2017

So, I started this blog fresh out of graduate school- and then teacher-life took over and I put it on the back burner.  The New Year seems like a great time to revive it!  


Summary of life between last entry and now:
2014-15: Lived communally with three other adults and the cutest baby ever.  Taught in a suburban school district.  Finished my Master’s Degree. 
-My 1996 Oldsmobile became unsafe for commuting.  I called my dad at one point to seek advice, and he and my mom promptly went out to buy a new car for my mom, and then drove up the next day to give me my mom's old car (which should last several more years). I have awesome parents.  
-Moved out in May as planned, found an apartment of my own.  Unfortunately, the cheapest apartment available is still pretty pricey. 
-Was laid off from my teaching position the day after I signed my lease.  Ugh.  


Summer 2015: Traveled to Mexico to visit a dear friend (tickets had already been booked before I knew I was being laid off) and then to Colorado with my parents. for my brother's wedding. Neither trip costed me much as actual Mexico (as opposed to touristy Mexico) is pretty inexpensive and I stayed with my friend, and my parents covered almost everything for the wedding.  But, I also got a harsh wake-up call while in Colorado.  I realized my net worth was about -$75,000.  Ick.  


I managed to find a part-time summer position teaching adult ESL (my old school still owed me paychecks until August, so I was making ends meet).  I also signed up to take Dave Ramsey's financial peace University with my business-guru friend, Stefanie.  I went to the dollar store and Target, where I bought 1,000 glass marbles and two big jars.  1 marble represented $75 paid off. 


2015-2016: I took a new position at a charter school.  The kids were amazing, the other teachers were amazing, the pay was not amazing.  Even though I had finished my master's, it was a slight paycut from my old job.  The year with those kids and the support of such great colleagues was worth it, but I was barely living paycheck to paycheck.  I quickly drained my savings from my summer job.


Towards the end of the year, my parents, knowing that it had been a hard year financially, put $10,000 on my loans and made a few more payments until my mom’s position was eliminated.  Rather than train for a new position, she decided this was time to retire.  I am so, so thankful for their help, but also wanted to take matters back into my own hands and let my parents enjoy retirement.  


Summer 2016: I found a job teaching driver's education 30 hours a week.  Every check I made went straight to my Discover card debt.  

I also continued to look for a higher-paying teaching position for the fall, as both the pay and issues with the charter school administrators had left me not wanting to return.  In August, I was offered my current position, in the second-highest paying district in the state, which meant a $15,000 pay raise!  Praise God!!  


Fall 2016: Unfortunately, after paying off my credit card, I had a major setback- my last paycheck from the charter school came, and I expected my first paycheck from the public school to come in two weeks.  However, I opened my online credit union account to find...nothing.  No one told me my new district used a lag-pay system and my first check wouldn't come for another two weeks.  Blehhhh!  


Of course, my parents loaned me the money to pay for rent (and I paid them back!), but I fell behind in some other areas.  


Oh, and I adopted a cat.  Yes, she costs some extra money, but she has honestly been a worthwhile investment in my emotional health.  If you've ever lived alone, you know what I mean!  
Silly kitty!

2017: So...my goal this year is to pay off $20,000.  Yes, it's ambitious- but I won't know if I can do it until I try!  

I was able to find a part-time evening job less than a mile from my apartment, and I plan to look for more work this summer, and continue setting up other sources of income (note: this will not include any new multi-level marketing ventures, so please don't ask!).   I will continually update this blog, both to inform others and hold myself accountable!  


So far: 
Sold a pair of pageant shoes: $30
Cashed in my credit card rewards: $5.12
Cashed in my rewards from “Pact” (more about that later!): $10.70 
Total: $45.82
Average: $15.27 per day (On track to eliminate $5,573.55 in a year- need to step it up!). 


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