Our Debt Free Family

Commit. Plan. Take action.

August 2019 Debt Update: Stalled

| 1 Comment

debt update

We take a look at our finances pretty regularly, but I have to be honest, we’ve slacked off big time this summer. I am not sure if it is the move, the inconsistency with work, or slipping back into bad spending habits, but we’re definitely not where we’d thought we’d be after a year of paying off debt. Here’s the latest debt update with detailed numbers…

One Year Debt Update

Right now, we are feeling pretty stalled. A lot has happened in the last five months that has hindered our progress a bit.

As you know, last September, I detailed my debt and broke it down. When tallied, it came to $67,999 in total debt for our family. I’m happy to report that almost a year later, we have made some progress. Last year, the numbers looked like this…

  • My Car Amount Owed: $23,051
  • Drew’s Car Amount Owed: $1,092
  • Credit Card Total For Both: $1,748
  • Student Loans (Mine): $23,852
  • Matco/Snap On: $9,534
  • Amount in Collections: $8,722

Here are the updated dollar amounts for August 2019…

  • My Car Amount Owed: $21,333
  • Drew’s Car Amount Owed: $0
  • Credit Card Total For Both: $483
  • Student Loans (Mine): $24,002
  • Matco/Snap On: $7,543
  • Amount in Collections: $679

That brings the total amount we owe down to $54,040. That is nearly $14,000 paid off in a year (not too bad). Compared to this time last year, that is definitely an improvement. Some of our biggest “wins” have been paying off Drew’s car, paying down credit card debt, and taking care of items in collections.

You’ll notice my student loan amount owed has actually gone up a bit. I asked for forbearance on the loans for a few months this year as we transitioned from North Carolina to Georgia. I will be back on track to repaying those in a short amount of time.

The move impacted our ability to attack our debt the way we’ve been wanting to, there’s no doubt about that. With deposits, the costs of moving trucks, and getting used to a new city, we fell behind on our goals a bit.

Getting Back on Track

Both of us are working on budgeting and finding a way to get back on track with our debt freedom goals. First, we’ve had to tap into our emergency fund, which needs to be padded once again. This will be taken care of this month.

Next, we are planning to find a way to cut costs and make more money. As mentioned in previous posts, I’ve been finding ways to make money on the side by selling things and grabbing a freelance gig here and there. Drew has also been looking for additional side work as he feels his way through establishing his own business.

Finally, we HAVE to sit down and work out a budget. We’ve gotten way off track with our current spending and need to refocus. Stay tuned for an update on our new budget later this month!

Readers, where do you stand with your debt freedom progress? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Read More

Learning to Live on One Salary

| Leave a Comment

live on one salary

In my last update, we celebrated having paid off $20,000 or so in debt within one year. However, there have been a lot of changes with our cashflow in the house that has hindered the speed of that continuing. Mostly, we are down to one (main) salary.

My husband is breaking off on his own a bit and has been considering starting his own business. Because of this, cash flow on his end hasn’t been consistent. We’ve lived on one salary multiple times in the past, but every time it is different. Here’s how we’ve learned to live on one salary (and benefits of doing so).

Learning to Live on One Salary

Living on one income isn’t as hard as it sounds. First, you have to come up with a budget that only requires a single budget. For us, it is my income because it is more stable. Your family may want to choose the larger (or smaller) income, depending on your financial goals.

If you are over budget when you tally up your expenses, see where you can cut costs. Do you really need Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix? Or, if you’re looking for a bigger decrease, consider downsizing to a smaller home to better fit your new one-income budget. Others may find it beneficial to move to a more pedestrian-friendly area to cut down to one (or no) car payment or walk more places. If you’re comfortable doing so, you may even consider taking in a roommate or renter.

Consider giving up your indulgent behaviors like going out to eat, junk food, and other items as well. You certainly don’t need to eat out every Friday and spend tons of money on junk foods. This will help cut down the cost of food in your budget as well.

Why You Should Live on One Income

You’re probably thinking, why would anyone willing to live on a single income? It can be difficult and, at times, hinders you from being able to do everything you want to. It can also help you achieve some of your financial goals and feel more secure with your finances as a result.

