Benchmarks and Tempations

I am beyond thrilled to say that, after a lot of really hard work, I am now $337.00 away from being debt-free except for my mortgage.  I wanted to wait until I was completely there before talking about it (which will be in a few weeks).  But I’m excited now.  I have a fair emergency fund and a decently-funded 401(k), but I have basically been plugging away at the debt very hard the last couple years.  (Having a roommate also helps.)  Now I can start to save in earnest all that money I’m going to need for school.  Yippee!

 

I’m tempted to actually let myself get financially ahead and be comfortable though: to be one of those people with no mortgage in ten years or less by socking all that money at the loan.  I dream of doing a little redecorating, and overseas travel again (one of my great loves, environmental havoc-wreakers, and debt-creators)… but that’s all stuff that will get in the way of my plans for the next five years or so.  It’s not going to prepare me for a student life, and then a missions life.  I’m not really into acquiring “stuff” but there are still things I dream about… and am tempted by.

 

I’m sure some of this line thought has come about since I had to put off school for a year in order to re-take the LSAT in June.  Which I am dreading… I worked so hard preparing for it the first time that I never want to see the damn thing again.  I’ve given myself until Ash Wednesday to continue relaxing from it and then I must start studying again, and find some tutoring.  But a couple more weeks of mental rest will not go amiss – it’s been a stressful four months between that and work and everything else.  Then I’ll still have four months to study, and also organize my mom’s move which is scheduled for two weeks before the test.  Always an adventure!