THE ARCHIVE
HOW WE PAID OFF OVER $100,000 IN DEBT
Last year, Tyler and I became debt-free. It was a long and difficult journey, but we did it! And it was definitely worth it. Together we had a combined total of $140,000 of student loan debt. We had plenty of discussions prior to getting married about the debt we were both bringing to the marriage and our plan for getting out of debt. We made the most progress between 2017 and 2019. During that time we paid off $92,283. Between 2012 and 2017, we paid off $47,717. We applied the same principles through the 7-year process, but there were a variety of things that really made a difference for us in the final 2-year stretch.
WE LIVED ON A BUDGET
For years we used excel to create our budget and we still do. We also keep track of everyday purchases with the Every Dollar app. Using and living on a budget allowed us to tell our money where to go. Because we knew where our money was going it was easy to make changes or make cuts in certain areas. Any money we had left went directly to paying off our loans. The more we could save the more we could pay off.
We created our budget using the 4 walls method. The 4 walls in your life are; shelter, food, transportation, and basic clothing. You need to be able to pay your rent/mortgage (this includes basic utilities,) you need to eat, you need to get to and from work, and you need basic clothing. Everything outside of these 4 walls is extra, and these extra things are luxuries.
When we created our first budget, right after getting married we definitely had more month at the end of the money. This was largely due to the fact that our student loan payments were more than our rent and at the time we were living in Burbank, CA… so rent was a lot.
Keep in mind that everyone’s budget will look different even when everyone is using the 4 walls method. Cost of living is different everywhere and based on region everyone’s salary will be different too. Focus on creating your budget around your 4 walls. Remember, everything else is extra and these extra things are a luxury. Once you have your 4 walls outlined on your budget, determine how much money you have leftover, this extra money can go to your loans.
WE LIVED WELL BELOW OUR MEANS
It took us years to get to this point, but it was a huge factor in helping us get out of debt. As you read above when we were first married we barely had any money, which is pretty common for married kids right of out college. But, about 4 years into being married we were making more money and we were able to live on less than 50% of our income, this meant that a majority of our income went to paying off our loans. This is what made such a difference for us between 2017 and 2019. Our debt pay off was a slow upward climb to start, but as we paid off more debt and as our salaries increased, we were really able to make greater strides.
Getting to a place where you can live below your means will look different for everyone, and I don’t want anyone thinking they have to get to the same place we did to make a difference for themselves. Remember it took us years to get to a place where we could live below our means and we were able to do that because we lived small and continued to create a budget around our 4 walls. We didn’t increase our lifestyle when we made more money, we saved that money instead.
WE SAID NO A LOT
We basically said no to anything that costs money, especially if it was kind of big or out of the ordinary. We said no to things like rock climbing, eating out a lot, going on day trips and things like that. This doesn’t mean we didn’t hang out with friends, it just means we found free stuff to do with friends. Something we did often was hiking, we hiked a lot. And we didn’t say no to all eating out invitations. We always went to invitations that were important.
I also want to point out that we didn’t say no to everything. When my brother got married in the Philippines, we made it a priority to go. And when my dad passed away, we made a trip to Portland. I do want to include that we were able to easily plan for these trips financially, because of how we were budgeting.
WE CUT EXPENSES
We were often called weird because of the choices we made to save money. I didn’t have a smartphone until 2017, at that point my business actually paid for it and Tyler didn’t have a smartphone until we were completely debt-free. We didn’t pay for any subscriptions, no Amazon Prime, no Hulu. We did have Netlfix for about 3 years, but we canceled that and still don’t’ have it now. We also lived very small. At one point we lived in a 325sqft tiny house and then upgraded to a one-bedroom apartment. We rarely ate out and had very small clothing budgets, which we got for our birthdays, haha! It was pretty extreme, but we had a plan.
*What NOT to do: There were plenty of times when we first started this process that we didn’t give our selves any fun money or personal money to spend. This lead to times where we would end up blowing money because we weren’t giving ourselves any wiggle room. Give yourself a little wiggle room and decide what’s important to you and what you want to prioritize. When we first allowed ourselves personal spending money we each got $25 a month. That’s not a lot, but it still allowed a little bit of spending money. It also meant that if we wanted we could save the $25 and save for something big.
WE USED THE SNOWBALL EFFECT
We followed the Ramsey Solution principles and used the snowball effect. This means that we paid off the smallest loan first and then worked our way up. This gave us momentum and helped us have a sense of achievement. We celebrated every loan we paid off and we felt like we were making progress with each win. We actually had a handful of different loans, all of different amounts. When we paid off one loan, we would take the money that we were paying to that loan and add it to the next one. By the time we got to our last loan, which was the largest, we were able to make significant headway because all the payments we were making to the smaller loans had all snowballed into one large sum that went to our final loan.
WE WORKED A LOT
As I mentioned above we made the most progress between 2017 and 2019. At this time Tyler and I were both working. Tyler’s job allowed him to work a lot of overtime and he was also working a second job. My jobs were always more sporadic then Tyler’s, but I had the most consistent work and made the most between 2017 and 2019.
