My Journey Through Debt: Part 3: Paying Down the Principle

This is part three of a series about my journey through debt and how I climbed out of the debt trap. If you are new to this blog, you will find my debt story here, and also be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2 before reading today’s post.

Once I stopped my out-of-control spending habits and started writing down every penny I spent, I started to see a little money left over at the end of each paycheck. This money went towards paying down the principle of my loans.

Minimum payments on credit cards pay mainly the accrued interest and a few cents (if any) of the principle of the loan. That must-have deal on your favorite brand, quickly becomes quite pricey once the balance is on the credit card, and you are stuck paying for it (with interest) for the next decade.

By paying down the principle of the loan, you are lessening the amount of the original loan. Do not be discouraged if you only have 87 cents to pay towards the principle. I have been there. 87 cents is exactly what I had left in my pocket book at the end of the pay period. That is exactly what I added onto my minimum balance due and sent in to the credit card company.

Never let yourself be tricked into believing that whatever money amount you have available is too little. No matter WHAT it is, it will help pay down your debt. As you pay down the principle, you will slowly see a shift in how much of the money you pay the credit card company goes to interest, and how much goes to the principle balance.

I have been asked which card I paid down first. After paying all the minimum payments to each card, I put the extra money for the principle towards the card with the highest interest rate. In this way, I was getting the worst load off of myself the fastest way possible.

This is NOT an overnight quick fix. It took quite a while for me to get myself into the amount of debt I had on credit cards, and it took me quite awhile to get out. The difference was, I actually came to the point of looking forward to receiving the credit card statements in the mail and sending my payment in.

I knew that everytime I sent in a payment, I was inching closer to getting out of my debt pit. Sometimes it was 87 cents. Sometimes, it was $100. whatever it was, it was a step closer to my goal of paying off my credit card balances.

In order to make extra money so that my principle was paid down faster, I took on extra jobs. I cleaned homes, tutored, and did any other odd jobs that were available. I also sold items that I did not need and put the cash earned towards principle. Every Christmas and birthday gift that was given to me as cash went towards my debt. No it was not what I WANTED to do with it, but it was what I NEEDED to do.

I came very close to rationalizing that it was my BIRTHDAY present. I DESERVED to splurge on something with that money. But you know what? No, I didn’t. I had put myself into slavery of the credit card debt, and I was slowly, little by little, getting my freedom back. Out of all of the things I was doing, turning over my birthday and Christmas present money to those credit card companies was the hardest.

Ok, so I have shared with you how I got into debt, my realization that I was debt, my immediate actions, how I started to keep track of my money, how we changed our food habits, and why it is important to always pay towards the principle. In a future post I shall delve into how I started the very necessary, yet very painful process of making cuts in our budget so that more money was freed up to pay down the principle of the loans.

Thank you for staying with me on this topic. While debt, and money in general, seem to be a taboo subject in our society, it is one that needs to be discussed and shared. Remember, this is MY story. I have been there. Do NOT give up. No matter how deep your debt pit is, there is ALWAYS a way out.

As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”

~Annie

Annie’s Sweet Mama’s 1940’s Diner Meatloaf

Today, by popular demand, I bring you my sweet mama’s 1940’s diner meatloaf recipe. Y’all this is a pretty special event. My sweet mama doesn’t just give out recipes to all that ask. She is a cook by profession, and has perfected the art.

As most cooks are, she is very secretive about her recipes. However, for some reason, unknown to common man, or me, she has decided to share a few with the world.

 This recipe was first published publicly (and by publicly I mean somewhere other than her recipe box or mine,) in her church cookbook. Seeing as her church would not sell their cookbook to outsiders, the meatloaf recipe has, until this very moment, remained a very closely guarded secret.

This is the meal I ask my sweet mama to make me for Christmas, for workdays at her house, for any time I have an excuse to get her to make it. It is absolutely scrumptious.

