I am sick of being in debt. About a year ago I decided I was going to clear up all my debt except mortgage as soon as possible ... this includes the 20K in student loans, the 10K on credit cards, the 18K still left on the jeep and the 8K left on the blazer. Since the blazer was at 9% (it was my first real big loan on my own and it was back in early 01 but the rate wasn't bad for the time), obviously that was my first choice and I'm glad to say another payment and I'm done with that... more than a year ahead of the scheduled maturity date.
The student loans just started charging me intrest but I was able to lock it at something like 3.25% or something can't remember. I'm not too worried about that but my next goal is to pay off the jeep and get rid of the credit card debts ... the credit cards are fortunately at VERY low rates ... about 5K is on 0% so I am not rushing that one! But still, I have stopped spending money on useless things too much and all I do now is basically the travel back and forth to LA and the occasoinal offroad trip ... I have been putting off major jeep upgrades until I clear some of this stuff off.
It certainly helps to finally have a JOB though ... but what this all means is that still no TV, furniture, stereo, decorations, and too many power tools just yet. Although I may give in and finally get the air compressor and tank I've been drooling over for the past 6 months
My ultimate goal is to get to a position where I can comfortably survive for 2 years even with no additional income (i.e. no job). That would open up some doors for some REAL traveling.