Happy New Year, Peeps! Here are my goals for 2019. Ready…Set…Go!!
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2019 DOUBLE DEBT SINGLE WOMAN GOALS
ONE – Pay off student loan debt from $35,000 to $0.
That’s right! This is the year, the student loan debt monster dies. Last year, I paid off $25,300 of student loan debt. I want to surpass that this year. I’m down to the last $35,000 of debt and I want it dead.Yeah, this is another crazy ambitious goal. But you know my debt motto: go big or go home.
I’ve already paid off over $30,000 of credit card debt, so paying off this amount of debt is familiar territory for me. I have no idea how I’m going to pay all this off in one year, though. Maybe I’ll win the lottery? I know I need to rein in my spending on food, for one. In any event, my new low fixed interest rate (3.09%) will help more more of my payments go toward principal this year.
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TWO – End the year with no credit card debt.
I want to end the year with no debt of any kind, including credit card debt.
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THREE – Have a positive net worth above $142,258.
I’d like to end the year with a positive net worth as large as, or larger than, the negative net worth I started this blog with (-$142,258) back in 2012. I expect the stock market to continue to sink, so this will be a solid goal to strive for. This goal is a symbolic one for me. It will mean that I have finally come full circle on my money turnaround. From -$142k net worth to +$142k.
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FOUR – Max out 401k, Roth IRA, and HSA
This is a continuing goal. I’d like to keep my monthly contributions as is and not have to divert them toward the student loans.
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CAVEAT
This goals list assumes two things: 1) continued steady employment at my current income, and 2) no changes to my housing situation. As you already know, if you read this blog regularly, both of these things are in a somewhat precarious state.
It is highly likely that my employment will change at some point this year and I will separate from my employer, willingly or unwillingly. Additionally, where I’m living is a month-to-month arrangement. The owner could decide to sell the house and kick my roommates and me out at any time. So far this has not been the case, fortunately. In exchange for the cheap rent, my roommates and I deal with some measure of housing insecurity. But at any time, if this ever were to happen and I had to move, my housing costs would increase substantially.
If changes to my employment and/or housing happen, I’ll revise my 2019 goals.
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Things are moving in the right direction. I may be $35k in the red now, but with hard work and determination, I’ll be flat broke in no time.
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“Debtor’s prison is real, and opportunity cost is a bitch.” (DDSW Archives)
Double Debt Single Woman 
These goals are impressive!!
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Thank you.
Coming up with goals is easy. The challenge is actually completing them! 🙂
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I’m rooting for you from Scotland. We have a total different student funding system here, but I had some similar experiences in my mid/late 30s, and I know how hard it was to turn things around. Wishing you much luck and determination for 2019.
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Thank you, Peggy! 🙂
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I love this!! I strive to put #4 on my list some day. I started my journey with a negative net worth of $67,325. I like your goal of having your net worth be the opposite of your negative net worth! Very inspiring!
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Hey Dolores,
I look for milestones wherever I can find them; anything that motivates me to keep going. But yeah, I like the turnaround milestone too! 🙂
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As always, your determination and followthrough are incredibly impressive. Your employer and landlord will do what they do, but you’ve put yourself in a significantly less terrifying position to deal with whatever happens this year. I commend you for staying focused over this long haul and keep cheering that every huge debt payment gets you closer to a place of real security!
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Hear, hear!
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Thanks, C. The uncertainty does feel less scary these days. I can’t wait to be like you and have no debt and a fat emergency fund/savings. As soon as I can get to that point, it will be be a different ballgame for me. I’ll truly be in control of my own life for the first time.
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You GO! Keep up the excellent work!
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Thanks! I’ll do what I can! 🙂
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You go girl! I’m sure you will kick some debt butt this year, regardless of what life throws at you.
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Thanks! This is the year for kicking, so debt better hide its butt. lol 🙂
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Love it. Wow, paying off the last debt and fund I g your retirements fully is a great goal to set. I go back and forth daily with the decision of paying off my house and increasing my 401k to the max.
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Thanks!
Yeah, that’s a tough one – house vs retirement.
Thanks to my huge debt, buying a house was never an option for me. I was forced into roommate purgatory. So I guess the silver lining was that it was one less decision for me to make. But who knows what the future holds!
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These are absolutely fabulous goals!! I’m rooting for you to kill that student loan debt by the end of the year!!
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Thanks, Michelle! You are similar to me in that we both set a lot of big goals. Rooting for you as well. 🙂
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Very best of luck for this year. The feeling of relief you’ll have soon when the debt’s are gone will live with you forever after. You are also boosting us as followers of your journey. I look forward to following you throughout this year.
Paul. London.
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Yes, I’m looking forward to it. Thank you for the encouragement, Paul! Happy New Year!
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I love how audacious your goals are and that you are making them reality!
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Ha! I’m trying to! 🙂
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I believe!
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You’ve got goals which puts you in such a better position to get what you want. Good luck!
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Thank you.
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