  1. It makes saving money easier. Simply save your spouse’s income instead of spending it. If you can live on one income, why not bank the rest? You can create a strong emergency fund.
  2. You can use the cash for debt repayment. If you want to focus more on your debt payoff plan, living on one salary can make that more doable as well. Learn to live on one spouse’s income, then use the second to pay off what you owe.
  3. Financial security increases when you have a surplus of cash flow. You have more money than you need, why wouldn’t you feel more secure? You have the ability to invest in your future, pay off debt, and increase savings. It can truly pave the way for financial freedom.

Not to mention, if you live on one salary, you will always be ready if something happens to one of your jobs. You’ll have some savings, and you will be able to continue your current lifestyle until your spouse finds a new job (or starts earning more).

Our Debt Freedom Progress

live on one salary

So, while we are adjusting to living on a single income again, our debt freedom progress has been slow. However, today we paid the final $175 payment to completely pay off a credit card. That will free up an additional $175 for us each month to redirect towards other debts and savings.

In the next few months, we will be paying off other accounts and see our debt freedom progress continue. I will be in a wedding in October, which will be a small cost (around $200 total). We have prepared for that cost though. Both of us are planning to spend the holidays at home as well, to cut down on travel costs.

Readers, have you lived on one income? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

Read More

Debt Update: June 2019

| Leave a Comment

debt update

It has been a little while since I posted a debt update on the site. As mentioned in my blog post “Is Your Outlook Holding You Back?” we’ve been able to pay down a significant amount of debt over the past year or so. Most of this has been done by snowballing our debt (to the best of our ability). Here’s a debt update with detailed numbers…

Debt Update June 2019

The major three things that have happened since our last debt update on the blog are…

  1. We paid off my husband’s car! That is $175 per month that we now have available to help pay off other debts.
  2. My N.C. state taxes (for 2017) have been paid off. This will free up about $463 per month.
  3. At the end of July, I’ll have paid off my higher-interest credit card. We’ve been paying $175 per month since April to get this done. So, the last payment in July will free up another $175.

Altogether, these three things will free up around $800 per month to go towards paying off other debts and saving.

On top of paying those three things off, we have decided NOT to pull out a loan for my wisdom tooth extraction. Instead, we’ve decided to save and pay in cash for it. With the additional $800 or so per month (starting in August), we should have the money to pay for that in the early fall.

Other “wins” when it comes to our debt freedom progress have been paying down the amount on my husband’s tool bills. Each of them has been paid down significantly each month. We should see them disappear in less than a year (nearly $600 per month). Now that a few other items are paid off, we should be able to reallocate the funds to get these paid off faster.

Earning Extra Cash

We’ve both been searching for ways to make additional money as we continue snowballing our debt as well. My husband has been picking up quick mechanic jobs within the community for extra cash (i.e. putting in a battery on the weekend, or jumping someone’s car).

I’ve been looking for things around the house to sell and picking up a freelance project from time-to-time. More recently, I discovered an old coal bed warmer we’ve had collecting dust. Online it says these can go for between $250 and $1,000. I’m hoping to visit an antique store and sell that soon. That extra cash will go directly into paying for my wisdom tooth extraction.

All in all, our debt update for June is looking pretty good. I’m happy about it and can’t wait to see how it progresses in the future. Of course, I’ll keep you all updated here.

Readers, do you have any easy side hustles that have really helped you decrease your debt? Let me know in the comment section below!

Read More

Is Your Outlook Holding You Back?

| 1 Comment

outlook

Most people look at me stunned when I say my husband and I have a debt freedom goal. One of my best friends literally lives on credit cards, while others scrounge paycheck to paycheck just to be able to go out to eat and live above their means. What I’ve found is that it isn’t your financial situation that sets you back from reaching debt freedom. In most cases, it is your outlook that makes the difference.

I’m Overly Optimistic

I must admit, I am an overly optimistic person, especially when it comes to the future. After all, it can be whatever you want to make it, right?

This can be both good and bad. Sometimes I do fail to see what could go wrong or when things just aren’t possible. I refuse to accept “can’t.” My husband, on the other hand, is someone who thinks of everything that could possibly go wrong and finds a solution for each of those problems before they even happen. We balance each other well that way.

