pandorathecat

So, last time I posted an amount was when I finished grad school almost a year ago. At that point I owed a total (undergrad & grad) of $64,045.14. Well, since then I have pretty much been putting almost all of my extra money towards loans…I admit I am still bad about buying my lunch out, so that’s a possible source of additional money to go toward the loans. But my boyfriend and I live very simply – small house, no car, etc.

Anyway, at this point, my new total is $59,720.56. I’ve obviously paid a bit more than it sounds like I have because of interest constantly accruing.

In one sense, I feel really good, because I know I have been relentless in paying off the debt. But in another sense, the total amount of debt is just so huge! It can be so frustrating thinking about what I could do – both for myself (travel!) and for others less fortunate – if I didn’t have to keep chipping away at the loans.

This month, I donated to the Animal House Fund. They are working to create a new, LEED-certified, cheerful animal shelter in St. Louis, to replace the really old, depressing animal shelter that currently exists. This would really improve the lives of the poor creatures that end up at the shelter…it might even make them more “adoptable,” because potential adopters might be more willing to visit a new, architecturally interesting shelter. www.animalhousefund.org

I’m late posting, but in January I donated to a local nonprofit called Neighbors Assisting Neighbors. You can learn more about them at www.nanstl.org. Basically, they organize volunteers who help pick up trash, clean up neighborhoods, and empower residents to take action in their communities.