Just checking in with an update on my Month Ahead. I'm up to $525.50, meaning in less than a month I've saved up $125. It's good but not great; however, I don't regret it.
See, a good portion of the money I could have used for Step 2 has gone into Emergency Preparedness, specifically my 3 month food storage. There was a case lot/10 for $10 sale at a local grocery, and my roommate and I bought a decent amount of food. For the 3 month supply, it's supposed to be food you use every day, not long-term storage. It's for brief emergencies, such as being short on cash and the like. With this and a different grocery run at Winco, I'd say I've spent around $150 on food.
Yes it's a bit much for one person at once, but now I'm set for 3 months. Similar to how it was more important to get out of credit card debt first, it's more important for me to have food to live off of in case of an emergency. I'll have to keep refilling it as I go, but now I can focus more on Step 2.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
A Second Blog
So this idea has been festering in my brain for months now, and the time is finally right to put it into effect. I'm going to write another blog! Not a personal one like this (but I won't abandon this one so don't worry my nonexistent readers) but an informational one. A blog created partly for the purpose of making money, partly to help others, and then myself.
The topic will be about self-discipline, self-reliance, and emergency preparedness for single adults. So far the working title is "Single Reliance."
When I first got the idea to write a blog, it was going to be about how to build your own small business. Since I'm going to eventually open an Etsy shop, I thought I could kill two birds with one stone by blogging about what it takes while motivating myself to actually do it. But I don't know enough about the topic nor would I enjoy writing about it since it's not a strong enough passion of mine.
Then I decided to write one geared toward being productive. It's something I've researched on my own multiple times, and by crafting a blog around it I would be better able to implement these ideas myself. It still didn't feel quite right though, but it was my best option.
Finally, I came up with the perfect topic. Last Monday my roommate and I got serious about Emergency Preparedness. With what's happening around the world, particularly in Flint and Louisiana, and the sheer fact that Utah is overdue for a major earthquake, being prepared is high on our priority list. Since then we've been doing a lot of research and brainstorming. Not only that, but we decided to request a calling to serve on the Emergency Preparedness Committee in our YSA church ward. This way we can fulfill a church calling AND get prepared at the same time. Plus, through our efforts we can ensure our ward is prepared for a disaster and we can band together for safety.
And now by writing a blog on the topic, I'll be killing three birds with one stone! A rather impressive management of time if I do say so myself. You learn better by teaching and I'll be teaching through two methods, in person and online. And while I don't expect to make a substantial amount of money from it, I'll at least make something. Actually, it's more like killing five birds with one stone now that I think about it. I'll be earning money + fulfilling a church calling + getting prepared myself + getting out to interact socially + providing service for those who read my blog! Also, the great thing about this topic is that I can include posts about how to be productive.
So yeah, I'm thrilled about this idea. I've finally whittled it down to perfection to be as efficient in as many areas as I possibly can. There's still a lot of work ahead of me to get this thing underway, but it will be worth it.
The topic will be about self-discipline, self-reliance, and emergency preparedness for single adults. So far the working title is "Single Reliance."
When I first got the idea to write a blog, it was going to be about how to build your own small business. Since I'm going to eventually open an Etsy shop, I thought I could kill two birds with one stone by blogging about what it takes while motivating myself to actually do it. But I don't know enough about the topic nor would I enjoy writing about it since it's not a strong enough passion of mine.
Then I decided to write one geared toward being productive. It's something I've researched on my own multiple times, and by crafting a blog around it I would be better able to implement these ideas myself. It still didn't feel quite right though, but it was my best option.
Finally, I came up with the perfect topic. Last Monday my roommate and I got serious about Emergency Preparedness. With what's happening around the world, particularly in Flint and Louisiana, and the sheer fact that Utah is overdue for a major earthquake, being prepared is high on our priority list. Since then we've been doing a lot of research and brainstorming. Not only that, but we decided to request a calling to serve on the Emergency Preparedness Committee in our YSA church ward. This way we can fulfill a church calling AND get prepared at the same time. Plus, through our efforts we can ensure our ward is prepared for a disaster and we can band together for safety.
And now by writing a blog on the topic, I'll be killing three birds with one stone! A rather impressive management of time if I do say so myself. You learn better by teaching and I'll be teaching through two methods, in person and online. And while I don't expect to make a substantial amount of money from it, I'll at least make something. Actually, it's more like killing five birds with one stone now that I think about it. I'll be earning money + fulfilling a church calling + getting prepared myself + getting out to interact socially + providing service for those who read my blog! Also, the great thing about this topic is that I can include posts about how to be productive.
