• About Me
  • Disclosure
  • Shop

Making Cents Matter

  • Home
  • Resource Library
  • Budget
    • Budgeting Tips
    • Our Monthly Budget
    • Meal Planning
    • Free Printables
  • Debt Free
    • Debt Free Tips
    • Our Debt Free Journey
    • Free Printables
  • Saving
    • Ways We Save
    • DIY
    • Free Printables
  • Recipes
    • Recipes
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinners
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Soups
    • Meal Planning
    • Preserving Food
  • Garden
    • Gardening Tips
    • Preserving Food
  • Shop

April 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment

March 2018 Debt Update

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.
Click here to read my disclosure policy.

Budget· Debt Free· Our Journey· Our Monthly Budget

3shares
  • 3

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

March 2018 Debt Update

March 2018 Debt Update

In March, we paid $1,145.38 on debt.

Credit Card:  $415.38
Credit Card 2: $0
Student Loans:  $230
Mortgage:  $500

You’ll see from above that we’ve added another credit card to the list.  That’s the biggest change for the month, and if you read my 2018 Goals Q1 Update, you’ll know why.  I have been debating for a while whether I should transfer a portion of the balance to a “0% for a certain term” card to get out from under the interest charge each month.

The pros outweighed the cons.  So this month I finally did it.  I’m sick of paying $108 in interest charges to this one card each month, so we’re getting out from it.  I can get the balance paid off in 18 months, the term of the 0% transfer.  But with saving up for orthodontic payments, and making payments for the last half of the year, I don’t think I’ll be able to get them paid off by December this year.

The plus side is not only will we be saving ourselves on interest each month, but that’s more money that can go towards actually paying off the debt each month rather than being eaten up by interest charges.  Since making the transfer, my minimum payment on the first card have gone down by more than half.

And because of when I made the transfer, I don’t owe on it until May 6th.  Because of when this is posting and when the due date is set up on the card, I don’t know what the minimum payment will be yet, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

 

Other happenings this month that affected our snowball amount include:

  • Our power was out for almost 36 hours at the beginning of the month, which meant almost 36 hours of running our generator to make sure the fire kept the house warm.  Almost $100 in fuel for the generator, which I don’t consider an “emergency”, and just took from our regular budget for the month.
  • I also spent more on fuel for my car at the beginning of the month driving to town to pick up Bookworm at the high school during their tech week rehersals for Seussical.
  • Next month I have a baby shower to attend, and I’ve been slowly purchasing an item here and there over the last few weeks.  Our weekly expenses have been a little more, but nothing so extreme that funds need to be pulled from our gifting fund.
  • I have been setting aside $20 per week up to save up as a down payment for the orthodontist, making for another $80 I don’t have this month, but that’s $450 I’ll have saved up by the time I need to make the down payment.

There is some good news though, is that Hubs employer underwent some new management changes… I guess that’s what you’d call it.  Either way, the company is now offering an incentive to reduce your health care deductible next year by attending some free classes to help you with health management, in conjunction with our regular doctor visits.  The best part, I think, is that they have a class that’s on asthma and allergy management.  I can attend the class and get a reduction on our newly insane health deductible?  Sign me up!

 

After March, our 2018 debt payment is at $3,524.12, and our total debt paid is at $84,068.40.

March 2018 Debt Update

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.

 

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

  • February 2018 Debt Update
  • January 2018 Debt Update
  • December 2017 Debt Update
  • October & November 2017 Debt Update
  • July – September 2017 Debt Update
  • April – June 2017 Debt Update
  • March 2017 Debt Update
  • February 2017 Debt Update
  • January 2017 Debt Update

How are you doing on your 2018 debt journey?  Let me know in the comments below!

March 2018 Debt Update

Related Posts

  • Homemade GranolaHomemade Granola
  • How To Use A Budget CalendarHow To Use A Budget Calendar
  • Bill Pay Checklist | Organize Your Finances With This Free Printable!Bill Pay Checklist | Organize Your Finances With This Free Printable!
  • Why We Didn’t Give Up Our LandlineWhy We Didn’t Give Up Our Landline
  • February 2016 Budget UpdateFebruary 2016 Budget Update
  • February 2018 Meal PlanFebruary 2018 Meal Plan
3shares
  • 3
Previous Post: « Lasagna Stuffed Shells
Next Post: Creamy Orzo with Ham & Peas »

Reader Interactions

Want access to our resource library? Sign up for our free email list!

