by Hope
It is time for another debt update. But I’m really excited about the one to come in January. You will notice that other than eliminating my Amazon debt, very little has changed in my debt load since my last update. Per my Plan #1, my goal is to pay off the computers by the end of the year. I’ve been paying the very minimum required on all debts in order to meet that goal. I’m still on track but it is going to be VERY, VERY close.
(as of 10/14/17) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | $9,314 | 7.00% | $308 |
| Credit Card | $4,475 | 17.00% | $36 |
| Summer Camp (2018) | $3,375 | 0.00% | $0 |
| Student Loans | $34,349 | 2.88% | $307 |
| Computer Equipment | $2,713 | 22.90% | $84 |
| Taxes (State) | $5,800 | 0.00% | $100 |
| Self Lender | $970 | 10.57% | $97 |
| Collections 1 (Medical) | $618 | ||
| Collections 2 (Apartment) | $499 | ||
| Collections 3 (Ex-husband) | $6,260 | 6.25% | $246 |
| Amazon | $0 | 26.99% | $0 |
| Total | $66,273 | $1,178 |
Meeting My Deadline for Plan #1
To make it happen, I have stopped paying on the kids’ summer camp. We’ve also continued to mostly eat through out pantry which means other than canned veggies we are down to almost nothing in our kitchen. The kids are not too thrilled with me right now.
Today I will surprise them by restocking our kitchen in preparation for Christmas. They are going to be thrilled. We’ve had a white board going with a grocery list of all their wants and needs. I’m hoping I can get everything for right at $150. And if we can make it to the end of the year with those groceries…that will be $200 spent this month on groceries and an extra $400 towards my end of year goal.
We won’t be able to do this again because we really have cleaned the pantry shelves, but it is has really helped this fall with paying off some debt and getting ahead on other things.
Next Steps, New Year
I will review my overall financial plan after the new year. I’ve had some more changes on the job front, but I’m not ready to publish them. I’ll have a better idea after January on how my income is going to look.
It’s stressful, but I’m making good headway in picking up odd jobs and at least part time stand alone clients.
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.
Your budget largely looks like you are holding your own. You haven’t accrued major debt since the last update but it seems like the numbers haven’t gone down much either. I’m pulling for you on getting that computer debt paid off. It’ll free up $84 you can use elsewhere.
Have you visited a site called Life as Mom? She also has a site called Good Cheap Eats and she does pantry challenges semi regularly to keep her food budget down.
Hope, sorry if I’ve missed it, but where did the ex-husband debt come from? Doesn’t that belong to him? Why is it sitting against you? Is there anything that can be done to make your ex husband pay it if it’s his debt?
I’m crossing my fingers that your job situation works out for the best, since that’ll be key for any of your 2018 planning. If I were in your shoes, I would be very hesitant to pay anything but minimum payments until you have some clarity there.