So yeah, I'm thrilled about this idea. I've finally whittled it down to perfection to be as efficient in as many areas as I possibly can. There's still a lot of work ahead of me to get this thing underway, but it will be worth it.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Future Perspective
In the interest of motivation and obtaining a realistic view, I used this site to calculate how early I'll pay off my student loans.
I'm utilizing Dave Ramsey's Snowball Method, where I focus on the smallest loan first. I pay the minimum on all others except the lowest balance. Then once that loan is paid off, I still pay that loan's monthly fee but put it toward the second smallest one. It's perfect to keep you motivated because the little victories help you feel accomplished.
My contracted end date is December 2024. With just the Snowball Method, I should finish in December 2022. That's 2 years early! Impressive, but I'll be able to pay it off even sooner by saving and using extra income. My ultimate goal is to pay it off in 5 years or less, chiefly to save money but also to avoid having to raise a family while being in debt.
We'll see how that turns out!
I'm utilizing Dave Ramsey's Snowball Method, where I focus on the smallest loan first. I pay the minimum on all others except the lowest balance. Then once that loan is paid off, I still pay that loan's monthly fee but put it toward the second smallest one. It's perfect to keep you motivated because the little victories help you feel accomplished.
My contracted end date is December 2024. With just the Snowball Method, I should finish in December 2022. That's 2 years early! Impressive, but I'll be able to pay it off even sooner by saving and using extra income. My ultimate goal is to pay it off in 5 years or less, chiefly to save money but also to avoid having to raise a family while being in debt.
We'll see how that turns out!
Monday, August 29, 2016
Step 2
I finally got my medication on the 19th of August. It grates my nerves that it took so freakin' long but there's no point stressing about the past. Now I'll just be more prepared. I've set reminders to refill my prescription early so I can get it right on time and avoid missing the expiration. I'll also be sure to set up my follow-up appointment as soon as I have a better idea of my schedule 6 months from now.
So as I outlined in this post, I'm currently on Step 2 of my financial goals: Month Ahead Budget. So far I've saved up $400, which--while great--should be more. Extenuating circumstances (such as no meds) are partly to blame. My deadline is February 2017 but I'm pushing to get it done earlier.
As a note, another personal goal of mine is to pay off at least one loan a year. In my first year of repayment, I paid off my Wells Fargo loan. I was hoping to pay off my smallest Federal Loan this year, but instead I chose to pay off my credit card. It still qualifies as a loan though so I met my quota.
After crunching some numbers, I've determined I can save up (at minimum) $2,168 by the end of the year. This doesn't include babysitting or overtime, so it's safe to say I'll be able to start out 2017 with a Month Ahead Budget in place. I desperately want to use that money to pay off a Federal Loan, but this will be worth it in the end.
My greatest hindrance in budgeting and saving right now is the fact that I'm living paycheck to paycheck. With the way pay periods work, some weeks I have a fair amount leftover after paying the immediate essentials, whereas the following week I'll be in the red. Being paid every other Friday never cushions a month perfectly. I can't budget by month. Despite my best efforts I mess up.
Once I have the means to budget on last month's income those problems will (mostly) go away. I can start out the month knowing exactly how much I have to spend and can budget accordingly. Then I won't have to hold off on putting my extra income into loans in the off chance I need it for groceries or fuel for my car. No longer will my student loan debt be compounded with the stress of making sure I have enough to get by.
I can't wait to be done with Step 2!
So as I outlined in this post, I'm currently on Step 2 of my financial goals: Month Ahead Budget. So far I've saved up $400, which--while great--should be more. Extenuating circumstances (such as no meds) are partly to blame. My deadline is February 2017 but I'm pushing to get it done earlier.
As a note, another personal goal of mine is to pay off at least one loan a year. In my first year of repayment, I paid off my Wells Fargo loan. I was hoping to pay off my smallest Federal Loan this year, but instead I chose to pay off my credit card. It still qualifies as a loan though so I met my quota.
After crunching some numbers, I've determined I can save up (at minimum) $2,168 by the end of the year. This doesn't include babysitting or overtime, so it's safe to say I'll be able to start out 2017 with a Month Ahead Budget in place. I desperately want to use that money to pay off a Federal Loan, but this will be worth it in the end.
