Total debt = $31853.67. At $300 a month without any interest accruing would take you almost 9 years to pay off and thats at $300 a month. You have been either living way above your means or ??? You gotta not only look at how to pay this off, but also how you got here. Be honest and learn from it. I did it - you can too.
The "credit company" that I used was really bad so I won't advise you to that end, but you can talk directly with the credit card companies to reduce/forgo or eliminate penalties and/or fees. You may want to conider a buyout on them as well. This will negatively affect your credit though. I wish you well.

Thanks classicman. I know exactly how I got here.

1. living above my means
2. having to pay for my own insurance at about 400/month
3. being late for a payment, thus quadrupling my monthly payment.

I have been in debt close to this before, but fixed it by putting my cards in the freezer and using only cash or my debit card. Paid one credit card off and started focusing on my other one. Then, an unauthorized purchase was made with my debit card and I got scared and things whirled out of control. As soon as I get his under control. my cards are staying in my freezer!! For big purchases ONLY!

And the 300 is for one credit card, the total I pay a month for credit cards is about 650.

then you need to increase your income and/or reduce expenses. It's a pretty simple equation, really, but hard to implement.

:eek: :headshake

thats almost my mortgage payment

it's like going on a diet ---

this means things like; selling all your junk; getting a new job, better paying, or a second job; start a shoestring business to make extra cash; stopping your phone service and getting a cheap pre-paid card; doing without paid entertainment for a while; switch from fast internet to slow dialup; reducing your food budget for a while, etc.

Sucks, I know, but these can be all temporary measures.

Cloud is right - ya gotta just bite the bullet on everything and anything you can or HE can till its done. Didn't you say that "he" had credit issues too?

he is no longer here. this is just me dealing with this. I am writing an email to my consulting company right now to tell them that I am looking for a new job since they misled me about the benefits that they offer. I also saw one or two night jobs that I could take up.

I don't have cable, don't have internet, have the cell phone to save money on long-distance to PA both on my side and the family's side, have the landline because I have run into situations where people WILL NOT accept a cell phone. I haven't bought groceries in about a week (only spent about 60-70 bucks) and probably won't need to for another week or so except for milk and veggies. I barely use my heat in my apartment. I don't eat out, I don't go out anymore. I didn't even go out for NYE!

If that damn insurance payment would get lower or I hadn't forgotten to mail that check, I wouldn't be in this mess. I would still have the debt, but I wouldn't be struggling to make all the payments like I am!

I will take all the suggestions and let you know how it goes. Thanks everyone for the help.

Lose the car

Can't get to work without it. Public Transportation here SUCKS

bugger

I don't want to sound harsh, but any chance you can walk or bike to work? Biking up to 5 miles or so is much easier than you might expect. You can get decent old 10 speeds on craig's list for $100 bucks.

Yea, when I first got the car, I actually put less than 3000 miles on it in the first year or so because I rode the buses all the time.

glatt - I would consider it, but I actually work over 30 miles from home......mostly highway driving, too. These people don't like bikers....or walkers for that matter!

bbro - like I said - been there done that. It is a very hard lesson to learn. Consider the possibility of the buyout option - you may be better off. Take a look with a real professional fiinancial advisor, not a two-bit operation. Good Luck

Can you move nearer work?

Resigned the lease two months ago. And I heard they spank you if you leave early.

I will figure it out. I have to.....what other choice do I have, right? :neutral: