Facing the Music - damn it's loud

Total Debt

CC1: $2604 (18% interest)
CC2: $2866 (0% interest until May 08)
CC3: $5099 (9.9% interest rate)
CC4: $5111 (13.9% interest)

Grand Total as of 8/28/07: $15,680

The sad part is that I've carried this amount for about 4 years. Although, 4 years ago, I think it was more like $12,000. At that point, my mother opened some of my mail when moving and made me right then and there cut up all of my credit cards and promise her that I wouldn't use them. If I had listened, I probably wouldn't be in this mess right now.

I always point to specific events to explain away my debt but all of them combined really couldn't explain all of the debt. Explanations (excuses) include: switching jobs, being unemployed for one month in 2004, moving cities, security deposits, christmas presents, wedding presents, shower presents.

I resolve to:

• Not use my credit cards anymore (have just removed from wallet, but, wait, how did they get back in there after my last big self realization?)
• Only buy presents that I can afford that won't put me in a precarious financial position later on
• Limit my shopping (will go into at a later date)
  
• Pay down my debt!!!

debt debt debt

Remember when you first found out you could say a word and it would lose its meaning? No matter how many times I say the word, my debt won't lose its meaning.

I've carried it since college. And now, at the ripe age of 27, I'm ready to start something new, being honest. Being honest with myself and my debt.

I'll try to be honest with spending, my amount of debt (not what I tell my sister when she asks me or my boyfriend when he notices a new shirt), my willingness to pay it off and my goals.