2013 brought some incredible changes to my life that impacted my finances and debt reduction mission. I went through a complicated pregnancy that reduced how much I could work but brought home two healthy, adorable (and expensive) additions to our family. I combined finances with S and worked towards having a unified financial outlook with him (not an easy task and will probably be an ongoing battle for years to come). I totaled my car which turned out to financially be a good thing even though I don't recommend it as a way to get out from under a hefty loan. Became a responsible, mature adult (ie. got life insurance, which I think counts as a milestone towards being a responsible, mature adult!).
Through all the financial challenges I only had one goal for the year- no net increase in debt. I knew there would be some trade-offs such as paying down the credit card debt while racking up the medical debt. I hadn't foreseen that S and I would finally decide to look at our finances as one big picture. In order to compare apples to apples I've gone back and added in S' end of 2012 numbers to mine to see if we really did accomplish my one financial goal for 2013...
End of 2012:
2012 Total: $76,883
And to think we started in Oct 2011 with $101,123 in debt!
Which all boils down to $27,834 paid off! We've also been building our emergency savings back up and have $100 in savings plus another $200 put away in a savings account for the boys' education/ braces/ band camps/ tattoo removal or whatever other expenses the future holds for them :)
End of 2012:
Student Loan 1 (My fed loan): $36,284
Student Loan 2 (S' state loan): $21,719
Student Loan 3 (S' fed loan): $5,454
Student Loan 2 (S' state loan): $21,719
Student Loan 3 (S' fed loan): $5,454
Car Loan: $8,605
Credit Card 1: $0
Credit Card 2: $4,261
Credit Card 3: $117
Misc. small debts (S' small debts in collections): $5,443
Misc. small debts (S' small debts in collections): $5,443
Parents: $0
2012 Total: $76,883
And here's were we are today:
Student Loan 1: $35,230
Student Loan 1: $35,230
Student Loan 2: $20,800
Student Loan 3: $5,197
Student Loan 3: $5,197
Car Loan: $0
Credit Card 1: $0
Credit Card 2: $3,825
Credit Card 3: $3,253
Misc. small debts: $4,284
Medical expenses: $700
Misc. small debts: $4,284
Medical expenses: $700
Parents: $0
2013 Total: $73,289
Which means we exceed my goal by roughly $3,600!!
Which means we exceed my goal by roughly $3,600!!
And to think we started in Oct 2011 with $101,123 in debt!
Which all boils down to $27,834 paid off! We've also been building our emergency savings back up and have $100 in savings plus another $200 put away in a savings account for the boys' education/ braces/ band camps/ tattoo removal or whatever other expenses the future holds for them :)
Happy new year to you, S, and the babies!
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