Testimony by Pacita Bradford
Moving from Debt to Assets Graduation at St. Katharine Drexel Parish
May 20, 2009
 
I AM DROWNING
 
The first day I was asked what do I expect from this session.  
“Well,” I said, “I am drowning; I am very stressed and depressed. I am living on my credit cards, and I do not know what to do.”
I went from a 2-person paycheck to a 1-person paycheck 5 years ago. I wanted to be debt- free, to have some of that mean green in my pockets, not the credit card company.  I am tired of everybody having money and not me. I am making them rich, and something had to give.  Some of my debt was so bad I was getting those, yes, those crazy calls from creditors.
 
After the first day, we had homework. I felt like I was in school, and I was praying they can help me survive this drowning.  I could not wait for Wednesdays to come!  I was so excited on what I did for homework week to week!  I was coming from Randolph every day, taking care of my mother who has Alzheimer’s, and classes started at 6 PM. I was speeding to get there on time!
Well, what I have learned was how to cut back on spending and list where and how much I could save weekly and monthly.  I stopped going to Dunkin Donuts every day, which saved me roughly $25.00 weekly, totaling $100.00 a month. I used to go to the hairdresser weekly, which cost me $35.00 to $75.00, so, instead of going weekly, I started every other week, and, when I needed a color, I stretched that out, and it saved me $100.00 a month or more.. So what I did was put that extra $100.00 from Dunkin Donut and paid off 1 credit card. The money I saved from the Hairdresser I paid off another credit card. I don’t get my nails done any more, and I save $80.00 a month, which I ended up putting in my Emergency Fund, and I have roughly $436.00 in that fund right now.  And I have learned to pay myself first.  I put roughly $5.00 to $10.00 in, and, if I get extra, I put that away.
 
As of today, I have paid off three credit cards, and, in 2 years, I will have my car paid off, and with that money I will pay down my higher bills.  I have a plan to be 75-80% debt- free within 5 years or less.  I just want let every one know that Moving from Debt to Assets really helped me, and now I have my head above water.  I am not drowning any more.  I know how to make good and wise choices with my credit and have money in my pocket.  I want to thank GBIO for coming to our church and for giving us the insight on how we can get out of debt and exhale again.  Now I can give more in my tithings.  I feel much better, not so stressed about my debt.
Thank you again for saving my life.