Annie’s Sweet Mama’s 1940’s Diner Meatloaf

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef (or venison, turkey, etc.)
• ½ c soda cracker crumbs. (as in the dregs of the saltines bag) Place in Ziploc bag and smash with rolling pin. If you do not have a rolling pin, use a can of veggies or soda.
• ½ c milk
• 1 small onion finely chopped
• 1 tsp salt (I use kosher or sea salt. You may use whatever you have on hand.)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 egg, lightly beaten (meaning, poke the yolk and stir it around a bit until it looks like you are about to make scrambled eggs.)

Mix the above ingredients. Find a shallow baking dish (I use a cake pan.) Spray the dish, then dump meat mixture into pan, forming it into a loaf. Smooth the top, then add a crease down the center of the loaf….sort of like a little valley, about 1 inch deep.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from oven, drain off grease.

While meat mixture is baking, mix the sauce together.

Sauce:

• 1/3 c dark brown sugar (or light brown if that is what you enjoy)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard

Once loaf has been drained, spread the sauce over the top of the loaf as a glaze. Be sure to get plenty in the little valley you made on the top of the meatloaf.

Throw the meatloaf back in the oven for 10 minutes, and voila! You are finished!

My sweet mama serves her meatloaf with mashed potatoes, green beans, and applesauce, with a side of chopped onion, but you serve it as you wish.

If you have leftovers, they make for great meatloaf sandwiches the next day.

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my mama’s kitchen. We shall be visiting here again from time to time.

Enjoy your day, lovelies. As Democritus said, "Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul."

~Annie

My Journey Through Debt: Part 2: Writing It Down and Changing Our Food Habits

Although I was now willing to recognize my problem with credit and do something about it, life still went on around me. There were still bills. Still vehicles that needed to be fueled. Still a mortgage to pay. Still money that needed to be spent.

Notice I said needed. As in it is an absolute necessity to spend a set amount of money on a particular bill. For times like that, I carried with me a pen and tablet of paper. I wrote down every single purchase. Every bill paid. Every quarter loaned. I wrote it down to the penny.

I found that by writing it down, I was able to take a semblance of control over my money. No longer was it ruling me, I was ruling it. No longer would I live in fear of the total balance due vs. the total balance available. No longer would I remain purposefully ignorant of my money.

I kept a running total in my notebook of how much CASH I had on hand. I paid everything in cash that I possibly could. If I had to mail the bill, I used check or money order to get it there. Charging it to the card was NOT an option.

I also started to get creative at home. I found that the less I left the house, the less money I spent in gasoline or trips to the store. I found that if I thought I needed something, I could write it down on a list and wait until Friday, my errand day, to purchase it. Usually by then, I found I no longer “needed” it. I also found that although I may have run out of certain types of food, I could make other dishes that worked just fine. By NOT buying more food, I was able to put more money towards paying off the principle of my credit card debts.

If I DID buy food at the grocery, I spent more time figuring out the cheapest way to go. This was not a time in my life for steaks, pork chops, soda, chips, or the like.  During my climb out of the debt pit was not the time to be picky about brands, either. I learned to buy in bulk more, breaking it down myself when I returned home.

By shopping the outer edges of the grocery, I was able to select the healthiest options for my family, while saving money by NOT buying the convenience, pre-packaged foods that seem to gravitate towards the middle of the store. This time in my life was NOT about convenience. It was about paying down debt. Yes it was hard. Yes it was time consuming. Yes it was worth it.

Although it was a struggle at first, I soon found that our family did just fine with only adding half the meat (usually the most expensive part of a food budget) called for in a recipe. I also found that some of my creative ways to stretch the food budget and the meals became family favorites (potatoes in tacos, rice in stews).

You may say, “Sure Annie, easy for you to say, there were just two of you.” That simply wasn’t true. While we did not have Little Bug yet, we did have several mentor children that lived with us or were in and out of our house on an almost daily basis. While we loved them and were blessed to have had them here, extra people do cost money to have in your home, plain and simple.

The way we dealt with that was simple. We were honest with them. No I didn’t tell them every little thing, however, if they asked why things had changed, I did inform them that we were in the process of saving money to pay down debt.

