The story so far part 1...

It's hard to believe that only a couple of years ago my credit card debt was around $15,000 spread over 4 cards. I say 'around' because I never had the guts to add them all up. I knew if I did the number would make me cry.

What the heck was I doing? I examined my motivations & my purchases. I grew up in a great upper middle class household. Nice vacations and dinner at fancy restaurants were common. When I asked my parents for things I was rarely denied. Being independent and not used to denying myself led to the steady accumulation of CD's, DVD's, clothing, books, electronic gadgets, on and on. I had a lot of great stuff with the credit card bills to match.

Looking back it was obvious I was trying to maintain this same level of comfort I was raised in, too bad it took me years to realize that wasn't possible.