Timeline

Graduated.
Bachelors Degree in Web Design & Development.

First Job.
Moved to Boise, ID to start work at my first ‘grown-up’ job. Feeling rich as ever coming out of college and honestly spending like crazy because I had money!

$48,000/year – Salary. No benfits package.

How To Budget.
A few months before, I was denied a home loan because my debt-to-income ratio was too high. I began to look into “how to budget” and understand what my financial status really was. It was a start, but a slow start.

Laid Off.
I was handed a severance package with the explanation the business could no longer afford to pay me. That there just wasn’t any other way they could find to keep me.

Still trying to figure out how to budget. No real progress towards getting out of debt or budgeting.

Hired.
A friend’s family business was looking for extra work. Hired to work on their website and other design projects. I took this job out of pure desperation of not having an income to pay bills.

$33,000/year – Hourly. Basic Medical Insurance package.

Traded-in Car.
I loved my VW Jetta, but I traded in that car for an older used car to lower my car payment for 2 reasons.
1. I couldn’t afford the payment anymore.
2. I was getting really close to having a budget and plan to pay off student loans that needed the extra money. 

Let’s Do This.
This was a big month. I decided to take the leap and get out of debt. I had an established budget to live within and took $4,700 out of savings and put it towards my largest student loan.

To say I felt broke. Or overwhelmed by the daunting task is probably a huge understatement. 

Fired.
Truly blind-sided. Showed up to work at 7:45am, like normal. By 7:50 I was let go. 

I qualified for Unemployment Insurance which was a blessing and kept me afloat for the next 7 months until money ran out.

$398/week (~$9,900). No benefits. 

Paid Off Wells Fargo Loan.
This was my largest loan. Total paid, including interest, was $36,388. Pretty thrilled with this accomplishment, but there is still more road to travel.

Moved to Utah.
For lack of a better idea or opportunity in Boise, ID.

Hired.
After 64 job applications and half a dozen interviews in Utah, I was finally offered a job. It came at a really great time because my Unemployment Insurance ran out. I had no more income and still had my student loans.

$53,000/year – Salary. Full Benefits. Unlimited PTO. 

Debt Free!
Talk about a surreal feeling. I paid off the last of my student loans. With my new job, I decided to take the rest of my savings ($4,800), and just be done! Truly have a fresh start at something not worrying about this.