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Ashley’s September 2016 Debt Update

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Better late than never, right?

After I realized I’d missed our extra student loan payment, I initiated it on October 1st (a Saturday). It showed “pending” in Navient’s system for several days and didn’t actually show up as being applied until Wednesday. I don’t like posting on Wednesday (I like to leave it for Hope), so here we are with our SEPTEMBER debt update nearly a full week into the month of October. So sorry about the late update!

Check it out:

PlaceCurrent BalanceAPRLast Payment MadeLast Payment DateOriginal debt, March 2014
Navient$635276.55%$2225September$74218
ACS Student Loans$85856.55%$25September$8215
Balance Transfer Student Loan #2$53500% (through April 2017)$500September$7650
Medical Bills$57110%$25September$9000
Balance Transfer student loan #1$00%-Paid off in March 2016$5937
PenFed Car Loan$02.49%-Paid off in January 2016$24040
License Fees$02.5%-Paid off in April 2015$5808
BoA CC$07.24%-Paid off in June 2014$2220
Mattress Firm$00%-Paid off in May 2014$1381
Wells Fargo CC$013.65%-Paid off in May 2014$7697
Capital One CC$017.9%-Paid off in March 2014$413
Totals$83,173 (Aug balance = 85,553)$2775Starting Debt = $145,472

Several exciting milestones are coming up:

First, we’re just over $3,000 away from our next $10,000 milestone.

Second, the next digit we’ll be seeing is in the $70,000’s. That’s significant because our half-way mark is just above $72,000. So we’re just a little over $10,000 away from the half-way mark! Everyone keeps saying after we cross that threshold that the debt will just start melting away! It’s felt like a long, hard slog so far the past nearly 3 years of debt-repayment. I’m VERY excited to get over that hump.

Third, do you recall how one of our big 2016 debt goals was to pay $30,000 toward debt this year?? Check out where we now stand in terms of that financial goal:

Month2016 GOALS2016
JanuaryGoal: $3500$4013
FebruaryGoal: $1000$1261
MarchGoal:  $1000$2134
AprilGoal:  $2000$1521
MayGoal: $2000$1325
JuneGoal:  $4000$3500
JulyGoal: $4000$4928
AugustGoal: $2500$1374
SeptemberGoal: $2500$2775
OctoberGoal: $2500 
NovemberGoal: $2500 
DecemberGoal: $2500 
TotalGoal: $30,000$22,8310

It’s going to be tight, but we’re right on track to hit that goal. It’s so crazy to think that many families in America are struggling to survive on a total household income of $30,000. Meanwhile, we’ve been blessed with an increased income that has allowed us to put that much toward debt! I mean – whoa! Moment of silence or respect or something. That’s a massive figure!

So much to be thankful for and still so many exciting milestones on the horizon.

Full steam ahead!!!

Do you make annual financial goals? What were yours and how are you doing on them?


10 Comments

  • Reply DIY$ |

    Congrats on another good month, Ashley!

    I make annual financial goals as well. We are out of debt except for our house so we have a goal for how much we’re going to pay towards our house each year. We also have a goal for how much our net worth will increase each year. Some of that depends on the stock market so we still consider the goal met if we contribute everything we intended to and don’t get there because the market didn’t cooperate.

  • Reply Maureen |

    Great job! It’s fun to see the numbers and that your goal of $30K is still attainable with everything you’ve been through this year as well as buying a house. One note- I’m sure it’s in your plans, but you’ll have to eventually pay more than $500 to the balance transfer to pay it off before the end of the promotional period. 6 months will sneak by fast!

    • Reply Ashley |

      She has when she has been able. We haven’t personally spoken but I know she’s been battling some pretty intense mental health demons (as she posted about – I’m not sharing private information here), so I suspect her absence is related to that. Either way, I like to “protect” Wednesdays as her day, just-in-case.

  • Reply Terry |

    Great job! Your debt repayment journey has been so great to follow.

    **I second Jay’s comment–Hope doesn’t ever post anymore. Is it time to recruit another blogger who is serious about starting this journey? Started with 5 and now basically down to just Ashley……

  • Reply Malady |

    I hope you know what an inspiration you are Ashley. I have had some stumbles in my journey towards debt reduction, and I look at how you deal with your challenges and feel like I can keep on. Thanks for sharing with us and congratulations on another great month of debt slaying 🙂

  • Reply Walnut |

    You’re so close to hitting the halfway point! That’s crazy. Your hard word and dedication through the middle months is paying off for sure. Be kind to yourself as all of the changes unfold in the next couple months in the new house. There might be a little money leakage here or there, but so long as you don’t impulsively open a Restoration Hardware credit card and buy All.The.Things, it’ll just be a blip in the radar.

So, what do you think ?