RELATIONSHIP STUFF
TYLER WAS VERY PATIENT
When Tyler and I first got married, I understood his plan to get out of debt, but I wasn’t as passionate about it and I also didn’t have the same intensity as Tyler. It took me a few years to have the same passion as Tyler to get out of debt. Tyler was always patient with me as he waited for me to get on board with our plan and then he was understanding and patient, knowing that I was not going to move at the same pace or intensity has him. If Tyler could he would have had as many jobs as possible. I was not like that. I was always willing to work, but I understood the demand that Tyler’s jobs put on him, so it was important to me to have more time at home, to take care of our needs. Long story short, I didn’t work as much as Tyler, but that is what worked best for us.
HOW OUR LIVES CHANGED
What we are doing now and what we have planned in the next few months are a direct correlation of being debt-free. Right now we’re living in Vancouver and we would not have been able to make this move if we were still in debt. We also planned a trip to Maui this year, which we would have not been able to do if we were in debt. We said no to a lot for a long time so we could be free to create a different life for ourselves. While the big stuff has definitely changed, the little stuff is the same. We still live on a budget and we actually kept it the same, except now we have more fun money to spend. But we still stick to the same main principles, we live small, we live below our means, and we save. Getting out of debt meant we could continue to dream new dreams. Now we’re able to save money for things that are important to us, instead of having to give our money to someone else (being in debt is the worst, haha.) And I can’t finish this post without saying it was all because of Jesus. He provided the many different jobs we had, he gave us the disciple to stay with it, and he was with us when it was hard and we wanted to give up.
Oh man, these types of posts are so hard for me to write, but I hope our experience will encourage and inspire you to become debt-free! We read tons of different books during our debt-free journey, but if you are trying to get out of debt too, I recommend Total Money Makeover and Love Your Life, Not Theirs. Both of these books will give you a step by step plan to get out of debt and create a new relationship money. Let me know if you have any questions below! xo. Samantha
A VISIT TO MAGNOLIA + MY FAVORITE PICKS
At the end of 2019 I made a bucket list… when I made the list I put 3 things on it, haha! 2019 was a tough year and it was difficult for me to think past some of the pain we experienced… and to be completely honest I didn’t want to hope for too many things either. One of the things on that list was going to Magnolia Market. When we were in the states for Christmas we had to make a quick trip to Texas for a wedding, you can read more about that here. We initially considered flying from Missouri, but between the cost of tickets and the actual travel time, we decided to drive. Once we figured out we were driving Tyler reminded me that we would drive right through Waco and I was over the moon excited.
We knew we wouldn’t have a long time there, just a few hours, but it was worth it for me. We decided to stop by on our way back to give us more time if we wanted. Tyler tried to get me to stop on the way there, but I said no. I didn’t want to drive by and halfway see it. I wanted to really experience it. To give our selves enough time at Magnolia we left Kerrville, TX at 6:00am. We made a small detour to drop someone off at the airport and we were to Magnolia by about 10:00am.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Usually, when I write these types of posts, I usually include a lot of different tips, like where to park, etc. But you can find everything you need to know on their website. We parked on their 8th street lot, which is currently closed due to construction, but check out their site for updates. We also arrived at a pretty good time too. Their operating hours start at 9:00am and we arrived at 10:00am. There were still plenty of spots in their free lot and it wasn’t too crowded.
A few things that stuck out to us the most… They really did create a place of community. I’ve seen plenty of pictures online, but I didn’t really get it until we visited in person. There were kids and families hanging out on the lawn playing games. There were plenty of food trucks (we bought food from three different ones.) There are plenty of places to sit and eat and there is lots of shade too. Their operations are also on point. Even though there were plenty of people visiting the Silos we rarely waited in line.
PICKING UP A LITTLE HOPE
When we walked through the Market, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to buy anything. We’re in such a weird season right now, buying something didn’t really make a lot of sense, because we wouldn’t be taking it to Canada, it would go into storage. Something I’ve been working through and letting go of is the idea that we might not ever have a normal life with a house to call our own. That might sound dramatic, but Tyler and I have worked really hard to hold everything really loosely and hold to Jesus tightly. If I never have a place that’s ours that I get to call home, that’s okay, because we have Jesus and that’s all we need. Now I’m not saying I don’t want or desire those things, but I need to be okay if we don’t. So, back to walking through the Market, I was standing in an aisle looking at some throws and Tyler asked me, “what are you looking at?” My reply, “I was thinking about whether I should buy this throw for a house we don’t have.” His response, “YES.” He didn’t even flinch, he picked it up… he didn’t even ask the price. 😭 Most things that we buy like that these days feels like hope. So I ended up with a throw and mirror for a house we don’t have, but with the hope of one we may have.
For fun, I put together some of my favorite things from the Market below! Including the throw we picked up and the mirror too.
