"Does this smile make my wallet look fatter?"
We are TOTALLY Debt Free!
I came home from the bank after wiring the mortgage company their money and decided I wanted to have a MOMENT of debt-freeness. So, who else did I owe?
I had small balances on 2 credit cards. These are from this month's charges as we don't carry a balance EVER any more. Went online and PAID OFF. Balance $0.
And, I'm planning on calling them and getting our credit limits lowered! Who needs all that exposure to rip-off? I do have an open dispute with one CC company over a $31.54 charge to McDonald's. I've never spent that kind of money there EVERRRRRRRRRRR! Should've been $3.54. I am a dollar menu shopper unless I'm splurging on a salad.
We owed our accountant $147. I just now wrote him a check and took it to the post office. Balance $0.
We are totally and completely debt free.
We don't owe anybody anything - other than the utility companies their normal monthly charges - any money whatsover!
We are UTTERLY FREE!!! Taaaaaaaa-daaaa!
It feels awesome now, but it will feel extra special good-a-licious Each and Every first of the month when I don't have to send off a wad of cash to the mortgage company.
Paid off 4 years and 8 months early from our contractual obligation!
Breaking the chains of debt? It can be done!
Now, we'll be fueling even more dollars into our House Maintenance Fund for future repair needs on the house - carpets are getting worn, roof in the next ten years likely, and heat/air-conditioner could need replacing at any time.
We do need to do some bathroom repairs relatively soon too as we need to replace our bathtub and the resulting sheetrock & tile work that goes along with. Even if we decide to sell and downsize, the bathroom will HAVE TO be repaired or made allowance for.
I will likely split what was going to mtg. to my retirement funds and this House Maintenance Fund.
I am a happy camper with minimum household utilities running currently around $315 average and $135 a month going for household taxes (apprx. $660 year) and insurance (apprx. $800 year) and other 'slush fund needs'.
So, our household expenses are sitting right now at ONLY $450 a month (not counting saving for repairs & upkeep).
I can tell you friends that's a wonderfully scenic place to be sitting looking at retirement!
Now to convince Hubster we need solar, a woodstove and a water-well and we could get those things lowered even further!!
I would like to say that I was being tongue-in-cheek, but what sane person likes to pay the utility companies???? I don't. Either we've got to get those things OR get our investments up in order to have them paid for by the investments in my mind's eye. I know it is probably silly, but wouldn't it be fun to own enough dividend paying electric stock to where your own electric bill became a wash? and gas bill, water bills, etc. doing likewise????? I would ADORE THAT!
A new goal!!!
Everybody needs something to shoot for, right? Stay Tuned!!
P.S. I wanted to buy us a treat for today, but suceeded in not spending any money while I was out! So I outlayed a boatload of money today, but not out of my personal wallet, so today's a No Spend Day!!
I did grab two FREE suckers from the bank counter (after telling the lady if they were paying decent interest we wouldn't be doing this) and we have steak, stuff for baked potatoes, salad and a good bottle of wine for tonight's celebratory meal! Don't worry, I won't abandon my Frugalicious Gene ways, I just got the sirloin steaks out of the freezer to defrost - they have an orange REDUCED label on them - cost? $2.33! The wine was bought at case discount costs on our last vacation.
Breathing freely!!! Now off to paint some crown molding trim that was in the attic when we bought the house. Hubster is going to put it up for me as soon as I get it painted.
September 21st, 2009 at 05:42 pm 1253554970
Well done!
September 21st, 2009 at 05:51 pm 1253555491
September 21st, 2009 at 05:52 pm 1253555558
Not a bad idea, by the way, about the solar, wood stoves, and water well. In an ideal world, I wouldn't mind stuff like that myself.
September 21st, 2009 at 06:04 pm 1253556290
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September 22nd, 2009 at 01:48 am 1253584129
I love that word: frugalicious !
September 22nd, 2009 at 01:52 am 1253584337
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September 22nd, 2009 at 06:38 am 1253601514
Congratulation again.
September 22nd, 2009 at 07:35 am 1253604929
I bet it makes you feel like you are walking on air and 1000 pounds lighter. I'd be floating off the ground!!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm 1253621588
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September 23rd, 2009 at 03:37 pm 1253720238
I must take the time to thank you all as well. The support and inspiration here is AWESOME and I couldn't of done it without the support of you good folks! Thank ye! Thank ye! THANK YE!!!!!!
You guys are the best!
September 23rd, 2009 at 08:38 pm 1253738326
September 24th, 2009 at 04:37 am 1253767072
September 29th, 2009 at 01:57 am 1254189426
October 14th, 2009 at 03:08 am 1255489712
Absolute congrats to you.