I took this image from my footer at the bottom of this page. This is so beautiful, I had to frame it!
IIIIIIII’MMMM DDDEEBBBTTT FFFFRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to include my own Dave Ramsey style debt-free scream!
I’ve paid off over $142,598 of debt ($30,340 of credit card and $112,258 of student loan). This number represents principal debt only. When I estimate the interest payments, and the medical debt I’ve also incurred and paid off over the years since starting this blog, I’ve easily made over $170,000 in actual total debt payments. Sigh.
But you know what? It makes the celebration that it’s finished, all the better.
Yep. And that last $5k check was like a small house landing on it.
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R.I.P. Debt
Dearly departed Credit Card and Student Loan Debt,
There are no words to describe how you’ve touched my life and changed it forever. In my wildest dreams, never would I have thought I’d be enjoying my current standard of living at my age, roommates and creaky twin bed included(!), but thanks to you I am. You taught me to focus single-mindedly on one goal for years, to the exclusion of all else, because, hey, who needs to have options in life, right?
Anyway, may you both now be committed to the ashes of memory. You will NOT be missed…
Whelp! Now that that’s done…
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Woooot! Woooot!
You know what time it is, my peeps!
DANCE PAAARRRTTTAAAYYYY!!
This is soo me right now! I’ve been marathon dancing since Saturday. One blog post alone could not contain this celebration! LoL
Ohhhh, sometimes I thought I’d never see this day. Seven years after starting this blog, and six years after actively starting my debt repayment, I’m finally debt-free.
The party is still going. C’mon all you guys, join in. Let’s boogie! All together now…
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Net Worth 2012/2013 to 2019
I’ve turned my life around financially in the past 6 years from having all debt and no assets, to now having all assets and no debt. It took literal blood, sweat, and tears, but I did it.
By simultaneously paying off my debt and saving for retirement, I have increased my net worth by $336,084 (including market gains, etc.). That is just amazing to me. This chapter of my financial journey, tracking assets and liabilities, has now reached its end. And you guys have been riding shotgun the whole way. Thank you.
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What’s Next?
I’ll post about what’s next for me, at least for the short term.
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“Debtor’s prison is real, and opportunity cost is a bitch.” (DDSW Archives)
Double Debt Single Woman 
YESSSSSS! Well done you I’m so happy 😀 been following your progress for years and so proud of you for finally kicking its ass!
You’ve inspired me to finally get my debt kicked into shape too, no more excuses, wish me luck!
And congrats again can’t wait to what what your plans are for your new future
Xx
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Thanks! And it was very satisfying to finally kick debt’s ass!
I’m glad you’re feeling fired up to tackle your debt. Do it!! Thanks for reading over the years. 🙂
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DDSW I am so proud of you!! You are an inspiration to what one can do when they put their mind to something. I’m ashamed to say that I have failed at my 2019 debt goals but this post has renewed my determination to succeed at my 2019 goal in 2020. I hope you continue the blog in some way because I feel like you are part of my extended family and will miss your posts. Having just found this blog last year, I fell like our time has been too brief. You get my financial frustrations!! I can read your posts and see bits of myself! But all that aside, I am extremely happy for you and look forward to the day when I can also celebrate my debt free-ness. Bask in the celebration DDSW!!!
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Thank you, StubbornMama for the kind words!
Don’t feel ashamed about your debt goals. if you shoot for the moon, but land among the stars, you’re better off than when you started.
You can do it! Go back to my early posts when I had a mountain of debt on my shoulders. I just needed the right motivation and when you find yours, you’ll want to tear through your debt.
Thanks again for reading and offering support. 🙂
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Relish every minute of this victory. If I was you I would want to be staring at that net worth tracker about a million times a day to really believe the debt is gone and it’s all green from here on out!!!
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Hey Kim,
Yes! LoL. I have stared at that tracker a few more times than would be considered normal. 🙂
And green is my new favorite color!
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This is my favorite post EVER! Keep celebrating! I can’t wait to see where you point your energy next!
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Ha! Thanks, TT! 🙂
Yeah, time to make some decisions…
Did you move your blog? I can’t access it.
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Thanks for the heads up! It should be fixed now
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Yay! And I love the scream! If I knew how to attach a gif here, I would. But I like the Seinfeld one. That’s so me!
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Ha ha! Thanks, Authoress51! 🙂
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YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Words cannot express how happy I am right now! You’ve inspired me to start my own debt payoff journey! Any tips on how to write a blog! P.S. Are you looking for a new job?
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LoL! Thanks, Cathy! 🙂
Slay that debt, girl!
Starting a blog is easy. WordPress is easy to use. Create an account, pick a format you like and start writing whatever you want. Your blog is 100% yours.
As for me, I’m just thinking right now. I’ll lay out some plans in my next post.
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Omg, I’m so happy for you. Congratulation!
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Thank you, Sophie! 🙂
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Congratulations once again! I can’t say enough how proud you’ve made all of us, your readers, feel and how inspiring you’ve been to me! I graduated in 2012, and it really hit me the other day that I am still not debt free ,and I have much less debt than you had to start with. It really lit a fire under me, and I’m actively working to pay it down, and have it gone by the end of next year. I’ve put on my seat belt and am ready to go! You’re shown me it is possible, literally every step of the way, with each of your posts. Thank you! Enjoy the freedom and prosperity! I know you’ll have some epic adventures!