However, my positive outlook has been beneficial in many areas of our lives. From our debt free journey (we are $20K+ down in a year) to our fitness journeys, positivity has been key!

How a Positive Outlook Has Helped Me With Weight Loss

If you don’t already know, I have been on a weight loss journey alongside my debt freedom journey. Over the past three years, I’ve lost about 132 pounds. My husband has lost 70.

outlook

One thing losing weight and paying off debt have in common is that they are both difficult. Extremely difficult. I have to look for inspiration daily to keep on track with both of these goals. Whether I find a new inspirational person to follow on Instagram, read some inspirational article or book, or simply have a dose of daily affirmation, positivity keeps me moving forward.

Positivity and Paying Off Debt

They say there are characteristics most debt-free people have. One of these, for us, is a positive attitude.

We took a look at our finances a couple of weeks ago so that I could provide a debt update here on the blog. When we tallied everything up, we’d paid off $22,565 over the span of a year, bringing our $65,000 debt down to around $40,000.

There are plenty of days we both want to quit and run a credit card for something or take a break from payments to go on a trip. We are both able to keep a positive mindset when it comes to paying off our debt because we know how great it will feel once we reach our goal. We already know what it feels like to hit goals in our weight loss journey and can’t wait to feel what it feels like being debt free!

All in all, a negative outlook could really harm your chances of meeting any of your goals. If you don’t think you can do it, you won’t. Clear your mind from negativity and move towards your newly painted future, whether it be health, finances, or other goals you have in mind.

What do you think? Has a negative outlook ever impacted your ability to meet goals? 

Read More

The Great Debate: Dip Into the Emergency Fund or Take on New Debt?

| 2 Comments

Take on new debt

In a “debt freedom” community, it is hard to ever feel good about taking on new debt. I cringe at the idea of adding anything onto our current payments, but an emergency has happened. Now we are finding ourselves wondering, should we bottom out our emergency fund or take on new debt?

Cons of Dipping Into the EF

We recently moved to Atlanta from Charlotte, which costed a bit more than we anticipated. Because we are far from our family and friends, our main goal was to pad our emergency fund and leave it there. If anything happens, we can no longer call someone to come help. We have to rely on ourselves 100 percent.

That being said, after a visit with the dentist, I need all four of my wisdom teeth out. The bottom two are threatening my ability to breathe and the top two are causing my sinuses to swell (it is becoming an emergency). I got antibiotics, which helped the swelling but I need to have oral surgery.

We don’t have health insurance yet from my husband’s new job, and we don’t know if purchasing it will be worth the money honestly. So, for this, I have to pay out of pocket. After doing some research, I realized this will likely cost between $800 and $1,000 (our entire emergency fund).

While I don’t really want to take on new debt, dipping into our emergency fund would make us both pretty uneasy. We’d have nothing to fall back on.

To Take on New Debt or Not…

After chatting with the oral surgeon, I inquired about a possible payment plan. They don’t do anything in-house but I could apply for a Care Credit Card. The words “credit card” send chills up my spine, but if it made it possible for us to have peace of mind, I think it would be worth it.

Now, I have to be approved for the credit (which is up in the air), but if it is paid in full within six months, I’ll pay zero interest. Paying $800-$1,000 in six months will be no issue for us, but adding another thing to pay each month is causing some anxiety.

When it comes down to it, if I’m approved, we will go the payment route, even though it means taking on new debt. Sometimes peace of mind and your health come before your financial goals. We’ll come to terms with that.

Have you had to take on new debt for an emergency? 

Read More

The Cost of Relocating (Again)

| Leave a Comment

As you all know, we have been working on relocating from Charlotte to Atlanta over the past few weeks since getting married. And, once again, the cost of relocating has caught me off-guard.

First – The Wedding

Wedding

Before I jump right into the dollars and cents, we had an amazing wedding day. Even though most of our out-of-town folks couldn’t make it in, we truly had a great day. The best part about it was it was honestly what we’d wanted all along. Plus, we spent next to nothing on the celebration (even my dress was only $35).

Two days after our wedding, we began the relocation process. We have some plans for a honeymoon down the road but aren’t sure quite when that will be yet. The postponing of the trip has a ton to do with how much the move has cost thus far while maintaining payments on our debt and regular bills.