My greatest hindrance in budgeting and saving right now is the fact that I'm living paycheck to paycheck. With the way pay periods work, some weeks I have a fair amount leftover after paying the immediate essentials, whereas the following week I'll be in the red. Being paid every other Friday never cushions a month perfectly. I can't budget by month. Despite my best efforts I mess up.
Once I have the means to budget on last month's income those problems will (mostly) go away. I can start out the month knowing exactly how much I have to spend and can budget accordingly. Then I won't have to hold off on putting my extra income into loans in the off chance I need it for groceries or fuel for my car. No longer will my student loan debt be compounded with the stress of making sure I have enough to get by.
I can't wait to be done with Step 2!
Monday, August 15, 2016
Medical Insurance Migraine
It's been about a month and a half since my last update, sorry about that.
I recently went on a vacation with my family which was a blast. I'll do a catch-up post on that later. But the real reason why I haven't updated is because I haven't been able to take my narcolepsy medication.
I recently went on a vacation with my family which was a blast. I'll do a catch-up post on that later. But the real reason why I haven't updated is because I haven't been able to take my narcolepsy medication.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
IT'S DONE!
I PAID OFF MY CREDIT CARD!
$1,379.52 in debt paid off in 52 days!
Look at that zero balance! I'm so proud of myself! Those were some rough 52 days, but it was worth it. Now that I've accomplished this milestone, I'm going to treat myself to a massage! Things have been so hectic lately that I have more than earned one.
Now it's time to put everything toward my Month Ahead Budget. It's just under twice as much as what I just paid off, so it's going to take about four and a half to five months. Maybe even a little longer because I'm going to be going on vacations, but it should be done before Thanksgiving or even Christmas at the latest.
$1,379.52 in debt paid off in 52 days!
Look at that zero balance! I'm so proud of myself! Those were some rough 52 days, but it was worth it. Now that I've accomplished this milestone, I'm going to treat myself to a massage! Things have been so hectic lately that I have more than earned one.
Now it's time to put everything toward my Month Ahead Budget. It's just under twice as much as what I just paid off, so it's going to take about four and a half to five months. Maybe even a little longer because I'm going to be going on vacations, but it should be done before Thanksgiving or even Christmas at the latest.
Friday, June 3, 2016
Fingers Crossed
I had a brilliant idea at work today, and if my calculations are correct, I'll pay off my credit card debt by the end of this month! I put away about $300 in savings every month, and I made a goal with myself not to touch that. Not only does it help constrain me to a budget, but it's just smart to do so. However, when doing something as important as paying off credit card debt, being on top of my savings isn't quite as important. And seeing how I've saved up almost $1,000 in my Emergency Fund, I can stand to lose a month's worth of savings for a good cause.
That means I'll have paid off a $1,379.52 debt in approximately 50 days!
That means I'll have paid off a $1,379.52 debt in approximately 50 days!
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Great Progress
I have been doing overtime and babysitting like crazy for the past fortnight!
I worked a 9 day week, worked an extra shift a day after, then on Friday/Saturday/Monday worked 4 babysitting "shifts" that rounded to about 22hrs. Then after a day and a half I'm right back on a 7 day work week. Needless to say, I'm a bit exhausted (and unfortunately it's emotional as well as physical, but that's a post for another day).
So with that completely insane work schedule, I've managed to cut my credit card debt to $837.79, a 60.7% decrease from where it was exactly two weeks ago. I can't believe it! Combining all four extra avenues of income has really paid off.
It hasn't been easy though. My plan doesn't give me much leeway for other things, and I'm struggling to adjust to a strict budget. So far in my life I've been decent on saving money and not spending frivolously, but I didn't crunch the numbers well enough. While I calculated the immediate expenses to see how much I'd have left over for other things, I neglected to keep proper records. I knew how much I should have to spend but then I never compared it to what I was actually spending, hence the credit card debt.
My debt is certainly smaller than most out there I'm sure, but I still have regrets. Had I been this serious just a year ago, I most likely wouldn't have any credit card debt, be budgeting a month ahead, and making some decent headway on my emergency fund and student loans.
What about when I was starting college, or even before that while I earned money babysitting? It physically pains me to think of how financially secure I would be at this point in my life. My loans would be significantly smaller, no doubt about that.
