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Home > Blew Right Past It-- 9th Blogoversary

Blew Right Past It-- 9th Blogoversary

April 30th, 2015 at 04:29 pm

April 9th of 2006 I started this blog in pretty dire straits. I had no savings, massive debt due to medical expenses, a mortgage, and credit card debt, also mostly due to the medical issues.

In the last nine years my husband and I have paid off the mortgage, paid off our van loan, and paid off all of the credit cards. The only money we owe now is the 0% loan we took out from my mother to pay off the hospital. I call that my medical mortgage, because that is what it feels like. We owe her $49,500 and once that is paid off we will have no more debt until we buy a new house. I am hoping to save enough up for that so as to not have a massive mortgage.

We have saved almost $15,000 in an Emergency Fund. When we started we were only banking $10 a week and whatever money I managed to save in the coin jar. After a few years I was able to add monthly $100 payments. When we started, a lot of people thought it was silly to save such small amounts, but they have added up big time. If $10 is all you have to save, then save it. If $1 is all you have to save, still save it. It may seem like nothing now, but take my word for it. In 9 years you could be sitting on several thousand dollars if you keep at it.

We have come a long, long way, and it has been a tough, tough road at times. So many people told us to just declare bankruptcy, but I didn't want to. That isn't how I was raised. Bankruptcy is a last resort, for people in desperate situations. We were always able to meet our bills even if things were quite tight for a long, long time. We probably could have easily qualified, but I didn't want to take that way out. It didn't feel right for us.

So instead we just put our heads down, dug in, and worked hard to get the debt paid off and bring down the evil empire that had held us under its sway for so long. We had a few setbacks along the way with me having to have 2 more surgeries and having to pay for those instead of putting a lot on old debt, but we made it through that. Things are going pretty well. Not enough to really loosen the purse strings as we still have to save for that down payment and pay back Mom. But enough that I feel like we are breathing deep again.

8 Responses to “Blew Right Past It-- 9th Blogoversary”

  1. CB in the City Says:
    1430408868

    We must have started about the same time, because my ninth blogoversary is coming up on May 4!

  2. scottish girl Says:
    1430409280

    I enjoy reading your old entries, it really motivates me, especially as I save the least amount out of everyone on SA. (I also like to read your current entries too obviously and your other blog, but I'm so far behind on that)

  3. ceejay74 Says:
    1430410854

    Happy blogoversary! I usually miss mine by at least a couple days too. Smile

  4. Buendia Says:
    1430434827

    Happy blogoversary! You are amazing and an inspiration! The medical debt is tough...

  5. rob62521 Says:
    1430442358

    Happy blogoversary! Well done!

  6. VS_ozgirl Says:
    1430467304

    Congratulations & happy blogaversary! You've done some wonderful things Smile

  7. Tabs Says:
    1430491191

    Congrats and happy belated blogoversary. You've made tremendous progress and that is very inspiring.

  8. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1430585393

    Happy 9 years! You have come a long way!

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