I have found that most of the most important decisions and choices in life are ones that require significant effort, dedication, and A LOT of motivation to see them through to completion and success.

Who we will marry, what home we will buy, how we will raise our children, and of course, how we will manage our financial resources.

When I initially researched debt consolidation as a means of helping me pay off my seemingly endless debt, I knew it was going to take a little over four years to accomplish. I was thrilled at the prospect of consolidating the many debts I owed into one lump sum payment that would be due the same day each and every month.

Before I enrolled in CareOne, the closest my debts ever came to being consolidated was that monthly statements MAY have ended up in the same pile of papers.

The specter of debt was so overwhelming, I remember times when I could barely open the statements because of the panic and anxiety I felt when I saw the interest rates and climbing balances. Not knowing anything about debt relief, I had NO idea that there was a way to deal with this problem. I just had no clue about the debt relief options that could help me take the million pound millstone from around my neck, PLUS pay my creditors off in a timely way.

After I spoke to the Certified Personal Finance Counselor at CareOne the first time, the idea of consolidating all the debts and making ONE payment seemed to make so much sense. No more ignoring letters and phone calls from creditors.

I found that I could actually DO THIS.

Knowing myself, and my past penchant for NOT keeping my promises to pay all my bills on time and becoming organized, I decided to have my CareOne payment automatically deducted from my checking account each month. This way, it was "set in stone."

Putting tight parameters on myself was the wise thing for ME to do so that I wouldn't and couldn't fall off the debt relief success wagon. Knowing that payment will always come out like clockwork and each creditor will always be paid exactly as promised and exactly on time motivates me to not only see this plan as a regular part of my life, but it also motivates me to start becoming more organized with the rest of my financial resources.

Because I started paying smaller payments to each creditor with lowered interest rates, I could actually start thinking about saving and having different "funds" for different needs.

This is such a departure from my former addiction to credit cards.

The longer that I have now lived in the "cash only" world; the more excited I am to have the habit of using credit behind me. The relief from stress is a great motivator to continue what is WORKING.

Getting my finances under control has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I just can't wait until that time-just a little under three years from now-when I will make that very last payment!

Julie Van Wert

I am a Medical Social Worker at a community hospital, living in the great state of California. I am married and have three wonderful children, and three beautiful grandsons, with another grandbaby on the way. My family also includes a miniature Dachshund named Conrad. I love gardening and spending time outdoors, but I equally love doing home decorating projects. I've been enrolled in the Debt Management Plan for just under a year, and that has been a real "turning point" in my financial life. I hope you will follow along with my blogs under A Straight Talk on Debt in the CareOne blogs. Compensated CareOne Debt Relief Services Blogger.