February's total =
The most exciting news is that I paid off my car. I'm thrilled to have one less loan to my name! I hope you all enjoy the throwback photo of the day I signed for Victor the Vibe. It was July 15, 2010. I had just finished my undergraduate degrees, was busy celebrating 8 different weddings (best summer ever!), working as a bar tender/snack bar attendant, gearing up for a move to New Mexico, and had just broken my foot in a sand volleyball collision (always, always, always call the ball).
I was so excited to have a new-to-me car. My first car was a hand-me-down from my mom, which worked out perfectly and I was very grateful for, but there's something about picking out your own ride. Doing the research (safety reports), making a list of wants (fuel efficiency, sunroof!), choosing a color, shopping around, and settling on a price. Victor has served me well! And hopefully he'll hold out for at least 5 more years. By then, I aspire to be in a place where I can pay cash for my next vehicle.
The second half of February was very enjoyable, highlighted by a short getaway for Novio and me to the Metro area. We had a free night's stay at a hotel, thanks to Novio's dice rolling skills! He won a prize package back in November at a benefit for a friend...it included tickets to an NBA game, gift card to a pizza place, oil change, car wash, and this free night's stay with complimentary breakfast. We decided to use it for our belated Valentine's Day celebration (if you recall, my dad came and visited on actual Valentine's weekend).
We dropped the fur baby off at a friend's house and then took off Saturday afternoon. I had a gift card to Starbucks, so we made a quick stop and treated ourselves. Our hotel was close to a light-rail station and offered a complimentary shuttle, so we took advantage of free transportation. This also eliminated any worry of paying for parking (double win!).
About a week and a half before our little getaway, Novio told me he had something planned. I knew we had to be 'there' by 5:30 for 'general admission seating,' and that we'd be eating dinner. I had my suspicions... and I was correct. He took me to The Shout House, a restaurant and bar with dueling pianos. We had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed the live music and comedy. Novio picked up the tab in full as a Valentine's present. We made 1 other stop for a couple of beverages, and then took the light rail back to our hotel. It sure was nice to wake up the next morning and go to a free breakfast buffet, then hit the road back home.
It was a nice little vacation. We sure were lucky to have that free stay! And with not much going out-ness going on, it was a good reprieve.
Everything else is going well as far as the Fa$t is concerned. However, I will admit I experienced a bit of a downer day, on payday Friday, nonetheless. I'm not sure what spurred it. Maybe because this month's total to debt is a more realistic monthly number compared to last month's savings-inflated number (just over $1900 in Feb instead of over $4000 in Jan)?
I was all the sudden focused on the fact that even if I throw every spare dollar at my debt for the next 10 months, I'd likely still have $17K left. My mind instantly took off with all kinds of negativity, and the cycle of the "Why, why, why?" and "Should've... Should be... Could be... More, more, more...less, less, less" began. I started talking about getting a second job.
It feels like I'm putting my life on hold* in order to get rid of this debt. No big projects or purchases for the house; no big trips or luxury vacations, no Maná concert in Las Vegas, no fancy hair cut & colors, no care-free trips to Target... and when a year has come and gone, no matter how hard I've worked at not spending and how many things I've said, "No," to... I'll still be in the hole. By a significant amount.
It turned into a bit of a pity party.
Novio pointed out that I'm looking at it all wrong (I knew I was, but I needed to hear it from someone else). Instead of seeing how much I'll still have left, I need to be pumped about how much I will have paid off!
He's right.
I made this choice to Fa$t and dump debt in a radical way. And while some things are on hold, I know it's temporary. I know 1 year (possibly more... but, easy there, 12 months at a time) is a fraction of my entire life. I know that. I just had a bad day and was frustrated with how long getting rid of the debt is going to take. I'm not the most patient person when it comes to goals and projects, and my get-it-done-now M.O. just isn't going to work in this case.
It's a good reminder to not get caught up in the "should's" and to not fixate and obsess over an outcome, but to rather commit to the process. And have more patience.
I know there'll be more days like that ahead, but hopefully they'll get easier to handle and I'll be better at being satisfied with the process and progress rather than an instant result.
Less pity, more process and progress!