As you know Audi and I have big plans for 2010. We had hoped to get rid of our last credit card by this Christmas, but I’m not sure that it’s actually possible. We would still love to make it happen, and have come up with a plan to do so using a helpful tool from BankRate.com. Previously, we needed $200 more per month than what we currently have allocated to get rid of the debt. Now we need $550 more towards the monster. We’ve already turned in our taxes so we’ll be putting everything we get back towards the card as well as every little bit extra we get from side jobs. I don’t even wait for our monthly payment to be due anymore. I make like eight payments to Capital One a month whenever the extra money comes in in true “snowflake” style.

Anyway, I was becoming somewhat despondent about the whole situation even though I know we’ll be free soon so I decided to let the world know how we’re doing. I’ll be updating our progress using the ticker so that you can cheer us on. Let the countdown begin!

We paid off another credit card this month bringing us down to one! We’re readjusting our finances again to better suit our needs, and I just wish there were some way to bring more money in. Since that is somewhat out of our control, we are focusing on the money going out and cutting back again. Weekly groceries are back down to $110 and trips to Goodwill with the kids have been discontinued. My kids don’t need toys. My kids need attention.

We (Audi and I) presented them with an option for Christmas. We could go to the Indoor Water Park (CoCo Key) again for Christmas, but they wouldn’t get any more presents from Mommy and Daddy. Jayden responded, “But I like presents.” Don’t we all? I then explained that he would still get presents from Santa and all his grandmas and grandpas, but his present from Mommy and Daddy would be getting to go to the water park. He was okay with that, and they are both very excited.

I think Audi and I have been doing a good job about not being nearsighted about our journey. It seems to me that I’m the one with the “wannas” more so than he, but we understand the price behind the want now. We see the destination, but also have a fair estimate about the road leading to it. It’s not instant, but it will be worth it. Like all things worth having in life, we’ll get them by being willing to pay price of time and hard work.

It’s also nice that we are enjoying our journey. When I was younger, it always seemed like I was waiting for my life to start: waiting for high school to start…waiting to get my license…waiting for high school to be over…. and when that time came my life will be great. But it’s always one thing after another. Once I’m married…once I have kids…once I have a job, then things will be awesome. Then I’ll be happy. After a while you realize that these things you’re waiting for are your life and who wants to go through life feeling like things are never finished?  If you don’t have any obstacles to overcome, you’re either really bored or dead. So bring on the miniature disasters cause I don’t sweat the small stuff.

The link above is to my new favorite song. I heard it on the radio a couple days ago. I just love it. It’s so cool. Although, I think only my mom and sister will truly appreciate it’s dance worthy quality. I’m always finding great “solo” songs. Now I know how my mom felt all those years. My last dance solo was to a song I discovered on the radio and “had” to dance to. It was “Brass in Pocket” by The Pretenders. “Baby, It’s You” came out in 1969 so I’m like 40 years behind. I think that’s so cool when I discover a “new” song that has been around forever - no offense to the over 40!

In other good news, the last payment went through on one of our credit cards, and we got to cross it off with bright red marker on our Debt Snowball list on the fridge. Yeah! We’ve done really well with our budget and have paid off over $6,000 in debt since starting our Total Money Makeover on January 1st, 2007. Not too shabby. Check out the link to Dave Ramsey if you’d like to see how we’re doing it.