers on the weekdays, and 400 papers on the weekends. All I heard was "it pays $1500 a month" and I said, "sign me up!"

Actually, in the beginning, it was kind of fun, like a treasure hunt. I had my little map with the house numbers, and I had to find the houses and give them their paper. Of course, you never get a day off and after putting 8 hours in at my main job 5 days a week and then driving straight to the paper distribution warehouse, covering myself in newsprint ink and getting raw hands from folding papers and rubber-banding them, I am putting in 12-14 hours 5 days a week.

I'm still doing it. I don't mind it too much and sometimes it's actually enjoyable, and I keep telling myself this is only temporary. I am doing this now so I can pay off my debts so that hopefully in the future, I will be wiser and manage my money better so that I NEVER have to work two jobs again. My only complaint is the amount of car gas doing a paper route sucks up, especially with gasoline being well over $4 a gallon. However, if you do well on your route, they reward you with gas cards. I've worked hard to keep customer complaints to a minimum, so every other week I have gotten $50 in gas cards. Not a full tank, but still, every little bit helps.

The nice thing about the paper route is that it's paydays fall opposite to the ones at my main job, so I am getting money every Friday, which is usually enough to hold me over and get bills that are due paid. That was part of the reason I got into that mess with PDLs in the first place- I was using them to bridge a gap inbetween paydays to pay the amount of bills I had accumulated and was too teriffied to ever pay anything late.

I'd like to say I'm ahead, but not quite. In March, when I first posted on this forum, I had a payday coming up where I was due to be withdrawn over $1800 in payday loans and payday loan extension fees- and that was not counting the actual bills that needed to get paid, either. So when I think about it, I still have come a long way. I may still be struggling, but I'm not dead in the water, like I was a few months ago. While I wish I had taken a second job much earlier before my monthly bills became much larger than my monthly income, I can say I am still glad I got started when I did- I keep thinking, who KNOWS where'd I be without the support of this forum and the money I've been making from the route by now.

I have paid off most of my storefront payday loans, and am down to just 1 internet payday loan; when I originally got started on this journey in March, I had somewhere over 14.

I just recently paid off a $1500 installment loan that was so horrible, it was costing me $300 every payday- $600 a month for 6 months! I still have 5 installment loans hanging over my head, but even paying off just 1 of them, even if it was the smallest one, gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I would, however, like to make the additional income work hard at paying down my debt. I feel that if I didn't have Cashcall or QuickClick Loans, I could actually pay off things much faster and easier, but those 2 of the 5 remaining installment loans are sucking me dry. I will probably post another topic later, asking for advice. I was thinking of a debt management program since my credit history is 0-0-0 ( 0 charge-offs, 0 collections, 0 delinquent or late accounts ) and I want to manage my debt doing as little damage as possible to my credit score. However, I hate to put a management program on accounts I could easily pay off if I just didn't have that danged Cashcall and Quickclick and from what I hear, they typically will not agree to any kind of program anyway. So at the moment I'm kind of wondering if I should just stop paying on CashCall and Quickclick and let them send me to collections, where I can possibly get a better deal, and just take the ding on my credit for those two items only.

But anyway, that's a whole other topic

I hope everyone is doing well and getting ahead and winning in their fight against debt! I've missed the forum!

I was wondering what happened to you. I am sorry that you are having to work so much, but it will be worth it in the end. Just keep remembering what your goals are and how far you have came already...hang in there.

and please don't get into more debt if it is allowed in the meantime!
do not incur aNY MORE debt when you are tying your best to take care of what has already happened..good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

you were sorely missed amareth look at it this way,things are
still better than 1 yr ago right?thanks for checking in and please
keep us posted.

First I would like to tell you congratulations in getting all of your store front payday loans taken care of.

I know it is hard working as much as you do, but like what was stated, it will all pay off in the end. My husband works 2 jobs to help make ends meet and to help with gas in the cars plus it has been helping to buy his tools for work. If it wasn't for his second job, he would not be able to get his tools. Hand in there though, you are getting there. Please keep us informed on how you are doing.

You are working very hard to take care of everything. Good luck to you, and just remember it wont always be this way.

Thanks for the write-up on your progress, it is inspiring to read such a success story. I said to my sister the other day that I am almost grateful for the debt that I got myself into, because I thought I knew the value of money before .... boy was I wrong! I NOW know the value and will never again let myself "just put it on the card". CONGRATS!

Ain't that a fact! If this fiasco has taught me anything, it has taught me that half the "stuff" I think I need, I really only "want". Doing without has been tough at times but it has shown me that I can do without "stuff" in my life. Heck, it has even given me the motivation to discard all my "stuff" that clutters my life. . . literally! The trashmen ain't happy, but my house is much lighter. Congrats on your accomplishments and thank you for your inspirations. Keep us the good work and keep us posted on your continued progress.

Quick Click loans will sue you before it's even sent to collections . . . . They will leave you alone for a few months and lull you into a false sense of security, then one day you will have a process server (or sherrif) at your door with a summons.