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June Debt Update

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  • June Debt Update

    I had been giving 6 month updates on my debt repayment progress in this forum. I've been giving monthly updates in the SA blogs, and neglected this side of the site. First, some background as a reminder:
    > Mort 1 is a house we previously lived in. It is currently rented out. It is a 30 year mortgage.
    > Mort 2 is the money we borrowed from family for the house we currently live in. Since I last posted in this forum, we've been making monthly payments of $210.
    > The monthly payments I've listed after each debt total below is the minimum payment required by the creditor, not necessarily what is paid each month. I've changed the naming on the cards a bit since last October as I have transferred some balances around.
    > All bills (CC, mort., electric, heating, insurance, phone, internet, etc.) are up to date - nothing past due.
    > Our household income is about $68K per year. Wife is a SAHM with some freelance income.

    Oct 2011 Debt
    Mort 1 - $104,360 $738/mo. 6.25%
    Mort 2 - $70,000 $0/mo. 0.00%
    CC 1 - $8,034 $166/mo. 8.90%
    CC2 - Balance transferred to CC5 @ 3% balance transfer fee.
    CC3 - $2,836 $140/mo. 5.25%
    CC4 - $2,272 $195/mo. 5.32%
    CC5 - $1,975 $60/mo. 0.00% through Jan. 2012
    Van Loan - $6,738 $210/mo. 4.02%

    June 2012 Debt
    Mort 1 $102,768 $738/mo. 6.25%
    Mort 2 $68,950 $0/mo. 0.00%
    CC1 $2,470 $61/mo. 8.90%
    CC2 $1,791 $140/mo. 5.25%
    CC3 $771 $195/mo. 5.32%
    CC4 $2,408 $94/mo. 0.00% through Jan. 2013
    Van Loan $5,221 $210/mo. 4.02%

    During the past eight months, we have:
    Reduced total debt by $11,836
    Reduced mortgage debt by $2,642
    Reduced CC debt by $7,677
    Reduced total debt by an average of $1,579.50 per month.
    The average is skewed by a big payment toward CC1 with our 2011 income tax refund.
    Given that we won't have another income tax refund until next April, I doubt if we will retire the CC debt in the next 8 months, but hopefully the 2012 tax refund will kill the CC debt.

  • #2
    So far so good. Good work. One comment. You may want to think about transferring all or most of the CC debt to the 0% card, so long as you can pay it off before the 0% offer ends.
    Brian

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Bob B. View Post
      Given that we won't have another income tax refund until next April, I doubt if we will retire the CC debt in the next 8 months, but hopefully the 2012 tax refund will kill the CC debt.
      First off, congrats on the continued progress well done!

      Second, yes you can get your refund earlier. Or at least a portion of it. Adjust your withholdings to increase each month's pay.

      2012 Withholding Calculator

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      • #4
        Originally posted by bjl584 View Post
        So far so good. Good work. One comment. You may want to think about transferring all or most of the CC debt to the 0% card, so long as you can pay it off before the 0% offer ends.
        That's about all I feel comfortable transferring. The interest rate shoots up to some obscene figure (I can't remember for sure, but I think 22.99%) after the intro period. I don't want to risk moving anymore, and not being able to pay it off.

        Thanks for the suggestion.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by jpg7n16 View Post
          First off, congrats on the continued progress well done!

          Second, yes you can get your refund earlier. Or at least a portion of it. Adjust your withholdings to increase each month's pay.

          2012 Withholding Calculator
          Done. Actually, I did it in February. I failed to mention that in my post. I think we'll still get a moderately sized refund, because of the 4 child tax credits we get.

          What I have trouble with is figuring out the State of Michigan withholdings.

          Thanks for the suggestion.

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          • #6
            Congrats!

            It's kind of sobering when you realize how much of your income is devoted to addressing debt, and how you could be using that money in other ways. When we paid off our car, we suddenly had an extra $350 a month at our disposal. This is being managed by our financial adviser in what we call our Car Fund, and will go toward our next car.

            When you're out of non-mortgage debt, I'd love to hear back from you on how you're enjoying that "extra" income.

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            • #7
              Fantastic progress!! Congrats!

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              • #8
                Check you out, very impressive! Congrats on the progress!

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Bob B. View Post
                  Done. Actually, I did it in February.
                  Sweet! Keep up the good work then Well done!

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