# Crossing the Zero Line **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 9, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115 "2001-01-09T04:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115/1 "2001-01-09T04:11:46Z")
I’m gonna be late for dinner, but I don’t care. I have been looking forward to this post, and milestone in my life (hmmm…, consider which I listed first(?)) for a _very_ long time. And I’ve posted on the subject several times, the first probably at least a year ago. In October of 1996 I hit a personal high of $56,000 in unsecured, high interest rate credit card debt. That’s been like the heavy hooligan I had to carry on my shoulders at all times. I remember that when I first got into the $20K range they were doing news stories about people in that position. Now I think it’s common to be running high interest unsecured debt in that range. I did it primarily to finance a business, so it’s not like I have spare camcorders or SUVs lying around. Nevertheless, _the devil has gotten his due_ and I’m still around to talk about it. I dread to think what I actually paid to get Beelzebub to squat on somebody else’s mailbox. To reinforce that: **tonight I wrote the check that pays off the last credit card**!!! It’s done!!! _ **Whoohoo** _! I’ve lived like a hippie (I can say that - I was one) to get this done, and the feeling is _GREAT_. The Material Boy doesn’t care about much more (yeah, I need some glasses and a tooth done) - it doesn’t matter, I’m lighter than air. Self-congratulatory threads being hitherto unknown to MPSIMS (:)), I’ll try to turn this to a social purpose. Those of you with creeping debt need to do what I have (ooh! That sounds _so_ evangelical!) and just resolve to get the bastards out of your life. They’re easy to ignore in the short term, but they do continually feed on your soon-to-be-carcass. Put them down, now! Really, I could have carried on a few more years and money-managed the debt up to a $100K or so, which would have been impossible to pay off. What do you really need? Answer that and carry on. You _can_ get loose of The Machine. This isn’t for all Dopers, but some might benefit. I’m whoohooin’…I’m free!!! I wonder where I’ll put my energies now? ---
**Author:** ![GraceTX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@GraceTX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GraceTX)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115/2 "2001-01-09T04:59:08Z")
Wooo Hoooo!! That is awesome beatle! I’m excited for you man! Now that you’ve paid that off, next time you’re here, remind me to show you this emerald ring I’ve got my eye on. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115/3 "2001-01-09T05:07:59Z")
Congratulations, beatle, I’ve seen your previous posts on this subject so I know this has been a long term goal of yours. ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115/4 "2001-01-09T05:25:34Z")
Congrats, beatle! Welcome to life outside of debt! Wait a minute… that’s un-American. I think you need a loan my friend. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KP235](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@KP235](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP235)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115/5 "2001-01-09T05:58:42Z")
Outstanding ! My congratulations to you ! You accomplished something that many will never do. I have a simular(not all CC) 0 debt plan in effect and it’s going well so far and it does take time and patience. I recently had the opportunty to cuss out a telemarketer in the Pit. He didn’t like what I had to say and later he reveiled he marketed a ‘legitimate’ credit card company. I have fallen for this once before, and it is my fault, but it is still evil. Again, congrats ! ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crossing-the-zero-line/49115/6 "2001-01-09T06:05:00Z")
**Mojo Jojo** , pal, you’ll get there. Tough hangin’ in, I know. But you’ll get there.