So, this is where we're starting.

$13,000 worth of consumer debt.

That's what we have.
That's a lot of money.
That's way more than either of us had realized.

We don't buy expensive stuff. We don't wear name brands. We shop at thrift stores for clothes and most of my books. We don't drink much, or have expensive hobbies. We don't travel.

So where did it come from?
-We drive a crappy car that needs repairing all the time, and we've never had the common sense to sit down and start a car fund.
-We've been caught unaware with some house stuff. Like last month when it rained in the kitchen. Again, we should have had an emergency fund.
-Some of it, shamefully, is still from our cat's surgery. Said cat died five years ago.
-I was unemployed while I was in school, and C was unemployed for the last nine months.
-Some of it might have, kind of, sort have, bought me a diamond engagement ring. Maybe.

We've got a 2K emergency fund now. I'm going to the bank tomorrow to "pay off" our credit cards with our line of credit (6.25% vs 18.5%)

Deep breath. Here goes.