Lately, I've written a few articles about my family's attempt to get out of debt. It's a lot harder than I'd anticipated. In addition to having zero financial skills some unexpected expenses have come up. We're behind where we had planned to be at this point but still ahead of where we were.
From spending patterns to credit cards, concentrating on stopping the debt is causing me reevaluate much of my life. Now, when my family makes a purchase we stop to decide if it's an impulse purchase or something we need. Searching coupon sites and sales for the best deal has become a modern day treasure hunt (for us).
It's fun even if it isn't easy.
Growing up in an abusive environment kept me from learning how to spend wisely. Way back in grammar school my mother screamed at me about money. Most kids want to spend part of it if they are given fifty cents or a dollar. It's a natural part of growing up that didn't exist in my home. As a youngster mom's high toned heavy handedness taught me a lot all right but I learned nothing about spending plans.
As an adult, I'm having to learn what I should have learned as a kid. One of the toughest things to do so far has been to understand my credit score. This effects more than just borrowing capacity. A good score can have an impact on your insurance premium and some jobs consider your history before making a hiring decision.
Those can be scary thoughts. Almost everyone who has been in an abusive relationship struggles with credit. I suggest that anyone who is reorganizing for the long term get a free credit score. Get a copy and take it to your bank for help.
It's intimidating to look at your past history. Walking into the bank or credit union can be a real challenge but doing so is a way of reclaiming your future. Don't let past abuse stop you from finding yourself emotionally or financially.
You can do this. I'm in the process of reclaiming my financial future and so can you.
