debt resolve

So. On October 3, 2006 I entered into a debt management program. As a soon-to-be graduate, my credit card debt was mounting, and I needed to get it under control (especially with those ginormous loan bills-a-looming--a completely different story). I was at about $5,000 from roughly 6 or 7 different creditors. Some of these cards went to pay mechanic bills, and some, I'm ashamed to say, bought groceries and gas--even christmas gifts for family and friends. (!!! Never do that!) However, two years later I am under $2,000 from only 3 creditors. I hope to get it ALL paid off within the next year. This is a manageable goal that I can most certainly accomplish. At any rate, I said all this to say this-- with the debt crisis trickling down to the average everyday joe-- don't fall into the same trap I did. Live within your means. And if you start feeling the pressure-- get help. This program has worked wonders for me. No, my credit is not in fantastic shape because of it, but I can bet it wouldn't be in better shape now if it was left to me. I likely would have resorted to applying for MORE credit cards to pay off the debt already accrued and be in a mess of a situation. Sometimes that seemed to be a negative-- I can promise it wasn't. It seems so easy when you are in a tough spot-- but it is really not, long term. At any rate, those are my lessons learned. And I am proud that I am taking care of these bills all by myself, no parent help involved.

!

so there are days when my mind gets super bogged down with "life-what-am-i-doing-nonsense". it's been bogged down the past few days.
for us right brainers, that translates into coming up with some kind of plan.

my five year plan:

1. toil away working in fayetteville, trying to save monies and pay off debt.
2. apply & secure grant for children's book collaboration with mr. stamey through scwbi, while also working and saving monies and paying off debt.
3. apply & secure grant for fayetteville's literary magazine through the arts council, while also working and saving monies and paying off debt.
4. study like mad and take gre and do fantasmic & apply for grad school in boston (pray they let me in and ignore my crap gpa from college-- more like umass and less like harvard), for something related to publishing/writing, while also working and saving monies and paying off debt.
5. move to boston to enroll in school. hopefully have a job when i move, spend saved monies and try to avoid accruing more debt.

it's just a rough estimate. trying to be a bit realistic, here.

really rough. i'm up for suggestions.

the fortunate part of this "bogged-downness" thing is that it comes from a brain that is really happy with the "way things are" currently. i'm a simple girl with simple needs. i just moved in with the man i love, my cat and i have been reunited, i get to see my fam on a regular basis-- i just need a few girlfriends. doesn't mean i don't want to look forward, however. in addition, i think my "insecurities" stem from thinking myself capable-- being good at quite a lot of things. problem is i don't think myself excellent at any of them.


bah.