by Hope
Lessons I learned the last two months as I’ve started receiving income again:
- Paying everything at the beginning of the month can leave you struggling at the end of the month.
- Even with money coming in regularly, it feels much better to have a buffer in your checking account and at least a small emergency fund.
- After a year in “starvation” mode, even a little splurge right now feels too much.
Overall, April has been a great month financially. (You can see last month’s debt update here.)
| Debt Description | October, 2023 Total | Interest Rate | Minimum Payment | Current Total | Payoff Date (Est) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC - Sams | $1,106 | 29.99% | $0 | $0 | April, 2024 |
| CC - Amazon | $1,497 | 29.99% | $53 | $1,462 | May, 2024 |
| CC - Wander | $1,630 | 29.24% | $75 | $1,605 | June, 2024 |
| Personal Loan #1 | $2,500 | 0% | $500 (beg April) | $1,500 | June, 2024 |
| Personal Loan #2 | $2,500 | 0% | $500 (beg April) | $2,000 | June, 2024 |
| CC - Frontier | $3,857 | 29.99% | $131 | $3,566 | |
| Dad - New Furnace | $2,600 | 0% | $500 (beg June or July) | $2,600 | |
| CC - USAA | $5,000 | 19.15% | $135 | $4,996 | |
| Car Loan | $19,581 | 12.69% | Gymnast Pays | $16,623 | |
| Student Loans | $22,121 | 2.875% | In Deferrment | $22,505 | |
| CC - Apple** | $500 | Paid off every month | $0 | ||
| CC - AMEX | $894 | 29.24% | $0 | $0 | |
| Total | $61,186 | $1,622 | $56,857 |
Updates
The Sam’s Club card is paid in full. Woot, woot! But I am not going to close it. The kids and I use that membership very regularly for food and gas. The girls and I even got our eyes examined there this past month – only $67 for an eye exam. (If we buy our glasses there, we get 20% off. Princess has already taken advantage of this. I’m holding off at least one more month before spending that money.)
I have rearranged the table (again) to show the order I am focusing on the debt. With my current forecast, here are the next anticipated payoff dates:
- Amazon CC – May, 2024
- Personal Loan #1 – June, 2024
- Personal Loan #2 – June, 2024
- Wander CC – June, 2024
I’ve not yet purchased a lawn mower. Still dreading that completely. Thankfully, Beauty’s boyfriend graciously volunteered to cut our grass last week, buying me a few more weeks. I will have to address the need in May for sure. I did purchase a edger/trimmer thing. It ran me $131 and is electric. The downside is that it will only run 25 minutes per battery charge. The upside is it’s the same brand as all my other tools so I will have 3 interchangeable batteries so can get the yard done with quick battery changes. At least in theory! So I can start doing some of the yard with that.
Moving along the right direction steadily. I am working 3-4 12 hour days weekly between my two jobs. And loving every minute of it.

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.
