Hooray for Mommy and Step Dad

So my PARENTS are going to help me buy a new furnace. My stepfather called me today (we typically do not have full conversations) and stated that after crunching numbers they (my parents) would help me buy a new furnace. I screamed on the phone full of excitement. How lucky am I??? I must admit that after hanging up the phone some guilt kicked in, I do not want my parents to feel obligated to bail me out all the time (but I am damn cold). I told my parents that I felt irresponsible but they argued that I had an emergency fund and I had a previous emergency so there is nothing I could do about it. (I agreed).

Today is the first day of a new year and I am declaring I will be aggressive in paying down my debt. We have a church wide fast from 2nd - 8th and I was trying to decide what I was going to give up and it is debt. I WANT TO BE DEBT FREE!!!!

I know we are supposed to fast from food all day but the last time I fasted with the church I almost fell out after not eating all day so instead I am going to eat a green salad with oil and vinegar at noon and water all day (for the four days that I am working during the fast). I have new teacher training for the month of January and I can not imagine starting off falling asleep the first few days due to a lack of food.

Oh, I digress I am going to pick one debt for the month of January and attack it as if nothing else exists in the world. I will have three pay checks this month and reduced expenses thanks to the new job. I figured that would be an excellent way to start off the new year with a bang. I think I will begin with the credit card with the lowest balance $500. Instead of paying the minimum I am going to get down and dirty and wipe it out. Doing this will also free up an additional $50 bucks a month to help pay down my other debt. I feel like my life will be easier or at least simpler if I have monthly expenses, mortgage, student loans, and savings. I still do not know how I am going to tackle my student loan debt on a teacher salary but let's cut down the other small debt before tackling the big one eyed monster.

I am actually looking for books now to help me decide what is a healthy amount to put away for retirement. There is no way I could max out any of the 401k, IRA, etc. plans but I am trying to find healthy numbers for me. And quickly since I fill out paperwork on the 3rd.

So I am off to crunch numbers and get prepared for more quotes for a new furnace tomorrow.




Happy 2008!!!!!