* indicates required

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Post Categories





makingcentsmatter

makingcentsmatter
Payday is today! Actually, payday was Friday the 1 Payday is today! Actually, payday was Friday the 12th because we completely forgot today is a bank holiday in the US. The feeling of being paid and not needing it is a nice one.⁠
.⁠
Here's what our paycheck needs to get us through for bills until March 14th. For a full look at our budget over the next month, head over to my budget with me on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rb8uyi1-rNc⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
#monthlyincome #monthlybudget #monthlybudget #zerobasedbudget #payday #budgetwithme #budgeting #budgettips #budgetcalendar #frugalliving #savingmoney #paycheck #makingcentsmatter #debtfreejourney #debtfreeprogress
This weekend was focused on a pantry shop and meal This weekend was focused on a pantry shop and meal plan creation! This meal plan to get us to our February payday. We also picked fast meals, because it's a busy two weeks between doctor's appointments,. Academic Decathalon, dance, and drama. I'm unsure we'll be able to shop on payday, hence the extras.⁠
.⁠
Total spent: $112.39 for items to get us through this and lunches.⁠
.⁠
Keep in mind, just over $112 for 12 meals isn't sustainable for our family, just in times when we need to stretch the last bits of our monthly income. I really wish $112 was enough to feed two teenaged boys in our household.⁠
.⁠
The point being... do what works for you, and your situation based on your location. Don't try to fit yourself into someone else's situation!⁠
.⁠
#mealplan #mealplanning #frugalliving #frugalmom #makingcentsmatter #savingmoney #monthlyincome #budgeting #budgetmom #groceryshop
January's real numbers:⁠ .⁠ House: $511.13⁠ January's real numbers:⁠
.⁠
House: $511.13⁠
Citi: $720⁠
D NelNet: $100⁠
K NelNet: $100⁠
K Chase: $150⁠
Explorer: $343⁠
.⁠
Extra Payment to Citi: $500⁠
.⁠
Noteworthy... our car payment had a late fee assessed because the mail was SLOWED down over Christmas. Three headaches later, and we potentially have online banking finally set up with them. It is still a headache. And we are never taking another car loan out with this bank!⁠
.⁠
How was January?⁠
.⁠
#makingcentsmatter #debt #debtfreejouney #debtfreeprogress #debtfreecommunity #realbudget #savingmoney #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #monthlyincome #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance #personalfinancetips #financialfreedom
Sometimes in order to see progress, you need to ta Sometimes in order to see progress, you need to take a step back.
.
I'll be honest, I didn't think that we got this far in 2020. With everything going on - and more importantly, everything NOT going on - we didn't keep up with this every month. We just threw what we could at our goal. I'm simply amazed at how far we came.
.
Things are still hectic, and I'm simply mentally exhausted between remote learning, extended remote learning, offset quarantining children... it goes on and on.
.
But I also cannot wait to see what strides we will make in 2021.
.
#makingcentsmatter #debtfreejouney #debtfreeprogress #savingmoney #savings #frugalliving #frugalblogging #budgeting #monthlyincome #zerobasedbudget #financialgoals #personalfinance
This is what school looks like when it's a hybrid This is what school looks like when it's a hybrid model, and your house does not have unlimited space. I was standing in our kitchen when I took this picture, the kids behind me making lunch.
.
Our district is carefully monitoring our local infection rates, and we are currently in a hybrid form. That means they divided the district into two groups; half are in school on Monday and Tuesday, the other half on Thursday and Friday. They are offering an all remote option, but Verizon for some reason supplies our house with speeds so slow that it would shock a tortoise. Remote was a no-go.
.
This set-up has taken some trial and error to get to where we currently are. Because no matter how prepared you are and how much you've planned, once you're in the weeds, actually doing it, there is no telling how your best-laid plans will work.
.
Our home is a 1800sqft one-story, open living area, 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom, ranch-style house in a very rural area. It has no home offices. No guest bedrooms. Yes, that is a desk in the corner of our dining room. 🤣
.
