I’m In That State of Mind

The financial stars aligned again this week with a few different checks arriving from my husband’s side jobs. I love it when it happens like this because I can send a huge chunk of cash towards our debt. While I don’t mind chipping away at our debt, nothing quite gets my blood flowing like making those big payments.

For one, it really shows how much money we aren’t spending. We are doing something right to have that much money as “extra” money. Secondly, I can give a “take that!” to my credit card. That always feels a little good.

I’m happy to report that we have broken down below the $14,000 mark. Our credit card debt is now at $13,699.

It’s hard to describe how I feel right now. I think one of my favorite quotes helps to sum it up:

“What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists, and it becomes available only when you are in that state of mind in which you know exactly what you want, and are fully determined not to quit until you get it.”

- Alexander Graham Bell

I’m in that state of mind. I want our credit card debt paid off!

Posted by Tricia on February 28, 2008 at 10:25 PM in Credit Cards, General Debt | 20 Comments »
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debtdieter responded:
Posted: February 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Congratulations on cracking the $14,000 mark!

I received some dividend cheques this week myself, so I’m off to the bank this afternoon to put them straight onto one of my credit cards myself!

It’s a great feeling isn’t it?
NCN responded:
Posted: February 28th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Great job! Doesn’t it feel great to be chip, chip, chipping away. And, once in a while, you get to BLAST away at that ugly old debt.
I find that writing about it helps keep me focused – and motivated.
Rock on!
NCN
Mrs. Micah responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Sweet, you seem to have made that last $1000 down really quickly. Despite all the time you’ve put into it, you’ve still got the motivation. Which is great, because you’ve still got a ways to go.
Law student responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Yay Trisha!
Your net worth is going to be phenomenal this week — keep it up!
Law student responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Oops, Tricia. Sorry!
Beth responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Way to go, Tricia! I also love your posts about the simple pleasures of life (playing outside in the snow, playing games) and on selling the stuff that you wonder why you ever bought. You are enjoying the things that really matter more and more, and the “stuff” that doesn’t really matter is losing its shine for you. That is why I know you are going to succeed in paying off your debt completely — because you aren’t just clamping down on a temporary basis, you are re-aligning your values and priorities. So I sense that you are destined not only to become more and more financially healthy, but also more and more content, and satisfied, and delighted with the things that truly matter in life!
Matt responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Thats awesome! I still remember your post when you broke the $20K line – seems like it was yesterday. Before you know it you’ll be putting money into investments rather than paying down debt.
Frugal Dad responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 9:19 am
It seems like just the other day you were reporting breaking the $15k mark! Great job – you’ll be debt free before you know it.
Kim L. responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Isn’t it amazing what you can do when you finally truly put your mind to it? We had gone back and forth with credit card debt but it wasn’t until I had finally gotten completely fed up with it that we got rid of it. We’ve now been CC debt free for over a year! I know you are going to be saying the same thing soon enough. Keep up the great work.
Jim responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 10:00 am
That’s great news when you can make huge payments or even a payment large enough to pay off the entire balance! Today is leap day and you have something to leap about. I am excited to enter March because I am expecting my bonus to finally be in my hands, watch out credit cards (evil laugh). What motivates me right now is trying to get my net worth up to ZERO. Even though I will still be in debt, it will help me keep going watching it grow positive. I am hoping to remove at least 2 of my cards and 2-3 smaller ones my wife has that total almost a grand. Removing this many payments to those cards will pile up nice payments on the others, and they’ll begin to go away even more rapidly than before. Good job and at this rate you’ll be in the 4 figure range come summer!
Jen responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Excellent!

I can’t remember how much interest you’re being charged – I know at one point one card was at 0%. But, I think your debt payoff may accelerate because as the principal goes down, so will the finance charge
HS @ Our Debt Blog responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 11:03 am
OK It’s on! we have the same amount of debt now… so my goal is to keep up with you.

Thanks for your inspiration for the rest of us!!

What will you blog about when your debt free??
Mom responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Good Job! That was a very fast $1,000 paid off. Congrats!
Deby responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Congratulations Tricia, that’s terrific!
Don’t you just love when you can make a big dent in your debt? We’ll be able to make a huge payment in March that will effectively halve ours! I’m so excited, I can hardly wait to see the numbers go down!
arduous responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Hooray!! I can’t wait until you report that your debt is under $10,000! I am doing a happy dance for you right now!
The Collector responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
As a debt collector, Im glad too see this! Its good to see someone taking full responsibility and getting there bills paid! Check out my site if you ever get a chance, Im a full time Debt Collector and I run Http://www.Procollex.com I like to help people understand there debts and what its going to take to get out from under them! Good Luck!
Mar responded:
Posted: February 29th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Do you even realize how far you’ve come? Seriously! This is amazing – you are so close to paying off 2/3 of what you originally owed! I’m so happy for you.
Net Worth Update - Up 5.87% » Blogging Away Debt responded:
Posted: March 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
[...] Mar: Do you even realize how far you’ve come? Seriously! This is… [...]
holly responded:
Posted: March 1st, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I’m impressed by how much progress you’ve made in the last few months! I remember when you were trying to break 20,000! Way to be an inspiration.
Prosper Roundup — The Week After Edition responded:
Posted: March 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
[...] When Tricia at Blogging Away Debt pays a large chunk of her credit card bill she says Iâ€™m In That State of Mind [...]