2022 Year in Review: Finances

 I received my 2022 year in review and thought I'd share. As a reminder, I follow The Budget Mom on Instagram. I have implemented her budget by paycheck and have seen great progress. 

My credit score went up by 83 points in 2022. Yes, you read that right; eighty-three points. I'd love to know how they calculate it because from the sounds of it I had a really low credit score to begin with, but in all reality I really didn't. 

I've been able to keep my average credit card usage to under 30%. This is a big deal for me. I used to high credit card usage. 

I was able to pay off $5,733 of credit card debt. My mind is really blown on this one. How?! It just goes to show a little bit really does add up in the long run. That is so hard to see in the beginning, which is one reason I never really tried before. When I first started this process, I did not have extra money to throw at debt. I had to wait until I was able to pay off a debt and snowball that payment into the next debt. 

I paid off $4,135 of my car loan. 

Other finance wins in 2022 include having a fully funded Christmas sinking fund. Whereas I did go over budget for Christmas this year, I did not accrue more debt. I started my house savings fund. We will just pretend it wasn't a forced savings lol. I feel very defeated in saving for a house. I feel like it will never happen. I'm trying to remind myself that much like debt, a little will turn into a lot in the long run. The last win is being able to afford new phones for my daughter and me. I did finance them through Apple; however, they are interest free for two years, and I have a plan to pay them off sooner than two years. Our phones were no longer going to be supported with the next update, so we needed to go ahead and purchase new ones. I now have a phone savings set up and plan to have it funded within the next four years. 

Was 2022 a good year for you financially? I'd love to hear about it!

2021 Victory

 I just received my 2021 success from Credit Karma and am amazed at the progress I made in 2021. I don't feel comfortable sharing my actual numbers just yet but will share the overview. 

In 2021 I raised my credit score by 84 points!

I have paid off over 50% of my car loan.

I have also paid off most of my student loan, thanks to 0% interest :)

This is a very small update, but I wanted to share the wins I have had just from applying the Budget Mom methods. I will be credit card debt free in 2023. It has been SO hard to not do all the things we used to do, but I am starting to see the rewards and the finish line is just up ahead. We have big plans for the future, and this is the first step to achieving those plans.

When I first started this process, I had to watch the Budget Mom YouTube videos every single day. That was my motivation to stay on track. After I got the hang of it, I was able to motivate my own self. I talk so much about the Budget Mom because she has really helped me to achieve goals I thought were impossible. It takes baby steps and before you know it you will be well on your way to achieving the bigger goals you may have set.

If I can do it, anyone can :)

The Budget Mom

If you are in charge of finances, you will want to follow The Budget Mom on Instagram. I have been following her for a year now and am blown away at the progress I have made in my budget. Prior to finding her I didn't have a budget. I charged all of Christmas. I had zero savings. Financially I was a mess and didn't even know it. I now have a budget for each time I get paid, although I am still learning and tweaking. I am now prepared for Christmas and I have some savings. My journey began because I have so many places I want to travel to, but I never have the money. I got fed up throwing away my check to debt and finally said enough is enough. Throughout 2020 and a pandemic, I have been able to pay off five small credit cards, have saved for Christmas, and a few other things. I am now working on my larger debt and will not see the same amount of progress in 2021, but I am okay with that because at least progress will be made. 

This is an older picture from The Budget Mom's Instagram account, but her workbook is pretty much the same.

I am so excited to see what progress is made throughout the year!