Reducing Debt with a Snowball (Guest Post)
Tackling debt can be as easy as rolling a snowball. Kids learn early that when you roll a snowball along an area covered with snow that the snowball with grow. Paying down debt can work with the same concept.
The snowball method of reducing debt takes the payments from one debt and rolls them into the next debt as each debt gets paid off. It means that the payment amount will grow larger but without requiring adjustments to your budget along the way.
The first step for getting finances under control must always be developing a budget. Creating a balanced budget (where more money is coming in than there is money going out) will help you reduce your debt and also prepare for the future. Once the budget is established you can begin aggressively taking on debt until you are free from its hold.
Tracking My Finances In 2010: April Week 1
I have decided to post my weekly spending for the previous week on Fridays so you know how my cash has been flowing for the week. Please note that I get paid on the last day of the month so my cash flow net effect will usually be negative until the last day of the month.
This does not mean that I am adding to my debt, it just means that the money coming in is less than the money going out because bills are due starting on the first but I don’t get paid until the last day.
Monthly Financial Update: March 2010
Whew it is time to look at one full month of finances and see how I came out in the end. I was in the black again for the month even after making a few larger than normal debt snowflake payments and a bit of overspending. I came out at $139.53 in the black after getting my paycheck and buying some more groceries in a last minute rush late in the evening.
Tracking My Finances In 2009: 10 December
Welcome to tracking of income and expenses for the month. Please note that I get paid on the last day of the month so my cash flow net effect will usually be negative until the last day of the month.
This does not mean that I am adding to my debt, it just means that the money coming in is less than the money going out because bills are due starting on the first but I don’t get paid until the last day.
Started The Splurge Fund
I have written MANY times about ING and how easy it is to set up sub accounts for various savings goals. I have the Never Go Back To Fresno Fund which is going to be my ultimate fund for retirement and other things later on in life. I recently started a new fund and called the Splurge Fund because I have been having a hard time spending on myself.
Joining The Million dollar Club
J from Budgets Are Sexy started a Million Dollar Club for those of us who want to have that amount to retire. In order to join, you have to list the steps you are going to take to build up your wealth so that you can grow to have one million dollars.
I have found that writing your goals down makes it easier to reach them so here are my steps for getting my One Million Dollars:
1. Save a dollar a day
2. Pay off credit card debt completely
3. Pay off car loan
4. Pay off personal loans
10 Financial Commandments For Your 30s
Over at MSN Money there is an article on the 10 Financial Commandments For Your 30s. This is a list that everyone in their 30s needs to pay attention to so that they can have a better financial future.
Pay off your nonmortgage debt.
I have no mortgage and I am really working on the credit card and car loan right now. I have been applying my snowflake payments to credit cards and I have managed to get rid of a few of them already.
Kick the debt cycle altogether.
$306 Left On Lending Club Loan
I made a big snowflake payment to my Lending Club loan this month and while it hurt to see that money go out of my ING account it felt good to bring down the balance on a loan.
I currently have $306 as the payoff amount on the Lending Club loan, which I am hoping to pay off in March.
After I make that payment I will be free of the Lending Club loan and can roll that money into the snowball for a different debt target.
