Another year passed today, and it ended on a high note:
As of today I am officially debt free, and I will never go back to that life.
Now I can focus on the future without worrying about the weight of debt on my back. It is nice to be able to breathe that sigh of relief.
Onward!
Tomorrow marks one week until I am free from my final debt. It has been a few months of putting off my goals to burn through this but it already feels worth it. I can see the end and almost reach out and touch it now.
My money will finally be mine alone. I won’t have to think about who owns me because no one will. Freedom is a good feeling, even in anticipation.
This was an expensive lesson to learn in the short term but I learned it well.
The countdown to freedom has begun…
The past month has been a complete blur of activity toward my goals and it is at this time I decided to make a public account of sorts.
I am in the process of eliminating the one debt I have, an impulsive personal loan which I used to reduce my targets, and I will have it paid on my birthday in just under two weeks. The idea sank in today that I will find myself in familiar territory: completely debt free with no open credit of any sort. I got goosebumps just reading that to myself out loud now…
Now don’t get me wrong… I know that I will be faced with the same inane conversations I experienced during my previous run as a truly free person:
“You have to have credit! At least keep one credit card so you can keep your score.” Turns out that I can keep score… Negative net worth was the score.
“How will you buy a car?” I have one already, that I paid for in 11 months. It has no payments and is less than halfway through it’s reasonable life. I’m good. When I retire this vehicle, I’ll buy the next one with cash. Alternatively, I can trade this ride in and pay the difference on an upgrade. Or I can just run it til the wheels come off, which is standard issue where I come from.
“How will you buy a house?” I am not 100% sure that I will buy one. In fact I am not 100% sure that I will stay in any one place for my life. Turns out there are different lives people can live… Shocking I know. If/when I make the decision to purchase, I will pay with cash and purchase the amount of house I require, not what the bank says I can get a loan for.
“What about (enter pointless material possession here)?” I am a minimalist and find little use for material possessions. This was one of the best decisions I have made in my life thus far. Experiences are the point of this life, and I’ve had far more of those once I tossed old notions.
“Debt is a way of life.” So is freedom. The choice is mine.
These are just a sample of the sort of stupid conversations I’ll be squashing before they even begin. It is in my best interests and I simply will not tolerate the wasted time. I am sure it will make me seem unapproachable but having known boundaries is just an honest assessment of what I am willing to spend my time on. I’m old enough to figure some shit out, I think.
In any matter… I will return to report my successful triumph over my last debt and where I plan to go next.
Just a couple weeks left… Grind on.