Debt-o-holism...and goals.

Oh blogging world, how I have been resisting your draw...mostly because I am not very interesting and didn't feel like I had all that much to share with the world.

But now...I do! And boy, do I ever. My road to recovery, if you will.

Hello, my name is Mimi, and I am a debt-o-holic. Phew! There, I said it! The first step is admitting you have a problem, right? Well, sirs and madams, I have a BIG problem. And, problem, thy name be Student Loans.

The symptoms of overwhelming debt are clear, my friend: waking in the middle of the night panic-stricken and covered in sweat, random bouts of uncontrollable sobbing in the bathroom, blowing your nose with paper towel because you are out of toilet paper and/or tissues, and living off of rice and pasta. These, comrades, are just some of the symptoms of debt-o-holism. It ain't pretty. And you know what, I am damn sick of it.

I am going to be completely open and honest with my new online friends (and by friends, of course, I mean YOU). I have A LOT of debt...and I have not a lot of salary. My fiance has just as much debt...and only a little better salary. Combined, we owe somewhere to the tune of $85,000.00...and we make, ironically, just under $85,000 (combined) a year. Our MINIMUM payments every month are roughly $1200.00, and we pay $1000.00 in rent. My goal, which will be chronicled daily via the mysterious inter webs to keep me accountable, is to pay off $50,000 in two years, and, hopefully, the full amount in four years. My goal is to be 100% DEBT FREE (minus a mortgage, if we go that route) in four years!

Eeeek! That looks really scary now that it is written down and I can see it. Everything makes sense and seems like a fantastically acheivable idea in my head...but wow, $85,000 is a STAGGERING amount of debt. Wow. I am hyperventilating.

Ok. Moving on. To help acheive this goal, I signed the fiance and myself up for Financial Peace University, offered by Dave Ramsey. I am super excited. Fiance is less than thrilled. But hopefully he will come to appreciate the course and the lifelong lessons we will be learning...Hopefully! We start the course on June 6th, 2010. It is 13 weeks long, and the group will meet once a week for about 2hours. I'll keep you updated on how it goes!

Oh, and don't think I'm waiting until JUNE to start my journey to Debt Freedom. Ooooh no, I start TODAY! I am currently searching for part-time jobs and things I can sell off. Hehehe...I am like the reverse hoarder.

I hope you all read, become inspired, leave comments with suggestions or encouragement...just no negativity. Believe me, I get it - I know our student loan debt is astronomical...believe me when I say I wish I went to state school! So please be supportive...or be quiet!

Taking it one day at a time! Until tomorrow, friends!