March has been one of those months where I felt really antsy. I want to be done working on the house and getting it ready to sell, and yet it seems the road ahead continues for miles yet.
Our “baby” emergency fund is currently: $1,002.94
Starting Debt Amount: $53,285.44
(original projected payoff – December 2019)
As Of:
September 2016: $52,035.26 (-$1,250.18)
October 2016: $50,243.99 (-$1,791.27)
November 2016: $47,627.15 (-$2,616.84)
December 2016: $45,352.38 (-$2,274.77)
January 2017: $43,814.66 (-$1,536.52)
February 2017: $36,084.65 (-$7,730.01)
March 2017: $34,056.58 (-$2,028.07) – projected payoff at this point was – Feb 2019
During the chaos the debt increased: $62,211.73 (+$28,155.15)
December 2017: $47,172.13 (-$15,039.60) – projected payoff was – Mar 2020
January 2018: $45,587.13 (-$1,639.05)
February 2018: $43,923.86 (-$1,663.27)
March 2018: $42,065.84 (-$1,858.02)*
*Current projected payoff (without selling the house) – Jan 2020
Speed Bumps Encountered
- Grocery Budget – We let the food bill run a muck a bit this month. Stress took over and we ate out too much. – $320
Things We’re Thankful For
- Family – Another death in the family this month – hug the ones you love, often.
- Good Plumbers – After dealing with the flood, we love our plumber even more. He was a big help during the bathroom remodel… which is almost finished!
- Snow – We’ve needed some moisture and thankful we got a bit during March.
- Trash Pick-up – We have filled our bin every week as we continue to purge the house, and it’s so nice not to have to haul it off ourselves.
Increase giving by another 3%– done! (began in February)Build our initial 2018 budget spreadsheets through August.– done!- Switched over to EveryDollar Plus in February.
- Have monthly budget meetings with husband. – 3/12 done
- Will set an appointment for these each month.
- Reduce the debt using the debt snowball and current payments (ave. reduction of $1,200/mo) – on target
- Time: till house sells (see below)
- Will accomplish this with
bi-weeklymonthly zero-budgeting.
- Downsize
- Time: By August
- List house on the market by June.
- Purge stuff from every corner of the house – Switched to KonMari Method, currently on Category 4.
- Sell and donate as much of our stuff as we can – in process.
- Cash flow repairs and home preparations – Budget is set, in process.
- Find a smaller place and pay cash to replace furniture.
- Pay off remaining debt, fully fund emergency fund, and invest 15% in retirement accounts
- Time: @ closing – hoping to reach baby step #4 no later than August
- Getting to baby step #4 is more important to us than whether we rent or buy for our next dwelling.
- Cash flow college expenses for two kids. – Paid cash again this month for college expenses.
- Rework budget and set new goals once we move – update this list as we go!
March has concluded… on to the next billing cycle.