When we walked into the bank together for our first appointment with the loan officer, I had already been near tears that morning and felt like my less than awesome finances were going to bring this whole thing crashing down.
Mark told me not to worry. I looked at him and said "You know how most people are afraid of going to the dentist? I feel that way about going to the bank."
He laughed and said he was going to tell our loan officer that.
I'm turning 30 this year and one of my top goals was to get my finances under control. I had just paid off a loan and was over the moon about it and had made an aggressive plan to pay off credit cards within the year. Lesson learned, do not pay for grad school with credit cards. Just don't do it. Though it's a manageable situation, I really just want those balances gone. Gone! Just thinking about it makes me actually sick to my stomach.
But, we had decided that this was the right house for us and if you know me, when the right opportunity knocks, I never turn it away. Buying a car was a big deal for me and though I love my car, I remember the epic buyers remorse I had right after I bought it. Then I paid it off early. Signing yearlong leases used to send me into a panic, but now I'm feeling pretty good about putting down some roots. Maybe it's because I'm turning 30 this year that I've become less terrified of roots.
Between the two of us, we now have this under control and because I continue to have mini panic attacks about it, Mark now agrees with me that we'll have to tighten up on spending and actually develop a budget.
It will be challenging, but in a way, I feel really good about developing a reasonable budget and just be more thrifty. Part of that plan includes doing our own home improvement projects, I'll channel the love of sewing I used to have and make my own curtains, growing our own vegetables and more.
I still remember my dad and I driving to my summer apartment in Fredericksburg, Va. and passing a very cool looking old house. I told my dad that I wanted to someday buy an old house and fix it up. Our new house is going to need some love, but our realtor said one of the best parts of buying a house is seeing past what it is to what it can be. Sure, it will take us years to fix all the things we already know we want to change, but it'll be a new kind of adventure and we're excited. Come along for the ride!