I'm doing 23 things
I finally consolidated my federal student loans under the Direct Loan program. As a teacher I will be able to cancel the rest of them after 10 years. If you are a teacher or other public servant (police, firefighter, librarian, etc) you should be eligible for this program too. I think it might also apply to people working for non-profit organizations, but I am not entirely sure so you might want to check on that first. 2022 is going to be a good year!
Holly's Life List
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1. make a difference
1 cheer7,192 people -
2. live simply
3,287 people -
3. Create a budget, and stick with it
2 cheers400 people -
4. pay off my student loans
6 entries . 2 cheers3,044 people -
5. pay off my credit cards
2 entries . 1 cheer1,170 people -
6. eat healthier
1 cheer11,040 people -
7. exercise more
5,561 people -
8. reconnect with old friends
499 people -
9. make more friends
5,483 people -
10. Read 50 books this year.
1 cheer198 people -
11. learn to play the cello
1 cheer835 people -
12. improve my spanish
1,094 people -
13. travel around the world
5,110 people -
14. fall in love again
1 entry . 1 cheer1,923 people -
15. get married
20,983 people -
16. Buy a House
13,865 people -
17. declutter my house
1 cheer975 people -
18. Grow a vegetable garden
404 people -
19. learn to preserve fruit and vegetables
16 people -
20. Visit India
1,006 people -
21. visit my relatives in Norway!
2 people -
22. create my own website
1 cheer5,794 people -
23. Visit Ireland
2,748 people
How I did it
It made me
Happy 
How I did it: I asked my landlord if I could get a small dog. They agreed. I started looking at local adoption groups and ended up responding to an ad on Craigslist for a Humane Society shelter down in North Carolina. They had posted pics because they work with a rescue group up here. I talked to them about one of the dogs I had seen, and he seemed like a good fit. And he is! Read how I did it…
It made me
Relieved
How I did it: I was having recurring throat issues and went to a clinic as my regular doc is closed on the weekend. She exclaimed at my large tonsils and mentioned sleep apnea several times. I dismissed it initially, as I thought that was something 50 year old men who weigh 400 lbs get, not me!! But driving home, it occurred to me maybe this was why I was drifting off every time I sat down to read, watch tv or use the computer. I ment… Read how I did it…
It made me
How I did it: To be honest, I could have done this a lot cheaper...but I threw caution (money) to the wind and really, I don't regret it. I went on a crafting cruise through CraftCruises.com. They happened to have a crocheting cruise that fit perfectly into my spring break. A week of luxury...great food, good company, fun crocheting classes with great instructors, beautiful scenery, relaxation to the max. But it was expensive. I… Read how I did it…
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Recent entries
I used my tax refund to pay off my two AES loans that had the high 9% interest rate! Yay! And I had enough left over that I paid off the few hundred dollars I had left on my other 2 credit cards. I have now had the high credit limit one long enough that I don’t really care too much if Capital One closes my oldest card.
I am going to consolidate my federal loans through the Direct Loan program, probably over the summer when I’ll have the time do deal with all the paperwork and such.
GLHEC (Key Bank)
Original: $13,545.
Paid to date: $14,038
Still to go: $9,465 @ 3.17%
Monthly due $175 Paying $200
Currently paid ahead $920
I probably have about 4 years left on this loan.
AES (Gate)
Original: $10,050
Current: $8,125
Interest varies on the 5 loans here, 2 are fixed at 9%, 3 are variable at around 3-3.5
Monthly Due: Not sure, possibly gone up to $195. I’m paid ahead so I can’t find out, it’s not giving me an amount due.
Paying: $175, will likely bump this up to at least $195
Projected final payment date: 9/2014
SAF (Federal)
Current: $59,751 @ 6.25% fixed
Monthly due: $367
Paying: $375
I think I’ll be paying this the rest of my life. Or for another 15 years at least.
Federal – $59,751
Gate – $8,125
Key Bank – $9,465
Current total: $77,341
Total 9/10: $78,718 (-1377)
Total 11/09: $82,523 (difference -5182)
Total 8/08: $87,337 (difference -9996)
Somehow the Gate and Key ones seem less daunting now that they are under 10K each. I found out that AES will let me pay on a single loan right on the website, so I may go in there every month or so and just throw an extra couple hundred bucks at the high interest ones and see how that brings it down. Now that the holidays are over, am hoping to use whatever extra money I can get from my extra jobs to pay off these.
