Aja...Aja...Aja. Do you realize what you have done over the past almost 2 years? I mean, stop for one moment. Step outside yourself and objectively review what you have done with your finances. You have single handedly done, what I would imagine, few people have done (that aren't already independently wealthy). You've nearly paid off a sum that is equivalent to some people's 30 year home mortgages...IN 2 YEARS! That's effing AMAZING! And along the way, you've inspired so many people to get off their asses and take control of their finances, which in turn, helps them to take control of their lives. YOU'VE done that...YOU'VE provided that inspiration for others. And you'll continue to help others by sharing your journey. So don't give up. Don't lose faith in the process that has served you well and has gotten you where you are. You're nearly there and once you've enjoyed your debt-free scream, you can then start a new chapter of your life and the $$$ you spend will be on TANGIBLE things that you can finally enjoy. And as far as getting a mortgage, you'll feel differently about the $ you spend on your home. It is a debt that won't feel the same as educational debt. Trust me. You've said that you made the decision to put your life on hold because of your school debt. Well Girl, it's almost time to start really living the life that you want...unencumbered by the invisible yoke you've been wearing. And I can't wait to see what happens next.
You got this, Aja!!! You used to have over $150k in debt and hearing that you now have only $32k left is freaking amazing to me. You’re doing an awesome job and really so inspiring. You WILL be debt free in the near future and honey I’ll be celebrating and cheering you on through the whole journey ❤️ Also, I LOVE Dave Ramsey and follow most of his advice. But I do have a credit card I use and check the balance on consistently and frequently. I pay it off the same time every month and it honestly is so much easier for me than paying cash for things. AND I get cash back (free money basically) from my purchases! If you’re good with monitoring your spending and responsible with money then a credit card is worth it. As long as you pay it off every month there’s no interest and you can get rewards!
I second this. If you’re responsible with money then a credit card with cash back, like Bank Of America Cash Rewards, is totally worth it. Every month I spend around $800-1,000 and pay it off every month to avoid interest. I use it for gas, groceries, and anything I buy. Each month I get at least $30 back. Not bad!
Honestly if you’re not seeing a therapist already I highly recommend it. You are working so hard and putting so much pressure on yourself. Take care ❤️
@@TheUnicornonthecob Yup. and its scary because even as an overall healthy person health issues can pop up out of no where and leave you in desperate need of a doctor (happened to me)
I've been looking for one but haven't really clicked with anyone. Had a great therapist when I lived in SF but haven't found that some connection with anyone in LA. thanks for looking out for my mental health.
@@AjaDang Could you maybe do video/skype with the therapist that you had in SF? Or even have sessions over the phone? If you already have a good connection with them it seems a shame to let that go. Anyway, just a thought. Also joint account that each person pays an amount into for joint bills etc, works well for me & my partner.🌻
Like I told you I would, I paid my student loans off last month. It was over 200k (undergrad and law school combined). It took 7 years which is actually pretty good compared to some other folks. Just keep your eyes on the prize. 30k will go by so quickly. You’re doing a great job and while you have had to make sacrifices, it will be worth getting out of the misery of debt. Plan something awesome for when your loans are paid off. It’ll be something to look forward to because trust me, just paying the loans off won’t be enough.
Josh yes, I did. I spent 5 years making between $50k-90k in different jobs. Then the last two years went to a large law firm. It was the only way I could pay my loans quickly.
So, with the family budgeting thing. Why not just have a joint checking account and use a debit card instead of credit card. Then you completely avoid the whole credit card thing and the risks associated with it. At the beginning of every month you and Brian can go over your budget and transfer the agreed upon amount to your joint checking account (say $6000 spending money for the whole month). Then you follow your budget and never have to worry about charging more than you can pay back at the end of the month! You’ve come so far don’t get discouraged!
This is very similar to what my husband and I do. We have our own separate credit cards and a joint checking account with debit cards, and use that account for our joint expenses like rent, food, internet, etc. It works very well for us!
