Brushes & Budgets

If you haven’t had a chance to catch up on things, please go here for 2019, here for 2020, and here for 2021 regarding my debt payoff, before reading this post. This is a long read so be sure to grab a snack. If you’re a skimmer, the bold areas highlight the month, year, starting, and ending balance. There’s something for everyone on Brushes & Budgets.

I had some triumphs and some failures in 2021. The biggest being I was able to pay down that hefty $8,400 bill for my breast reduction down to $0! I got new tires for my car…ouch…I also bought myself a new bedroom set! I absolutely love this bedroom set. While it would’ve made more sense to wait or save up for it. I pulled the trigger like a crazy person before I was actually ready. Now that that has all been unloaded, I wonder what happened in 2022…

January 2022 – Starting Balance $30,792.91 – Ending Balance $30,169.01

I paid a total of $1,427.42 towards debt this month

New year, new your? Nah! I’m keeping up the same narrative with balance transfers this month. It does eventually slow down. My furniture was paid off though! Please don’t do as I’ve done. I could’ve ended my misery a long time ago. The only thing I should’ve kept were the medical and car care items I paid for. This month, I did take another trip that I believe may have caused the balance transfers. I went on a cruise for the first time. I cash-flowed the cruise but not the flight for this one or the balance transfers wouldn’t have happened. Anyhow…I also got word that I was promoted and my new role in training starts right after I return from my trip.

February 2022 – Starting Balance $30,169.01 – Ending Balance $28,980.56

I paid a total of $1,276.42 towards debt this month

I’m so happy I didn’t do a balance transfer this month! Please know that there is a lot more where that came from. Again…not acceptable. Great news though. I got a 8% pay increase when I only thought I was getting 5%! I also made the final payment to my 2nd 401k loan.

March 2022 – Starting Balance $28,980.56 – Ending Balance $28,968.17

I paid a total of $2,742.42 towards debt this month

I just remembered. I went to Chicago for the weekend in October 2021…I forgot my stun gun was in my purse. There was a possibility that I’d end up with a misdemeanor charge once I finally got to court, as well as I could end up spending 60 days in jail. So I hired an attorney. The retainer was $1,800 and I paid it this month using my Care Credit Credit Card (it’s a Mastercard) and balance transferred it to my Shop Your Way credit card. Look through your things thoroughly before going to the airport. They show no mercy even if you don’t pose as a threat.

April 2022 – Starting Balance $28,968.17 – Ending Balance $27,241.51

I paid a total of $1,811.42 towards debt this month

I did not continue the trend for balance transfers this month and it paid off! I also was dealing with some serious health challenges that I had to address in May, where the balance transfers resume…Yikes. Also, my nana died and I waited patiently to find out when we were going to have her memorial service because we couldn’t afford to bury her.

May 2022 – Starting Balance $27,241.51 – Ending Balance $28,484.58

I paid a total of $1,569.42 towards debt this month

Early this month, I had to fly to Missouri for my nana’s memorial service. My mom had a heart attack a few days beforehand. It was her mom. My mom is fine but it was so stressful. I was still struggling with my health in the worst way and I had a Thymectomy scheduled for 5/5/2022, but had to reschedule it to 5/20/2022. What I didn’t know, is I was going to have to take disability for this surgery. I did not have any accrued PTO because of the cruise earlier in the year and because I cashed in a week and a day of PTO. I also was out for two weeks for the surgery. I had to reorganize all my finances to make things work. I also flew the guy I was dating and his cat out to help me while I recovered. I give this month…0/5 stars.

June 2022 – Starting Balance $28,484.58 – Ending Balance $26,714.83

I paid a total of $1,860.42 towards debt this month

I started the month at 66 2/3’s pay. Even though I reorganized my finances to accommodate my week of no pay, I did one more balance transfer in July because I FINALLY caught on to the fact that I needed a better plan for my automatic payments…THANK GOD!

July 2022 – Starting Balance $26,714.83 – Ending Balance $29,366.88

I paid a total of $1,563.77 towards debt this month

Queue the teeter totter. July…I had to have my wisdom tooth removed. It hit me in the pockets pretty hard because I had no idea insurance didn’t pay for anesthesia…So I got stuck with a $1,500 bill but it was at 0% interest. I also was helping my friend with her wedding, I was the maid of honor and contributed quite a bit. I did open a HELOC this month where I found out my credit score hit the 800’s even with my unfortunate choices.

August 2022- Starting Balance $29,366.88 – Ending Balance $28,099.70

I paid a total of $1,193.74 towards debt this month

I finally turned makeup into a business this month and started planning for a sinking fund for my car insurance that I pay annually. Everything hits August 4th, along with a bunch of items I purchased for the wedding. So expect another balance transfer for September. I also allotted $1,500 in my savings account to travel because I was going to Chicago every couple of months and I wanted to cash-flow the trips instead of constantly doing balance transfers for travel.

September 2022 – Starting Balance $28,099.70 – Ending Balance $29,389.65

I paid a total of $1,736.54 towards debt this month

I wasn’t far from where I ended in 2021. I’m kind of thankful I’m doing this now. I need something to help me stay accountable. I moved a hefty portion of my balances to my HELOC. I also decided to discontinue paying my student loan until pause on interest ends or they pay the remainder of my balance off.

October 2022 – Starting Balance $29,389.65 – Ending Balance $27,723.40

I paid a total of $1696.24 towards debt this month

I finally got my credit card spending under control with the exception of purchasing items for the wedding in August. I made one final trip to Chicago for now and I hired a business coach, which was worth it to help me focus. Her name is Vee, she’s amazing at motivating you to take time for yourself first and then consider everything else. Did my life start falling apart as soon as our sessions began? Absolutely!

November 2022 – Starting Balance $27,723.40 – Ending Balance $25,568.55

I paid a total of $2,349.64 towards debt this month

I had a great month with my finances for this month. I began working with the business coaching and got my first bill that I balance transferred in December. I also hosted a few themed shoots for my business.

December 2022 – Starting Balance $25,568.55 – Ending Balance $25,110.24

I paid a total of $1,436.24 towards debt this month

Sigh…I had a plan…the balance transfers were going to slow down to a trickle and then stop and I was ready to move on to the next chapter…Then lock jaw hit early this month. When I finally got to the treatment portion, I had already spent almost $300 at the chiropractor, $70 at the dentist, and by time it all happened I spent $636 for the first portions of treatment. They waited for my jaw to unlock a bit, but it never did. The saga continued in January 2023. I paid my second bill for the business coach, that I balance transferred in January.

I made $20,663.69 of payments for 2022. Of those payments $939.59 went to interest which is progress! I went from paying a bunch of interest at the beginning to less than $1,000 in an entire year.

That concludes my recap of my journey thus far. The goal now, is to never do another balance transfer again. I adjusted my variable spending for 2023 to make sure I had enough for food and what not. I also am doing what I can to keep my expenses low. If I haven’t lost you at this point, thank you for reading!