I am a gotta wanna have it need it now kind of girl. I know this, It is a huge fault of mine. I want something done and I want it done 5 minutes ago.

I am dealing with this, and I *thought* I was doing really well with it...Until I look at my debt. That mountain of debt is now scaleable but it is by no means a molehill yet, but hey at least I can see over the peak right?

I did not get into this CC debt overnight, and I KNOW I'm not getting out of it overnight. I am being very diligent in paying it off and see some rewards (like when I pay one off and move onto the next one...very rewarding) But to see the other balances not really moving can be frustrating.

Tell me I'm not alone in this feeling! How do you deal with it, or do you just keep plugging away at it and hope it gets better. I just feel like I was much more relaxed when I had the "Yeah we have CC debt but so does most of America" train of thought. Debt wasn't occupying my every waking thought. (Okay that is a bit of an exaggeration, but not far from it!)

How do I relax again and not focus on what is in front of me, but what I have accomplished so far instead?

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I actually just finished the journey of paying off debt and I know how frustrating it can be - especially when you are making progress and then things pop up (like car repairs, or squirrels in your house - yes that has happened to me ). You really just have to keep plugging away. Here are some things that worked for me - maybe they will work for you:

*Have a goal that you are working toward; and I don't mean just being debt free. What is the reason you want to be debt free? Is it to buy a new house? Be able to travel? Ditch a job you hate? For me, my DH and I have a goal for me to be a SAHM when we hve children so I kept that in the forefront of my mind and it is really motivating for me and helps me to say no to "stuff" because that means I am saying "yes" to my dream.

*Make things visual. Write down your goals. Post a progress chart with your debt. I had a chart hanging on my refridgerator that listed each debt and as I payed off I kept writing the new balances. After a few months I could really see the progress. On Wednesday I got to write a big $0 and now I have changed my chart to show the progress we are making on our Emergency Fund

Hopefully I have helped a little. I know this can be done and if you are truly motivated you can do it

Figure out when you are going to be debt free (besides mortgage). Post that date and then see if you can beat it! Make it a contest against yourself.

OH, we had a squirrel in our old house too. Still never was sure how it got in. Got it out with a "live" trap.

Right now, having the debt on your brain every waking moment is working for you. I don't recommend changing that!

But I do recommend that you look for ways to pay it off faster. How low can you go? How can you get what you want without spending money?

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I know what you mean, maybe try not to look at it everyday (I know you do ) I have been writing down the balances of mine and even if its just $15.00 (JUST throwing out a #) less than it was from the last balance I feel good about it. I know your doing the best you can with it and be proud of that!

We had a squirrel in our house too!

If you have your spending under control and aren't doing anything to accumulate more debt, there's no reason to focus on the debt itself. Instead, focus on the positive. Focus on the amount you're able to apply to the debt each month, celebrate it, and try to increase it.

I agree with the pp who said to turn it into a game. Can you make some sort of chart where you can track the amount applied to debt? I always see those charts that look like a thermometer in my community where there is a certain amount of money they're trying to reach to fund something. Something like that might be a good visual.

I'm all about visuals to motivate - check out the latest step in Forget the Joneses, too - focusing on your dreams and and creating a vision board could help motivate you.
Step #20 BONUS ASSIGNMENT: Vision Board

Good luck!

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