Featured customers currently enrolled in a CareOne Debt Relief Plan, share journey to become debt-free; hear how they juggle family, finances, and more.
There are a lot of people who can give you advice on debt, getting out of debt, getting into debt, Debt Management Plans, etc., etc., etc. I may or may not be one of those people for you. I say this because I know at times it may seem hard to determine who is truthful in their advice and who isn't and what is real and what isn't.
Well, I believe in being completely honest about what it is like to be enrolled in a Debt Management Plan. Over the last four years I have been working hard to pay my off my debts, and I have downright screwed up...many times.
Why am I telling you this?
I tell you this because, you too may find yourself "falling off the wagon" or making a bad decision with your finances while on a debt relief plan. It happens, and I don't want you to be too hard on yourself. This goal we share is a journey, a LONG journey, and we are learning as we go. That is kind of the point right, to learn how to do this financial thing better? We are bound to make a few mistakes along the way.
So, in the interest of complete honesty, here are some of my personal screwups, listed in a nice organized order for all of you to see. Any of this sound familiar?:
I have done all of these and then some. At times I do beat myself up over it because I could be farther along in my debt-free goal than I am, but I have to keep reminding myself that I am only human, and I am not perfect. The important things is that I realize these are mistakes, and that I am learning how to avoid making them again.
It is what it is and as long as we keep the focus on the main goal, slipping up here and there is not a deal breaker. It's how we recover. In many cases, making these mistakes revealed something important about my spending habits and attitudes, and what needed to change there, aside from just enrolling and making my monthly plan payments.
For example; I found myself wondering how I used to make larger debt payments when I made less money. I realized that I got "comfortable" with my debt and loosened my grip on it, which was not a good thing.
Again, what matters is how we recover. I have to give myself a reality check once every three months or so. I have to make sure I am being true to myself and sticking to my plan. I recover and move on.
I am here to remind you that throughout this process you will make mistakes, and that is okay . . . just remember to make an even bigger and better recovery.
Related Posts:
Straight Talk On Debt: We All Make Mistakes
Did I Really Just Do That
Read more posts from Katie
Katie (Simmons) Lupo
Katie is currently enrolled in the CareOne Debt Relief Services Debt Management Plan (DMP). You can read more about Katie's experience in the My Journey out of Debt blog. In her blog, Katie explores life without credit cards, living on a 'real' budget and making that adjustment from spender to saver. A newlywed, Katie candidly addresses how debt has influenced her choices in love and life. Compensated Blogger for CareOne Debt Relief Services.
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Thank you for being so open and honest about what your journey through the DMP has been like, Katie. I have made similar mistakes. Your continued success in pushing forward is a great reminder that mistakes, even while enrolled in a debt management program, can be recovered from.
Good luck as you move through the final year of your program!
As hard as it is to admit we have fallen off the debt free pay off wagon, it is nice to know we are not the only ones. Thank you very much for being up front and honest with us and sharing your experience. I too have had some months where I have made some mistakes or slips.
Your being able to admit to your slips and moving forward is what is going to make you succeed. I too beat myself up after making what I called stupid mistakes. But as you stated we are all human and have to make mistakes in order to learn by them. Thank you again. This was a good post for me to read. Keep up the great work!!
Like my uncle said there is easy way to learn or hard way of learn. Even though he is not here with us I alway remember what he said and I am hard way to learn I have to make mistake on the way to learn and I also put my advice matter what your problem is always there even if you run and hide it alway there. You have to solve the problem to go away. Doesn't matter if you do one at time or more time even if you make mistake you learn from it to solve your problem.
I am six months into the program. I have not done this. I hope that I won't. I enjoy reading your post, this will be a roller coaster ride for me. And I try to read as much as I can to be able to prepare myself. Thank you all for sharing your stories.
Just starting out an alittle nervous - thanks for the words of encouragment.
I'm glad this post was able to put some minds to ease. terrysue...hang in there. It is normal to be nervous starting out but things will fall into place you just have to be very honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do. We are NOT perfect! Everyone's comments have been VERY encouraging to me, sometimes I am really hard on myself becasue I think I should "know better" now that I have been living it for this long, but no matter what we just have to take each step day by day!