If you have family members that may rebel at the idea of changing spending habits and food habits, you may want to talk to them about why you are doing so and how they can help you.

I realize that this path is not easy. I do understand. I walked it and experienced it. It is HARD to tell yourself “no.” It is time consuming to write every penny down. It is frustrating to have a teenager or spouse questioning you as to why there is no soda in the house. I get it. However, stick with it. It will be worth it. I promise.

“Who recalls when folks got along without something if it cost too much?”  ~Kin Hubbard.

~Annie

My Journey through Debt: Part 1: The Realization and Immediate Action

I have shared with you my debt story in a previous post. If you missed it, you can go here to catch up. Go ahead. I will wait.

Ok, now that we are all on the same page, I would like to begin to share with you my journey through debt. It will take several posts, but I hope that my story, and my slow climb out of debt, will help others.

The day that I confessed to JP that I had thousands of dollars charged to hidden credit cards, I was filled with dread as well as relief. I had spent so many years hiding this secret, that I was relived that he now knew.

Once the secret was out, the realization of my debt became very real to both of us. I realized that I had not only lied to JP, but had sinned against God as well. I sought forgiveness from both, and it was immediately granted.

While forgiven, I still had the debt looming over me. While JP was forgiving, he did tell me that it was my responsibility to pay it off. I did as any good wife would do. I freaked. As in full blown panic attack.

With percentage rates as high as 22%, I saw no way to EVER pay off my debt. I was hardly able to pay the minimum balance, let alone pay off the principal. I knew I had to act, and act immediately.

My very first course of action was to call the credit card companies and ask for a lower rate on the loans. Yes, I called them loans, for that is what they are. Those companies that give you a little, seemingly harmless, plastic card, are LOANING you money at an EXTREMELY high interest rate.

Most of the companies said they would lower the rate a few points since I was a valued customer. (Of COURSE I was valued! Those guys were making a LOAD of money off of me!)

I then asked if they would forgive any portion of my interest debt. This is a bold move, but they cannot say no unless you ask. Two companies forgave half of my interest debt. That saved me $2000 off the bat.

After getting off the phone with the credit card companies, I found a new credit card. While this seems to be the reverse of what I should have done, stay with me. I found a card with 0% interest on transfer of balances from other cards to their card for a year. A YEAR y’all. So I did it. I transferred as much of my balances to that card as possible. I had a year to pay it off, which gave me a time limit. I also saved thousands of dollars in interest.

As I transferred the cards to the 0% interest card, I closed the accounts. As in, I called them and CLOSED the accounts. They tried to talk me into all sorts of options, but I held firm and closed them. I also cut up every card I still had.

For years I justified why I kept them. “For emergencies. For gasoline. For groceries.” Y’all, if you need to put your gasoline and groceries on a credit card, there is a problem. I know, because I was there. More on that in a later post.

The last thing I immediately did was to STOP SPENDING. Yes, it hurt. Yes, it was hard. Yes, I wanted the new gizmo,the newest fashion, the latest CD, a cup of coffee, a stick of gum. I will not lie to you, I cried. A LOT. I wanted things and I wanted them NOW. I rationalized in my head that I DESERVED things. I worked hard. I owed it to myself. It was my money and I should be able to spend it how I wanted to.  I mean, seriously, that is what the world of marketing tells us, so it must be true, right? RIGHT?!? Wrong.

It wasn’t MY money. It was OUR money, JP’s and mine, and ultimately GOD’S. And I was a dismal failure at being a good steward of it. Every time I failed or pouted, I would seek forgiveness and try again. Everyday that I didn’t spend money was a victory for me. As each day passed, it got easier and easier as I overcame my credit addiction.

My story has many parts. I am not here to judge anyone. I am here to share with you my journey through debt, and how I overcame it to come out victorious.

I invite you to journey with me.

As Thomas Fuller said, “Debt is the worst poverty.”

