Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Just feeling good about it all

I really hope I am not jinxing myself here.....

But we are about 6 weeks into the new year, and financially speaking, we are working the plans and so far so good!!  I know that being 78k in debt isn't anything to celebrate.  But it was 80k six weeks ago, so the trend is in the right direction.

Retirement loan paid off....now that money pays for the car.  Late March we will do one more loan to wipe out the CC, and save hundreds of dollars a month, which will get applied elsewhere (probably medical stuff first, and then student loan).

We are writing less checks.  I have been using cash for the kids' lunch.  Debit card for co-pays at the doctor.  Set up a few on-line things for other things.  I still have a few checks to write, but they are very few.

The overtime money that was on this week's paycheck went into a separate account, and I don't miss it.  I hate that we usually spend the OT and never really know where it went.  Not anymore.  On March 31, the OT money will be used as an extra payment, or towards something EXTRA.  Not everyday things.

All but 2 of our February bills are paid already.  Those will come from the next paycheck.  While I would love to have everything paid for the month...we just aren't there yet.  I have a secret fantasy (no longer secret), to be able to pay an entire month of bills in one shot, and not have to look at it again. 

We have added almost $200 to our EF.  Once it hits $2,000, the "extra" money will go into the home improvement fund.  Need to have a better cushion for those things that have a tendency to wear out.  We have used our tax return in the past, but our piddly tax return this year won't cut it. 

Next paycheck we will resume saving for the kids' camp.  By early May, that will be fully funded.  Then onto Christmas savings.

MAYBE we are finally getting a handle on things!!!!

9 comments:

  1. Glad you are feeling good about your plan. Plans do that: give you a sense of security and make you feel good knowing you are doing what you can. Keep up the good work!

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  2. Feels good to have a plan doesn't it that works and sets you in the right direction. Keep up the good work!

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  3. sounds like you're starting to get a bit of traction on the debt which is great, fingers crossed that murphy stays away this year!

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  4. Isn't it nice when you can see progress. It isn't the fact that you can't see the top of the mountain but that you made it up the slop 10 feet that counts. And you are right to put the overtime away. We save 10% right off the top of Hubbies checks and all the new raises go there also. We don't even see the money we just live on less. I would love some new furniture but until I am out of debt it is no!

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  5. 2012 is our year Mysti! Keep all the negative energy away!!

    HS

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  6. So excited for your progress! That's awesome. :-)

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  7. I think you're doing a great job! Can you imagine what it would be like if you *didn't* have a plan? We have a couple of friends who are always talking about how in debt they are, and how they don't know how they're going to pay the bills from month to month. (And they really *are* in debt, his business is not doing so well in this economy). And yet he bought his wife a gorgeous ring and he bought himself a new car and a motorcycle recently.

    Even though they're concerned about their debt, they keep adding to it. So I think it's exciting to see your progress and you should feel good about it!

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  8. I F'in love it Misty! You should read this post EVERY time you start to get down about your financial situation - it is gleaming with optimism around a plan.

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  9. Congrats and good luck with continued success!!! I just started reading and am really rooting for you.

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