MY FAVORITE MAGNOLIA PICKS
MAGNOLIA TABLE WAS PACKED
Before we actually made it to the Silos, we stopped at Magnolia Table. This place was busy! This is the one place I would suggest going and having lots of time. We would have loved to eat here, but we just didn’t have time. They do have a Magnolia Table food truck at the Silos, so even if you don’t eat at the restaurant, you can try some of the food at the Silos. That’s what we did. We had heard good things about the biscuits, so that’s what we got with strawberry butter and they were worth it!
Lastly, the Bakery was amazing! This was one place with a line, but while you are waiting you fill out a card for your order, so you’re ready once you get to check out. They get you in super fast. We actually got a bunch of cupcakes and cookies to take home for New Years Eve and they were so good! We tried 4 or 5 different cup cakes, but the Strawberries & Cream and the Lemon Lavender were our favorites! xo. Samantha
A WEEKEND GETAWAY IN TEXAS
I’m 100% writing this post because the Airbnb we stayed in Texas at was so cool. Over our Christmas holiday, we took a road trip to Texas for a friend’s wedding. Tyler went to school with this friend and I’ve known them just as long too. Tyler and he were roommates in California and they both worked together at BlueSky. The wedding ended up in Texas because that’s where our friend’s family was. They decided on a small intimate wedding and found an Airbnb to house their family and guests.
Tyler and I have always dreamed of renting a super big house to put all of our family in for a family vacation, this Airbnb gave us a taste of that. This Airbnb included 2 riverfront houses connected by a deck and breezeway. It housed 12 people and had lots of outdoor space. Check out everything here.
This road trip ended up being a really sweet weekend getaway for Tyler and I. We weren’t apart of the wedding party, so we weren’t in charge of a lot of things. We were just able to enjoy our time and relax. We were literally only there for about 24 hours too, but it was still super nice. Because we were only going for a few days, I almost didn’t pack enough clothes… I’m always under packing. Last minute I threw in my leggings (pictured above,) which was good, otherwise I would have ended up wearing shorts to the wedding.
Short and sweet, but just a look into a quick weekend away in Texas. xo. Samantha
ON LIFE IN VANCOUVER
Hmmmmm, so we’ve been in Vancouver for a little over 2 months now... going on 3 months. We stayed in an Airbnb for the first month and we moved into our current place at the beginning of November. We found a place with a 5 month lease which is exactly what we needed. We live downtown, but near the sea wall, which we love. That is actually why we picked our current place. In just a few steps we can walk the sea wall and not to much further we can walk along English Bay. The great thing about downtown Vancouver is that everything is within walking distance, so we can easily walk to Stanley Park too.
Our time here as been relatively quiet, we haven’t done a lot of crazy exploring. Tyler works a lot and his injury has kept us from venturing too far out of downtown, we have found fun stuff to do though. On a regular bases we walk the sea wall and one weekend we walked all the way to Stanley park. So far Stanley park is one of our favorite places.
While hanging out in Stanley park we found the Totem poles which Tyler loved. I thought they were cool too, but as an artist Tyler loved them. Stanley park is super cool because you can experience so many different things. We walked by the water and I always find it super fascinating to see the city right up against the ocean. And then we walked through the park with paved walk ways and leafing trees. There is also an aquarium in Stanley park, but we haven’t checked it out yet.
We walk every where, which I really love and the photo below was fun. This is English Bay where Tyler found the accessible beach mat. He has a whole new appreciation for handicap access.
In regards to Tyler’s injury. He’s doing a lot better. He’s still in his boot, but he’s allowed to put weight on it and starting next week he can start weening off his boot. He also started physical therapy, which is really helping and hopefully he’ll be out of his boot by the time we leave for Christmas.
One weekend we went to Olympic village and saw Jojo Rabbit, which was so good. Taika Waititi is one of our favorite directors, he also directed Hunt for the Wilderpeople… you should just go watch all of Tiaka’s films, they’re good. We also walked back to our apartment from Olympic village which was really pretty. It was about a 2 mile walk, which seems pretty normal to us now. I walk about 3 to 4 miles a day.
We’ve also checked out Granville Island, which we really enjoy. There’s a market there with tons of fresh produce, fish and a bunch of different places to eat. We like to frequent Granville often to try different types of food. That is one thing that’s really fun about Vancouver, all the food. There are so many different places to eat and so many different things to try.
We also recently drove to Washington which was fun. I really wanted to go to Sierra Trading Post for my birthday and the closest one is in Bellingham, which is only an hour a way, wahoo! There are a lot of other things we would love to do… like lots of hiking, but with Tyler’s injury those things aren’t really an option and now it’s getting cold. Vancouver also has lots of winter options, like snowboarding, but we probably won’t be doing that either, haha. Our time here is actually passing faster than I expected, which doesn’t really bother me. It will be fun to figure out what’s next for us. It’s always a little tough feeling unsettled, but I always try to remind myself that Jesus is the constant. Okay, that’s it for today!