r/debtfree

I’ve been using Affirm instead of my credit cards because the short term “micro loans” had actual end dates and I didn’t have the option to make a minimum payment to draw out how long it would take to pay it off.

But a few months ago, I realized I just keep using it so it never ends.

Called myself to the carpet and got real last week. Made the decision to pay it off, close it and never use it again.

It’s not easy. It’s not better. It’s a trap that steals from my future little old lady self so I’m done.

My husband and I are in the same page.

We went through all our spending together and mapped out a budget and have made a commitment to not use credit for any future purchases.

From now on, we will have monthly budget check in’s to talk about needs have changed or things that we want to buy and budget for them together or decide together that we don’t need those things.

Hello! I work full time in a very popular theme park and my hourly rate is above the minimum wage, but it is not a living wage. It is barely enough, but I live with my Mom and Brother in a condo. I have a driver’s license, but no car at all.

I have a total debt of $12,571 as of now after calculating all the totals. I used up my Chase Credit Card limit, I have balances in PayPal - Pay in 4 & Paypal Monthly, Affirm, Klarna, Zip, and Synchrony Bank (Newegg Store Credit Card) all in total. So, I have two credit cards, my Chase is maxed and my Newegg Store Credit Card has 60% used. Then the rest are Buy Now, Pay Later installments with so many interest rates. Which add up my monthly payments to a horrible degree!

I suck at saving money and this is not the first time it happened. This is my fifth time and I’m really sick of it! I’m single and never married, I never had a girlfriend at all! I’m in my 30s, most of my debt was from buying physical games, digital games, micro transactions, toys, action figures, statues, books, novels, manga, and comic books. All gamer and anime/manga interests.

I know about personal loans that I can do to pay all it off and then pay the lowly monthly payments to make up to the paid off my total personal debt. My current monthly payments is really high and above my weekly paycheck. Which is about more than $1,200!! I get up to $600 weekly and those monthly and every two week payments hits hard on me.

Because I’m an idiot and I almost always get negative balance in my bank account every month and my Mom had to help. So, as of now she got tired of helping me cover the negative balance every month and she told me that I am now on my own. I’m a huge addicted shopaholic which got worse than my brother! He saves money better than me now and he avoids getting negatives in his bank account and still buy his favorite things once in a while unlike me. Which I keep buying and added up my personal debt.

I got this negative trait from my late Dad, he was a shopaholic and lacked financial responsibility which was why my Mom divorced my late Father more than 20 years ago!

Please any advice and suggestions?

Thank you!! 🙏

I owe $13,787 on a credit card that has 0% interest through August 2026 - minimum payments are $295 but I’m making $500 payments, goal is to roll over any remaining balance by August to another interest-free balance transfer card and repeat until it’s wiped.

I also owe $30,088 on my car loan - 5.99%, I’m making the $500 minimum payment. Maturity date as of today is March 2032.

$3,200 in HYSA emergency fund w/ a $100 auto transfer each month.

What’s my plan of action?

Do I bump my credit card payments down to the minimum and pay $200 more towards my car each month to bring down the principal? Should I only do that if I can continue paying interest-free on my credit card through another balance transfer card? Do I stop adding to my HYSA and dump that $100 towards the car, making $800 monthly payments?

(Please be kind - getting to this point has me filled with shame and posting here has me feeling very vulnerable 🥲)

Have about 16k in 0% CC debt

Citi - $5,260- January 15 2027

Wells - $2000 - March 24 2027

Well - $4,480 - May 14 2027

BoFA - $4,000- October 27 2026

I also have a 5k HOA assesment over the next 5 months, May-September. Technically it is a 0% debt as there are no fees. Curious the best way to go about it and what is the larger priority between assesment and October bill. If possible how long do I stretch out the assesment since right after October card, Jan 0% comes soon. Have about $1-$2k each month to kinda throw.. EF is a bit low end at 7.5k. TIA

My sister got an Oportun loan last year for $3500 to fix her teeth. She's been paying for 18 months and still owes $2800. The payment is $185 a month but barely any of it goes to principal.

She showed me her loan agreement and the interest rate is 35.93% APR. She thought it was supposed to be affordable because they market themselves as CDFI certified.

I looked up what CDFI means and apparently it just means they lend to underserved communities. It doesn't mean they're not predatory.

My sister says she can't refinance or pay it off early without penalties. She's stuck.

I have similar credit to her and I'm considering a loan for $2200 for a used laptop for a new job. But after seeing what happened to my sister I'm terrified.

Has anyone gotten into a hardship program for their Best Buy Credit Card. I lost my job and the payments are too high for me. I called to see if there was anything I can do - and they basically told me to kick rocks until after the payment date.

I haven’t missed a payment yet and it sounded like they can’t do anything for me until *after* I’ve missed a payment.

This seems odd to me as I’ve always paid my bills early and on time.

Should I really skip or make partial payment and then call back? Has anyone had a similar experience.