The next chapter...

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So our celebration of being debt free lasted as long as Nick Saban's celebration of wining the National Championship last night - short and sweet. We're on to the next chapter of our financial journey which is paying down the car loan from Mr. M's parents as fast as possible.

 

That means we are still using coupons, sticking to a budget and buying needed things on sale. At least I know what I'm doing this time....well, a better idea.



PS. THANK YOU for all of your kind words on my last post. I can only get through this adventure with support from God and people like you. Thanks again my financial family!

The last snowflake…

2012 ended with a bang as in the last week as in seven days I graduated from college with my Masters and finished off our snowball. I think I’m still in shock. Paying off that last payment and walking across that stage to get my diploma felt unbelievable as it was great to knock off two major goals.

This journey has taught me to be strong in my beliefs. Can you have a debt free life? Yes. Can you achieve your education without any debt? Yes. Will people think that you’re weird? Well, yes.

We traveled to the coast on the day that we paid off our last snowflake to celebrate and while we were there, Mr. M and I talked about what were the highs and lows of the last three years.  The biggest low – when we tried to get a loan to help pay for bills and were denied from every source – bank, credit cards, etc. and the high point was when we realized we could be resourceful and use our own personal strength to say no to friends, new electronics and eating out.

In 2013, we still have another snowball to tackle – the car repayment. I can say that I’m not afraid about the amount and that it is indeed doable.

There are no words.

There are no words.

One can dream.

 

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A snowflake!

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How I feel we pay off our debt snowball with a major snowflake. Our new total is (drum roll)....$1,729.28. We're almost there!!

Protests

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Brand New Day...I hope

Tomorrow Mr. M and I embark on a new chapter in our TTC journey – our first (and fingers crossed only) IUI. On the financial front, I am thankful that I started setting money aside a year ago for our future child. It was my hope that we could buy nursery furniture or bedding with that money, but none the less, we have a small fund to help us with this process.

 

Of all days – my dad sent me an email that wasn’t in the least bit positive. In efforts to reduce stress, I have distanced ourselves from him after the botched attempt at the therapist office (he never went back and then blamed me for the reason that he did not pursue any additional help). His actions make me feel that he is truly controlling and by opening up to him about the latest baby news would probably not serve in our best interest. Then, today, his email came that was really condescending and blaming me in part for the affair. I cannot put into words how quickly my stress level spiked as I went from a laid back girl enjoying her Saturday to a stress ball. This evening, I’ve prayed a lot and have asked God to help me compartmentalize my father’s issues and separate them from the issue that faces Mr. M and me from having the family we desire.

 

Please say a prayer for us that tomorrow’s procedure will indeed work. I have WebMd/Googled IUI and success rates and I realize it’s a shot in the dark but I’m trying to look at tomorrow as a brand new day (hence the song) for our little family.