In France credit cards don’t even exist and this is the system me and my boyfriend use on a daily basis (debit card on a joint checking account and equal money transfer at the beginning of each month)
I can totally vouch for this! I do this with my boyfriend and we each put in the same amount and if we go over budget we top up but it's conscious and then we check the budget or re-adjust next month. It's honestly surprisingly easy this way!
This is a really good idea. I was going to add that certain places (like my utilities) either don’t accept a credit card and payment or add a giant fee which wouldn’t make it worth it in the long run for you guys anyways. A joint credit account with debit cards is a much better idea
Aja. Go rewatch your first budget video. You will feel motivated and accomplished to see how far you have come. Keep putting one foot in front of another and move forward. You got this.
Hi Aja. Couple things: 1) Credit cards are fine to use when used responsibly. I use them for earning miles. As a frequent flyer, it has truly made a difference. As long as you pay the balance by the due date, no harm, no foul; 2) As a subscriber, I appreciate your concern for your influence, but if your viewers make poor choices with their finances after viewing your content, that's on them. I think you "disclaim" enough and are real enough about your personal finances that people should know better than to blame a TH-camr for possibly making an irresponsible choice with their own finances; and 3) if you change your mind about something you felt so strongly about before (i.e., not having a credit card), that's fine! We're human, we change our minds all the time. It doesn't make you hypocritical. You're evolving and learning and I'm thankful for your candidness because we're learning right along with you. This just goes to show how money can be bondage and controlling and how it CANNOT buy happiness. I encourage you to find other areas in your life where you can draw positive energy and happiness to keep you going through the hard times. For me, it's just spending time with myself and the people I love. No money needed, just time. Keep your chin up.
This, 100%. Credit cards are not inherently evil, as long as the user knows what he or she is doing. I've gotten thousands of dollars of free money just from signing up for new credit cards, and getting credit card rewards from normal usage. :D
Girl this kind of video makes me SO hopeful!! im about to face $260k of student debt coming this May. I am already nearing my 30s. I already know that I wont be buying real estate for a long time (or ever). But watching you go through this in such an organized and systematic way gives me such encouragement! I will have a long road ahead of me, but you have cracked the code for me with your persistence so don't let this crush you yet! Final stretch!
I wouldn’t use a credit card. A joint bank account is more safe in my opinion. Both parties add a certain amount and spend out of that like one would with a credit card.
There is something called “debt fatigue” and I suspect you might have it. This is the first video of yours that I’ve watched, but I really think that’s what’s happening to you. I’m in Canada, but I am a finance professional with a specialization in personal finance. I’ve listened to Dave Ramsey and while I like most of what he says, some I don’t agree with. I think his advice about not moving in until. You get married is rooted in his own personal religious beliefs more than sound financial advice - and there is no such thing as a one size fits all approach and I think that’s where people get into traps with his teaching, thinking he’s the gospel of debt repayment. You need to go easy on yourself. It sounds like your debt was mostly a result of education, not running around spending money you don’t have. Relax a little on yourself. Student loan debt is ok, if it gets you a career with a good earning potential. I live in Canada and our education is much cheaper so I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Bottom line: debt fatigue is ok, the feeling will pass, continue to spend a little money on yourself, it will help you stay the course (in my opinion). I look forward to watching more of your videos!
Girl this video is so raw and honest and I’m here for it! I’m in the same boat and I felt every emotion you described! Thank you for being so vulnerable because this shit is hard!!
It's definitely hard. I've also felt quite deprived when I first started living more frugally (I was even living in my car to save money!), but now I finally found a balance :D
Aja, you’ve done amazing at paying off your debt, your income level is top 5 percent in the nation. You will be done with your debt in a few months and then you will have enough for a down payment of a house in a few years max. Nothing to be upset about!
