become debt free

I have been working on this for awhile, but this year really threw us a curve ball as EVERYONE in my family lost a job.

DH is still looking, but everyone else is employed again as of November.

By next year, all credit cards and car payments should be gone and we should be down to the mortgage, which will take another 6-8 years most likely.

Car – Bills – Etc.

I’ve slowly been chipping away at my debt. I’ve stopped spending as much money on things that I don’t need or that can wait for a while before I get them. It was really hard at first to stop buying things but after a few months of this its really easy now.

Well, we have done this – everything except the house. We paid off all the stupid debt last year…it took about 6 months.

Need to work on being debt free. Right now I am buried in debt. Though the amount I am indebted to is so minimal it really is disappointing. It seems every time I earn or gain a little extra I get a bill for the exact amount.

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.

one credit card down with one more to go and bank loan and school loans, but at least I am getting closer. I sent off a payment that paid off one credit card and I am so happy. Now I am trying to find the strength to call them and close my account. I’ve closed some other accounts so I am proud of myself but this one is just harder. I keep thinking “what if I need it for…” but then I remember my new motto of “if I can’t pay it off in full now, then I don’t need it with all the interest”. I just need to remind myself a couple more times and hopefully I will make the phone call.