Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Spending Fast Update - 7 months down, 5 to go!

This month has been quite a whirlwind, but I did much better on my Spending Fast than I could have ever hoped.  It was a bittersweet moment, because although I realized I have a decent chunk paid - I still have a long way to go.  I realized that if I keep going the rate I'm going right now, I will still have another full year from this month (July) before I have my debt fully paid off. 

Ouch. 

I was really hoping to start 2013 with a clean slate, but sometimes things just don't happen the way we want 'em to.  This whole thing has been a HUGE learning process for me, and I'm so glad that I'm doing it.  It has been a long hard road so far, but it's paving the way for my future.  And that makes me feel good. 

Here's how I did the month of July, and how much I estimated that I saved: 


JUL


Date Not buying Approx $ not spent Total $ Saved
7/1/12 Derby Dues $50.00 $50.00
7/5/12 Lunch (didn't like the one I brought, but I resisted!) $8.00 $58.00
7/8/12 Book Club dish (wanted to just buy something - used what I had at home!) $15.00 $73.00
7/19/12 Lunch (didn't bring one - ran home to make lunch instead of buying!) $8.00 $81.00
7/15-22/12 Underground Music Showcase (concert series - really wanted to go!!) $30.00 $111.00
7/24/12 Coffee (wanted to buy on way to work - made it at work instead) $4.00 $115.00
7/25/2012 Florence & the machine tix (Dad's treat!) $50.00 $165.00
7/27/2012 Friday night event $5.00 $170.00
7/27/2012 Friday night event (another one) $10.00 $180.00
7/27/2012 Coffee (on break) $4.00 $184.00
7/28/2012 Dinner at Red Rocks (we brought it instead of buying on the way up) $10.00 $194.00
7/28/2012 Shopping (mom treated me to some stuff - so sweet of her!) $100.00 $294.00
7/29/2012 Lunch (we brought it with us instead) $20.00 $314.00
7/29/2012 Coffee (wanted to get it at Farmer's Market - brought my own instead) $4.00 $318.00


That's a heck of a lot of money saved!  And I still managed to have a ton of fun, so that was pretty rad. :) 

Even better news?  Remember how last month I said I couldn't wait to get to the $4k mark with paying down my debt?  

Well, I passed it.  AND THEN SOME.  In fact, I'm almost to the $5k mark! 
WOOOHOOO!!!


Starting debt (as of 1/1/12):  $13,168.04
Debt remaining (as of 7/31/12): $8,256.59
Amount paid off so far: $4,911.45

Yah, that made me pretty darn happy today!

Just gotta stick with it, keep putting as much money as I can towards it every month (although not go too overboard - as I learned the hard way), and stay positive.  

Hopefully sooner rather than later I'll be here: 


Doing something like this to celebrate: 


Hellz yeah. :D

As always, thanks to my friends & family for all of your love and support through this journey! 
XO

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