You have an idea. You write out the logistics. You make a decision. You plan to succeed.
Sometimes you fail.
I failed.
This may or may not be my debt story.
I don't exactly know the correct etiquette when it comes to talking numbers and accrued debt, but hey we are all pretty much best friends now so it's about time a take you inside the Ms. J's did-you-really-think-that-was-possible-you-might-want-to-consider-being-a-realist-world.
These words may have come out of my mouth at one point in my life:
"It's perfect, I will have little to no debt before we get married!"
Silly, Ms. J.
Although there is no regret in my decision, I may be a little off track.
My story might go something like this....
9 months of community college: $5,000.
$555 paid monthly.
9 months of putting up with jokes about community college.
9 months of defending community college.
Remaining balance: $0.
9 months of Out-of-state college: $18,300.
Achieved in 9 months:
3 loans.
1 indecisive student.
3 different majors.
12 classes.
6 amazing girlfriends.
1 bridesmaid.
Aka: Paid $18,300 for friends.
They are worth every almost every penny.
I love them, but that's a lot of pennies.
A decision was made:
No more school.
No more debt.
Follow passion:
Become a nanny.
Pay off debt.
$18,300.
1 amazing nanny job.
2 awful nanny jobs.
15 months of payments.
1989756765 more to go.
Underpaid nanny.
Monthly minimum payment.
Total Paid: $5,042
Hopeful loan balance: $13,258
Actual loan balance: $17, 100
$1,200 towards loan.
$3,842 towards interest.
1 frustrated girl.
Mr. B proposed towards the end of my Sophomore year of college. In just two years I had not only changed schools 3 times, I had also changed my major 3 times. It sort of made sense, a new major for each school. Wasn't exactly my intentions, but it worked out that way. By the end of my Sophomore year I had done Liberal Arts, Communication Disorders and Elementary Education. Believe it or not, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Seriously. It just so happened that school or these majors wasn't part of that. I wanted to be a nanny, then a stay at home mom, then have a small in home daycare. What I really needed/wanted was a homemaking degree. Not only did I change my majors, I took core classes in each of those majors and no gen. eds.
Silly, Ms. J.
NOTHING transferred.
It appears as though I wasn't thinking properly. I may have been lacking in the intelligence department. I agree, but I promise I was a smart girl. I graduated High School with High Honors and I even got all A's in college (even at the out-of-state college in case you were thinking well duh it was community college and if you weren't I apologize for my assumption, like I mentioned I learned to defend). Anyways, while in school and hating my classes, I would see ads for nanny positions offering $700-$1000 a week, the whole sha-bang: the car, the health insurance, the traveling, the paid time off etc.
Um...hey genius, why are you in school when you can be making MORE than a teacher and not have the crazy amount of debt from school??
Little guy on my shoulder was right.
With much prayer and consideration, Mr. B and I decided that it would be best for us to stop putting ourselves more in debt with my college loans. I would pursue my dream job, pay off the loans in just one year before we got married, become a stay at home mom and eventually have my daycare.
Oh, hello reality. What's that? I will actually be the family's servant? I will be underpaid and hate it? My planned weekly income is actually my monthly income? I won't make enough for us to live, let alone pay off my loans?? I will keep paying for my loans and they keep growing?? It will be like digging a hole in the sand by the water??
Um...Suzie Orman, I think I could use some help over here.
