by Hope
As expected June has been my cheapest month ever. And I am grateful for that. I’ve rarely left the house these past two weeks. Done lots of cleaning and rearranging. And prepared for my oldest son to leave the nest at the end of next month.
My June challenge has been a success for me, but not the overwhelming one I hoped for. I haven’t quite been able to pay off my credit card debt.
I started June with a balance of $2,075 on my credit card (see my last debt update here.) A week or so ago, I was able to pay an extra $600. Which was awesome! But I’ve fallen short of paying the remaining $1,475.
How about you? How has your June challenge gone?
July is a Busy Month
I have decided to take July off from challenges as I have several big events next month. (Don’t worry they have already been budgeted and paid for.)
- Princess and I will travel to Texas for 11 days. Not only will we be visiting my parents and 4 siblings, but I will also be meeting two of my newer clients in person. I paid for the airline tickets a couple of months back, they are part of my travel budget.
- Gymnast will return with us from Texas for the remainder of July. He’s been there since the beginning of June
- We have college visits set up for History Buff and Princess during the latter part of July. History Buff is working on his plan for post-high school. He will finish at the end of December, and Princess just has two years of high school left.
- Gymnast and I will travel to Chicago at the end of July. I will just be staying overnight and have an appointment set up with his high school counselor. Again, this trip has already been paid for…airline tickets and one night in a hotel prepaid to a discount.
- And finally, I will be prepping for back to school for both Princess and History Buff.
As I said, a lot going on!
But this doesn’t mean, I have lost focus. I am continuing to live on a cash only budget. Here’s to a busy month!
What do you have going on this month? Anything fun or exciting?
Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
Good job, Hope. Despite needing to pay more on the credit card debt, your July plans sound well thought out. Is Princess looking at early entrance programs? Two years ahead sounds very early.
You made it under $1500 which is good. Have you revised your budget to reflect your $400 payments on the student loan yet? I would still challenge yourself in July even if it’s to find the $75 to get payments down to $1400. Your reality is always going to be a busy life since you have a pretty robust sized family. Don’t let busy get in the way of trying to get that debt gone. It’ll stand in the way of things you want for yourself and kiddos.
Every extra dollar helps eat into the credit card balance and reduces your interest incurred. Just think- that’s a 600 payment you’ll never have to make again. A useful challenge for your busy July might be simply to cash flow it.
Good job! You’re finally making good progress on the credit card! A few more months and it’ll be done.
The end is in sight for that credit card. Congrats!
Have you been able to set aside the money for History Buff’s schooling at all? I know that last semester set you back $610 and you were expecting to need that for fall as well(you might even need more since summer usually needs fewer credits to be considered full time.)