Over a year ago I wrote a post about successes and failures. Back then I was celebrating the fact that I paid off my credit card debt. I've been credit card debt free since then also. My new goal was to pay off my car at least 18 months before the end of the loan.
Well every last extra cent (after retirement and the emergency fund savings) went towards that car. And yesterday, I made the final payment on my little blue roller skate! I was also able to pay it off 2.5 years early! It is such a relief to have that off my shoulders. It was very tempting, especially in the last 6 months to not make the extra payments. It would have been easy to take that money to finish up the remaining projects around the new house but I kept plugging away at that loan instead and I'm so glad I did.
Like I mentioned in the past last year, I contemplated not sharing this "publicly" especially since I was ashamed at the time that I had gotten myself into some debt. It's not really anyone's business but at the same time, it happens to even those who try to plan well. I knew I wasn't the only one in a similar situation. I also am aware that it could have been a lot worse. I've been lucky enough to be employed through this whole economic crapper. I also didn't want this post to come across as "look how great I'm doing, I paid off my car and I had all this extra money to do so!" I wanted to share because it was hard. It's not like we have buckets of extra money. I thought through every single purchase I made over the last year. I asked myself, do I NEED this? While I still made some questionable purchases from time to time (yes, Pilot, I NEED to put Christmas lights around our light post out front) but for the most part, I stuck to my plan.
You know, my master plan to "live the dream". My dream to retire by the time I'm 32. Oh wait....that's only 3 weeks away. Crap. Oh well.
Way to go!
ReplyDeleteHa! Retiring at 32 would be great. Honestly...I think we should talk about it more. I think we tend to look around and wonder how people have this or that or afford things. The minority have buckled down like you and paid crap off so they can do it. A lot are in debt and sinking deeper. It's sad. And scary. Just think of all the fun money you'll have now!!! And even if it's not 32, 52 or even 62 would be amazing these days for retirement. Some times I fear that I will not get to have a retirement and enjoy those years like our parents and grandparents generation no matter how much we save. We'll see!
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