I did the debt snowball. You can do this. My husband and I are 31 and we are completely debt free. All the sacrifice pays off ,keep your eyes on the goal. You’re money frees up to do those projects and things you’ve always wanted to do. We weren’t always so strict in our budget because it can feel like you’re not living sometimes. Now that we’re debt free we stopped using credit cards we just use cash flow.This has helped us not get tempted to be back in debt. We learned to live within our means and as our income increase so does the freedom to do more things. Don’t lose heart girl, if we did it you can to !
❤️ this is so relatable. I’m feeling the burn out a bit too. I have to say these videos you started over a year ago have been so helpful. There was a buzzfeed video recently on women and financial literacy and it feels so powerful to have so many other females in these comments supporting each other. You’ve got this, and we are in this together!
I don't know if Aja will see this but I know exactly how you feel. This month is my last payment for my student loans. I can't believe I've made it. I started at about $70k in 2013 and it's taken me this long to pay them off. Celebrate all the victories you've accomplished within your timeframe. You're more than 75% done. I want people to know, this is the last leg, though it seems like the finish line is too far, now is when you give it all you got. I'm rooting for you all!
Hi Aja! I finally started on my debt free journey about 14 months ago. If I had seen this video before I started, I probably would think you are crazy for crying when you’ve paid off so much debt and in comparison to where you started that you are so close to finishing. However, now that I am on my own debt free journey, I can completely relate. Even though our financial situations are completely different as far as income & bills, we both have the same goal of being debt free. While I do understand your frustration, please remember what a blessing it is that you’ve been able to pay off so much so quickly. You’ve worked really hard and you will feel so good when you are done! Looking forward to seeing you become debt free!
Sorry to see you so frustrated-but, holy shit, you’re really out here doing what feels impossible, and it’s inspiring. You have every right to feel so deeply disturbed, because this whole system is unfair, and having to put so much of your energy into this is exhausting. Please remind yourself that you’re a beast at crushing your goals, and sooner than later you’re going to be debt free.
I empathize with you sooo much Aja. I appreciate the realness and vulnerability you allow us to see in videos like this. It is easy to post and talk about the successes in our journies but it is rare to have that same transparency when we're going through the real, rough shitty parts. Just know that this journey of yours has inspired so many of us to look into our debt and finances. I stumbled across one of your finance vids late one night. Fast forward about two months later and because of YOU I've started tracking my spending and assessing my student loans and even copying your debt flow chart into my bullet journal. Who knows how many others who know nothing about finances will come across your videos in the midst of your last 30k? $150K paid off in less than three years???! WHO DOES THAT? You are a badass and an inspiration. Lifting you up, Aja.
You're amazing! $32,000 is the amount I started with and that number for me seemed overwhelming at the time as a recently graduated college student with no job prospects. It took me six years (with a year of help) to pay off my unsubsidized debt in full, which was a feat. Yet, you've paid off that debt amount 4x over in just two years!! And you're on track to be debt free in a few short months. Be so proud, so so proud of yourself. You've done so amazingly thus far and you're continuing to strive for greatness even now.
When I was in my last couple months of BS2, I felt it was dragging on as well. I needed to get re-motivated/inspired, so I just read books, listened to audibles, and continued to simplify my spending by selling things I did not need, donating and looking into the process of home buying. Looking into the next steps is the only way I am able to stay focused. Just continue learning about investing money and visualize your ideal home. Its really fun to look into the future and pick out what your home would look like/where it would be. For me, its about 2-3 acres of land close enough to a city (1-2 hours) in Texas, Colorado or Oregon. I want to build my home from the ground up, have a bigger garden, and be close enough to a body of water (lake or river) for weekend trips. I want to continue learning about living a low waste life and continue learning about how to make my money work for me.
