Hooray for freedom from doing stuff

[Freedan]

This is more just a quick rant because I'm in a good mood after getting some news.

Quick history: For the last 3, 3 and a half years, I've been helping with the family bills. I've been turning over a third of my paycheck or so to my Mom to make payments on her credit cards (basically just to keep the companies off her back). It was very frustrating for me for a number of reasons:

- It made it very difficult to save any money, covering her bills in addition to my own.

- It seemed like it would never end.

- I was the only one contributing. My brother, who is terrible with money, never seems to have any, and so contributed nothing the whole time. I, with many more bills to pay than him, was the one turning over money.

Of course, I did it anyway because she's my Mom. But hell if I wasn't bitching to myself the whole time, especially within the last few months.

Fast forward to today.... and the bills are all cleared. My folks did the debt consolidation thing and paid off their bills, including the credit cards I was keeping afloat. So, my 'donations' are no longer required, and maybe I can finally get some damn money saved.

This is my celebratory post. Hooray for money. Hooray for not 'volunteering' to pay someone else's bills. Hooray for nachos, and rainbows, and beef jerky.

[inferiare]

GO AND GET SOME CELEBRATORY POUTINE. YOU SHOULD. RAINI DEMANDS IT.

[Freedan]

I had nachos and pizza tonight, and thus, there is no room for the poutine. But it will come soon, for hunger shall rise again.

And when it does, the stomach will cry out for a hero. And the fries will answer, joined by the trusty cheese and gravy.... sworn defenders of satiety.

I had a point somewhere, and forgot what it was.

[EverPhoenix]

awesome! its really nice of you to have helped your parents, there aren't that many people who would do that these days.

but yeah, let the celebrations begin! BRING ON THE CELEBRATION PIE!

[Jason Tandro]

+golf clap

Soon I will be debt free myself, so I can imagine how you must feel. Still your "debt" isn't even yours so that's definitely a -worthy thing.

I know a lot of people paying for their family, man, and I think that's really freakin' cool. I know I, for one, would not have gotten where I am if my family hadn't helped me out a whole bunch.

So kudos to you, good sir. Go live it up!

(buy a plane ticket and go see raini!)

[inferiare]

Freedan wrote:

I had nachos and pizza tonight, and thus, there is no room for the poutine. But it will come soon, for hunger shall rise again. And when it does, the stomach will cry out for a hero. And the fries will answer, joined by the trusty cheese and gravy.... sworn defenders of satiety. I had a point somewhere, and forgot what it was.

...your point is that poutine is awesome and delicious and it is a hero among foods. That was your point.

[SoulBlazerFan]

That's awesome Freedan. You're a good person for doing that. I think we've all been in that boat- on both sides, whether it be giving help, or needing it.

I remember my dad asked me, my brother, and sister to start paying a hundred dollars a month each to help out for bills and such. My brother and sister started bitching and whining. I gave it right up- money was of little concern to me then. I loaned my father money one year when he was light for Christmas- I had no problem, because it was the right thing to do.

[psychokind]

congratulations!

oh my, did you know the credit card problem of the US citizens will most likely cause the next financial crisis any time soon? let's all hope for obama or the next president to abolish credit cards in the US

[Blade]

That's a very noble thing to do! You truly deserve a internet-pat on the back!
Did you keep track of what you paid for them? Are you ever going to get it back one way or another?

[Freedan]

Thanks, everyone. It's good to be debt-free, finally.

Blade wrote:

Did you keep track of what you paid for them? Are you ever going to get it back one way or another?

Oh, Lord, no. I was turning over a few hundred a month at least, not counting the huge few-thousand dollar payment I once made to make room on one of the credit cards, or the times I just signed over my entire paycheck.

I don't know how much I wound up handing over, but over that long a time, it would be well in to the 5-digit range. I won't be paid back for that. I never counted on being repaid, anyway.

I don't blame my parents for it; the bills just got out of control, and my Mom was often left with no choice but to use her credit card for essential things they couldn't afford. I was making payments to keep the credit companies at bay, but the bill kept getting higher.

But with the bills paid off (essentially by taking out a short mortgage on the house), they'll have a much easier time managing payments, and she's promised to only use her cards for things she knows she can pay off.

inferiare wrote:

...your point is that poutine is awesome and delicious and it is a hero among foods. That was your point.

That's what I meant to say.

[Yet One More Idiot]

That is really sweet of you to help your mum out like that, Freedan.

I would have done the same thing for my mum, or would do the same if she ever needed it....and if I had any money. *eyeroll* Well actually the help would be needed for my big sis if anyone, but no money makes moot point.

But congrats to you for being such an excellent son - now go buy yourself a "#1 Son" mug with YOUR money!

[tay120n64]

Well, its kinda lame that you had to help out your parents pay their debt, but the fact that you did is awesome! It's good to see families that are close like that.

[Mantaray]

all that crazyness really payed off in the end, it seems kudos to you, buddy. you so deserve it