Climbing that mountain

Okay, in the post below, I mentioned that I've not climbed any great mountain. Well, I guess you could say in a way I am climbing one in the figurative way. I've grown up in a religious faith that has stressed avoiding debt and getting out of debt. Of course there are times when you must find yourself owing money. It's avoiding the unnecessary debt that I'm talking about! Growing up mom and dad had many family nights where we talked about finances and how to budget. Before I moved out on my own these lessons were custom made just for me so I could land on my feet with my new independence. I thought it was old style thinking that they were telling me to not use my credit cards. What do parents really know when you are eighteen anyway?!! Here I am many years later and agreeing full heartedly with the advice my parents tried to teach me. Avoid that credit card debt like crazy! I had student loans. I've had vehicle loans. I have yet to experience the daunting house loan. Right now I've spent the past four years trying to take to heart the advice given by loving church leaders at the inspiration of a loving Heavenly Father that truly knows best! I've been working very hard to get out from under my debts.

It was so easy to lay down the credit card for trips, computers, eating out with friends, etc. I thought I had a handle of my debts. I was much better with them when I was in my twenties and I paid them off right away. (I was still paying attention to the advice my parents gave me.) With school and vehicle loans on top of my credit cards, I noticed that things were getting way too tight for the income I was making. Option one would be get a better paying job. Well, the recession has made that a bit difficult. Option two is to crack down and begin a depth payback plan. My older brother had used Dave Ramsey's plan and it seemed to work for them when they were applying the "snowball" effect. I went on line and studied it a bit and it made sense and I had been doing it, but not fully dedicated to throttle back on my personal spending. Accepting the fact that I was in debt and needed to give up the pleasures I couldn't afford was the first big step. I cut down on eating out with my friends, which was really hard because being single, dining out is more about social than the food. I couldn't commit to trips a cross the country to see family and friends as airfare rose with the gas prices. I knew I got myself into the mess, it was my responsibility to get out and feel the sweet freedom of being debt free again!

My new lifestyle still was not making the debt go away. I was depressed to realize that it would take FOREVER to get out of debt at the rate I was going. I began looking at picking up a second job. Now, when you have your heart in the right place, the Lord will meet your needs. A perfect second job came along. I spend my days working as a graphic designer/production artist by day and in the evenings I clean a dental office. The little boost from the second job and a lot of dedication to stick with my plan has slowly been paying off. The students loans were paid off. I began to fall into the comfort of having the student loans gone and was finding I was spending money a bit too freely. As if to remind me of my goals, I was hit with an emergency gallbladder removal. I lost a week of work and had to put nearly 4K on my credit cards, maxing out my first credit card ever. I was freaked out! I'd just lost two full years of hard work to get out of debt. Looking back, had the emergency surgery not happened, I may have not taken my debt seriously. Realizing how expensive one small thing can be, made me recommit to strict to my gaol to become debt free. I've paid back the hospital bills, I've paid off my vehicle and I'm down to the credit card debts that are the worst and hardest ones to pay off. I've witness the "snowball" effect happening though and I'm in this for the long haul until I can have 4K tucked away in case, you know, another organ decides it has no need to be in my body anymore...though I think I'm running out of those organs that aren't missed when removed. (perhaps I need to tuck away a lot more!)

My goal is to be debt free by the summer of 2013. Check back with me then to see if I've stuck with my plan. By the end of 2013, I'm going to set my goal to have at least 3K tucked away for that rainy day. It can be done folks! It's going to feel like I climbed Everest!