Woo-hoo! I made it one year! Blow the horns, pop the champagne and set off the fireworks! Let’s dive right in and see how I did:

• Credit Cards/Personal: $0! (down from $4,998.93)
• Medical: $1,001.36 (down from $4,521.62)
• Student Loans: $24,182.89 (down from $26,000.56)

Bringing my GRAND TOTAL to $10,336.86!!!

WHAT?! Are you frickin’ kidding me?! I paid off more than $10,000 that I easily would’ve wasted on something else. Wow! Opens the eyes, doesn’t it?

Here’s what I liked and disliked about the Spending Fast:

PROS

• It forced me to focus on my finances. A $20 lunch becomes a bigger deal when you realize that it could be an extra $20 to put toward some annoying debt. And there’s no shame here. I definitely fell off the wagon a few times. Just get back up, right?
• I became more creative. Whether with food for my family, or gifts for others, or special treats for my students, I found myself opening up my cabinets and my heart more. And you know what? Nobody complained. :)
• I adopted minimalism and I’m never going back. I really did learn what it means to be content with what you have. I’ve donated carloads of items to those who need them more than I do. My house is empty of excess, but my heart is full. <3
• It feels amazing to not have to worry about certain bills anymore. Just go away, right?!
• I’ve learned to make a conscious effort to purchase what I need. It’s a process, yes, but I can tell I’ve changed for the better. Case in point, I haven’t bought random crap in the Target dollar bin! See?! It IS possible! :)
• I find that I’m happier. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s as though living more simply has changed my outlook.
• Oh, and let’s be honest, I’m digging the whole “Yeah, I can’t” as an excuse to get out of stuff. ;)

CONS

• It requires an assload of discipline. Seriously. It’s definitely easier said than done. Yes, I screwed up a few times, but the point is I got back up. You can, too. :) If you feel a year is way too long, take a month at a time. Or a week. Or a day! Whatever works best FOR YOU. Being a Spending Faster is just the blueprint. This is YOUR house. Decorate as you see fit!
• I think that’s it! :)

So where do I go from here?

Well, I still have things to pay off and goals that need to be accomplished. I plan on doing a modified Spending Fast/Diet to continue. I’m not in the mood to go all “balls to the wall” with any kind of shopping. Like I said, I’ve learned contentment, so I’m set. I’ll loosen up my purse strings a little to give myself the freedom to grab lunch with no regrets. But other than that, I think I’m gonna continue on. Let’s see where this goes, right? I’m here for you. Let’s kick debt’s ass! :)

To see all of Sarah’s Spending Fast journey posts click on her name at the top of the post, and to follow all of the Spending Fasters click here.

P.S. Ready to get out of debt ASAP? Check out the Spending Fast Bootcamp!