Monday, March 12, 2007

Debt Reduction - Chugging Away

I spend a great deal of my internet time tooling around on personal finance blogs, trying to absorb their learnings and live vicariously through their achievements. It is fun. But, I have been secretly squirreling away all extra cash this year and I have paid off 2.5 of my debts - gone finito with this rising to 3.5 as soon as my tax check arrives!

Woo Hoo! It feels so very good, still a long way to go, but slow and steady wins the race, right? I just want to have options in the future, I want to be okay if my employment should have to change if we move for the Navy (if the Navy indeed pans out for D).

My favorite PF blogs though, the realistic ones, the ones that truly speak to me somehow are my friend D over at Divorce to Financial Freedom and Tricia at Blogging Away Debt . These ladies keep me coming back for more and their enthusiasm and success inspire me to keep at it. I do flit about to others and read them, but I am most inspired by these ladies.

What has worked: some extra cash, D and I holding hands and agreeing on our plan, staying home more, eating out less, reading others successes and ideas

What has not worked: cursed internet shopping, Mvelopes (tried it, worked wonderfully at first, then horribly and frustratingly not well at all - just requested a refund...), Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Lattes - they are seriously very good and a new Starbucks just opened a week or so ago on my way to work..., a not-firm budget

Things I need to work on: creating a reasonable budget that we can follow with a clear map and timeline for debt payoff if we follow it, taking my lunch to work more, stopping at aforementioned Starbucks less

Keep up the inspiration financial bloggers - it helps tremendously!

CC - a bit less full of debt than when 2007 started...

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the great progress! I don't like budgets (or anything math-related, really) but I hear you on the Starbucks thing... we try to make coffee/hot cocoa at home whenever possible so we're not even tempted to stop. But dang, Starbucks just makes drinks so much better than we do!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog and I am glad that you are inspired by it. I agree that D has a great blog. She is definitely keeping the "personal" in personal finance and I enjoy reading her blog as well.

Congrats on your progress!!

Denise Mall said...

I'm flattered and slightly embarrassed. Thank you CC & You Tricia, I love both of your blogs too.

CC - wow, the Cinnamon Dolce Lattes - LOVE THEM!! I had my first one at the Cheer Tournament and now I am hooked. If Starbucks ever makes it in my town, I will be broke! As it is, I get a cup each time I head out of town. I know I am bad.

Good job paying down the debt. Doesn't it feel good!! Life is only going to get better when money is back on the "back burner" instead of all consuming. Family first!!!