Lucy 2222, I'm glad that your credit card debts aren't at the usual high rates that they charge - usually 15 - 18%. That makes it much more difficult to get the amount still owing reduced, as so much of the regular payments must go to pay interest. If it's any consolation - store-issued cards are usually much more difficult to clear, as they usually charge 25 - 28%. I'm glad that you don't have any of them to cope with. If you can have the persistence to keep plugging away at the payments without getting the feeling of satisfaction that comes with getting one paid off fairly soon, I prefer paying the extra amount monthly, or at least most of it, on the HELOC, as it carries the highest interest rate. And if interest rates go up, it could be raised even higher. On a larger amount still owing. As credit card debt is unsecured, in case of serious problem, the credit card co. can hound you, but not take your house. As the people that carry the HELOC have secured debt, the loan being secured by a lien against your house, they could cause your house to be sold, if things go really bad with that one. That seems to me another reason to get rid of that one as soon as possible. Are the interest rates on the Visa debts fixed throughout the full term that the amount is owing? Sometimes they offer low rates, but that rate is for a limited period, e.g. a year or so, or even only a few months. After that, the interest rate becomes much higher. And usually if one doesn't make the full minimum payment, or the payment is a day late, etc., the rate goes to the usual higher rate immediately. I hope that you won't run yourself down into the dirt for getting into this problem. Lots of people have sort of wandered into a similar kind of a bind. It's really easy to get bogged down in debt - really easy: as you've found out. But while I ask that you not hate yourself for this mistake, I also ask that you be honest with yourself, and face the real issues and choices that you have made that are hurting you now. You have made a really good start, in recognizing the problem, and making a reasonable plan to get the problem fixed. A plan that is, according to your evaluation, do-able. As someone has suggested, I agree that it would be a good idea for you to get some information from the library to help you along the line of learning how debt works and how to manage it. It's really a situation where you gave yourself a pay cut - for, as you bought the goods that were more than you could afford on your current earnings, you set up a situation where you had to pay for it out of future income. Not only that, you had to pay rent on the money that you borrowed to buy goods before you had saved enough to buy them with your own money. That rent on the borrowed money is an expense to be paid in future , that you would not have had to pay had you been less impatient, could have waited until you could pay for the items out of your income at the time. After you get the loans paid off, please follow the suggestion offered above, of saving most of the $900. monthly to build an emergency fund to be available in case some unexpected but necessary expense crops up. When one has a such a cushion, it eases one's mind greatly. And can I offer a further suggestion? But that you go even one better ... get some materials that will help you learn how to manage your investments so that they produce better results for you than many obtain, plus reducing or deferring income tax, etc. In over 20 years as a personal financial advisor, I've told a number of people that learning how money works is an interesting hobby ... ... and it's a hobby **that pays well**!! Maybe you could retire early. Or retire a millionaire. Dream some great dreams ... but not of the castles in the air kind, but of ones that can be brought to pass, with increasing skill, effort, some self-control, and persistence. You can do it - and when you need some advice, or support, or to cry on someone's shoulder - come any time. We want to see you succeed in this noble enterprise that you've chosen. Good wishes for getting these debts whittled down. ole joyful

Jamie, good luck-it sounds like a busy weekend. Janet, sorry to hear about surgery but hope all goes well. And Greta, my SINCERE sympathy (and empathy) on remodeling hell! BTDT, but at least you can hold on to the thought it will all end up making your daily life more comfortable, and more beautiful. As an aside, the first thing my daughter said last summer when I told her I was putting in wood floors was "I can just imagine a beautiful Christmas tree with the lights reflecting on a wood floor." And after all the angst and agggravation...we sit every night watching just that :). Don't know if this is a possibility, but if your LR is too torn up, could you just do a tabletop tree this year? I noticed some real cute ones when we got our full size tree. In fact I may get one for my sister, who is single and just moved to a new place. My plans: -Finish this note, then get showered and out to hit Target (I know, but if I get there early...) to buy some minor household items, and a few ornaments for a project. -After Target, grocery store for weekly shop -Borders which opens at 9 am, to get a book w/a coupon I have for 25% off (don't want to wait till later and find out the book is gone, as I need to get it to my stepmother by next weekend) -Clean house. My cleaning service is slowly dwindling off (owner can't find a steady crew). I've been doing it myself and find it isn't so bad, and I do clean more thoroughly anyway -Watch my beloved college football team play this afternoon in the Big Game. If we win, we are conference champs and go to a major bowl game. -Start Christmas cards! I can do that while I watch the game Sometime this weekend I also want to: -Sand, prime and paint the front door. I'm finally having coworkers over for a small informal lunch on Thursday so yep, time to spiff the house :). -Do the data entry on gifts purchased so far -Start wrapping gifts. I really need to get some presents under our beautiful tree And that's all I am going to commit to for the weekend. Pray for me...

Winter weather is condusive to lots of quilting - too cold to be outside! I feel good about what I've done this month, but I'm sure to slough off once it gets nice out.So far, have all BB done Jan - Apr, Galaxy Stars done thro Sept BEST FRIENDS DONE THRU MAY; PATCHWORK PINES DONE THRU MARCH -2 Jan/Feb applique blocks done, need to mail MAILED -Jan lotto blocks,3 - done & mailed -13 blocks done of red/white stars (this uses up some leftover strips I've had for nearly 2yrs - yea!) FINISHED,QUILTED,BOUND,NOW ON END OF GUEST BED -wanted to make Val wallhanging, but when...? 1 SMALL DONE & HANGING IN KITCHEN; 1 LG ONE WAITING TO PUT ON THE LONGARM -need to bind & label baby quilt before Feb 9 OOPS:( -need to start & finish another baby qlt before Feb 17 OOPS AGAIN:( -finish selecting fabrics for a log cabin. 4 of my sewing friends & I are all making one from Judy Martin's last book we meet 1-2/wk & sew together ONE FRIEND IS IN FLA UNTIL MAR, WE DECIDED TO WAIT ON HER TO RETURN -my big goal for 2010 is to finish up as many WIPs as possible. I have nearly 30 projects started from previous classes where I helped students & didn't finish my own; & then had to move on to the next class & the same thing happened all over again! fortunately I had the sense to put all fabrics together to finish, borders, binding... BEGAN WORKING ON ONE, BUT THEN SLIPPED & STARTED A NEW ONE (COULDN'T HELP IT; SOME NEW FABRIC FROM MY LAST TRIP TO TENN WAS CALLING OUT TO ME!!) ~cindy

mtnrdredux - I'd love to see your floors! Love the dark, but they do show every speck of dust, so I might lean towards a medium stain if I ever do these floors again. It's funny, whenever I drop something on my floors and see the new dent I've created, I just shrug my shoulders and tell myself it adds character. A few times we've had to sand and apply more stain and tung oil when I dropped something sharp enough to chip the wood. I couldn't imagine being worried about keeping my floors in pristine condition with how clumsy I am. justgotabme - I'm not sure about trying to age the cabinets. They have a really heavy grain, very different from my pine table, and the natural color tends towards yellow, not brown. What if I end up with a hot mess! I guess then it would at least be easier to convince DH to replace them :) If the uppers weren't arched, I would paint and lightly glaze without a second thought.