Here’s a simplified, conversational rewrite of the text:
Title: Kicking Debt to the Curb – A Personal Journey
Hello there! You know, when you’ve been blogging for a while, you sometimes feel like you’ve covered almost everything possible. Then, I remembered something from my past – a so-called Money Manifesto I wrote when I first began my blog. This was all about my financial goals in life.
Let’s take a step back in time and see what I wrote in 2013. Top of the list? “I will pay off all my debt.” Just seeing it again reminds of how much I wanted to make this dream come true.
The journey to debt started with my Masters degree in Theatre and Performance Studies back in 2010, which wasn’t cheap. I had to borrow some money, even from my loving grandma. It ended up being a driving force behind me turning my passion for personal finance into this.
Implementing my plan began right after graduation. I hustled to clear my debts which included grandma’s loan, a super sketchy Sallie Mae loan, and credit card debt. I started working full time and finished up my studies while juggling a job. By November 2013, I was finally free of debt.
I won’t lie; it was tough. But I learned a significant amount from it. I was continually aware of my financial situation, knowing I couldn’t just quit my job because I had commitments – those pesky debt payments.
Here are a few things that helped me along the way:
1. Avalanche method – I made minimum payments on all my liabilties and threw any extra money I had towards the debt with the highest interest.
2. Borrowing from family – If you have the opportunity, go for it. Just remember, it may come with its own kind of interesting wrinkles.
3. Jobs covering housing – This is such a biggie! If you can land a job that covers your living expenses, take it!
4. Side jobs – I didn’t exactly love substitute teaching, but the extra cash it provided was invaluable. I also started blogging, freelance writing, and mystery shopping. Every little bit helped.
Fast forwarding to today, with an upcoming move to England for a PhD, I’m nervous about the possibility of going into debt again. But I’m taking things slowly and making sure I’ve thought about every penny of it. My previous experience with debt has made me reluctant to borrow more, despite the tempting opportunities of travelling and making the most of student life.
Looking back, I feel proud of my progress. I started with a significant amount of debt and a net worth of around $30,000. Now, almost nine years later, with zero debt and a net worth nearing $380,000, I can definitely check off my number one life goal.
As I embark on this new chapter of my life, the goal now remains not to fall back into the financial pit I once crawled out of.