First is off, I'm glad I can finally watch asians on a screen and feel represented and relate. At 26 I FINALLY can see someone who I look like. (+ Crazy Rich asians came out) Secondly, I LOVE openly talking about money, or anything else that we make taboo. We are social animals and yes there's something called privacy but I don't know.. there's no shame or judgement we can share our sentiments without numbers too. We are all acting like we're not handling bills and debt and that life is good BUT ITS NOT TRUE. We can talk about it openly, supportively, WITH NO JUDGEMENT OR PATRONIZING TONES. It's possible. I love this. Thank you, Aja Dang.
You are a budget warrior!!!! I would caution you to keep paying your insurance until you find a new one. Although you “feel” healthy one minor/major health issue could jeopardize all your hard work. It’s far better to pay $500+ for insurance than $5k for doctor’s fees, lab, Xray, etc.
I had a super similar month in August. I've been working to pay off my $40k+ in student loans and am at about 10K now, but I just got so sick of budgeting that in August I just stopped for the month. straight up. STOPPED. I let myself buy so many things I've been wanting for so long. It was 120% necessary for me to do that and reset. Next year when I'm debt free, I will be able to go to target and not worry about that $20 or $50 I spent. It was perfect to help me remember WHY I am budgeting so strictly this year. It's so I can have total control over my money next year. Remember your WHY. Also I echo the people suggesting that you get a checking account together and a debit card together if you don't want to do a credit card. However, I know a lot of people who got a credit card together and then they use the rewards points and money to pay for date nights and trips away together.
AJA YOU GOT THIS!!!! The finish line is soooo close and I know it feels like the more you reach out for it the more it’s running away, but you have done an AMAZING job at putting so much into this. Frustration is there and when it’s all done, you have something to look back on and see how you were feeling. This is growth for you at the same time. You got this babe!
I thank you for the realness! Everyone focuses on the paying off debt but not enough on the emotions and reality of the journey. It is truly a journey. It's more about setting up a way of living that does not include debt in your life. If you only focus on the paying off of debt and not on the building management skills of dealing with money, you'll just end up right back where you were. I just started this journey again for the second time. Last time failed because I went all gungho and didn't leave room for any fun and it was extremely rigid. Again thank you for being real and letting us see all sides.
I find it interesting that you have been fighting debt for two years or so, because I burned out after 2 and a half years of college. My degree was in computers, and even 4 years later, I don't want to use them often. I burned out badly, and did nothing with my degree. That being said, if I could give you and my past self advice, it's to get out of your own head. By which I mean, take your eyes off the goal, at least for a little while. I know it might seem wrong to spend on yourself when you think you should put that money toward a different cause, but I think you shopping was a way of coping with extremes. Think of yourself as managing a balance scale. On the left, you want fun (shopping, hobbies). On the right, you want responsibility (debt release/savings). Your shopping spree might have been to keep you from neglecting the left (fun) side before it's too late and you go back to that extreme. It's all a balancing act. Therefore, *within reason,* go have some fricken fun. Balance out that scale. Then when you're recharged enough, approach your debt with a fresh mind. Hope that made sense. Good luck!
You deserve to treat yourself, don’t feel guilty for spending a little. Your story is inspiring, you are on the home straight. It is ok to slow down and take paying down your debt slowly. Keep it up girl we are all behind you.
Your going to be fine Aja. You have hustle like no one I’ve seen. I watch you and think “damn! This girl is pretty, intelligent and a hustler” I started my journey listening to Dave Ramsey, then I found you on TH-cam. You motivated me. I thought “ ok cool, us girls weir gonna pay off our debt” I only had $10,000 to pay but when I was down to my last $3,000 I Remember feeling more and more anxious because it seemed like that little $3,000 was just mocking me. It felt so close but so far. I know how you feel Aja. You’re going to be ok. Thank you for being so transparent with us. You’re doing good work.
I would recommend opening a joint checking account and splitting the budget down the middle instead. Both of you could contribute a certain amount and once the money runs out in that account, you and Brian could split the cost for whatever else you need during the month and refill the account at the beginning of the month. God bless, girl. You're an incredible woman.