Lessons Learned

First, not everything that glitters is gold. The opportunity to come to Atlanta was (and still is) a great one for my husband. There are more work opportunities here and more room for him to grow his career. So, that is a plus. However…

When we were asked to relocate we were told some of the cost would be offset by not having to pay rent (see my last update). We would be living in his boss’ home here in Atlanta, free of charge, for up to a year. But, that isn’t quite how it worked out.

After moving here, the owner of the shop notified my husband that the rent would actually be coming out of his pay after the first month. While he would still be making more than he was before (by about $500/month), this was a bit of a letdown financially. We also probably wouldn’t have relocated for $500 per month extra.

Additionally, the landlord/boss made it clear he is expecting us to fix up his home while we live here and it would be deducted from our rent. I don’t know about you – but I am not entirely keen on fixing up someone else’s home free of charge. Also, if I had the money to buy and fix a home I’d have my own (and this house needs a TON of work).

With the being said, we have already located a new place. We are downsizing quite a bit but it will be saving us money month-to-month and ultimately help us take a step closer to our debt-free goal. Not without costing us a bit first though…

The Cost of Relocating So Far…

Cost of relocating

So far, with relocating, we will spend more than $3,000 to get settled here in Georgia (and probably more once we get our licenses and plates swapped over). Thankfully, we had wedding cash to help with some of the more unexpected things and haven’t had to dip into our emergency savings yet.

Here is a breakdown of the cost of relocating (for us) so far.

  • Moving truck to relocate hubby’s tools: $300, plus gas and food for the trip down and back
  • Food the week we traveled back and forth: $350
  • End of lease term agreement payout amount: $127
  • New pet deposit: $150
  • Moving truck for the rest of our belongings: $300, plus gas, food, etc.
  • New Wifi installation price: $100
  • Electric deposit: None
  • Moving materials: $50
  • Anxiety medicine for the dog (don’t laugh): $30
  • Elevator hold deposit (we will get this back): $300
  • Deposit on rental: $1,300

The biggest cost has been my mental stability (seriously… never move twice in one month). But, the good news is, there have been a number of lessons learned here and, despite it draining us a bit financially, we are optimistic about our relocation and the future. I can’t wait to see what Atlanta holds for us!

Readers, do you have a crazy moving or relocation story to share? Let me know about it in the comments below.

Read More

’13 Reasons Why’ Being Debt Free is Awesome (and I Can’t Wait for It)

| Leave a Comment

Being debt free is awesome

Debt freedom. Those two words literally make me grin ear-to-ear, and who wouldn’t? Can you imagine what your life will be like once you’re no longer being crushed under credit card bills and car notes? Here are 13 reasons why being debt free is awesome (and I can’t wait to get there).

13 Reasons Why Being Debt Free is Awesome

Although I haven’t gotten there (yet), I’ve heard plenty of people talk about how great it feels to have the heavy burden of debt lifted off your shoulders. Here are a few reasons why it feels so awesome…

1. You are free to truly live.

When you aren’t bogged down with your finances you are free to enjoy other things in life. Maybe the stress of your debt made it impossible to go on vacation or practice good self-care. Without debt, you’ll have the ability to do what you want to do when you want to do it.

2. You feel accomplished.

Most people who have accomplished the feat of debt freedom say there’s nothing else like it in the world. Once you’ve paid off your last account, the sense of accomplishment is astounding. It is enough to boost your self-esteem and help you gain confidence where your money is concerned.

3. Being debt free strengthens your marriage and relationships.

This is especially true if you worked on being debt free with someone. For instance, my husband and I are working together on our debt-free goal. At the end of this journey, we will come out stronger (and avoid debt like the plague).

4. You’ll have more money.

When you’re not paying on your credit cards or other debts every month you’ll have more cash flow. At first, it is important to take this extra cash and fully fund your emergency savings (3-6 months of expenses). After that, you can spend freely, invest, and build wealth.

5. Debt free folks have more fun.

It is true! You’ll be able to take that vacation you’ve been postponing without worrying about being able to pay the bills. Not to mention, you won’t have to check your bank account before you go out with friends. You can have peace of mind where your finances are concerned.

