I know what you're thinking.
*Yawn!*
Just hear me out.
When I graduated from college I moved back in with my folks, you know, to save money on rent and because -- well hell, I didn't have any place to go! I was starting my internship which would ultimately lead me into my first big-time job at the advertising agency. I didn't have much and before I knew it, the student loan notices were coming in.
That's when panic started to set in that oh my God, I really am going to be a broke college student for the rest of my life!
Then I picked up Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey and read it cover to cover. I thought maybe somehow I could actually pull myself out of these knots of worry. Gahh, doesn't it SUCK to worry about money? Where's it going, what little there is, how the hell am I getting back to the beach?
That's when panic started to set in that oh my God, I really am going to be a broke college student for the rest of my life!
Then I picked up Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey and read it cover to cover. I thought maybe somehow I could actually pull myself out of these knots of worry. Gahh, doesn't it SUCK to worry about money? Where's it going, what little there is, how the hell am I getting back to the beach?
I drank, calmed down and then made a promise to myself. That I was going to pay off this $30,000 plus debt in 5 years and be done.
I went into ninja mode and wrote all of my expenses down in my typically Type A fashion in a color coordinated spreadsheet.
Every time I spent money on gas. I wrote it down.
Every time I spent money on food. I wrote it down.
Every time I farted. I wrote it down. Hah, okay no, just kidding. That would be odd.
The truth is, I didn't want to be making payments for the rest of my life. I thought about what I could do with the money. Who I could give it to that needed it or how to give myself a comfortable life without going overboard. It was those thoughts that motivated me to get rid of the debt.
I was doing really well on literally paying 10x as much on the small payments and double on the big ones. I was on the fast track to getting rid of the debt in 3 years at this point!
Then this happened:
I got whiplash, I got pissed and then I cried. What was I going to do!!?? That's my freaking car bumper smashed to pieces. And by the way, that shit looks expensive to repair!
I could have easily slipped into another loan payment for a new car. I mean, I already had the student loans, right? My inner Dave said no and as luck had it, insurance deemed the car totaled and offered me cash - double the value of what the car is actually worth.
Check, please!
I took the money and threw it at the debt. No body shop was gonna touch that thang with a ten-foot pole. So I drove the car for 3 months without a bumper.
People say that's dangerous.
I say it's living on the edge.
Or living redneck.
.... Okay, redneck.
Also, as luck would have it, my dad and I treasure hunted at a you-pull-it junk yard and found the exact same bumper, same color for my vehicle all for 25 bucks. I was amazed. My dad was amazed. We drank beer to celebrate. *Burp*
2 years, 5 months, $35,000 and a lot of tuna, discipline and self control later, I am debt free!
I'M DEBT FREEEEE!!!!! (I'm practicing my debt free scream)
My journey in getting to this point was not an easy one. I had to sacrifice many a sushi date in order to save and slave to get rid of Sallie et al. I downgraded to the canned fish variety and thought there's gotta be a tastier way to eat poor man's tuna.
So, I made this. (A LOT!). Still do. You kinda get hooked.
Tuna Salad with Crackers
You'll need....
2 cans of albacore tuna in water
3-4 tbs. of mayo
1 tbs. of parmesan cheese
1 tbs. of dried onion
1 tbs. of dried parsley
1 tsp. of dill
Pinch of garlic powder
Pepper to taste
It really just takes a bit of spices and you'll soon forget the delicate fish you're consuming was only 79 cents a can.
Load and stuff. Try this now! Make a tuna melt out of it with some swiss cheese. Add a teaspoon of curry powder for some Indian flair. Chop some fresh tomato and avocado and make it a tuna garden salad. Any way is cheap and delicious. And it just might give you that extra protein to go out and kick debt's ass!
I went into ninja mode and wrote all of my expenses down in my typically Type A fashion in a color coordinated spreadsheet.
Every time I spent money on gas. I wrote it down.
Every time I spent money on food. I wrote it down.
Every time I farted. I wrote it down. Hah, okay no, just kidding. That would be odd.
The truth is, I didn't want to be making payments for the rest of my life. I thought about what I could do with the money. Who I could give it to that needed it or how to give myself a comfortable life without going overboard. It was those thoughts that motivated me to get rid of the debt.
I was doing really well on literally paying 10x as much on the small payments and double on the big ones. I was on the fast track to getting rid of the debt in 3 years at this point!
Then this happened:
I got whiplash, I got pissed and then I cried. What was I going to do!!?? That's my freaking car bumper smashed to pieces. And by the way, that shit looks expensive to repair!
I could have easily slipped into another loan payment for a new car. I mean, I already had the student loans, right? My inner Dave said no and as luck had it, insurance deemed the car totaled and offered me cash - double the value of what the car is actually worth.
Check, please!
I took the money and threw it at the debt. No body shop was gonna touch that thang with a ten-foot pole. So I drove the car for 3 months without a bumper.
People say that's dangerous.
I say it's living on the edge.
Or living redneck.
.... Okay, redneck.
Also, as luck would have it, my dad and I treasure hunted at a you-pull-it junk yard and found the exact same bumper, same color for my vehicle all for 25 bucks. I was amazed. My dad was amazed. We drank beer to celebrate. *Burp*
2 years, 5 months, $35,000 and a lot of tuna, discipline and self control later, I am debt free!
I'M DEBT FREEEEE!!!!! (I'm practicing my debt free scream)
My journey in getting to this point was not an easy one. I had to sacrifice many a sushi date in order to save and slave to get rid of Sallie et al. I downgraded to the canned fish variety and thought there's gotta be a tastier way to eat poor man's tuna.
So, I made this. (A LOT!). Still do. You kinda get hooked.
Tuna Salad with Crackers
You'll need....
2 cans of albacore tuna in water
3-4 tbs. of mayo
1 tbs. of parmesan cheese
1 tbs. of dried onion
1 tbs. of dried parsley
1 tsp. of dill
Pinch of garlic powder
Pepper to taste
It really just takes a bit of spices and you'll soon forget the delicate fish you're consuming was only 79 cents a can.
I normally get albacore packed in water, but I've used this recipe with tuna in oil. Tuna is as tuna does!
Toss two drained cans into thy bowl.
Add one tablespoon of parmesan.
And one tablespoon of dried onion.
Change up the perspective on the camera to confuse you. And then one tablespoon of dried parsley.
One teaspoon of dried dill. You could use fresh dill if you have it.
A tinkling of garlic powder.
About 3-4 dollops of mayo. Don't go overboard -- we don't want the tuna swimming. Heh, even though it was swimming at one time. Awwhh, that's sad....
A tinkling of pepper.
Mash'er up with a fork until it looks good and binded.
Serveth with a cracker of your choosing. I had multi-grain on hand but buttery club crackers or even between two slices of honey wheat have also satisfied the craving.
Load and stuff. Try this now! Make a tuna melt out of it with some swiss cheese. Add a teaspoon of curry powder for some Indian flair. Chop some fresh tomato and avocado and make it a tuna garden salad. Any way is cheap and delicious. And it just might give you that extra protein to go out and kick debt's ass!
