Comments on: Our Journey to Debt Freedom: The Beginning

By: Alena

Alena — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:39:45 +0000

I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Alena

http://grantsforeducation.info

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:27:47 +0000

Hi,

I have a mantra like u “I can do” . It motivates me all the time when i was getting in to trouble. I am waiting for your next post to know how you paid all the amount within a short time.
thanks for sharing.

By: duddes02

duddes02 — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:09:30 +0000

If fascinating when you roll it all into one post.

Thanks for sharing.

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:10:50 +0000

CD – Why not just wait until you make doulbe your money so you can really afford it, since you know getting into all the debt is bad? Doesn’t material things get old, and the pain of debt just increase so you stop?

I like getting super motivated to make more money before buying anything. “Why can’t I afford that” motivates me to work like a banshee!

BTW, highlighted your mortgage post in my weekly wrap yesterday. Check it out.

Best,

Sam

By: Clever Dude

Clever Dude — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:06:41 +0000

@Money Funk, that is definitely one challenge I had going into “payoff mode”. I was ready to go all-in, just like I tend to do when I get excited about anything. But my wife’s enthusiasm was a little more tempered. While I was ready to lower the heat down to 50 degrees and just bundle up, she wasn’t really on-board with that plan and we found a “compromise” somewhere in the low 70s range.

I have more examples, such as living in my car instead of renting a room when I worked in PA for 5 months, but those are for a different time.

By: Money Funk

Money Funk — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:01:05 +0000

Our family started with $86K of debt. So, I am very interested in hearing how you paid it off in such a short time. I so want to be agressive about paying it off, but not everyone is on board with being totally agressive.

By: Clever Dude

Clever Dude — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:33:57 +0000

@Samurai, by the time I graduated, I had a few credit cards, including store cards (for furniture, computers). As for my psychology of going into debt, basically my mantra was “I have a good job, so I’ll pay for it eventually. I want it now!”.

Yes, my desire for “things” has really changed quite a bit. I still desire cars and electronics and stuff, but I’m much more conscious of where my money goes.

@Thirtysomething, I no longer own any bass guitars (sold the last one to a guy in Belgium last year), but I did keep an electric/acoustic Washburn 6-string. Just hope one day I’ll move from guitar hero to actual guitar.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:53:42 +0000

Wow, you guys started out in a deep hole. I’m interested in how you got out.

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:13:11 +0000

Wow, I’m impressed you were able to actually get in debt by $15,000 in college! That’s awesome! I didn’t realize credit card companies give such high limits for students. These CC companies are geniuses at praying on unassuming people yeah?

What was your psychology behind going into so much consumer debt (the $73,000 portion)) when you didn’t have the money to pay for it in full? I’m just wondering the psychological aspect of it all. It must have been fun getting all those goods at least right?

Has your desire for things changed after this experience?

By: Thirtysomething Finance

Thirtysomething Finance — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:14:51 +0000

I hear you, man. I’m really just starting to want to aggressively tackle the debt, and I’m dealing with a ton. Looking forward to seeing how you made it disappear! Also, have you stuck with the bass? I’ve been playing guitar for about 15 or 16 years and can tell you all about the bittersweet feeling of giving in to your GAS — that is, gear acquisition syndrome