Our Financial Goals: Paying Off Debt (February 2015)

Our Financial Goals: Paying Off DebtPhoto Credit

Today I met a frugal friend at the park for a play date.  When I came home, I put the kids down for a nap, and then decided to update “The Abundant Wife” for the first time since last June.  I believe the last post before that was in April.

I’m sorry I haven’t written in so long, and left without any explanation.  Frankly, I didn’t know what to say.  We were on reduced salary for almost half of last year.  We weren’t making any progress on our debts.  My frustration with our financial situation was hard on our marriage, and I needed to stop talking about money.  Period.

So I quit.  Lucky for you, I couldn’t figure out how to delete this confounded blog.  😉  I’m somewhat tech savvy, but I couldn’t figure it out.  In the meantime, I focused more on being a “wife,” and less on being “abundant.”  The break has been great for our marriage, and I’m happy to say we’re doing better than ever.

I also began homeschooling our oldest daughter for the first time.  This was a huge jump for me, as someone who did not grow up around homeschooling.  It’s been a difficult transition, but also a good one.  After 6 months, Naomi and I are finally starting to develop some routines that are working for us.

Lately I’ve been getting the itch to write again.  So here I am at my husband’s roll-top desk, sitting cross-legged in a creaky wooden swivel chair, tapping away on my laptop.  My kids are watching Disney shorts on the iPad (a Christmas gift from Grandma) in the next room.

Our finances are looking the best they have in years, causing me to cross my fingers lest some major expense set us back again.  As of today, we owe

  • $1,185 on our last Student Loan (4.5% Interest Rate), and
  • $103,979 on our Mortgage (4.125% Interest Rate),

for a Grand Total of $105,164 in debt.  We have paid off almost $133,000 in 9 years of marriage!  Wahoo!

I cannot tell you how relieved I am to be close to paying off our last loan.  If all goes according to plan (which it almost never does) we will be debt-free in the next 2-3 months!

If you are still following me, thank you for sticking around.  It’s been almost 4 years since I started this blog, and it’s been full of stops and starts.  It’s hard to believe I’ve published 475 posts about living abundantly on less.  Thanks for hanging in there, and cheering us on.

Love,

Jessie

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12: 1-3

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7 Responses to “Our Financial Goals: Paying Off Debt (February 2015)”

  1. Welcome back! Congratulations on making so much progress on paying down debt! It’s almost embarrassing to say, but my husband and I are just now, after a few years of marriage and both of us nearly 30, making a conscious effort to pay off our debt. I can’t wait to see our progress in the next few months. I’m hoping we can make a dent and that the progress will keep us motivated to stick with it! Again, welcome back!

    • Jessica says:

      Thank you so much! I just turned 34 and Brad will be 39 this year, so it took us some time to get around to it too. 🙂 Hopefully we’ll be done soon!

  2. Debbie says:

    Welcome back! I still had you in my reader and once in a while would think to myself “I wonder how that family in Yuba City is doing” since my husband is from YC. It’s nice to see your writing again. Good luck with the loan payoff! You can do it!!!!!!

  3. Jennifer says:

    Jessica, I am so glad you’re back! I love reading your blog and have missed it. I was excited to see you had a new post. I just wanted to say Thank you for your openness and your willingness to share such intimate details of your family life with us; it makes me feel so much more connected to you. You have adorable children, a caring husband and a truly beautiful life Jessica. May God bless you and your family and Thanks again for writing and sharing with us all.

    • Jessica says:

      Thank you so much for your encouragement! I’m still learning the ways of blogging, but I enjoy connecting with my readers. 🙂

  4. Sheila says:

    Welcome back. Everyone needs a break.

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