6. The feeling of financial security increases.

Being debt free is awesome because it makes you feel more secure in almost every aspect of your life. Financial security increases, security within relationships, and feelings about yourself all become more positive.

7. You can make changes you’ve been wanting.

Many people who become debt free find themselves changing jobs or moving once they’ve reached their financial goal. If you’ve been putting off going after your dream job or moving to the beach, becoming debt free can help you make those changes.

8. Now you have the opportunity to build wealth.

Now that your debt isn’t weighing you down you have the opportunity to begin saving, investing, and building wealth.

9. Maybe you can retire early!

While you’re building wealth, you’ll also be building your retirement fund. Most people who become debt free early on find they are able to retire early.

10. There are fewer risks and more peace of mind.

When you’re holding on to a lot of debt there is always something worrying you. With less liability hanging over your head you’ll have peace of mind.

11. Your stress levels will drop significantly.

Because of the peace of mind you’ll receive from being debt free, your stress levels will drop. You won’t be biting your nails over the next credit card bill or whether or not your car is going to be repossessed.

12. Being debt free is awesome for your mental health.

All of this has a profound impact on your overall mental health as well. Many people find they are no longer depressed, have more energy, and feel happier. (Remember, debt is not a death sentence.)

13. You’ll be able to live your best life being debt free.

When all is said and done, paying off your debt will free you up to live the best life you possibly can. You will have the freedom to do whatever it is you want to do (within reason, obviously). Take the trip you’ve always wanted, send your kids to college, retire early, and live the way you want to.

For those that are already debt free, what is your favorite part about it? 

Read More

I’m Ditching The ‘Dream’ Wedding and Moving 4 Hours Away

| Leave a Comment

ditching dream wedding

This update has been a couple of weeks in the making but we wanted to make sure everything was final before announcing. In some of my most recent blog posts, I talked about planning a debt-free wedding. That will definitely still be happening but in a different timeframe and manner than we’d originally planned.

I’m ditching the dream wedding. We are having a courthouse ceremony next Monday. Then we are moving four hours South to Atlanta! 

Why The Move?

My (very soon) hubby-to-be has gotten his dream job offer down in Atlanta. He’ll be running a Porsche shop there. This is a huge career move for him and it comes with a ton of perks for us as well.

Of course, I work from home so there is nothing keeping me rooted here work-wise. In addition to the “dream job,” he will be getting a decent pay raise and we will also have a rental house to live in “rent-free.” I say “rent-free” because it will be considered a portion of his initial salary.

The house is only four miles from the shop he’ll be managing. Not to mention, we will finally have a yard for Enzo!

What This Means For Our Debt Free Journey

All those small perks aside, what has really driven our decision to move forward with this move has been the financial aspect. Yes, of course, this is an absolute dream come true and this could be where my other half spends most of his career.

On the financial side of things, we have the opportunity to finally pad our emergency savings the way we’ve needed to. We will have the money to pay off debt (and way faster than we’d initially planned). In fact, if everything goes to plan, we could find ourselves being debt-free in a year and on our way to buying a home.

Considering All Things

Since my husband-to-be received the offer, we have been over-the-moon excited. It almost seemed to good to be true and I am thrilled to get to start our married lives together in a city neither of us has spent any time in before. It will be a fantastic adventure and will put us on the right track financially for the rest of our lives together.

That isn’t to say we won’t miss being close to family and friends. Of course, we will. We will also miss out on the big “shebang” of a wedding we were planning later this year. But, we can always throw a celebration down the road and will celebrate with the immediate family able to make it this week.

All in all, I can’t wait to see what this next move does for our family, our relationship, and our finances. And, I can’t wait to keep you updated about it here!

Read More

Tips to Help You Find Financial Focus

| 1 Comment

financial focus

There is no secret that becoming debt free requires a fair amount of focus and determination. Sometimes it can seem like the entire universe is against you getting back on track or paying off your loan, credit card, whatever it may be. Here is how I’m able to re-center and find my financial focus after a setback.

Recent Setbacks

If you’ve been following our family for the past couple of years, you know I am no stranger to setbacks. After living in a motel for six months, getting into our apartment, racking up some debt, and losing one of our incomes for six months, you think I’d be ready for just about anything, right?

