Thursday Thirteen #21

The website says that this will be the final edition of TT...unless someone else buys the rights to it. That's sad that a community of people and something people will enjoy...will come down to money. Well...if this is it, it was fun while it lasted.

P.S. I woke up a smidge ago...and I am feeling better. I got to the point when my temp went back to normal and I just feel like I can't sleep any more.

Thirteen Things About Shelley And Money! 1. I have a love/hate relationship with money, but then again...doesn't everyone? 2. When I entered college...I had close to 2K in savings from my job in high school. 3. I got my first credit card when I was 18 years old...my mommy co-signed for me. 4. By the time I graduated from college, I had about 2K in credit card debt. And sadly, it was just from living beyond my means. 5. That 2K completely freaked me out. It may not seem like a lot to some, but for me...it seemed like a bottomless hole. 6. When I started grad school, I vowed to reduce my debt and once I paid off the cards to never have a credit card balance. 7. I paid off all my cards in 2003...and to this day have never paid a penny in interest in credit cards again. 8. When I graduated from grad school...I was once again saddled in debt, but school loans. It's healthy debt, but I still hate it. When I went to my exit interview...they student loan people gave me a chart saying that if you owe this much you should make this much per year. I laughed out loud when I saw this because as a social worker I was NEVER going to make what the chart says I should. 9. Since I have graduated from grad school in 2002...I have paid down over 25K in educational debt. (sadly that is not even half of what I owe for both undergrad and grad school) This afternoon I made a 2K payment to one of my loans. I figured that it makes more sense to pay that money off instead of just keeping it in an account...getting a smidge of interest. 10. I am lucky to have really good credit. I saw lucky, but really it was a lot of self discipline and hard work. I haven't always had a lot of money, but I have paid bills on time and not gotten overwhelmed. 11. I paid off my car lst year...2.5 years early. I am really proud of that. And now the money I used to pay for my car loans...I send to my student loans. 12. Right now I am on schedule to be debt free by 2010. That seems like a long time away, but if I only paid what they told me to...my loans would be paid in full on 2033. That's right 2033!!! 13. I know much of this post seems like I am bragging...and well, I probably am. I am really proud of the financial decisions I have made. I have a journey ahead of me, but I love that I have a plan and I am making choices to help my financial future instead of just hiding under a rock!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants