become debt free

We’re picking up a couple cookbooks for cooking for two, and going to start eating at home more, to avoid $20-$30 meals…and it’ll be better for us!

Going to plant a garden and try and grow our own fruit and vegetables… Hoping to eat healthier and save money.

Sending in the first extra payment tomorrow! Here we go snowball :)

Haven’t been doing so well on this one. I am still committed to paying off debt, I just haven’t really shown that in my actions. I feel like I’m standing still at this; we haven’t contributed extra yet, but that will change!
Today we are going over our budget…and in that, will be where extra payments go to.
Goals:
1. Pay off co-signed student loans.
2. Pay off Credit Card Debt. (2 Cards) Which mostly have travel debt on them and some misc.
3. Pay off all non co-signed student loans.
4. Pay off my car.
5. Pay off dh car.
7. Save for retirement.
8. Save for anticipated house expenses.
9. Save an emergency fund.

How to achieve goals:
1. Contribute more monthly to debt pay down.
2. Do not add to debt load.
3. Garage Sale to find extra $$?
4. Extra job ??
5. Create long term goals to look at the big picture.
6. Positive communications about money and how this effects/can enrich our lives.

Credit Card 2 is successfully paid off!
Now onto Credit Card 1. I thought we would have paid more of this off this month, but unfortunately not. Still aiming for Oct. 26th for a payoff though.

Credit Card 2 is going to be paid off by April 15th. We have a large portion to put towards the cards this month and instead of separating it between the two will pay the min. on the larger card and pay off the smaller. Then onto Card 1. It is hard to leave a large balance on Card 1, but I already feel relieved at the thought of having Card 2 paid off.
Here we go Debt Snowball!!!

So, it is time to attack the debt! I am very motivated to pay off my debt and have been for a while, but have now passed a major cost (kind of) and know final totals to eliminate!
So here they are in order, the debts I am going to pay off. I will start in order and as I work on them indicate the deadline. I feel overwhelmed when I list more than one deadline, so maybe if I only focus on the one at a time that will be good :)

1. Pay off my Credit Card Debt. (2 Cards) Which mostly have travel debt on them and some misc. Pay off goal: 7 months (October 26, 2009)
2. Determine the budget for my wedding and pay for most/all in cash.
3. Pay off my co-signed student loans.
4. Pay off all of my non co-signed student loans.
5. Purchase a reliable car.
6. Save for a house.
7. Save for retirement.

How I will do this:
1. Get a part time job (on top of my ft job) by April 30th that will be contributed to debt payoff only.

I got the exciting news tonight that the interest rate for some of my student loans decreased by 2% (for paying 48 consecutive payments on time)!!!! :) This will definitely help in the long run with debt payoff.

A very good friend gave me the Total Money Makeover a few years ago. She knew that I was already in the mindset to pay off my debt, and thought I would like it. I have been lax about being truly Gazelle Intense. I would like to do this starting next month. Also, I have to revisit my goals with f, so we can be on the same page about what I want to accomplish. He does support me, but it needs revisited.

So I need to review my budget again, so I can do the following:

1. Pay off my Credit Card Debt in 1 month by November 30th.
2. Determine the budget for my wedding and pay for most/all in
cash.
3. Pay off my co-signed student loans.
4. Pay off all of my non co-signed student loans.
5. Save for a house.
6. Save for retirement.

How I will do this:
1. Get a part time job (on top of my ft job) by November 7th (2 Weeks) that will be contributed to debt payoff only.
2. After the wedding, take the money that I was saving for that to contribute to the debt payoff.
Further steps to add after reviewing my budget, including a final deadline for all!

I messed up these last two months; purely overspent. I have put about 150 back on the credit card, so starting over at square one.
Pay Off Goals reordered:
1. Pay off my Credit Card Debt in 1 month.
2. Determine the budget for my wedding and pay for most/all in
cash.
3. Pay off my co-signed student loans.
4. Pay off all of my non co-signed student loans.
5. Save for a house.
6. Save for retirement.
I am currently saving a small amount for retirement. Once I kick the debt snowball into place, I will be able to contribute to that. Also, I need to get a 2nd job. I want to use that money to start the debt snowball and start paying off my student loans.