My debt was smaller than yours but the smaller it got, the harder it was to pay off. I got so tired of paying all my income to my debt. When I paid it off everyone else was so excited but I was so over it and not happy at all. It's been about 4 months now and I still don't have those excited feelings. It doesn't seem like much has changed but I know I changed and I'm much more financially intelligent and I *am* proud I pushed myself to pay it off to secure my future. I will never put myself in that position again!
I also make monthly budget videos and began with Dave Ramsey's baby steps. We are still loosely following them, but for my husband and I, we recently made the switch to using our credit cards for monthly expenses. We learned how to be responsible with our money, not creating new debt, etc. through the process. So now we are ABLE to responsibly USE our credit, get cash back, and just pay it off every time we get a paycheck. YOU DO YOU!
Hi Aja, this is how my husband and I do our finances and I think it works really well! - Banking - We have a shared checking account & savings account via Ally (fairly good interest rates). We each set up monthly transfers that go into these accounts which then gets funneled out to various things. Within Ally we set up sub-categories under our savings account for travel, home goods, gifts etc while the checking acct is used to pay off our shared credit card. - Credit Card - Using a shared credit card for household expenses can be great for racking up tons of rewards. There's no sense in not earning "bonuses" on money you have to spend. We use the Sapphire Reserve which gives us 3x points, $300 travel rebate towards the annual fee (including uber), airport lounge access and free TSA precheck / global entry. We've taken at least 3 or 4 trips this year all using our points from this card and this is again all from money we had to spend regardless. This card is also great for booking rental cars with because it automatically covers damage insurance up to a certain amount I believe. In addition we use Mint to keep an eye on our monthly spending. I hope this is helpful and give yourself a giant pat on the back for making it this far!
Me and my husband have a joint checking account and we each have a separate checking account. We also have a joint savings account. Our pay checks get deposited into our separate checking accounts (so if I want to save some to surprise him with something he won’t see it and ruin the surprise) and then we transfer them into the joint to make our budget. It works really well for us. We just paid off $104,000 in student loans (in 24 months) and once it got down I had to do the same thing you did. I needed to spend just a little bit on me to keep my motivation and it worked for me. Keep it up, got got this!
You are doing a FABULOUS JOB tackling your debt. It may feel like you're still in quicksand, but YOU are being your own HERO!! If you want to feel better about how well you are doing, draw a TIMELINE on a very long sheet of bakers paper or something like that. A timeline will allow your EYES to see how far you have come, and how MUCH money you have SAVED by paying it off as fast as you are doing it. Like you said, you didn't wait for some knight on a horse to save you - -you SAVED YOURSELF... and THAT is a HUGE DEAL. Take a few deep breaths and realize that you are towards the END of that hideous journey, and not at the beginning! Be thankful about that! And in the process, you are inspiring others to 1) NOT get into debt in the first place 2) Pay off their debts as well 3) Become responsible adults. That's great! America NEEDS more young women like you --who are taking responsibility for their own choices and their own debts.
Cry it out Aja! Cry it out. It is frustrating, but you are doing so well! You still have the rest of your life to enjoy the benefits of your hard work!
From someone who has a super high mortgage balance and only a year into it, it is very depressing looking at how much money I still owe. To make myself feel better, I compare how much interest I can save by paying extra principle each month compared to what I would have paid to get to my current balance. It makes me feel like I’m actually making a dent. It is a long journey but you just gotta find the little joys in it or else it’ll be too easy to give up. You are very talented and your heart is in the right place, so a little treat here and there is no problem. You got this!
Aja, don't cry.. You've come so far and you can't get frustrated now. You have so much to be proud of!!! I admire that you've tackled this head on. There are so many people that would and do stick their head in the sand and act as if it doesn't exist. Hang in there, it's almost over and you will be stronger for it.
Watching this after all your financial success now shows me how strong you are during this journey. Thank you for showing this raw footage & real emotion during this time. It aspires me to budget the same!