But it's no use dwelling on the past like that. There's nothing I can do to change it. All that's left to do is turn that regret into motivation to prevent it from happening ever again. I'll also use that experience to teach my sisters so they can start young when I wish I did.
I worked a 9 day week, worked an extra shift a day after, then on Friday/Saturday/Monday worked 4 babysitting "shifts" that rounded to about 22hrs. Then after a day and a half I'm right back on a 7 day work week. Needless to say, I'm a bit exhausted (and unfortunately it's emotional as well as physical, but that's a post for another day).
So with that completely insane work schedule, I've managed to cut my credit card debt to $837.79, a 60.7% decrease from where it was exactly two weeks ago. I can't believe it! Combining all four extra avenues of income has really paid off.
It hasn't been easy though. My plan doesn't give me much leeway for other things, and I'm struggling to adjust to a strict budget. So far in my life I've been decent on saving money and not spending frivolously, but I didn't crunch the numbers well enough. While I calculated the immediate expenses to see how much I'd have left over for other things, I neglected to keep proper records. I knew how much I should have to spend but then I never compared it to what I was actually spending, hence the credit card debt.
My debt is certainly smaller than most out there I'm sure, but I still have regrets. Had I been this serious just a year ago, I most likely wouldn't have any credit card debt, be budgeting a month ahead, and making some decent headway on my emergency fund and student loans.
What about when I was starting college, or even before that while I earned money babysitting? It physically pains me to think of how financially secure I would be at this point in my life. My loans would be significantly smaller, no doubt about that.
But it's no use dwelling on the past like that. There's nothing I can do to change it. All that's left to do is turn that regret into motivation to prevent it from happening ever again. I'll also use that experience to teach my sisters so they can start young when I wish I did.
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Successful Epiphany
(This was originally part of my previous post, but with the topic being such a stark contrast I decided to split it)
Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to delve much further into my Etsy business. I've saved up enough for a serger though, so now all I have to do is figure out which one to buy. I'm asking around for opinions and researching. I hope to settle on one soon. Then I can start practicing and build up an inventory of all the things I want to sew.
I also need to get serious about soapmaking. I need to get over my fear of failure and just get going with it. I won't be able to get as wide an audience unless I do so. The allure of a TARDIS soap will bring people to my shop, and then the wide variety of other Doctor Who items will keep them there. Plus, I need to get my idea out before anyone else gets the bright idea and steals my thunder.
And I've been doing my best to keep from having wild expectations about this venture or blow it out of proportion but . . . I honestly can't shake the feeling that this could be incredibly successful. That I could make a decent secondary income on this. I've avoided fully admitting this to myself because I didn't want to get a large head or frightened with the prospect or risk being disappointed if it didn't pan out.
Only now that I think about it, perhaps this belief is an essential part of creating this business. I need to be my biggest cheerleader. If I don't believe I can succeed then how is it ever going to get off the ground? I thought that by simply building a business I was stepping outside my comfort zone, but this must be the first step.
My personality gravitates toward the disposition of "play it safe" which in many situations is a wise decision. But my flaw is that I have a tendency to let it overtake my life. Never doing anything "too wild" and tiptoeing through life to avoid failure. This is largely due to the bullying I suffered. It twisted my life's philosophy into never rocking the boat because it's the best way to avoid conflict. At first it was only in relationships with other people, but now it's seeped into all areas of my life. I can't be too passionate or dream any lofty goals. I need to play it safe to avoid failure.
But that's no way to live! It's like that quote by J.K. Rowling: "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." Or even what Mrs. Frizzle says: "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" It's the only way you can truly grow as a person. It doesn't mean I have to catapult myself into the unknown, but take a firm, confident step forward. I used to avoid the unknown like a plague, but recently I've been cautiously edging my toes into it. Now it's time to be bolder.
So yes, I'm going to build a successful and thriving Etsy business. It's not going to make me rich, but it will stop me from living paycheck to paycheck, knock a few years off my student loans, and lay the groundwork to be a stay-at-home mom once I have kids. Many people have succeeded in creating their small business, and I think the main thing that sets them apart is their belief. They knew they could do it, and that drive is what pushed them through the hard times and provided the support they needed to stand on.
I have to want this badly and believe I can do it. An attitude of "meh" won't cut it. No one is going to check in on me or give pep talks when I need it. I can depend on the support of those closest to me, but ultimately it boils down to me, myself, and I.
Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to delve much further into my Etsy business. I've saved up enough for a serger though, so now all I have to do is figure out which one to buy. I'm asking around for opinions and researching. I hope to settle on one soon. Then I can start practicing and build up an inventory of all the things I want to sew.
I also need to get serious about soapmaking. I need to get over my fear of failure and just get going with it. I won't be able to get as wide an audience unless I do so. The allure of a TARDIS soap will bring people to my shop, and then the wide variety of other Doctor Who items will keep them there. Plus, I need to get my idea out before anyone else gets the bright idea and steals my thunder.
And I've been doing my best to keep from having wild expectations about this venture or blow it out of proportion but . . . I honestly can't shake the feeling that this could be incredibly successful. That I could make a decent secondary income on this. I've avoided fully admitting this to myself because I didn't want to get a large head or frightened with the prospect or risk being disappointed if it didn't pan out.
Only now that I think about it, perhaps this belief is an essential part of creating this business. I need to be my biggest cheerleader. If I don't believe I can succeed then how is it ever going to get off the ground? I thought that by simply building a business I was stepping outside my comfort zone, but this must be the first step.
My personality gravitates toward the disposition of "play it safe" which in many situations is a wise decision. But my flaw is that I have a tendency to let it overtake my life. Never doing anything "too wild" and tiptoeing through life to avoid failure. This is largely due to the bullying I suffered. It twisted my life's philosophy into never rocking the boat because it's the best way to avoid conflict. At first it was only in relationships with other people, but now it's seeped into all areas of my life. I can't be too passionate or dream any lofty goals. I need to play it safe to avoid failure.
But that's no way to live! It's like that quote by J.K. Rowling: "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." Or even what Mrs. Frizzle says: "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" It's the only way you can truly grow as a person. It doesn't mean I have to catapult myself into the unknown, but take a firm, confident step forward. I used to avoid the unknown like a plague, but recently I've been cautiously edging my toes into it. Now it's time to be bolder.
So yes, I'm going to build a successful and thriving Etsy business. It's not going to make me rich, but it will stop me from living paycheck to paycheck, knock a few years off my student loans, and lay the groundwork to be a stay-at-home mom once I have kids. Many people have succeeded in creating their small business, and I think the main thing that sets them apart is their belief. They knew they could do it, and that drive is what pushed them through the hard times and provided the support they needed to stand on.
I have to want this badly and believe I can do it. An attitude of "meh" won't cut it. No one is going to check in on me or give pep talks when I need it. I can depend on the support of those closest to me, but ultimately it boils down to me, myself, and I.
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Hard Truth
(I missed April I know, there will be catch-up posts later)
So work is a little slow right now and I've just crunched a lot of numbers for a more concrete estimation of how long it will take for me to pay off a debt and save up for something. It's both comforting and depressing, but I'm very glad I did it.
It's strange how knowing you'll accomplish something off in the distant future can be comforting and stressful. Comforting because there's no set deadline, but stressful because no deadline means no plan. Does that make sense? So once you put a date to it you're glad the end is in sight, but knowing the actual distance can be disheartening.
That's what happened to me tonight. See, in regard to finances I have four specific goals:
(1) Pay off my credit card debt.
(2) Save up enough to be able to budget a month ahead.
(3) Save up enough for six months worth of expenses for my Emergency Fund.
(4) Pay off my student loans.
These are all concrete goals because they have a specific number attached, such as:
(1) -$1,379.52
(2) $2,600**
(3) $15,600**
(4) -$$$$ (Just know it's depressing. I'm not comfortable letting the internet know my student loan debt)
**These are high end approximations, because with emergencies it's always best to leave some wiggle room.
So once I had the end goal amount in mind, it was time to see what I could put toward them. Aside from my regular work income, I have "four" means of secondary income. There's the money I get from donating plasma, babysitting, working overtime, and the $50 "snowballed in" from the loan I paid off last year. If you're unfamiliar with that term, go check out Dave Ramsey's stuff. It's wonderful.