In the midst of wedding planning and my regular busy schedule, I got intensely ill in January and it really set me back. First, I was ill with the flu and then I was in the hospital for possible appendicitis (yikes). Then, when I returned to work I got a notification that the state would be garnishing my wages for my 2017 back taxes. I’d been attempting to work out a payment plan but didn’t owe much so they’ll be taking $460 a month until about May or June.

When this happened I spiraled a little bit. Forget the wedding, forget our savings plan, forget all of it. However, before I completely overreacted, I decided to take a step back and reset my financial focus.

Finding Financial Focus

Obviously, this isn’t the first time this has happened. Sometimes, it is hard to focus on the big picture when everything seems like it is going wrong. Because I have the tendency to overreact, I need a go-to list of things to do to recenter my personal financial focus.

  1. Set small, obtainable, short-term goals. If you put your mind in the now and set more immediate goals you won’t be able to be bogged down by the “what ifs” of six months from now.
  2. Write it down. After you’ve set these smaller goals, write them down. We do this with everything. Whether it is our debt payoff plan, weekly budget, or savings goal. Writing it down helps us set our mind to the task at hand. Then we walk by it daily and are reminded of what we’re working towards.
  3. Search for inspiration. I cannot say enough about following fellow debt-free folks! If you follow the hashtag #debtfree or #debtfreecommunity on social media, you will find loads of inspiration. People will share their stories with you, favorite inspirational quotes, and motivational tips to help you continue on your journey.
  4. Spend time doing things that make you happy but also make you feel responsible. I like to try and avoid spending money when I feel I need better financial focus. To do this, we have a list of things we enjoy doing that cost little-to-no money. For instance, we have favorite walking trails where we take the dog or scrape for free coupons and grab a coffee together.

Lastly, if you’re really struggling to manage your finances, consider speaking with a professional. There is no shame in reaching out for help if you need it. Some financial advisors will even offer up their services for free (or cheap) if you qualify.

Readers, how do you recenter your focus when it comes to your finances?

Read More

Happy Holidays! Here Are Our New Year’s Resolutions

| 1 Comment

New Year's Resolutions

Christmas was extremely successful in our home this year. We managed to keep everything low-cost where presents were concerned. However, many of them haven’t gotten in the mail for our relatives out of town (whoops). Christmas Day we went to the dog park with our baby (Enzo) and made homemade lo mein instead of ordering takeout Chinese. We ended the holiday looking forward to creating a vision board for 2019 and setting some New Year’s resolutions.

Setting Family New Year’s Resolutions

My other half and I have a lot of goals for 2019. This year will be our first year creating a Vision Board together. It will include financial goals, of course, and personal goals for us both. On the personal side of things, we would both like to get married next year. I would also like to train for and run a 5K and lose the last 40 pounds I have to reach my weight goal.

Financially, we both have the same long-term goal: be debt-free. However, to hone in on what we need to do in 2019, we’ve made a list of our debts and plan to snowball it starting January 1. Here’s what we’ve discussed so far…

  1. Pay off “small” debts by March. The other half’s car will be paid off by March. We will also have our credit cards paid off by then and a small medical bill ($242). Having these things paid off in full will leave us room to pay off other debts, including new tax debt.
  2. Focus on tax debt while making minimum payments on other accounts. We owe a little over $9,000 and have established a payment plan with the IRS. With my other half out of work last year, we weren’t able to put taxes aside as we normally do. After we pay down the smaller accounts, we will use all of our extra cash to pay this off. Once it is paid we are also going to begin putting big chunks of cash aside for future tax bills.
  3. After tax debts are paid, we will be making extra payments on remaining accounts. Once the IRS is paid, we will start throwing extra cash at the remaining accounts. We will still have our Conn’s bill (about $2,000 remaining), student loan ($22K), car loan ($20K), and the tool bill ($10K).

Creating a Vision

New Year’s resolutions are overrated for the most part. Many people abandon them by the end of March. For us, creating a Vision Board is more important than resolving to change in the new year. Instead, we are focused on large goals we’d like to reach by the end of the year. Each of the steps above will be part of reaching that vision and creating a life we want to live.

What about you? What are your New Year’s resolutions? Do you create a Vision Board?

Read More