First off, you need to remember to look back and see how far you have come and stop beating up on yourself for a small lapse in budget judgement. You have paid off a ridiculous amount of debt and should be so proud of yourself! Second, We own our own small business and get our insurance through the Mass. Businessman's association. You might want to look into an association in California, for a small business owner or something like that. Last, We are actually paying off our home next year (pending no hiccups) and that feeling of frustration and loss of patience is hanging over my head right now too. I totally get the "I just want to be done" feeling. You are so young and have such an amazing path ahead of you, now that you are getting your financial life together. Keep that in mind and focus on what your life will be, vs what it could have been if you did not make these awesome changes. Again, SO PROUD OF YOU!
I feel your struggle so much. I respect your ability to be honest and vulnerable. The road to becoming debt free is hell! It's so easy to feel alone and hopeless. But know that your videos are inspiring so many of us who are also trekking along to get out of our own financial messes. You're so close to the finish the line and you have so many people rooting for you. My cheering you on helps me feel motivated to keep going as I also struggle to pay off my debt. So thank you for sharing your journey. We got this!
The reality is, it may not feel enough until the debt is completely paid off. Our debt was huge and felt never ending, the only way I got through it was to start planning what we would do when it was gone. Start planning and dreaming. You have got, this just more your focus. 💕
I just paid off my 225K in student loans over the past 9 years a couple months ago. Every day when I was in debt, I knew paying off the loans are the single best investment and mature thing to do. No vacations, no spending sprees, no expensive foods, just hard work and paying it off. My next goal to reward myself will be a Tesla or a house. The light at the end of the tunnel is there if you keep your eyes open and keep on moving forwards!
Another option is to get a joint account that is just for home expenses and things you guys do together. So you have a debit card that you use for groceries, bills, rent, date nights, gifts for each other, etc. And still have your own separate accounts for your own personal spending money and savings etc. Just an idea! You got this, Aja!! I love all your videos so much
This is so real. I paid off my undergrad student loan last year and that's how I felt too. There was an initial burst of pride but then the realization that I still had $230k in law school loans. It is such a slow process and the guilt can be overwhelming. You are so close. I am rooting for you!!
I am in charge of my family's finances but my husband pretty much knows everything that is going on because we communicate everything. We do have a credit card, but I actually wish we didn't. It's just so easy to use and we do get points so we basically use it for everything and pay it off semi-monthly/monthly. We also have done it to where we have two checking accounts: one for bills and one for spending. The one for bills we used for rent, electric, phone bill, anything that was relatively the same each month. Spending we used for everything else: groceries, shopping, movies, whatever. If you are both financially responsible then a credit card seems fine, as long as you can pay it off every month and the balance doesn't get carried away. However, there are other options too (like the dual checking accounts...?). Good luck! Finances are super important in relationships so just make sure you both agree on whatever route you take!
Girlie it will be okay😊 every day you move closer to Financial Freedom. I dont have debt but i am currently living paycheck to paycheck we eat out to much etc so we have been eating at home to save more money and not buying a crap ton of stuff. Its been hard but this month I have finally been able to not have the urge to go shopping everyday and buy everything in site and feel peace like i have everything i pretty much need. I never thought not shopping would make me happy and ive been donating things i havent opened or wore or giving it away feels great also makes you see you bought so much stuff you cant enjoy what you have. Watching you be real and so happy and nice has helped me declutter start saving money eat at home more. Just see stuff is stuff and you dont need it to be happy. Love ya girlie hope you feel better💗
Before we got married, my husband and I opened a joint checking account and we each contributed half of the total monthly expenses. We kept our own accounts as well and we still have them to this day. Now what we do is we put our income into the joint checking account - budget out all the expenses, investments and savings. And then what we have left over we split into our personal accounts. We call it our “fun money” so we can each decide whether to save or spend it. It allows us to treat ourselves when we want to without feeling any guilt. Hope this helps!
