January 24, 2012

It's been over a year since I logged in.

What's going on it 2012 for me?

I've restarted weight watchers, but this time I've got Kelly and Barbara with me. So I'll be monitoring my progress here. I want to lose 35 lbs.

Starting weight on 1/14: 171.4
on 1/21: 171.0 so -0.4

It's the right direction.

I'm also still battling the debt. I've hit my highest amount ever. It is going down now though. I am now "gazelle intense" as Dave would say.

Let's move in 2012!

23.4%, whoo hoo

Can't believe that I haven't posted since May. No one reads this except my mom, though.

Hi Mom!

Since May I've gone from 7.7% paid off to 23.4%! I am so excited! Of course, some of that came from my 401K cash in, which I know is a no-no, but I was getting no where because of my balances. I can see progress now and it's very motivating. I've got 6 more debts left and still aiming for Free in Three!

Labor Day weekend and my goal is to not spend any money except for pizza tonight. No unplanned spending! Praying for strength.

76.6% left!

Progress - 7.7%

Reworking numbers (adding debt I forgot) in March I actually only progressed to 6.3% paid off. April was horrible because I lost that all the way down to 0.5%.

Because of the $1,240 a month bill for summer camp for the girls I took some money out of my 401K at work. I padded it a little and made up for April's bad numbers. So for the summer I've paid for Ginny's summer and got the grand total back to 7.7%.

This debt just seems insurmountable. I'll work on getting my Robert Bateman print on eBay this weekend. That might get me $1000.

Expensive mistakes

I can't seem to learn not to spend money. This past Saturday I spend about $275 on two baby bunnies. Mistake! Of course they took them back, but they wouldn't give a refund for used stuff or "livestock".

I tried to impress on Juliana not to do as I do and what a huge mistake we made jumping into buying the bunnies. They sure were precious. The dogs loved them, too.

The second mistake was putting it on my MC. I really need to take it out of my wallet. I'll do that when I get to the car tonight. I'll keep it in the car for emergencies, but at least it won't be as handy.

March Debt Progress

Thanks to me paying too much to Uncle Sam in 2009, I have made significant progress on my debt snowball! I am now up to 7.2% paid off since the beginning of February. I'll probably be at a turtle's pace from now on, but it sure is nice to have 4 $0 balances! There is also a great support group that I'm participating in called Women In Red, specifically the Racers in the South. There is a group for everyone, even international.

Debt Free in Three! How's that for my motto?!

1.1 percent!

February 8 was the all time high for my debt amount. I am now gazelle intense. And thankful for a nice tax return coming next week. But that is for the March thermometer. For now, on February 28, I had decreased by debt by 1.1%!

Dave says it's a behavioral change. I can see that and I'm trying to do it. Looking forward to seeing the March percentage.

Debt fight

2010 is the year I am going to make huge progress on eliminating my debt.

At least, those are my plans. Last month was the highest amount I've ever owed and I refuse to go higher (an emergency could bite my butt--Murphy could move in).

I've had a spreadsheet to track all purchases, but now I'm going to track my percentage paid. Something to give me incentive and hope. So, at the right I'm starting at 0% for February and look forward to that percentage going up in March!

Tomorrow (going to give myself some time to find it) I'm going to start Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University--I've actually owned it for the past 3 years, but never listened to. Yea, me!

Pray for my diligence, focus, gazelle-like intensity!

"Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else!" - Dave Ramsey

Debt sucks

April at Coal Creek Farm said "Debt sucks big donkey wads." AMEN!

I'm thinking about starting a Debt reduction countdown box on the right. Something to hold me accountable. Not sure yet how to design it.

According to April, what is needed is "focus, diligence, persistence, good planning & organization."

I'll try and get remotivated.