I just did some simple math trying to figure out how long it will take me to get out of debt. I think I'm going to be sick. Based on the math, it will take me about 5 months to pay off my Discover card (~$1580.00). I'm paying an extra $100 a month toward the principal (that I was using on minimum payments for the cards I just paid off). I also figured out I can reasonably, without trouble pay another $150 by cutting things out of my budget.

Then I wanted to know how long it would take to pay my Citi card. If I roll that $340 a month and combine it with the $350 a month I'm paying Citi now, I can pay it off in about 16 months. That's it? Seriously? I've been paying $250 a month for the past 4 years and my debt is about the same as it was 4 years ago. I feel like the biggest fool and sucker on the planet. I know this is what credit card companies want people to do and I fell right in the trap. Who knew financial freedom was so close?

I was already committed to paying off my debts but now, I'm obsessed. It's been looming over my head since I was in college about how I would ever be debt free. 21 months seems far away but it feels so doable! In 21 months, I will have paid off $11,000. That doesn't even account for things like my tax return check or work bonuses or other extra money I know I'll come into between now and then. My parents try as best they can to help me out financially with student loans so I know I'll come into money there.

I'm so, so, so excited. I can hardly wait to get paid tomorrow to make a credit card payment!!

Oh, and if anyone has Excel spreadsheet advice, I'd love to hear it. I totally have that personality but have never found a useful budgeting/finance one!