Blogging Away Debt

Hope’s Debt Update – March, 2019

I have been writing here at BAD for over 5 years now! Can you believe that? I can’t!

This was my first ever post which included my first ever debt update. It was published in February, 2014. My total debt was $78,518!

And without further ado, here is my current debt load.

Creditor	Balance (as of 10/14/17)	Interest	Min. Payment
Student Loans	$34,991	2.88%	$0 (income based deferment)
Car	$4,773	7.00%	$400
Credit Card	$2,434	17.00%	$60
Collections 3 (Ex-husband)	0	6.25%	$0
Collections 2 (Apartment)	$499		$0
Total	$42,697		$460

Total Debt as of 3/13/2019 is $42,697

My last debt update is HERE if you want to compare the two, it was published in December, 2018.

I’ve got to admit, comparing my first ever debt post and today’s was a bit discouraging, especially when I compare myself to the headlines of others debt pay off journeys. But I won’t make excuses.

I do know that I have come a long way as far as mindset over the 5 years. Not to mention knowledge. And I am in a really good place as far as payoff mindset (finally, right, long time readers!)

The Plan

I haven’t put a lot of thought into my plan of action. Frankly, I haven’t had time to sit down and think about anything.

But in looking at my numbers, this is what I have in mind:

Pay off credit card! It’s time. The interest rate. I’m ready.
Pay off the non-interest bearing collection account because it’s not affecting anything but my credit at this point.
Pay off my car (if I stick to my $400 per month, it will be paid off in March, 2020 but it would be great if I could do it more quickly.)

In my dream world, I would love to have all three of these debts paid off by the end of the year. And I think it’s doable looking at my year as a whole.

Thoughts? Feedback?

Eating through Our Pantry Again

by Hope

Well, I turned around and we are halfway through March. How in the world did that happen?!?

Next weekend, not this coming one, Gymnast arrives for a week long visit.

Then we leave at the end of that visit for a week long trip (Spring Break) to Texas to visit my parents. Holy cow, this year is flying by.

Oh, and sprinkled in 2-3 times per week is volleyball practice or games. We are going to be half way through April before I can catch my breathe. Anyone else going through this?

As a result of this craziness, not to mention the financial setbacks of a hospital stay and a car wreck, I have officially decided, just yesterday, that I will not buy any more groceries until we return from Texas. We are going to eat through our pantry again.

I did a grocery run the last week of February and spent around $200 (too lazy to look up the total right now.) But haven’t spent any other grocery money of our normal $600 budget.

I’d rather leave the cupboards bear anyways since we will be gone for over a week, and what better way to do it. We’ll save some money, eat through the stuff that is no one’s favorite (yes, we still have Chicken Noodle Soup) and I’ll have a clear conscious to splurge on groceries upon our return. It’s a win, win, win!

I know it’s Spring Break other places now. Most of my Texas friends are posting their getaways this week. Anyone in the BAD community doing something fun for their break?

We are looking forward to visiting Texas again. I will be working the entire trip. And we are going to take my car (crossing fingers that it is fixed by then) to save money vs renting a car like we did for Thanksgiving. I’m excited because it means the twins can help drive on this super long roadtrip!

It will be a low key trip. And we will cook a lot to stock my parents deep freezer for them. And the countdown in on. Now I’m off to make a 3 week meal plan, clearing out our pantry, freezer and refrigerator. Wish me luck (especially when the kids hear about my plan!)