I never got a credit card. So I have very little debt. Of course, I've also spent time waiting in line for charity food at the worst points in my life, so that prevention strategy wouldn't appeal to everyone. And I'm finally going to break down and get a credit card. Once I get these companies to get over their "no credit equals bad credit" idea.

Oh man, DCJ. I hope your CU counselor can help you out. I wish you a swift and financially successful solution to the unjust dilemma you find yourself in.

{{{DCJ}}}

RODEO CLOWNS UNITE!

Daniel, best of luck and crossed fingers.

Do people EVER get out of debt, or is that just more lies told by the government and parents who like to make you feel guilty?

Well, my parents, but they are freaks, plus they've lived in their house since 1968.

We're slowly crawling out. We were bad this month, though, and put a few things on cards. Assuming we pay that off in full next month, all the rest of the debt will be house-related, but that's still a lot of debt.

Yet another reason to watch The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy -- I'm watching an episode titled "Prank Call of Cthulhu." The number of ways Billy mispronounces "Cthulhu" is endlessly amusing to me.

I just wish I'd gotten so far into debt by having fun. I'd be a lot more at peace with the debt if I could say, "Well, there was this opportunity to go to Paris but I had to move fast, and it was the best five days of my life." Instead it's "That's a medical bill, that's a medical bill, that's a dental bill . . ." Much less interesting when it comes to biography time.

I just wish I'd gotten so far into debt by having fun. I'd be a lot more at peace with the debt if I could say, "Well, there was this opportunity to go to Paris but I had to move fast, and it was the best five days of my life." Instead it's "That's a medical bill, that's a medical bill, that's a dental bill . . ."

Connie is me.

Debt counseling guy says I'm a good budgeter, they couln't find anything to cut, so since I'm unemployed, they will draft up letters to send to my creditors pleading for hardship relief for a few months, etc.

Also, when I get a job, try to get a better one, and when I do, they will be able to work with my new income and aim for a 5 year debt-removal plan.

Now I get to wait for three hours to tell Andi.

I need some mindless distraction. What's on TV?

Daniel, want a smoothie? Just made some yummy ones. I've got plenty of fixings to make more.

Also, {{{DCJ}}}.

(((dcj))) I hope you see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

I'd be a lot more at peace with the debt if I could say, "Well, there was this opportunity to go to Paris but I had to move fast, and it was the best five days of my life."

I need your mindset, because I can say that, and looking at my bills still freaks me out. Of course it's Paris, and then the doctors and dentist bills, and Chinese food and cigarettes and shoes I had to have and overlimit fees. All those things my mom told me to avoid....jazz....liquor....men who play for fun......

I'm glad for you, Daniel. It sounds like they were realistic about the plan, and neither nasty nor pie-in-the-sky, unless I read you wrong. As for Andi, she clearly needs more internets wherever she is!