So this is a big one for us! 1 year ago today we started our journey towards being debt free. I’m still feeling as though I’m in a bit of a frugal funk, but I’m trying my darndest to turn myself around. So how did we do? Here are the numbers:
- Frugal house- $206,000
- Frugal Student Loans- $161,000
- Frugal Private Student Loan- $3454
- Frugal Car 1- $14,400
- Frugal Car 2- $14,333
- Frugal Credit Cards Total- $35,695
For a grand total of almost 3,000 paid off this month. So how does this compare to last year at this time? In one year we have paid off $18,500 I’m very happy about that number, but to be honest, it falls way way short of what I had hoped we’d be able to pay off. I’m trying some new things this month since it’s a short month to see if I can jump start our payoff again ( I know last month was a good month, but we can do better!!)
So goals for the coming year? I have 3 BIG goals- pay off the private student loan, cut our credit card debt by half and pay off frugal car 1, if you’re following along at home that means twice as much debt paid off this year than last year- $36,000. With our variable extra income I have absolutely no idea if we’ll be able to do it, but I’m really really hoping we’ll get there.
Anyway, as a bit of a frugal re-cap for the last week- I’ve been traveling and in South Carolina for work. It was so so so HARD to be away from my littles, but from a frugal stand point I think we did pretty well. All of my meals were paid for so I spent very little money while I was down there and my husband is the less spendy of the two of us so he did a good job manning the fort at home.
On a cleaning out stand point I’ve continued on my quest, I have a bit of a hole to dig myself out of because a lot of the normal house stuff needs to be caught up on, but I’m looking forward to doing another sweep before dump day tomorrow.
I’m doing some meal planning and baking tonight to get us ready for the week. I find that if I have some baking done ahead of the week start, I’m less likely to impulse spend on desserts or muffins at the grocery store.
Now that I’ve been writing this for about 6 months or so, if you’ve been reading and following along, I’d love to hear your feedback!
You are doing great!! That’s a lot in one year, considering you still have to pay regular bills. Keep up the good work!!!
Thanks Vicky!
You are making progress. I know it may seem slower than you want, but every step towards lowering your debt is a step towards financial freedom. If you haven’t already, may I suggest reading The Prudent Homemaker blog. She has some good ideas to really help cut expenses as well as how to keep a positive attitude through all this. I have traveled this financial journey and have found her site very encouraging and helpful. I have enjoyed reading about your journey as well. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! And yes I read the Prudent Homemaker religiously! She is such an inspiration.
You have done great this year! I think it’s hard to get started and keep it up. Once you’ve made it a habit and start to see real savings as you’re doing, it seems to get easier and you are more inspired to find more savings. I think that’s true for a lot of life, whether it’s paying off debt, saving money, going on a diet, cleaning your house comma etc I know it’s true for me.
Keep it up and in a few years you will be out of debt and able to achieve more and more of your financial goals in life.
Thank you Marilyn-I’m hoping to work on more good habits throughout the year. I love the promise of a new year and looking back on all of the habits that are old hat to us now. It’s a learning process and a slow journey, but I too am hopeful that we’ll get there!
I totally agree. There are frugal things I do that I have been doing for so long that I don’t even think of them anymore.
I also agree with fixing food in advance. I just cooked a pound of bacon on the George Foreman grill, shredded 8 ounces each of cheddar and muenster cheese, and froze pineapple chunks so I can try making my own chocolate covered pineapple more cheaply than the Dole Dippers that I love. The cheese and bacon will go into various dishes, such as quesadillas with spinach, bell peppers, bacon, and cheese, omelettes, casseroles, or a bacon and eggs breakfast. I then did tbe dishes while toasting almond slivers for tossed salads. The only thing left to do is cutting up peppers, celery, and cucumbers to make the salads quicker to assemble.
Ohh now I’m hungry!
Good job* thanks for sharing. Yea you.
🙂 Thanks Ann!