Blogging Away Debt Our Journeys to a Debt-Free Life

by Hope

We are there guys! We and by we, I mean I hit $10,000 in my high interest savings account this past month. Woot, woot! So now it’s time to turn my eye to my remaining debt – time to pay off those student loans. Finally!

This is the balance as of today.

And today, I scheduled an extra $400 payment. That was my overage last month after all my regularly budgeted items plus hitting my $10K goal in savings.

The Plan

I will continue to put $130 into my various investment accounts and savings accounts every week. This is broken down as: $50 into high interest savings and $80 into investment accounts. Those are on auto-draft.

All monies outside of my regularly budgeted items will then be poured into my student loan debt. Looking at the past few months, that should end up being a minimum $2,000 per month to my student loans. As I’m writing this, I realize that I have not shared my updated budget. I’ll get that shared in the next week or so.

Work

Work continues to go well. Most of my work for the past 6 months has come from 3 main client and a handful of small projects. I’m currently working on applications for a number of other small clients/projects. And have two smaller projects to complete this month in addition to my ongoing work from my 3 primary clients.

I’m enjoying a very nice work/life balance for the first time in a really long time. In the past it has always seemed I had too much or too little work. Now I am enjoying staying busy and earning a good living, but having the time and capacity for a life. In addition to ongoing caretaking for my mom and supporting my dad, I’ve found a church I love, joined a couple of women’s Bible studies, and signed up for a number of free classes at the local library. This week I’m going to a book making class.

Life is good.

Hope

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.