Moving forward with life with a student loan.

I know this photo has nothing to do with Student Loan Debt. But this guy keeps me grounded most days. As silly as he is for a dog.

Hello there. I was thinking today I needed to do a little update here. It has been very quiet for awhile now. I have been working on my debt this summer. It is not easy or fun. But I am learning a few things along the way, I might be making mistakes also but I can learn from those as well.

What I am learning:

1. Take a look at your debt and own it.
2. Make any kind of payments you can even small payments will count toward your debt.
3. Find ways to make your life easier and less cluttered so you can focus on your debt.
4. Organize your bills, open them when you get them and take note of what is going on.
5. Pick up the phone and call and see if you can get help or an extension on a bill.
6. Brain Storm. (more on this in a bit)
7. Go over your budget weekly make it a habit. ( I am still learning to do this but when I do it helps make the week go by so much better)
8. Reward yourself somehow. (more on this below as well)
9. Do not give up on yourself.
10. Keep going and track your progress.

I have been thinking of these things lately. And one thing I have been doing is Brainstorming idea's of other ways to make an income. From second jobs to using my skills to bring in another income.

Another thing you have to do is get your home in order. No one can think about extra jobs, work, income and additional things if your home is a mess. I know because I am in the process of cleaning out my home. And it does make a difference when you realize that when it takes less time to get around the crap the more time you will have for other things like taking on another job one or two days a week, or creating another job for yourself.

I put reward yourself down as well. I know when you have not money how can you do this??  It can be as simple as sitting down and reading a book, catching up on a series of movies or TV shows, a day off of everything to recharge. You do not always need to spend money or spend a lot of money to have a reward. Even cooking a good meal can be a great reward. Sitting out on the porch and enjoying the summer evening can be a reward. Just something to get your mind and heart off the debt for a short time and enjoy something so you can face the next step in this challenge.

I did not put this down and I just thought of it. You need to make goals in your life.  I have started to make envelopes for things I want to save up for. When i get an extra dollar or two I put it in the envelope. Some weeks I might not have that extra sometimes I do. Right now I am saving toward a set of new sheets for my bed. This is something I do not want to take out of my grocery budget or other budgets. I am 1/2 way to my goal! Then I'll save up for the next envelope and so on. Its a reward all in it self.

You can not stop living life because this is the situation you find yourself in. We are capable of finding ways to pay this off. I know I will not stop finding ways to pay off this debt until I find something or a few things that will work. Life is to short to let this ruin your life any more than it already has. Own the debt and take care of it.