December 2017 Debt Update

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Here it is… my last debt summary for 2017. If you saw my goals post, then you’ll already know how much we paid off in 2017, and our new total debt paid since we started our journey back in 2014. But I wanted to break down how we did in December on paying our debts.

So how did we do? The answer… pathetic. December’s debt payoff is by far the smallest I’ve done to our credit card for the year. And honestly, I’m a little embarrassed that I put such a small amount towards it.

In December, we paid $919.94 on debt.

Credit Card:  $189.84
Student Loans:  $180
Mortgage:  $500

There is one, and only one, reason for this: the payments I made on this card were at the beginning of the month. As I explain in my 2018 goals post, during the last half of December I was having some asthma and allergy issues, and was in a constant brain fog. Yeah, the family was home and we were spending time with each other, and yeah, the kids were sick too, but that stuff happens throughout the year and I can still stay on top of the payments.

I pay our card each week, so that when the due date comes there is no minimum payment due. During my brain fogged, allergy ridden, asthmatic state, just breathing and communicating was hard enough, keeping up on budgeting wasn’t happening.

It’s like my brain goes into survival mode, and things that are staring me in the face get preference over everything else. Since I had already paid December’s minimum payment on this card at the end November, this bill wasn’t starting me in the face.

And while I could beat myself up and feel super guilty over it, let’s face this simple fact: it’s not going to do any good.

So, now that we know what my issue was, and I am in the process of seeing a specialist to help better control my asthma and allergies {because it has been getting worse over the last few years}. This isn’t the first time that’s happened. Back in September 2016 I had the same issue, but we didn’t have it linked to allergies yet.

After I see the allergist, I should be able to have better control over my allergies and asthma in the future, and yes, in turn be able to focus on the budgeting better as well.

Throughout 2017 we’ve paid $15,464.26 on our debts,
putting our total debt paid off at $81,544.28.

If you’re interested in other debt updates I’ve done this year, you can check out these:

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.