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Thanks, Eri. 🙂
Do it! Ditch the debt!
Yes, another phase of my life can begin now. Looking forward to it.
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Yaaaaayyyyy!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS! I cannot imagine what a relief it is for you to have that anchor gone. Now you can split your excess into retirement, savings, and new job/education funds and watch it all grow!
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Yeah. That’s the plan! 🙂 Thanks!
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So happy for you and proud of what you have accomplished!! Can’t wait to see what’s next.
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Thanks, Dana.
I can’t wait to see what’s next either! 🙂
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Congratulations!!! Wow!!
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Thanks! 🙂
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Again, I am so happy for you. I think you should see if you can go on the Dave Ramsey show even if it’s by phone. Of course, he’s the one that tells everyone to not contribute to retirement savings or any kind of savings at all until they are completely debt free. I feel like when you owe as much as you did (and I do now), you can’t wait that long. have to use compounded interest in your favor somehow! You have actually become a huge inspiration to me. Seeing you come so far in such a short time and now seeing that you have had your loans since about the time that I first started obtaining mine, and seeing you are now free of them. Well, it’s inspired me to write a blog post (Gasp, I know!) And it will go live pretty soon. I’ll give you a shout when it does. Because you are definitely mentioned in it!! AGAIN, YAY!! I would so totally be doing the Elaine Dance, btw. LOL
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Thank you, Terri!! 🙂
Yeah. There was no way I could wait until I was debt-free before starting retirement savings. Being debt-free will be a new kind of freedom. You’ll love it. I’m looking forward to seeing your next post and what you have planned.
Ha! Yes, the Elaine Dance, a Seinfeld classic. 😆
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Many congratulations again on this DDSW. You deserve to (and will) enjoy this feeling of relief forever after. Waking up each morning debt free is a very nice feeling, I know from my own experience. So good luck for your journey from here onwards. I hope you will still occasionally post us an update.
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Thank you, Paul, for the encouragement over the years. Yes, it does feel better knowing that the sacrifices I’m making are for my benefit instead of for debt. I’m already working on my next post. 🙂
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Congratulations from across the Atlantic!
You can be very, very proud of yourself and what you’ve achieved – you’ve changed your life and, as you begin your new life as a debt-free woman with positive financial options, I’m sure you will be grateful every day that you made all those sacrifices. It may take a little mental adjustment to find your new ‘financial normal’ after so many years of doubling down, but give yourself lots of time to get used to things, and plenty of pats on the back.
Jane in London
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Hi, Jane!
Hey, another Londoner! 🙂 Do you happen to know Paul? 🙂
Yes. I have yet to find my new financial normal, so that will be a new adventure to look forward to.
Thank you. 🙂
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Yay! Rot in Hell, Debt Witch, and never return.
Can’t wait to hear what’s next for you… Me, I’m already figuring out how to intelligently allocate what will be available out of my paychecks once the evil debt is gone in a few months, all with a bare bones savings and a laughable retirement fund – at the age of 42!
I have to imagine you’re yearning to both change jobs and get a place for yourself even if studio-sized. You’ll have enough no doubt, even in your super overpriced renter’s/buyer’s market, to secure something. But don’t overlook location change either. Cities like St. Louis or Minneapolis or Kansas City could give you quite a comfortable existence with fraction of the budget for housing.
Good luck and success, and till next post!
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That’s great that you’re making a financial plan ahead of time for being out of debt.
I’m yearning to do a lot of things now that I’m out of debt. Making them a reality is its own undertaking!
Thanks! 🙂
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Bravo! I am so happy to read this! You did it! 👍👏🙂🎈🎊🎉🍾Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Thank you, Cynthia! 😊
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What’s next? Any new financial goals?
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Hey there!
I haven’t had much time to even think about it. I’m also on a temporary hiatus from financial planning and budgeting. I’ll have some at some point in the not too distant future. 🙂
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Sounds good. It’s good to enjoy your financial success for a while. Good luck with everything!
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WOOHOO! Congratulations! Nothing’s worse than debt strangling you. Excellent!!
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Thank you! 😊 And agreed!
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Just revisiting for motivation to do what really needs to be done. My current living expenses are already pretty low…but they could get even lower if I was willing to leave my current university and work at a university abroad where housing is included but I could keep my current salary.
I am also unhappy with my current job and have been for some time. The things holding me back have been how my best friends would feel, how my parents would feel, etc. I thought about it today and as much as I love them and need to keep them a priority, I need to make myself and my mental health also a priority. And my current debt balance brings me nothing but shame and anxiety. And I am the only person who has to live with it.
Thank you for the inspiration. My current debt is a bit over $120K down from $148K in late 2018. I am 34 and don’t want to take debt and financial insecurity into my 40s. Not only were you able to pay off a ton, you were also able to save. I want to do what you did. But I can’t do that at my current employer.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and the continued inspiration.
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Hey. Congrats on your paydown.
Everyone has circumstances unique to their lives, so “doing what it takes” to get out of debt isn’t one size fits all. And there is also a limit in terms of changes one can make, such that past this limit, any changes aren’t worth the effect on your mental and/or physical health. You are the only one who can determine where that limit is. If friends and family are essential to your happiness, then don’t sacrifice that. Everything you do is up to you.
Celebrate the milestones as you hit them. Keep going!
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