As our budgeting efforts rage on, we’ve become less excited about our monthly progress — I guess we’re easily bored, or something. But there’s nothing particularly boring about reducing our debt, so I provide this brief update.
Thanks to God’s continuing provision for us, we’ve been able to reduce our debt to 35% of its April 1, 2008 level.
Debt reduction, as of 1 November 2008, after 7 months budgeting.
Mostly, we’ve continued earlier efforts to record and limit expenditures. I must, however, admit that some use of credit has crept back in. We allowed ourselves to continue to use our Amazon Visa card for purchases on Amazon, and we have been using our Costco credit line to fund purchases at that store. Originally, I was in the habit of firing off a payment from our checking account each time we used either of those cards, but lately I have become lazy about that.
About a week ago I received a bill in the mail from the Costco credit card people for more than $600 — I had no idea I had let that account grow so large, so quickly! If it weren’t for a quarterly bonus from my employer, I’d be in the sorry situation of reporting an increase in debt.
Obviously, we need to either (a) be exceedingly diligent in paying those bills immediately, on the same day of purchase, or (b) to really cut out the credit card usage entirely, as proper Ramsey groupies should.
Savings = the excess of income over consumption expenditures —often used in plural
One happy thing happened recently: we’ve started to use the money we actually saved for Christmas to snap up bargains and gifts of opportunity. We’ve been putting money aside ever since we started our budget, so we wouldn’t be surprised when Christmas came. (What? It’s in December, again?) It has been such fun to buy presents that we can afford!
Tim
I’m not as far as you guys are on the reducing debt (I have managed to stay steady though I’ve been paying for my dental work out of pocket), but I have saved up for Christmas. It’s so exciting to buy good, inexpensive gifts when I see them and not have to wait to the last minute and put it on credit!
Hey Kathy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have had virtually no time the last six months to take time to comment on blogs. I have some time today so I wanted to pop in and say hello! I love your blog! I always learn so much!
I feel like a long lost friend
I wish I had more time on the computer but due to being at OHOP so much my time has been cut back drastically!
Blessings to you!
Emily
GOOD JOB! You’re so much closer to the finish line! How nice to be able to purchase Christmas gifts from the budgeted $$.