Category Archives: Debt Tracker
May 1 Debt Check In
It’s the beginning of the month and time to review my finances again. Just a reminder, the entire reason why this blog exists is to chronicle my debt journey. Since the very first post here, I have shared an embarrassing amount of personal financial information about myself on this blog. It’s not because I’m a glutton for punishment, but because I believe in teaching through real examples. I want to show that is it entirely possible to pay off a six-figure debt without filing bankruptcy, all while making a five figure wage.
I’m still gloriously unemployed, but I’ve been making my time as productive as possible when possible. I was sidelined for half of April since I was pretty sick. I’m still recovering, but at least now I’m out and about and not laying in bed in a haze of medication. Sweet, sweet, medication.
April 1 Debt Check In
In March I said that I wouldn’t do this every month, but, what the heck!
I have been doing debt reports every month since I first established this blog. If this is your first time seeing a debt check-in on this blog, the entire reason why this blog exists is to chronicle my debt journey and share some of what I’ve learned with anyone who happens to be reading.
This has been an essential part of my debt reduction journey because I an not on a strict, paper-written budget, but this helps to keep me accountable. Being able to look backwards and see where I’ve been and what I’ve done over the past month has helped to accelerate my debt repayment by light years. No longer am I flippant about my debt and the amount of time that it will take to repay everything.
March 1 Debt Check In
It’s been forever since I’ve done a debt check-in. Okay, maybe not forever, but two months. I’ve decided that I will show my debt progress every OTHER month instead of every month. This way, you still get to see what I’m doing as I strive to reduce my debt and I don’t feel so much PRESSURE to get everything right every single month. After all, I AM human…most days.
First thing’s first. I have to tell you guys that as of Friday, I no longer have a job. Keep that in mind as we go through everything that I have done for the past two months. I’ll speak more about my jobless state on Thursday since I think that you might find this situation helpful if you ever find yourself unemployed. But first, the debt.
December 1 Check In & $75 Giveaway
It’s the beginning of the month and you know what that means? Yes, the debt. I feel like I need to cue up some dramatic music when I say that. This post is a full 10 days overdue and I’m a horrible blogger for being so far behind. There’s just way too much going on to stay on a schedule, but we’ll get to that later.
Okay, the usual why-I-do-this bit. If you are viewing this on the site, the tagline below the logo says, “Digging My Way Out of Some Serious Debt.” That’s the entire point of this site and I’ve been doing it for some time. I want to share my journey in the highs and lows of getting out of debt with you and prove that it can be done without filing for bankruptcy and without making six figures(I wish!) per year. I also like to share how I’m making money online. well, I don’t LIKE to share, but I’ve committed myself to doing it, so I will. Let’s go right to the debt.
November 1 Check In
Hi everyone! It’s November already which means that it’s time to review my finances. Before I get to the numbers and the gore-filled details of my debt, I would be remiss if I did not mention everything that has transpired in my awesome city for the past week or so.
As hurricane Sandy (catchy name) bore down on New York City, we hoped that all would be well. By now, you already know that close to 100 people have died from Sandy and thousands have lost their homes and possessions. As I write, people are still sitting in the dark without electricity and heat. Thousands of people are effectively homeless as the coldest part of the year begins.
October 1 Check In
It’s the beginning of the month and you know what that means? Free ice cream! No, no silly. It’s time to check out my finances, see how I much money I made online and basically for me over share about my month until you fall asleep.
I’m busy writing this post on the bus this month because I promise you that I cannot find the time to do it at home anymore. I don’t know where the time goes, but I suspect that it has to do with that big block of time that I waste at this thing called work every day. Yes, I’m disgruntled, but I’m working on it. On to finances.
For those of you who might be new to the blog, I share this information with you every single month. The entire purpose of this blog as the tag line says is to “dig my way out of some serious debt”. I believe in being an open book because, honestly, we are so secretive about money…unless you’re a nouveau riche rapper with lots of bling-bling. We’re even more secretive about debt and it doesn’t have to be that way. That and I’m secretly an exhibitionist at heart. There’s nothing more nekkid than laying your debt out for the world to see and comment on, I guess.
So, let’s get nekkid!
September 1 Check In
It’s September and you know what that means; back to school for the kids, back to my debt reduction course for you, and another time to chronicle the debt for me. I like to remind everyone that the entire reason why this blog exists is to chronicle my journey out of debt while sharing everything that I learn along the way.
To that end, I am very transparent with my finances. I post everything here on this site for you to see and have been doing so since my very first post almost four years ago. Some of you call it brave. Others think me stupid. Whatever your opinion, I’m happy that so many of you come back month after month to watch my journey.
It’s not always easy, you know. I’m human and thus fallible, so yes, I make tons of mistakes along the way. I’ve resolved to never be ashamed of my mistakes or foibles, but instead to see them as springboards for a “teachable moment”. Okay, remember that long ass excuse when you see the numbers this month.
August 1 Check In
With all of the car accident things to take care of, I didn’t even realize that the new month had crept up on me. Oh well, time to see how this debt things is going. Oh yes, for those of you new to this whole train wreck, the whole point of this blog is to see how I get out of debt. I’m slowly working it down and sharing everything that I’m doing along the way.
Before I get to the numbers, I have to say that crap happens. This whole car fiasco is going to add to the debt and I was totally not prepared for it. My car was paid for and I did not plan on making any kind of automobile purchase for at least another 3-4 years. People have been telling me to sue the pants of the other driver, but really, I just need my medical bills paid and my car back, and my insurance will cover that. Unfortunately, just because someone decides to text and drive then smash into you, you’re are not automatically entitled to extra money.
July 1 Check In
It’s the beginning of the month and like all months it’s time to review my finances. For those of you new to this process, the entire reason for this blog’s existence is to chronicle my journey of getting out of debt.
I didn’t do much in June. No vacation. No parties. No weddings. Thankfully, no funerals either. I spent the entire month either working, traveling for work, or renovating the rental property. It’s not fun living on your hands and knees in 100 degree weather. The lady behind the counter at the local Turkey Hill knows me for two reasons: 1) I usually go in there covered in paint and; 2) I always scoop up an armload full of Vitamin Water, slushie drinks and regular water for myself and whichever family members are helping out that weekend.