~Annie

Annie’s Ham and Bean Soup

As the pioneers traveled across the Great Plains towards fortunes untold, a staple meal in their diets was ham and bean soup. This may have been because the beans could soak all day as the wagons lurched over the miles. Or maybe it was because the addition of a little salt pork made the beans a bit tastier. Whatever the reason, the pioneers loved ham and bean soup, and so does my family.

Ham and bean soup is a relatively easy meal to put together. It can even be fixed in a crock-pot, although I choose to fix it early in the morning on the stovetop, and then let it sit and simmer all day.

Annie’s Ham and Bean Soup

• Grab 1 to 2 pounds of pinto beans (depending on how many people will be there for supper- as a reference, I use 2 pounds for 5 people) , throw them in a pot, fill it with water, and leave it set over night. The beans will re-hydrate themselves by morning and you will be good to go. Make sure to rinse your beans and pull out any foreign objects (dried beans are notorious for having little pieces of rocks, dirt, or hulls in them. If you forget to do the first step the night before, or you just have a hankering to fix them for supper tonight, never fear! Just bring the beans to a boil for 10 minutes, and then let them sit for an hour. You may need to add water as the beans soak it up.
• I like to start out with ham broth from cooking a ham. Since I try to never waste anything, I freeze the juices from a ham that I have fixed for my family, just for this purpose. If you have the broth in the pot as the beans are soaking, more of the ham flavor will infuse the beans and you will be in ham and bean heaven. Trust me. It’s true.
• Once the beans have soaked, if you have a hambone with ham on it, leftover from a previous meal, add this to the pot. If not, just dice up the ham you have on hand. It does not have to be a lot. I have added 1-4 cups of ham, depending on how much I have, how the budget looks for the week, and how many people will be eating the soup.
• Chop an onion, add.
• Chop ½ cup celery, add.
• Chop 3 carrots, add.
• Throw in the following:
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt (or whatever salt you have on hand.)
• ½ tsp white pepper (black will do just fine as well)
• 1 tsp ham base. If you do not have this, do not fret. While it does make for a tastier pot of soup, it is not essential. I get mine at the Amish bulk food store.
• 2 tsp of chicken base. Or chicken bouillon. Yes. I did just tell you to add chicken bouillon to the ham and bean soup. I know it doesn’t make sense, but do it anyway. Most of the things I say don’t make sense at first, but eventually most of them do. Go ahead. Just put it in. You will love it. I promise.

• Bring to boil, and then simmer for at least 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally. If using a crock-pot, just dump it all in (after beans have soaked,) set it on low, and walk away.
• Remove hambone, if used, trim off meat and add back to pot.

There you have it. Annie’s Ham and Bean Soup. My family begs me to make  Annie's Cornbread with it as well. I usually need at least 2 pie plates of cornbread for my crew.

*This soup freezes nicely if you want to make it ahead of time or divide it into smaller servings.

*If you have no ham on hand, you may also substitute bacon (1/4 to ½ pound).

*It also can be made into a vegetarian dish by omitting the ham and bouillon.

I leave you today with a bit of advice from Julia Child, “Always start out with a larger pot than what you think you need.”

Enjoy your soup, lovelies!

~Annie

My Kitchen is for Dancing

Dancing through the joy. Dancing through the pain. Dancing through the laughter. Dancing through the tears. Dancing through the praise. Dancing through the worship.

Dancing has been a part of the human existence since biblical times. It is used to express joy, grief, excitement, love, and much, much more.

Growing up in a strict, fundamental Baptist home, dancing was prohibited. All dancing. Period. The problem was, I loved to dance. LOVED it. I danced all over my room. All over my friend’s basement. Anywhere I was able to find strong dancing music, I danced.

In high school, I discovered a country music dance hall. I learned every country line dance, two-step and ten step this side of the Mississippi, and then some. I learned to break dance. I learned to do the American Bunny Hop. Whatever the dance, I absorbed it like a sponge, my feet begging to do and re-do the new steps until they came to me as second nature.

