I guess I got used to be yelled at by playing sports

Football coaches love to yell to motivate players. Have you ever heard of Bobby Knight? Is he wrong for yelling or is it just another way of communication that you need to accept?

So, plowing a paycheck on gambling and drugs is a valid reason for forcing me to bail someone out? Wrong!
People do not ‘BE PREPARED’ because they know they will be bailed out becasue they have been bailed out of everything else in life. Overcomming your own problems will make you a much better person.

I’m not an unsavory character

I hope, so these ideas never crossed my mind. I stay here because it keeps me motivated. I very well could lapse back into the abyss of debt and not feel bad about it, but I stay here to remind me of whence I’ve come. Listening to struggles and offering advice (for what its worth) keep me grounded so to speak.

I came from positive net worth, I didn’t grow up witnessing debt but I tried it out for a time. Then sense was restored to me and I’ve decided never to walk on that line again. I was delighted to find a Dave Ramsey group, as listening to his local radio program (before he became a national phenom) on my drives through Tennessee, really enlightened me. I can’t say that I followed him on my path to freedom, didn’t get to hear enough of him, but when I compared what he teaches, with what my now ex husband and I did, it was like confirmation that I did the right thing and could be assured of a better future. I’ve been n the positive side of debt for about 9 years now.

No Im not here to write any expose’s, just a testimony that it works.

I didn’t answer all questions

because the question was already answered in the post. I said I was living paycheck to paycheck. By sheer definition of that term, it means no 3 -6 months savings.Besides the fact that I am now following Dave Ramsey’s plan would mean that I was not the brightest with money.
I don’t think anyone else on this group was confused as to why I didn’t have an emergency fund. I think we can all agree that one is needed and would be the smart thing to have. So your question didn’t really need an answer, or were you just trying to “rub my nose” in my past mistakes? Or do you feel that I haven’t seen the foolishness of my ways?
What I don’t understand is why you want others to listen to your advice, and yet you can’t listen to what people tell you. You were told time and time again that your post were out of line and although you have “toned it down” you still don’t see the problem. You feel like you just “tell it like it is”, but what you do is way beyond that. Dave, Chuck, and several others on this list “tell it like it is”, you instead are mean and belittling. You were even banned so you say (the only one that I know of), and still you think that you were treated unfairly and the rest of us are just thin skinned. What will it take before you take a good hard look at the way you talk to people to before you see that perhaps that the vast majority of what others are saying is true?

I don’t think Kelly meant it that way.

It’s not that those with net worth “shouldn’t” be here, but that they don’t necessarily “need” to be in this group. I would make the assumption by the name of the group alone that most members are those who are trying to get out of debt. Or at least, that would be the original reason for joining…that was my reason. BUT, I can see myself a few years down the road being debt free and still participating in this group in order to help others and share my experiences.

If I had a 300,000 net worth

I wouldn’t need to be on this list. Net worth means after debt, and if I had that much net worth, my debt would not be causing me grief. Also, if I didn’t have any debt problems, paid my debts on time and saved as I need to, lived within my means at all times, I again wouldn’t need this list. The reason I need this list is I have done, and sometimes continue to do, stupid things. Some I repeat, which is really stupid, and some are new “challenges.” Nevertheless, I need the advice and moral support of this list.

Because I feel

I was unjustly banned because I did not violate any rules, all I did was tell people the same thing I tell my self everyday. I give the same advice that I would want to hear.
This is not the playground at recess, financail difficulties are very serious and can even ruin marriages so why should I be ‘nice’ and
give bad advice when I could be ‘firm’ and give good advice?
I have been trying to say nice things and give good advice.
BTW, you did not answer my question and it could help me, you.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

I think hardship is perfectly valid for perfectly valid circumstances. So, the question becomes ‘What is a valid circumstance?’.
My HUMBLE opinion is: Only extreem unforseen medical disabilities are valid circumstances, most/all other circumstances can be planned
for.
Boy scout motto: Be prepared.Yes, I think I was banned unjustly because I am straight forward and honest. Financial instability is to important to have someone be nice to you and not give you good advice. I personally would rather have someone yell at me with good advice.

Thus far, no agency has really helped us

since I still have my job, full time and we “only have 1 child”. Apparently, agencies are not set up to help folks like us. The thinking seems to be that if you have any income at all, you make “too much money” (We have actually been told this) and also that we “only have 1 child” – WTF???? As if we had 6 kids, it would be better? Cold is cold.

I did contact the energy company today and they are going to accept less $$$$ this month (same due date) and then divide up the remainder and add it onto the future bills, month by month. So, in the future, we have even higher energy bills! Yippee!!!!

Who knows

As if a man who is laid off in the first place can afford to do without a paycheck, even a partial one.
We have eliminated a lot and will cut some more. I am so determined to save a lot more money in the future as we conquer these debts, so that I don’t have this “what next???” feeling anymore. It is not the way I want to live.
Why didn’t she have anything saved up? Living paycheck to paycheck is a step up for some people. Trying to keep up with the mere costs of day to day living, plus keep the debt collectors at bay, etc. leaves very little room for error and even less “extra” to save. Trust me on that.
Once we get a handle on this month, somehow, some way, we will work on next month.
Today, I reached the utility company and they agreed to lower the amount due for this month, and extend the full amount due out over the coming months, by adding it bit by bit to the current amount due each month. Woo Hoo! Higher utility bills in the future! Something else to look forward to. 🙂

To the person who suggested charging the bill this month – no credit cards. We got rid of them in an effort to work the Dave Ramsey plan and simplify our lives. We got tired to the fees, the interest charges, the terms changing like the wind and finally just stopped using them. When you stop using them, life really is easier.

I packed up all of the spring clothes that I ordered for our son and they will be returned tomorrow, so we will have that money back at our disposal. Our son will be without his new spring clothes. He won’t realize it, but I know it and it pisses me off. Still, we have to put it off for now.

Sometimes, you just get tired. Tired of the BS. Tired of the whole situation. Tired of the rat race. It is just ridiculous.

My situation?

I live a very simple life, work hard and save money. Just live within my means and work as many hours as I need to(40, 60, 80). I do not have a cell phone(wife does), no cable or high speed internet till I was 44, and still no AC or dishwasher, all are luxeries that I will buy when I feel I can afford them.
Plan for emergencies. Layoffs have been a way of live for the last 20 years so I definitely planned for it by have 3-6 months money saved, a resume ready at all times, a no-fee HELOC, etc. I lost my job and still took our China/Japan vacation the next month and was able to afford medical insurance without any problems.

My brother went through a divorce three years ago after 19 years of marriage, two teenage boys. No money problems for either with the
divorce because they had about $300,000 in net worth that they divided up. No bankruptcy.