Since this is my first foray into the world of fiscal fitness journals, I thought I would keep it simple for the remainder of this year and focus on my primary goal: paying off the car note.

A little background...
My hubby and I purchased our car in DEC 2007 with a 72-mo loan at 6% interest. (I know, I know. Well, at least, now I know... ) Earlier this year, we got serious about getting rid of this loan, and we're on track now to have it paid off a full 11 months early. That being said, I thought if I started a journal tracking my payments, it might inspire me to get rid of it even sooner.

So here's where I'm at now: the full payoff amount is $2016.51. I plan to update my journal each time I make a payment towards the loan. So, thanks for reading and coming on this journey with me. Can't wait to see how fast I can demolish this debt!

Wow 72 months? You can do it! Time to demolish that loan!

Well, here's my first update. I made the regularly scheduled car payment this payday, plus found an extra $50 in the budget to throw towards the principal.

New total is $1605.49.

Time to provide an update on the status of my car loan...

August and September have been challenging months financially. The hubby's tuition was due in August, so between that, his books and some additional miscellaneous expenses relating to his schooling, we have not been able to throw any extra towards the car payment. That's the bad news.

The good news is that we are still chipping away at the loan with the standard payment, and the remaining balance is $1250.52.

Finally, the excellent news...there are two months every year when I receive 3 paychecks instead of two. Since I work our budget numbers off of only two paychecks per month (it's easier for me to pretend those "extra" two paydays don't exist when I work the numbers), that means the extra paycheck in October will likely go to paying off the remainder of the car loan balance! (I say "likely" because, knock on wood, you never know what might come up...)

Made another payment. The new balance is $893.45. We're still on track to pay this off at the end of the month.

You must feel great - and you deserve it! I myself made a hefty $1.500 extra payment this summer, but have since been unemployed (no emergency) and have sort of got stuck with my monthly $50 payment (...) and as of now $ 1.150 loan. Soon that sucker goes up in flames!

You're doing great! Have you decided what your next goal is?

Thanks, Northern Light and Fiddlefaddle! I spent our whole tax return at the beginning of the year on paying this down, and I've been throwing any extra OT and travel money I get from work at it. I'm trying not to get too excited until I see a big, fat $0 on my Honda finance page, but it's getting harder to keep calm the closer I get! Doing the journal makes it even more fun, though, because I can actually go back and see where I was a couple months ago compared to where I am now.

Fiddlefaddle, I'm working on drawing up some savings and debt payment goals for next year. I have about $16k left on my student loans that I'm getting sick of carrying around, so I'll likely start chipping away faster at that. I also want to increase my retirement contributions from the ~$7k I did this year to a full $10k, plus add to the e-fund and personal investments. I'll probably start a new fiscal fitness journal at the beginning of the year to track these goals.

So exciting -- you're almost there!

Well, good news. We did it! We scheduled the last payment today, which means we payed the car off a full 14 months ahead of schedule. It won't be official for another couple of days while the payment clears, but I'm stoked.

Woohoo!!! That is awesome.

Congratulations!! Way to set a goal and achieve it. Good for you.

Congratulations! Enjoy that warm, fuzzy, debt-free driving experience!

We'll all be interested to see what your next target is...

CecilyC

Virtual high five, alohabear! I also paid off my car loan early on October 31st this year! Isn't it great to own your car outright?

Just starting a car balance payoff myself...48 months....