Grace & Peace To You,
Debt as of 06/09/2014: $92,645.00
Debt as of 05/03/2014: $26,391.21
Total Debt Paid Down: $66,253.79
I feel like having more money will make my life better. Yes, you read that right. If I'm honest with you then I have to say that thought goes through my head daily. We are in the final third of our debt pay down process and really we both think about money all the time. I'm beginning to think this is going to be the hardest part.
It's so close we can feel it, yet we are no where close. All I can think about sometimes is all the "things" we want to do when we get out of debt: vacations, shopping, eating out, . . . you know the list! Sometimes I even contort my brain into feeling like we are already out of debt.
Of course money doesn't buy happiness. Easier said than done. I'm not going to even get into the Donald Sterling situation, but will say that he could pay off our debt with one bank transaction and I'm not sure want to be him. I asked Emily if she wanted to be Kim Kardashian . . . I mean we would be rich and could pay off our debt faster? I cannot print her response :) OK, I'm going to go a little further back for one of those great E Hollywood celebrity downfall stories.
Do you remember Stanley Burrell? We have been studying him in my History of Rock class as part of our hip hop unit. Not only did MC Hammer bring us parachute pants and make tall lanky white kids from East Tennessee try to imitate the dance moves on his video. He also underscored that if you have a million dollars and spend it all, you are still broke. If you have a million dollars and spend two million, you're broke and a million in debt. If you don't pay the IRS then Mr. Smith will find you. Not sure how Hammer is doing today, but I hope he is making his own peace just as we are trying to do. He was rich, but I'm not sure it made his life better. Maybe it did because the "U Can't Touch This" video still looks like a lot of fun.
It's never about the amount of money, but always about how you use the money you have. Over the past several weeks we have encountered several events and chance meetings that have made me take inventory on our life. It is from those chance encounters that I have drafted this list of ten reasons that being out of debt that will make us RICH. None of them include a mansion or a fancy car.
Top Purchases When We Are Out Of Debt
1) Living and working on our own terms.
2) Being content with what we have.
3) Being able to visit our family whenever we want.
4) Being able to give to others.
5) Being able to buy the groceries we want at the stores we want!
*still perplexed as to why it costs more to eat healthy in this country
6) Being able to work fewer extra jobs so we have more time to spend together.
7) Owning a home.
8) Being able to buy a grill for that home.
9) Starting a family.
10) Traveling.
We are still in debt. We are still getting out. We will still struggle with the darkness that it brings, but we will succeed. We have a great life and I'm very thankful that God has given it to us for however long we have it.
Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em,
Emily & Bryant