At first glance you'd think that putting all four secondary incomes into each progressive goal would be the best course of action, but it's not. Here's my plan of attack:
(1st) Plasma/OT/Babysitting/Loan Extra ~~> Credit Card (pay off July or August)
(2nd) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> Month Ahead Budget (finish around February 2017)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(3rd) Babysitting ~~> Emergency Fund
Plasma/OT/Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
Everything is going toward my credit card debt because well, it's a debt and needs to be taken care of immediately. It's also thankfully rather small, so focusing all my energy on it won't take much time. Then once that's taken care of, I'm re-dedicating the loan extra back into my next smallest loan because again, it's debt and takes priority.
Then, while it's not debt, being a month ahead on my finances is nearly as important. It'll mean I no longer have to live paycheck to paycheck. I can budget with a real number and not estimates. I won't have to wait until my next paycheck to buy groceries. It will provide a buffer and give me peace of mind. It will do away with that financial burden on my shoulder.
Both the Emergency Fund and Student Loans are going to take a few years to save up/pay off, so there's not much point putting a specific end date for them. Plus I could run into an emergency and use up some of my EF, so there's no way of knowing. The important thing is that I regularly put money into it, such as the $20 every Monday as part of my budget. My babysitting is sporadic and not particularly lucrative, but it can knock off a few months. Just going by the $80/month I'm allotting for it now though, it's gonna take 15 yrs.
Thankfully, with just "snowballing" my loan payments I can shave 2-3 yrs off my repayment plan, so adding overtime and plasma money could take off another year or two. AND if I can actually succeed in my Etsy business, I'd be able to pay it off even faster!
So work is a little slow right now and I've just crunched a lot of numbers for a more concrete estimation of how long it will take for me to pay off a debt and save up for something. It's both comforting and depressing, but I'm very glad I did it.
It's strange how knowing you'll accomplish something off in the distant future can be comforting and stressful. Comforting because there's no set deadline, but stressful because no deadline means no plan. Does that make sense? So once you put a date to it you're glad the end is in sight, but knowing the actual distance can be disheartening.
That's what happened to me tonight. See, in regard to finances I have four specific goals:
(1) Pay off my credit card debt.
(2) Save up enough to be able to budget a month ahead.
(3) Save up enough for six months worth of expenses for my Emergency Fund.
(4) Pay off my student loans.
These are all concrete goals because they have a specific number attached, such as:
(1) -$1,379.52
(2) $2,600**
(3) $15,600**
(4) -$$$$ (Just know it's depressing. I'm not comfortable letting the internet know my student loan debt)
**These are high end approximations, because with emergencies it's always best to leave some wiggle room.
So once I had the end goal amount in mind, it was time to see what I could put toward them. Aside from my regular work income, I have "four" means of secondary income. There's the money I get from donating plasma, babysitting, working overtime, and the $50 "snowballed in" from the loan I paid off last year. If you're unfamiliar with that term, go check out Dave Ramsey's stuff. It's wonderful.
At first glance you'd think that putting all four secondary incomes into each progressive goal would be the best course of action, but it's not. Here's my plan of attack:
(1st) Plasma/OT/Babysitting/Loan Extra ~~> Credit Card (pay off July or August)
(2nd) Plasma/OT/Babysitting ~~> Month Ahead Budget (finish around February 2017)
Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
(3rd) Babysitting ~~> Emergency Fund
Plasma/OT/Loan Extra ~~> Student Loans
Everything is going toward my credit card debt because well, it's a debt and needs to be taken care of immediately. It's also thankfully rather small, so focusing all my energy on it won't take much time. Then once that's taken care of, I'm re-dedicating the loan extra back into my next smallest loan because again, it's debt and takes priority.
Then, while it's not debt, being a month ahead on my finances is nearly as important. It'll mean I no longer have to live paycheck to paycheck. I can budget with a real number and not estimates. I won't have to wait until my next paycheck to buy groceries. It will provide a buffer and give me peace of mind. It will do away with that financial burden on my shoulder.
Both the Emergency Fund and Student Loans are going to take a few years to save up/pay off, so there's not much point putting a specific end date for them. Plus I could run into an emergency and use up some of my EF, so there's no way of knowing. The important thing is that I regularly put money into it, such as the $20 every Monday as part of my budget. My babysitting is sporadic and not particularly lucrative, but it can knock off a few months. Just going by the $80/month I'm allotting for it now though, it's gonna take 15 yrs.
Thankfully, with just "snowballing" my loan payments I can shave 2-3 yrs off my repayment plan, so adding overtime and plasma money could take off another year or two. AND if I can actually succeed in my Etsy business, I'd be able to pay it off even faster!
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