Here we are, at another crime scene. It looks Mrs. Jone’s checkbook is in the red and is bleeding out. I was afraid this would happen, click here, to learn how she can stop the bleeding and get some hope. If you are just getting to this crime scene and want to check out our personal story of becoming debt free click here.
As with any crime scene, we must start with the facts. We’ll have Mrs. Jones list all thier bills and other things they spend money on in a month.
“Mrs. Jones, it’s time to come clean with yourself and with Mr. Jones. Everyone knows, you can’t fix what you won’t admit.”
I hand her a free, down loadable, form to follow from the Dave Ramsey’s website.
Mrs. Jones is surprised at the amount of money they could have after bills, but, is left to wonder where it has gone. I start looking for more clues. I take a look at the past few months, and follow the tell-tale signs. I find big time money gobblers: lunch with the girls three times a week, Starbucks coffee every morning, a candy bar and diet coke with gas, miscellaneous ATM withdrawals, Mr. Jone’s golf games five time a week, and shopping with credit cards. It’s all beginning to add up.
Mrs. Jones makes a break for the scissors and then to her purse. Holding the scissors to the credit card she says, “Don’t move, or the credit card gets it.”
Mrs. Jones, lets discuss this rational…
“No, it’s too late for that. I’m going to cut these up before they ruin my life.”
And just like that, my investigation goes from an injured checkbook to a murder.
Put the scissors down and back away. Do you have anything to say for yourself?
Mrs. Jones is crying like a baby, “I was in fear for my life, it was either him or me. Now, bankruptcy is the only way out.”
I understand the credit card killing was in self-defense, but you’ll still have to go to debtors prison until we can get all this figured out. You’re far from bankrupt, Mrs. Jones. You can work through this. The judge has mercy on those who try to help themselves.
Will Mrs. Jones’s case be thrown out? Or will she get a jail house tattoo by a lady named Alice while learning to play poker for cigarettes. Stay tuned as we follow this case through court. In the mean time, fill out your quickie budget form.
Too be continued…
Crime Scene Investigator
Sandhill Sis
Tags: debt, getting out of debt, personal finance, Simple Money, stop charging
You’re cracking me up…
“don’t move, or the credit card gets it!”
hahaha
Smart girl.
We need to cut up our credit cards, but my techie husband believes in a “cash-less society.” Seriously he says that.
What he really means is he believes in a marriage where the wife always needs to remember to bring cash.
Grrr…He’s always taking my cash which leaves me no choice but to use credit cards.
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Heh!
Everyone has their own way that works for them, cash-envelopes work for us. Interesting though, debit cards RAN as credit cards have the same protection.
After reading your comments…I’m wondering why I made the wife go to jail? Maybe the next episode we’ll have a … awh, I won’t ruin it.
I guess you could always tell Mr. Techie…”stop or the credit cards get it…” But then again, I’m no marriage counselor.
Many Blessings!
Sandhill Sis
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