By college, I had joined the ballroom dance club. During this bit of Heaven every Saturday night, I learned the Swing, the Foxtrot, the Tango, the Waltz, and many more.

My dancing bliss came to a stop when I graduated college, got married, and started a new job. All of a sudden there was no reason to dance. No place to dance. No one with whom to dance. It just stopped. And I was sad.

Although I still enjoyed the thought of dancing, I had no place to go. Unless you are into the club scene (which I am not,) adults are severely limited on dance hall options. The best I could hope for was a wedding (non Baptist of course,) and someone to ask me to dance (JP does NOT like to dance.)

Once I had my own classroom, I taught my students the Swing and the Waltz. I explained that with those two dances, they would be able to dance at any function, and look great while doing it. I have had several come back to me, thanking me for the lessons. They have used them at school dances, weddings, balls, and many more functions. Although I taught my students to dance, I still had found no outlet for myself.

One day, while listening to the radio, it happened. I started dancing. Alone. And it was okay. I danced my little self all over the house while I cleaned. I used moves I had not done in years. Since I was alone, no one commented, smirked or laughed. I became Ginger Rogers in my very own home.

From that day on, I danced. I found that my kitchen was especially good for my dancing steps. Whether they be line dance steps or waltzes, my kitchen was perfect.

Now, everyday, I dance. I dance while I make meals. I dance while I wash dishes. I dance while I help Little Bug with her homework. I dance while we play Trivial Pursuit. I dance with Little Bug. I dance with L1. I dance with TC. I dance with CJ. And yes, finally, I dance with JP.

This man, who cannot STAND dancing, will now dance with me. As we sway back and forth in the kitchen to one of my favorite songs, my husband will smile down at me, knowing that I am in an utterly joyous state.

My love of dancing has been passed down to Little Bug, who begs her daddy to dance with her, and he obliges. JP takes Little Bug’s hands in his, holds her closely, and dances around our kitchen while she looks trustingly and adoringly up into his eyes.

Yes, my kitchen is made for dancing.  But more importantly, it is made for all the living that is done in it each day.

May you never stop dancing. If you do not dance, it is never too late to start. Go ahead; give it a try in your kitchen. Free yourself from constraints. Live your life to the fullest, and dance.

“You can dance anywhere, if only in your heart” ~Unknown

~Annie

A Respite

Merriam-Webster defines the word “respite” as being an interval of rest. We each need a time of respite from our daily lives. God took this time on the seventh day, after He had created our world.

A respite may come in several forms. Perhaps a long relaxing cruise….a getaway to a relatives home for a week….five minutes locked in the bathroom away from the demands of your family while you consume a stashed candy bar. Whatever your situation, there is always a time and a place for a respite.

Our family works very hard. Everyday. JP drives a three hour round trip to work a nine-hour day as an engineer. CJ walks miles a day delivering mail. TC gets up and is on the air before most of the world is even conscious. L1 attends school fulltime as well as holding down a regular job and several side jobs taking care of children. Little Bug tries her best everyday at school. I keep our home running, preparing meals, cleaning, doing laundry, taking care of our family, homestead and animals, and working part time as an agronomist.

Each one of us works hard. Each of us has a good work ethic. Each one of us needs a break. Our break comes in the form of a weekend getaway to a local state park inn. The big feature of the state park is its toboggan run. The big feature of the inn is the pool. While pricey if JP and I were to take Little Bug alone, it is much more manageable by traveling with our eclectic family.

We are able to afford the costs by sharing our getaway with our family. We add up the room, food, and gasoline costs, splitting them by five (the number of adults on the trip- Little Bug Does not count.) In that way, we are able to save money, while at the same time, having the opportunity to have a mini vacation.

I encourage you to take a respite. If possible, plan some time away with your family or good friends. If not possible, take a little bit longer than needed stroll through the grocery. Whatever your situation, find some time to take a break from the everyday.

As Etty Hillesum said, “Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes.”

Enjoy your weekend, my friends.

~Annie