Sandra

Like some of you - our Credit cards work for us - pay off every month; own everything else bar the bloody expensive mortgage but currently keeping a large offset balance to help pay it off quicker.

The debt we took on here to live in Sydney was like Seasider said frightening - after eight years owing slightly less than 400K has made us feel rich! Stupid really when it still masses more than our UK mortgage was.

CelticRover

You don't have to rub it in.



http://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html

scottishcelts

That's pretty good going.

scottishcelts

Lucky you.

DeadVim

Ta, any spare has gone straight off it, we also bought at $26,000 car with the payments in advance ... we aren't exactly high flyers salary-wise either.

Just had to re-fix the other loan though ... needless to say the repayments haven't gone down ...

jad n rich

Currently 11,000 on the credit card, the monthly living expenses and some dental work

Pay it off at end of every month, worst month was when we stuck half the price of a truck on it they wouldnt let us do the entire truck but got some good FF points that month.

Dreamy

I wish I had that amount of self discipline lol (well, not me necessarily, but 'the family unit')

Unfortunately I know that we'd have a bad month, it wouldn't get paid off and before we knew it we'd be eyeballs deep in credit card debt

odyssey

mega debt in every direction.

Never thought I would - left uk with house nearly paid for, creidt cards paid every month for 15 years. Got here, all fell in. couple of kids, own business, health issues...... health issues, more health issues.

but hey, I'm happy and I just picked 3 kilos of squash, turmeric and ginger from my garden and made piccalilli. Lifes grand.

irishbloo

As long as you are happy and you have a roof over your head.

odyssey

have a roof, food and its really funny how you become accustomed to debt. I dont really worry about it any more, its there, it will go away one day I am sure.

my Dad spent his life saving, and I think I mentioned this before on here - ended up very well off but with altzheimers and slowly the state took the lot for protracted care arrangements. he would have been better off spending the lot and getting it all paid for.

I think people spend too much time really patting themselves on the back and analysing other people's situations. when really its just money and situation.

I have less money but lots of experiences and am very able to generate income and thats the thing - its a lot harder if you cant actually bring money in when push comes to shove and lots of people get into that situation through no fault of their own. and that doesnt mean they are less capable of thrift or have failed, its just the hand they were dealt.

irishbloo

This time last year we had a decent size credit card debt.We worked really hard to clear it,mainly the oh but he couldnt have done it without me..He worked all the hours and we made lots of sacrifices.We cleared the debt and also managed to do some big renos like kitchen and bathrooms.Oh is now back to working normal hours and its nice having him home.Of course if he had to work the long hours again he would.

odyssey

I set up lots of standing orders to pay the cards back and some to save - even though you are saving and not paying off debt, at least it means you have backup when you need it rather than hitting the cards again.

that really helped me but what I need to do is get more funding

and we are skint but make stupid decisions too like going back to the uk - that is a big one this year for me but I just cant stay away from my aging remaining parent

carolinephillips

Mortgage of just under $400k -scary stuff indeed. We pay off the credit card bills each month, but due to health issues can't afford to do any renovation or go on holiday. And the government calls us rich....

northernbird

Mortgage of $400k and credit cards get paid off every month.

jad n rich

I just set up a direct debit each month with westpac for the entire amount to come out of the partners salary.

You dont have much choice then but to pay it off.

The only time it doesnt work is if we make a huge purchase, like the truck I arrange the extra money to be in the account at the time we buy so nobody forgets.