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March was a heck of a month. April, knock on wood, is going much better.
| DEBT | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 3/15/26 Real Total: | $64,980 | |
| Main CC (USAA): | $0 | Still has Auto pays |
| Gas CC (USAA): | $0 | 5% cash back on Gas |
| Chase Cards x3: | $63 | Churn card cleared, Ink card gets bonus on Cellphones and internet, Freedom cleared. |
| Robinhood Gold (new Main CC) | $425 | |
| Car Loan | $17,073 | $500 payment + interest gain. -$427 |
| 401k Loan | $34,729 | -$1,115 from last month (2 paycheck amounts) |
| HELOC | $8,911 | Gained $90 in interest, made $6,180 in payments, but $5,000 was from the extra I pulled and didn’t need. True paydown, $1,180. |
| April Total: | $61,201 | |
| Net Progress: | -3,779 |
That looks pretty solid, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Unfortunately, I have Homeowner’s insurance due this month at $1,200 and $600 worth of medical bills still on my desk.
The visible progress is great, and the HELOC interest vs the Credit Card interest makes a real difference. The issues coming down the pipeline are several-fold though. I need to get my shed built because I can’t get any unpacking done in the garage until that is handled. I’ve been trying to delay that until this debt is cleared but it’s really creating a problem. We’ve also got summer camp to pay for this month, which will delay further debt pay offs.
Now why am I paying for camp instead of buckling down and clearing off debt? Well, I think it’s a good break for the kids to live in open air cabins and make friends away from TV and screens. It’s one of the best camps in the country with one of the highest safety ratings. Last year only my son was able to go, this year my youngest will join him. Here’s to fingers crossed for continued forward progress.
~~Miniwing~~
Allergic to Debt, but stuck using it.