Each kid gets their own color bin for their school work. This includes school-issued Chromebooks and other standard items they need to get work done - headphones, pencils, and so on. When we are done for the day, we clean up everything, place them neatly in these bins, and place them in cubbies (on my current left) at night while the Chromebooks charge.
.
I do NOT bother to clean up at lunchtime. It would take us more time to clean up and reset everything than it takes us to eat lunch. So we only pack it all up for the day and call it done.
.
During the day, I sit between my younger two and field any questions they may have, troubleshoot technical issues we all have, and be the overall bouncer when things get off-topic. My high schooler will occasionally emerge from his bedroom, which opens to the kitchen. So he is close by when he has questions.
.
Please remember that with all things in life, you need to work with what's available to you. And there is no shame in that. Don't ever feel like you're not doing good enough because it's not picture perfect. Work with what you have available to you, and you'll do amazing things.
School is in session, the garden is slowing, and I School is in session, the garden is slowing, and I’ve finally realized I haven’t shared our payoff numbers for July or August. Yeah……
.
Please keep in mind, we are paid monthly on the 15th, but we don’t go by a “monthly” budget. So I have to go back and look at these numbers based off their due dates in the calendar. Because our pay falls in the middle of the month, I can’t tell you what portion of our income went to debt. It’s going to vary paycheck to paycheck anyways because our priorities vary with each check. Nothing is ever the same month to month, and pay to pay.
.
That said, inJuly we paid off $2,694.43.
In August we paid off $1,673.40.
.
The difference here is that our priorities shifted between the two months.
.
During August, we were doing more prep for whatever school would look like this year, and we had some savings goals make their way to the top of the list as well.
.
Of those goals, in August we made progress!
EF Reimbursement: $146 / $1,200
Checking Buffer Reimbursement: $227 / $500
Vet Sinking Fund: $40 / $200
.
Remember this is a journey, not a race. There is no point wearing yourself ragged and still making no progress. Make progress where you can, and celebrate it. Even if it’s $5.
.
It’s progress, and that’s what matters!
While I wait for the canner to finish the last rou While I wait for the canner to finish the last round... I rearranged our recipe binder. It's only taken me 8 or so years. 🤣😶😭
.
I miss the days when zucchini was my problem. Now it's tomatoes. I can only find so many ways to use up spaghetti sauce! So the next 50lbs or so will be chili base and unseasoned sauce.
.
On top of this school is starting with a hybrid in building & online system. And I'm seriously slacking on some things I need to do. I'm not good at juggling multiple things and the balls are falling. But I keep reminding myself... be patient. This too shall pass. This is only a phase. So I pick and choose what's the most important, focus on that and go from there.
.
So if you feel overwhelmed with your current phase, remember, this too shall pass. It's okay to rearrange priorities. It's okay to take a breather.
.
This too shall pass.
If you didn't start finding interesting ways to ge If you didn't start finding interesting ways to get rid of the squash, can you say you even planted any?
.
Good news, I'm almost caught up! Bad news, the garden has more.
Super busy here... but I wanted to share that wins Super busy here... but I wanted to share that wins can come in super small packages. I thought I'd spend $380 to clean the band instruments in this house. I ended up spending $234. So the remaining $146 can go to reimbursing what I pulled from our EF.
.
No matter the win, celebrate it!
.
What are some wins you have had lately?
Load More... Follow on Instagram


Copyright

I love it when you share our content! Please keep in mind that all content, images and text on this site are property of Making Cents Matter. Feel free to use no more than two photos on your own site, provided that a link back to my original post is included. Do not crop, edit, or remove any watermarks from any of my images without obtaining written permission from me first. Thank you!

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

MakingCentsMatter is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites.

You can read more about our privacy policy and disclosures here.

Copyright © 2021 · Captivating Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in