I just got done crunching the figures for the debt that we have, and I came up with $19500. This of course does not include the mortgage. Nor does it include car payments (we own ours free and clear) or credit card debt (since we pay off the balance completely ever month.)

What this does include is money owed to FIL, three student loans (which was less then I thought!), and a hospital bill.

After the closing, we can pay the hospital bill off right away ($250), then we can get started on our debt to FIL.

Since I am not entirely sure how much we will be spending a month with internet and phone service at the new place, I can't get an exact figure, but.... we should be able to put between $700 to $1000 a month towards the debt.
I can not even begin to describe how good this feels!!!!

We should be able to pay off all of our debt in less then two years. It could even be closer to one if we really buckle down...

Besides going to look at the drafting table this evening, we're also going to be going to a movie (50 First Dates), with a friend. This is not normally one we would be to see in the theater (instead, waiting until it came to the library), but it should be funny.

The dreary, rainy weather has begun again on laundry day... But that's okay because I haven't started hanging clothes out yet. I love these kind of days, and last night I laid in bed just listening to the rain fall.

Thought of the Day: As terrifying as it can be, take time to add up all your debt, and make a plan to start decreasing it. To keep yourself motivated, try keeping a running total of how much you pay off (and have left), and put it in a place you see it every day. (We put ours on the fridge.)

I know those big numbers can be very stressful, but when you start focusing on what needs to be done, it will be all the sooner that the extra stress will start to go away.

Mary Hunt is an author that I found to be helpful in reducing debt. Go to your library and check out The Complete Cheapskate , Debt-Proof Living, Debt Proof Your Holidays or Debt-Proof Your Kids