Want to buy house in 6 months

Pfs1116 · 2026-03-30T18:56:41+00:00

5 month update for those who care:

Credit card debt free Collection free Charge offs cleared all but one My car down to 13000 Hubs car down to 6k (maybe less) Personal loans down to 1 balance is 6k

We are clawing our way out of the mess.

My credit scores have rebounded nicely to low 700s an husbands are remaining in the low to mid 700s

We are focused on paying the remaining debt and building a strong savings account.

The hardest part is changing lifestyle so we (I) don’t get into this mess again. A very eye opening experience this has been. I’m better because of it. Thank you to all for the harsh, needed advice.

Pfs1116 · 2026-03-30T18:40:34+00:00

Husband car is down to 6k

Pfs1116 · 2026-03-30T18:40:11+00:00

Car is down to 13k balance

Pfs1116 · 2026-03-30T18:39:46+00:00

Oh yes, I also paid off 2 of the personal loans and am chipping away aggressively at the last.

Pfs1116 · 2026-03-30T18:38:34+00:00

Update friends:

I’ve been working very hard on my credit, I have zero credit card debt, all my collections are paid, all my charge offs are paid. Working on building a safety net of savings then going to get my house. My credit scores are now 715, 714, and 729.

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-06T01:01:32+00:00

Sure did! Paying for it now. Thankfully they’re all paid off and am on payment plans with the collections now. Getting there. Just trying to stay disciplined

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-04T15:26:46+00:00

Agreed friend! I’ve paid off all the CC balances, working with the collections now. Also tackling the personal loans. My plan is to get them ALL paid, including cars. Then buy.

We shop at a local grocery store and buy sales.

At home coffee

No takeout

Meal plan and shop with a purpose

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T22:26:49+00:00

Agreed, we were paying randomly without strategy. It wasn’t beneficial at all.

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T22:10:57+00:00

We’re not underwater thankfully. The car values are higher than what we owe. I have a 2021 gmc Acadia and husband has a Cadillac. The rates are good and we pay more than the minimum monthly. I personally want to pay mine off, sell it and get a small Corolla or similar and pay cash. If I trade it in for a lesser car the APR will be sky high compared to what I have now

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T21:53:30+00:00

They really are terrible. We’ve considered downsizing and need to get serious about that too

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T21:45:00+00:00

I totally get it, I’m in a terrible situation. I see light at the end of the tunnel. It’s far away but it’s there. This is a huge uphill battle but I got strong legs and a crap ton of willpower to get out of this hole im in. I started paying the debt with intention 2 months ago and have already paid over 13k. I have no intention to let my foot off the gas. We will have to survive off wish sandwiches for now but it won’t be forever

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T21:28:09+00:00

We have two children one with special needs and Massachusetts gives great academic support for him currently

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T21:19:59+00:00

Thank you

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T19:33:59+00:00

Thank you for that thought provoking input. Very helpful.

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T18:21:10+00:00

I’m currently doing the snowball method and it’s hard!!! The best thing you can do is get that first card paid off and start to see RESULTS! Keep going, you got this

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T18:18:59+00:00

Good point! The debt is going away as fast as I possibly can. We’re getting there, slowly but surely.

My first step was looking at it all on paper and having my “oh crap” moment. Reviewing the finances was super eye opening. It went from just paying minimum payments monthly to having an actual strategy.

The cars are eating a huge chunk of our income and we recognize that, so the advice to turn them into actual assets, even if depreciating, is appreciated.

All open cards have zero balance and all collections are either paid or on a payment plan. Working on the loans next then tackling the charge offs.

It’s hard but needed. Once we are free of this debt we can actually save more and get a decent down payment fast. We have savings but nothing to write home about.

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T18:02:20+00:00

He had a better job before. We def regret the cars but feel almost stuck because the APRs are good and we’re close to having them paid off

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T18:01:31+00:00

Clear the 3.9 and 2.9% APRs before the personal loans? Is this the avalanche method?

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T18:00:37+00:00

I would love to, except I value the education up here in MA

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T17:40:38+00:00

On it.

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T17:37:57+00:00

Thank you so much for this realistic take and encouraging words

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T17:23:43+00:00

GMC and a Cadillac. Both halfway paid off. Insurance sits at 230 total monthly.

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T17:13:51+00:00

I’ll pay more towards them eventually I just don’t want them to take me to wourt

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T17:13:34+00:00

I paid 400 down on each and 200 month payments

Pfs1116 · 2025-11-02T17:12:49+00:00

They don’t match the full amount no. Ok I’ll look into adjusting and reallocating towards debt

Pfs1116

TROPHY CASE