This post was awarded Runner-up in Free Money Finance 2010 March Money Madness contest.
Erin, “Debt free for me means that we have more choices, more freedom and less that will hold us down keeping us from what and where we want to be.”
Jeremy, “It means tremendous peace…now we can pay ourselves every month.”
My son Jeremy and his wife Erin accomplished a milestone in their lives yesterday: they made their final debt payments and now, other than their house debt, owe no one anything. With their permission, I interviewed them so I could write their story. This is for Jeremy and Erin: a very happy young couple with a very bright future.
Assessing the Situation
When they got married in January, Jeremy and Erin had a very average household income, $3,000 in a savings account and $21,500 in debt. The debt consisted of:
- $12,400 Student Loan
- $4,700 current credit card
- $4,000 in two old credit card debts
- $400 personal debt
Jeremy and Erin set a goal…a lofty goal…to get out of debt before the end of the year.
Getting Radical
With this goal before them, these two knew that they needed to get organized and radical. They started with a personal budget that would allow them to use a little of Jeremy’s income and all of Erin’s toward debt reduction. They immediately applied all but $1,000 of their savings to debt reduction, a decision which, because both of their cars are old and high mileage, created some anxiety. At the same time, Jeremy temporarily stopped investing for his retirement in order to free up more funds for debt reduction.
Bumps in the Road
As is the case in most journeys, all was not smooth. Erin sprained her ankle, necessitating a $650 emergency room visit not covered by insurance. She then encountered a battle with bursitis in her shoulder, requiring another $850 for an MRI and costing her a month’s work. Jeremy, however, was able to work enough overtime to keep the momentum moving. Next came $350 in dental work and $600 in car repairs. At times it seemed that they were getting knocked backward every step they took. But they kept getting back up and, each time, furthered their resolve to stay the course.
A New House
Although Jeremy and Erin dreamed of owning their own home, their plan was to put that dream on hold until they were out of debt. But Uncle Sam made an offer they couldn’t refuse: an $8,000 tax credit for first time home owners. They were hoping to buy in 2010 anyway, but, because they didn’t want to miss out on the $8,000, they began house shopping. After a couple of months, they found the perfect house: within their price range, solid but needing some work. They slowed down on their debt payments long enough to save up $3,600 for a down payment and moved into their own home in September.
Other Twists
Two of the credit card debts, both $2,000, had been turned over to collection agencies. Jeremy and Erin decided to attempt to work out settlements with the collectors for these two debts. One was quite willing to settle for $1,200 while the other was combative; making multiple phone calls a day with threats of law suits. As the phone calls escalated, Jeremy and Erin responded with settlement requests through the mail (certified mail, return receipt requested). These mailings magically ceased the phone haranguing and, just last week, the collector agreed in writing to accept their settlement offer of $1,200 as payment in full for the debt.
Everything Falling Into Place
After closing on their house, Jeremy and Erin, with the help of their CPA cousin Beth, amended their 2008 income tax returns, allowing them to receive the tax credit this year. They each received $4,000; the second arriving just as the collector agreed to the settlement. This allowed our happy couple to not only get the nasty collector out of their lives but also wipe out their only remaining debt: $3,000 on student loans. The ecstatic couple called and we celebrated together over the phone.
When asked the most difficult part of the process, Erin said, “Not getting to spend money on things we wanted and never actually seeing the money I was making.”
Jeremy’s response: “The hardest thing for me was not getting to put the $8,000 toward fixing up our house, but to an almost unseen debt.”
A Year To Remember
2009 will be a year to remember for Jeremy and Erin. They not only got married, but they reached their goal of paying off $21,500 in debt. The unexpected expenses and the down payment for the house brings that total to $28,000. $10,000 of this ($2,000 from existing savings and $8,000 for their tax credit) was not squeezed out of their budget, but the rest ($18,000) was! That comes to over $1,600 a month for the eleven months from their marriage to now.
Think about it: in their first year of marriage, Jeremy and Erin set goals, worked together, sacrificed, encouraged one another, kept getting back up when knocked down, and relentlessly stayed the course to accomplish those goals. And, although I didn’t mention it, they tithed steadfastly throughout it all. Does this couple have a bright future? Clearly!
Do I sound like a proud dad? You’d better believe it!
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