Credit Card Debt: Advice & Prayers Needed

Hi everyone,

I'm very new to the forum, so if this is in the wrong place, I apologize! I tried searching for the topic, but couldn't find a thread specifically dedicated to credit card debt and those struggling with it.

I've never been good at saving. Since I was 14 and got my first job, I've always felt like I had to buy my happiness. I feel like part of what has lead me to this point is that I'm a really lonely person. I love my parents and think they're the most wonderful people in the world, but we've never really had a lot of family time together. Up until a few years ago, my mom and I were very close and my dad and I... not so much. A few years ago my mom had a stroke, which has left her basically like a shell of the person she used to be. She can no longer walk, talk or do anything by herself. I left for school for two years, but decided to transfer to a university closer to home to help my dad, and that's when I started buying more and more with money I didn't have.

I left a school I loved with friends that I adored to come home and devote my life to taking care of my mom. I know that sounds selfish, but it's hard work, and the stroke has left her very different. She was once loving and affectionate, and now she's very indifferent and rather cruel sometimes. I go to school, to work and take care of my mom when my dad is working. I don't have any friends at home anymore, they're all at different universities living the life that I fell in love with and would do anything to go back to, if things were different.

Anyways, none of that is an excuse, I just feel it's what has partially lead me to this. I felt alone after moving back and going shopping and buying new things made me feel really good for that day, and then the next day came and I needed to do it again. That sounds pathetic, I know, but it's really like an addiction. It wasn't until earlier this year that I started looking to God for help with my faith and my family life. I'm doing much better in that area. I'm reading 'The Purpose Driven' life, and I like that I can get my thoughts out in the exercises provided in the book. I've also started reading Dave Ramsey's books, which are also giving me much hope.

I need to get my life back together and stop having all of these money stresses. I can't enjoy anything anymore because it's all I think about. I'm no longer using my credit cards, but it takes all the money I make to pay just the minimums. I need a second job, but I'm hesitant because I already have one part-time job, and I go to school full time. Taking time off from school is not an option as I cannot afford to begin paying back my loans. I just have to grin and bear it, and ask God to look out for me along the way.

If any of you have ever been in debt and have any advice or encouraging words, then please speak up, because I'd love to hear your story. I'm sorry this post was a little long, but I needed to get all of that out.

Thanks

Credit Card debt happens. Frankly, with the deregulation of the industry, the practices have been extremely unfair, usurious. Supposedly, congress is going to act on this and some new laws are going into effect, but it isn't much. They can arbitrarily change around your due date, charge you for missing it, even jump the interest rate from 0% to 27% or whatever absurd rate... charge fines as they see fit... if you accidentally don't pay less then a dollar... all of that can happen. Missing one payment can do this -- missing one payment on one card can give excuse for any other credit company to jack up your charges and so on.

It is basically a death trap unless you are super careful.

Good news is that there are credit counselors set up... I forget the name, maybe someone does, you can google it... who will consolidate everything, lower the payment to something affordable, and give you a chance to actually get out of debt. This is because so many people default, the CC companies have made a way to compromise. That is the way.

I would definitely do that. It kills your credit rating for a few years, but you can slowly build it back up. And that death to your rating can help you get over relying on debt to buy things. (Which, unfortunately, is largely necessary in our society... for cars, houses, even mattresses, and so on...)

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've looked into that, and A LOT of those credit counseling services don't get very good ratings from the BBB. As I understand, credit card companies can still sue you in the process.

I believe there is one in particular that is recommended as a last resort, but it's the best one to go to if you must.

I am sure there are some scams out there, but there are legitimate ones, or is legitimate ones. They first get agreements with your CC company (ies).

May be a bit hard to find on google.

Sorry, wish I could say more... maybe search google news archives for legitimate ones, I recall some articles on this awhile back.

I got off the phone with our credit card company about a lower rate than was previously indicated. He accepted it and he said since we were on time every month he'd accept it.
I told him we were trying to do better and he says proactivity is always good.

What are some reputable companies to consolidate debt?

That sounds good, then.

Unfortunately, I don't know the best CC reduction companies, you would have to do research and be a careful consumer.

On the post about blaming people or people blaming others on problems: yes, but it happens. People make mistakes.


I think you have a sound attitude about the matter. We do live in a debt society, especially for college students.

Kenneth Copeland knows that constantly reading the bible can remove the curse of poverty. Making excuses weakens our faith to move forward, make mistakes and learn from them. Imagination is the stuff of all kinds of inventions. From writing a book to drawing computer images for computer games. The woman who was on welfare achieved millionaire status writing Harry Potter. Unfortunately if everyone became millionaires, such as no taxidrivers or airline pilots then there would be economic chaos. My personal advice is to do the best at your part-time job. Your boss sees that a worker has potential to succeed if we work hard, not just with the hands and feet, but also with our minds to communicate with new ideas on how to improve his business - and that means having an unfirable perfect attitude.

__________________
I learn to accept Jesus Christ and our God the Father by default.

Well maybe we won't do anything since we are working with him. Most of our charges are medical, and car related.It's less than 10G.

I know about Kenneth Copeland too and want to know where's he's gettiing the idea of reading your bible removing the curse of poverty. In our church we make verbal statements to God and the devil that _____ is broken and defeated in Jesus' name! Among other things...