I'm doing an inner victory dance right now. I can't do an actual victory dance because it's too damn hot right now. But that's o.k. because the 401k check finally came and I now have enough money to pay off the balance of my credit card! The check couldn't have come more last minute. Today was literally the last mail day before my flight for Thailand and I have been sweating bullets (literally and figuratively) hoping that check would arrive before I leave the country.
I'm not sad to say that I'll be closing a chapter of my life. It's been about 5 years since I got myself into this mess and I've spent the last 2 years toiling to pay off the approximately $30,000 in debt I had accumulated while I was in college. All the sacrifices were worth it. The bad haircuts. The scant wardrobe. The peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The terrible job. I never want to do that again!
This whole experience has made me appreciate everything so much more. I was trying to think of exactly what it is that I appreciate more but I really think it is EVERYTHING. I appreciate not having to worry about money and all the things that I learned you can enjoy without money. I appreciate how I learned who my true friends are and how you can pretty accurately judge a person based on how they treat people who don't wear fancy clothes or flash their money around. I appreciate the freedom that comes when you don't have to struggle paycheck to paycheck to survive. I truly appreciate all the things that you can buy with money because I lived so long without having much.
Tomorrow before I go to the airport I'm going to go to the bank to deposit the check. It's strange how the timing worked. Depositing the check will be one of the last things I do in the States and then I'm off to start a new life thousands of miles away. It's the rebirth of me. Weeee!
Don't forget you can check out my new blog, Living in Thailand, to follow up on my progress.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Hallelujah, debt salvation has come!
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24 comments:
I am speechless!! I will miss hearing what you are doing to be debt free, but what a wonderful thing!!!!!I am so excited for you!! You are living my dream!
I will blog roll your new blog and can't wait to see how it goes!!!!!!!
Congrats to the fullest!!!
Now you will have to do a blog on how you are saving and show how it is growning!
SMOOCHES!!!!!!!!
Congrats lpkitten!! You are one of the reasons my blog was born and you have proved to be very inspirational. I am so happy for you I just can't seem to put it in words.
Thank you for sharing your story. It is making a difference in my life, and I am sure it is making a difference in others' lives as well.
All the best as you start this new, debt-free chapter of your life :)
OMG! Congratulations and have a great time living overseas!!!
Congrats!! I am here doing a happy dance for you.
Have a safe flight.
Woohoo!! If I wasn't at work, I would be doing the full on happy dance for you, but you'll have to settle for a little toe tapping under my desk :)
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! and best of luck in Thailand. I'll be following your new blog as well.
That is AWESOME! You did that in an amazing amount of time - and you really make it seem possible. Congratulations! What an outstanding gift to yourself as you leave the country - a new future.
How cool is that!
YIPPPEEEEEEE Congratulations on being debt free and have a grand start to your new life in Thailand.
I don't want to be a party pooper, but she is not debt free (student loans are debt) and in order to pay off the credit cards, she had to skim from her retirement. That said, you accomplishments so far (aside from taking 401(k) money, are impressive.
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU. you have really shown your trueself in the last couple of years. your journey has been completely inspirational and your tips have helped us all out along the way. i wish you nothing but the best and you best believe i will be following then new blog. don't you love it when things actually work out??
i am doing a little jig in my air conditioned place for you since you can't and i might just have to dedicate a little white boy dance to you! congrats!!! :)
That is incredible news. I am a fairly new reader to your blog but nontheless appreciate what you have done to reach your goal of paying off your credt card debts. Good luck in Thailand and I will be reading that blog as well.
Congratulations! I can't wait until I am free as well!
Congratulations on being debt free!
Sorry for the late entry but CONGRATS!!!!! Have fun in Thailand
wow!! congratulations and enjoy your freedom. You've earned it :-)
I am so late on this by CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
hey Congrats on becoming debt free..... !!
Hey lpkitten can we exchange links.This site will be very useful to my readers Thank you.
Your site is great. I like all the advice and tips. thanks
Congrats on becoming debt free. No easy task. I'm green with envy!
Congrats on getting into the New York Times!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/us/18debt.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Congrats.. its an awesome feeling to have debt paid off.. I know when i had to pay off my college loan it felt like a huge weight.. then when i had the money to get it clear.. i was over the moon..
not sure that raiding your 401k is a great way to pay off debt, but congrats anyway.
have fun in thailand. its my favorite place on the planet. Skip bangkok and phuket. just head straight to southern thailand - its awesome!
have fun.
All the money your going to save in credit card interest will be worth all your sacrifices.
Did you know that you could leave your debt for 6 years and it can become unenforcable? It's all to do with the Limitation Act
Not sure whether it applies in the US, but it still makes an interesting read.
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