I was very determined and excited this year about not putting any Christmas presents on a credit card and pay with cash instead. I had everyone taken care of except for my 9 year old daughter…and that’s where I buckled. She always wants to use my computer to play computer games, check her email from family and use Word to write stories so I decided to make the big purchase! Unfortunately I didn’t have the cash so I applied for a Dell credit card. The big difference is that I actually cringed when I made the purpose verses a few years ago when I would use credit cards without even thinking about it. The thought of adding more debt when I have been so persistent in paying it off made me a bit nauseous.

In a frenzy I am putting in extra hours and forcing myself to pay the $500 off within 3 paychecks and in the end it will actually probably benefit me because I’ll have more available credit which looks good on a credit report for your debt ratio…oh yeah, and my daughter can keep working on that novel of hers anytime she wants! I realize that sometimes *life* just happens and it’s ok if you have to take a step back to take two forward because the more steps you take, the less often you’ll have to step back…well, you know what I mean. In other words, I will have enough income and cash in savings by this time next year that I won’t have to resort to a credit card.

Cheers to a future debt free Christmas/Hanukkah/whatever!!!!