Aja...please remember we’re in this together. Your budget videos always resonate with me, but this is the one that resonates with me the most. I paid off my school loans, but I still have about 10% of my car loans to go. Health and moving finances got in the way recently and I’m doing exactly what you are doing. I feel extremely burnt out and I spent on myself as well because FUCK IT. It feels like it never ends, but the thing is, we all are human (not machines) and don’t need to beat ourselves up when we’re not as “efficient” as we should be. At least I’m telling myself that. We still have our overall goals in mind (which is most important) and I am hoping to end my debt journey by the end of this year too. Bumps on the roads aren’t indications of failures, right? And this bump right now isn’t either. I can’t wait to celebrate our journey once it’s over. And no BS...each day that’s going is one day closer to that day. And that realization is really encouraging to me. Hope it is for you. ♥️♥️♥️
"I don't like this feeling of not being satisfied." Has been my motto for nearly 2 years. I love your videos, they give me so much insight into my own financial struggles. Between school debt and the expenses I'm accumulating just to get by every month. It's so hard, and frustrating and I just want to live in a box somewhere. Thank you for putting out your own struggles, they help me feel like I have help ❤️
Aja you have been so strong sharing your personal financial journey. These videos help me while I'm saving cash for my car. Honestly I rather sacrifice a year to save the money and drive my old car around then to put myself into a 5 year car loan with crazy amount of interest. These financial struggles bring you appreciation later on down the line and the reason why to never put yourself in debt ever again. I wouldn't suggest getting a joint credit card unless you and Brian can be extremely disciplined. I do believe a 100 percent you spend more on a credit card then cash, which I've fallen into this trap and speaking from my own personal experience. Stay motivated and remember you have come so far!! Truly inspirational!
Money is SO personal. I think what people need to realize is that credit cards aren't for everyone but they CAN work in certain circumstances. I put my student loans in forbearance for a year while I was paying off a mound of credit card debt that was burying me. I would NEVER suggest that ANYONE do that. It happened to be the right thing to do in my specific situation but the majority of the time, it's not a good idea. You being honest with us about the choices you make should not influence people to do exactly what you're doing. It should influence people to research and weigh the options appropriate for THEIR situation. You are not a hypocrite. You are a badass.
We don't have a joint credit card. My husband and I have a joint bank account and we use our debit cards. At least twice a month, we sit down and go through our budget. I applaud you on your courage to be able to speak about this. You're doing great. Congrats on your progress thus far.
We figured out a yearly budget for all joint expenses like real estate taxes, utility bills, cell phones, groceries, heat etc. We divided it by 12 and we both out up 50% each. Took a while to get to the point that we had enough float or sinking funds in that account to pay large expenses but we did it. We never fight about money and we are prepared . We both have a debit card to that account. No credit card debt.
Girl, you're killing it. If it wasn't for seeing one of your budgeting videos, I wouldn't have started my own journey. I started March 10th with $182k. It was a rocky start. More medical bills were thrown at me and instead of my debt going down, it went up. And even worse, my dog got cancer and I spent almost $2k trying to make him better, only to lose him at the end of April :'( BUT, as of today, I have paid off almost $10k. I know it's not a lot, but if I think about how much longer I have to go (5-6 years with the money I make now), I will give up. And I started documenting my debt journey as well, to give me motivation and to also hopefully encourage others not to make the same mistakes I did. I know it's hard to see it now, but you're so close!
On the joint finances/ credit card thing. My partner and I moved abroad 3 years ago and that was the only reason we got a joint credit card. It’s been incredibly useful for buying plane tickets and all the other stuff we need for traveling. It makes vacations really easy to split down the middle. I think if we were living Stateside we wouldn’t use it much but it is super useful for big joint purchases. We split all of our bills 50/50 and sit down a couple times a month to go over bills/talk about money. I kind of love that we talk so much about money because now we’re really good at communicating about it. One tip I have from when we lived in the States is loading up gift cards. I was getting the groceries WAY more because my schedule allowed it. Constantly having to be like “hey you owe me 20 bucks” and 2 days later “hey you owe me $10” was super annoying. So twice a month we would go together and load up some money on the grocery store gift card and whoever bought groceries could just use the card and it was an even split. No interest fees just loaded gift cards. I feel like that could work at other places besides grocery stores too. It worked well for us.
