April 2018 Debt Update

Each month I chronicle our progress on our debt free journey. This is how we did for April 2018.

In April, we paid $1,143.61 on debt.

Credit Card:  $413.61
Credit Card 2: $0 — no minimum payment due until May
Student Loans:  $230
Mortgage:  $500

If you saw my post in Instagram, this year has hit us pretty hard as far as car maintenance goes. This month in particular had some more car maintenance that wasn’t expected. This differs from when I replaced my front hub and speed sensor in January, because I had known for months that I needed a speed sensor and wheel hub.

Before I took my car in for inspection, Hubs replaced the brakes on my car. We live on a mountain, and the brakes take it a bit rough when we’re changing nearly 1000 feet in elevation in a half mile distance. Anyways, during inspection I was told that my rear passenger wheel hub needed replaced. The noise wasn’t discernible over the sound of my front brakes while going down said mountain. {This makes three of four hubs replaced… it’s only a matter of time before that last wheel hub feels all unloved.}

Not even a week after inspection, I found a screw in one of my brand new tires, and had to go get it removed and get my tire repaired. Needless to say, all these car repairs over the course of the last four months have reduced our debt snowball for 2018. BUT they are all repairs that are paid in full, and not put on credit cards as we had done in the past.

The other silver lining here is that we have had this car for 7 years. We paid it off in May 2016, and it’s the first time we’ve gone through any major maintenance and repairs on the car {brakes & oil changes aside}, and it’s all been reasonable repairs given the age of and mileage on the car. As long as we keep sticking to these types of repairs, it’ll all be good.

Other happenings this month that affected our snowball amount include:

Soccer started this month, and I’m now driving to town a few more days than I have in the past. Combined with an increase in fuel prices in our area, I’m spending about $60 per week on fuel.
We had some travel expenses that aren’t normal typical for a month for us. This includes, but isn’t limited to, a dentist appointment for myself and the kids, late drop offs due to state testing exemptions, a baby shower held a few hours away, and a Jazz Band concert that Bookworm was involved in.
Hubs & Lady Bug attended a Daddy-Daughter dance. The $10 cost of admission was well worth the memories that she has made.

During 2018, we have paid $4,667.73 to debt.

I want you to remember throughout your debt repayment journey is a thing called life. There will absolutely be months where you’re crushing it, and months where life happens and you’re just getting through. In the end, all of that is completely okay! The end game is financial freedom, and financial security. The journey is all about changing your financial habits, learning to spend within your means, saving for the known, and having a little money on hand for the unknown.