Digging into Debt

Originally posted March 7, 2010
It has been on my heart to share my story of being in debt and getting out. It’s on-going, it’s not easy, and sometimes it sucks. I hope to help others who feel there is no way out. Just a few years ago, my husband and I were in a bottomless pit and getting deeper, we are now credit card debt free, and have a goal of April 2013 to be free of student loans. Over the past four years, our income has gone up 8K. I can’t say that we make a great deal of money, although I was pleasantly surprised to see my husband finally cracked 50K last year before taxes. When we were in debt, I looked to people that had been in debt and were now wealthy. That’s great for them, but hard to relate to. I really enjoyed network marketing superstar, Dani Johnson’s, story of having $2.03 in her pocket and using network marketing to make oodles of money. She is a gifted woman and has taught hundreds (thousands?) how to do it too. I only went further into debt.
I don’t feel I can tell you all about getting out of debt without sharing how my husband, whom I will call Professor, and I got into debt. I’m not here to embarrass myself, just being honest and letting you know you are not alone. No matter what is going on financially, you are not alone, but few people talk about it when they are in the middle of being in debt. I certainly did not open up to many about our debt until I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. Once there was a plan in place, the burdens began to lift and I could breathe again.
Professor and I met in graduate school when we both made between 13K-16K a year. I was debt free and he had a small balance and some student loans. Things were good. I was able to pay my tuition and rent, buy books, food, and travel on that amount of money from 2001-2004. We lived in northern Idaho and living expensive were minimal, but my love of traveling to Spokane to shop at stores like TJ Maxx did get me into trouble. Luckily, I was a grad student with lots of responsibilities and trips were limited. Ebay was my other spending vice. My traveling was not extensive—always to see family either on Long Island or down south in Phoenix. Life was pretty good financially. The only other bit of debt we accrued while living in Idaho, was when we bought the engagement and wedding bands. Then we graduated….