Day one….

My credit cards were collecting dust on my desk. I didn’t want to look at them. You may know that feeling….just wanting to put it off for another time. The problem was that the longer I put it off, the higher the balance. I was aware of the crippling interest rates on most credit cards, and I was only paying the minimum, so I knew I wasn’t doing what I needed to do. That’s the weird thing. I wasn’t ignorant. I knew I needed to change how I managed my finances, but the problem had become so large I just kept putting it off. I’m not sure why I finally gathered the courage to take the step toward change, but I did. One day I just told myself that I needed help. A few days later the chance presented itself and I sat with a family member whom I trusted and respected. I started by saying that judgement (looks of shock, disdain, etc.) could not be part of the conversation. I wanted to change so it was all about moving forward and creating a plan. I’m happy to say we did that and we created a plan that I’ve been able to stick with…easily. I’m noticing my mindset is changing and it excites me. I do things I never would have done before – like notice a bill that needs to be paid and do it right away, or I strategically plan my spending for the week so I have enough for what I want to do. Like the title states, it’s a journey, but I know I’m on the right track. In subsequent posts I’ll outline the plan we created and I’ll also mention some great books that were fun to read and just what I needed at the time.

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