$1,320 down...Less than $1,000 to go!!!

I put one more chunk on the home improvement loan. And, it's almost down to 0. Then, we're kicking VISA out of the house next!!

Another $510 down

Made another payment to the home improvement loan. Now, we've got about $2,000 left. I cannot wait to report on this account being paid off and closed.

$4,750 to the Home Improvement Loan!!

Exciting news! I hit a whopping blow to the home improvement loan this week. He's down, but not out...yet. There's still about $2,500 left, but I feel the momentum, and I'll keep pounding that bad boy until he's down for the count.

What's Your Story?

I wanted to respond to someone's comment asking how I am able to do what I'm doing.

Well, here are a few tips on how I'm making this financial lifestyle change happen...

1. I started making a written budget every month, and then the key thing was that I followed it. I know that sounds crazy, but many times in the past I wrote out a budget, but if we wanted something that wasn't in the budget, I went ahead and said yes to buying it.

2. I started looking at the budget to see what I could cut...
Cable, cell phones, restaurants...etc.
I set goals, and once a goal was reached (i.e. a big bill was paid off), I allowed us to bring back something little like cable.

3. Although we are a one-career household, we are not a one-income household. Here's the difference. My husband has a career-something he works regularly every week, has retirement, a steady income-and it's what we live off of. All of our necessary expenses are covered by his income.
However, I do work part-time. It is not a career. It's flexible, and if I needed to quit tomorrow to take care of family needs, I could. I do work that fits into my life, and the money goes to our debt snowball.

Recommendations for finding ways to bring in money...
Think about what your skills and talents are.
Decide what kind of schedule works for you. (i.e. after the kids are in bed or while the kids are in school, or only weekends)
Search, search, search...careerbuilder, monster, google, craigslist, about.com. Don't settle for something that requires you to sacrifice what you've made a priority. If you're persistent, you'll find something that works for you.

Good luck to you in your endeavors.

The Car is Paid Off!! $806.06 final payment!

Today is a day for celebration! The car is paid off. Next one to tackle? The home improvement loan. I estimate the end of the summer to get that one off our backs. I can't wait. 2009 is going to end with great financial successes!!

$560 on the Car!

Got another paycheck, and I'm off to the bank! I am so close to the finish line I can taste it!! WooHoo!!

Selective Memory Strikes Again!

So, on my last post I said I would just have the home improvement loan, student loan, and house left after paying off the car. Well, that was a bit of wishful thinking and selective memory. I left out the lovely credit card. What do ya' know? You'd think I would remember that one. I must have bought some wonderful things with it. I'm sure they were necessities. Right? (Insert sarcastic smirk here).

Ahh, I can't wait to be debt-free and a cash queen!