THAT IS THE FEELING I WANT. So, so, so, so, so, so bad. We had gotten pretty far toward it (at least comparatively), though the mortgage is its own beast, but things changed and it got farther away instead of closer.

One thing about being individually responsible for my finances - I can set my own priorities and goals. And for me, it's about that feeling of not "having to" do certain things because of the money I owe. I cannot wait to get there.

Need to add that I'd never had any credit card debt--yes, did have some deparment store cards but always paid them within the grace period because I never could stomach 25-30% interest (who ever, ever, got interest like that on any financial savings instrument?) and I had been raised by parens who believed in "saving up" for major purchases   Loans were for houses and vehicles, that's it.

I can honestly say I wish I didn't have credit card debt (and don't currently use credit), but I also can say that there were points in the past where those cards were the only thing keeping a roof over Sarah's and my head, so I'm grateful to them. And grateful that I CAN pay them off... we have been close to bankruptcy in the past but thankfully I have a job now where I can get them all paid off for good. 

Interestingly I have almost no "purchases" to show for my debt... most of it was medical bills from having a problematic pregnancy without health insurance, and then house repairs like the time our basement had to have mega mold remediation after water damage. The biggest tangible thing I have to show is our new heat pump.

NOT EXACTLY AS COOL AS IF I COULD BE DRIVING A CONVERTIBLE.

So to put it out there, here's where I'm starting 2015 from, for the debts that are my responsibility

Discover card: $5,205.05 (Very Next Step: below $5,000)
Union Plus Mastercard: $5,958.76 (Very Next Step: below $5,800)
Citi Visa: $4,028.93 (Very Next Step: below $4,000, very doable!!!)

Plus my Honda Financial lease: $17,939.24

And, of course, there's the $194,000-some mortgage, but that's still a joint venture with my ex and, quite frankly, outside the purview of what I'm worried about at this point. My goal is to get all of the credit cards paid off in the two years and two months between now and when the car lease comes up for purchase, which is doable but pretty extremist (it's VERY likely I could have 2 of the 3 gone, not as likely the 3rd.)

My first goal is to tackle that Citi Visa... it's closed, locked at 12.74% APR, and small enough that I can get it gone fast and free up $100 or so a month that can go toward the next!

So that's where I start!
 

Last edited by jconcilio (2/02/2015 8:48 pm)

Haha, I am going to have to post updates every month whether you like 'em or not. That's what keeps me accountable!