In a couple of weeks I will become debt free. No more student loans. Over $20k gone. Out of my hands and into Federal Loan hands.
It sure as hell was not an easy ride. When I got my first job I always imagined being able to keep up with the Joneses. I surely would have loved to buy $100 boots or a car or have the fanciest outfits. Things that I have never experienced.
But there was no way that I could do that with the desire to get out of debt- thanks to Dave Ramsey. If I hadn't listened to his Youtube videos 2 years ago I would not have become HUNGRY enough to get rid of my debt in record speed. But man was this journey a hard one. I spent months eating pizza each day because they only cost $2. I spent months without buying myself any clothes. I would look at my son's sneakers which he has been wearing for a while and ask him 'does it hurt your feet baby?' and once he says no I say 'OK cause you have to wear those one pair for 2 more months'. I declined all of the lets go out to eat with my coworkers because I was broke.
But this is nothing in comparison to what I gained
Now I value every single dollar that goes into my bank account. I have always been a saver but now I am a supreme saver. Now I have a baby that knows that money comes from work and I can not buy you 5 gifts because you are turning 5. I didn't even buy him any gifts for his birthday this year. He also knows that when Christmas comes around he is getting 1 gift from me. I am slowly teaching Mini Free that he is not how many toys he has. It is character that defines someone not stuff.
I also realized that I could have gotten out of debt quicker if I was more intentional with my money. If I stopped helping people that did not need to be helped. I am an emotional spender. For example when I gotten out of a poor relationship I took my baby and flew across the country. Whoa if you're in debt there's no way you can afford a plane ticket but I didn't care because I was heart broken.
As I enter the wealth building journey I will continue to remember how I felt when I was getting out of debt. It was hard BUT worth IT!
