We got our state tax return today & its amazing how paying something off feels

I paid:

* The interest that was accruing on my deferred student loans
* Paid OFF my daughter's braces
* Prepaid the homeowner's association fees for our rental property for all of 2010
* Paid an extra $1000 on my credit card & when our federal return comes we will pay that off

Hopefully 2010 is a kinder year to us financially than 2009 was.

I just calculated what we owed at the end of the year and I can't believe how much in denial I was.

On 12/31
$8K on CC #1
$9K on CC #2
$28 on CC #3

That's $45K in credit card debt... and the sad part is I know where EVERY penny went to

We started with $8K in CC debt, then we incurred $15K in rental property repairs, $10K in our personal residence, our computer died & we spent $2K for a new desktop so I could work, then my Dad died and that made up the rest with having to fly 6 people to Hawaii... the rest is interest & fees.

I always knew the balances on the cards, but never added them up. And never disclosed them here cause I was ashamed. When I came here, we were just down to $8K in credit card debt from $17K.

But after this next month, it should be

CC#1 Gone
CC#2 $7500
CC#3 $27000
Total CC Debt $34500

An improvement but we still have a long way to go & I just hope this upcoming move doesn't set us back. I don't think it SHOULD because the Navy will move us & my job is going with us, so I won't have the usual expenses associated with a move except setting up a new house. But the Navy gives around $2400 to help take care of that stuff and rents in the new place look like they are around $1200 or so.

*shrug*

We'll see. I still have the inheritance & our emergency fund of $1000, so we have a total savings of around $11K that should be able to cushion us if something comes up.

I'm still not sure what to do about the surgery but I realize I'm going to have to take it one day at a time. I had the consult with the surgeon, its just now getting an estimate of charges & finding out what insurance will or won't cover.