The Interview

I interviewed a woman on baby step 7, and this is what she had to say…

Tell me your story, how did you get out of debt and how much did you make at that time?

I got myself into significant debt before getting married. ($115,000 … student loan, car, credit cards) …. plus a mortgage on a condo. My salary ranged from $42,000 to about $52,000 while I tackled the credit cards (first) and then went to work on the car/student loans. When I got married, we sold my condo which let me finish paying off the car and made a sizable dent in the student loans. Just as soon as the student loans were paid off, then we could by a home together. (It took me years and years of pretty frugal living to get those credit cards paid off … after minimum payments and living expenses, there just wasn’t a whole lot left over for snowballing. Since I couldn’t get a second job, that meant slashing expenses. I didn’t spend any money on any extras for at least 3-4 years. No cell phone. No computer. No internet. No cable. No eating out.

What is the key to getting out of debt?

For me, the key to getting out of debt was the willingness to be as gazelle intense as possible, for as long as possible. (Short term sacrifice for long-term gain!) I hated that when my car needed a new battery, it was a crisis. When I needed to pay for a plumber, it was a crisis. I hated having to turn down all sorts of social events because they cost money … but I was also pretty desperate to escape the bondage of debt.

Paying off our house let me quit working at a high-stress job that I’d come to dread and gate. My wonderful husband is active duty military (and we’re stationed in fairly high cost of living California), but I no longer need to work for a salary just to help keep bills paid. This has allowed me to volunteer full-time for a local non-profit doing what I love without worrying about how we will pay the power bill or afford a car repair.

What has reaching baby step 7 afforded you to do, that you couldn’t have done otherwise?

We drive 2 cars we paid cash for … mine is 11 years old and my wonderful DH’s is 15 years old. We still follow a budget, and we’re socking away money for retirement as well as sinking funds for home/car repairs and the vet. We’re cash-flowing updates for our home. And we donate enough to charity that it makes itemizing our taxes worthwhile even without the mortgage interest deduction.

I absolutely love her story. She didn’t have a lot starting out, but through hard work and dedication, she made it to the other side.  To an amazing place without financial worries.  I absolutely can not wait to get there!

I want it now.

Society today is one of instant gratification.  Something crosses our minds and BAM we need it right now. Time lapse recipes on social media are my weakness.  I wish, more than anything, I could whip up a yummy dinner in less than 1 minute.  But reality is, that same meal takes me much longer.

Diet and finances are my biggest struggle.

I feel as if I am in pretty good shape, until I am feeling a little emotional. Oh…emotions…how I loathe thee. They get me all stirred up and before I know it a weeks worth of eating healthy, down the drain.  The same goes with our finances, we might be doing really good, but I’ll have an emotional day and overspend because I don’t want to cook, or I feel the need to buy something without inhibition.

But you know what?

I always regret it.  Every. Single. Time.

It’s something I will continue to work on. I just remind myself that when I fail, I need to get back up, I have to get back up.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.”

-Confucius

The good thing about learning to control your finances is it brings discipline to your life (and a lot less money for fast food!).  So usually if we are progressing financially, I notice it in my waist line as well. Honestly I do the best at these when I am investing myself spiritually.

1 John 2:16

¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

God provides.  When I am studying and praying like I should, those really bad days are few and far between.  I am able to concentrate on him, and all other things are provided.

Are you struggling today?  What do you do to say focused when you’re having a bad day?  If you are having a bad day, drop me a line and I’ll pray for you.  Who are we as humans, if we don’t care for each other?  I’m here for you friend!

 

 

 

 

New International Version (NIV)

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1 John 2:16 in all English translations