I am in the same boat. Paying a large monthly premium, don’t use it and want something better. Let us know if you find something. You are a warrior....stay strong!
Thank you for being so open and honest about the true struggles of paying off debt. It takes a mentally tough person to tackle something like that. You’re truly an inspiration to me to keep at it, even when I’m feeling frustrated too.
My boyfriend and I don’t use a joint credit card. We do have a joint debit account, and every month we each transfer (from our own separate bank accounts) the same amount of $ to cover shared expenses like rent, utilities, food, etc.
For my husband and I (married 3 years, been doing this method for about 4 years), we do have a shared credit card. What we do is transfer a fixed % of both our income into a joint checking account every payday. The joint credit card is then paid for with that joint checking account. I think a BIG part of the joint credit card is trust, and knowing that we don't use it for anything else. I've talked to other women who said they'd never trust their spouse to have a shared credit card and that was pretty upsetting to hear! However you decide to pay it is up to you, but you definitely have to be able to trust each other.
Just thought I’d present a different perspective for anyone scrolling through that needs it. Aja is amazing for dedicating herself to this cause. It’s extremely admirable. But also, what if debt isn’t good or bad? What if it’s just a tool? You can live with it. And you can live without it. Either way, you can live. Money does not rule your life. You do. You figure out what works for you. Don’t beat yourself up for your own journey. You’ll figure it out. You’re living.
Just found you and this is my 2nd video of the day. I can’t even tell you how amazing it is to find someone going through the same thing!! And to be so real and transparent. Thank you so much!
You got this girl!! What I do with my fiancé is 1) joint checking/saving and 2) each of us pay different things. He’s responsible for the electric, utilities, internet and I’m responsible for groceries, and rent. This way we don’t feel any resentment towards each other.
If you don't want a credit card you guys can both save up 5000 and put it in a shared checking account. Then at the end of the month you pay half of what was spent from there back into the account. It's like paying yourself instead of paying them.
My husband and I decided to get a joint credit card because it improved both of our credit scores by building a credit line. I don't recommend using it frequently, but it did give us more security for traveling. It can make you feel better going to other countries or places where you might have unexpected financial costs such as an unexpected doctors visit, accident, or a cancelled flight plans.
Aja, Don't be so hard on yourself. You are looking at the glass half empty rather than the glass half full. You should be extremely proud of your accomplishment and how much you've been able to pay off in just a mere 2 years. That would take other people several if not more than several years to pay off. If you were able to pay off $120,000 in debt in 2 years another $30,000 is really nothing. Right? You should probably be able to get that done in the next year. Perhaps scale back and treat yourself more often. Think long term and don't sweat the small stuff. There are many of us out here that have debt. You cannot consume yourself about your debt at the sake of living or being happy. I think you are so eager to pay off this last amount that it is frustrating you. Be proud of what you have accomplished. If it takes you 12 more months, who cares? What will you do when you have a 30 year mortgage? Many people have mortgages similar to what you have (HAD) in student debt. Pace yourself dear and love yourself. You are doing just fine!! 🧘♀️ :)
Girl I’m watching you 5yrs later also into my debt free journey and I am so thankful for these videos. I’ve been so frustrated and people don’t understand how I never ever want to be in debt ever again. $100k total majority student loans. It f*cking sucks. I’ve paid $30k so far hardest ever and as a single mom. It sucks.
You’ve given me the drive to put an actual budget together for myself. It has not been easy but while for me it’s only $20,000 in debt it’s still a large portion of my income. Thanks for showing what a realistic debt journey looks like.
Keep going! Whenever I get frustrated (I’ve been on this debt journey 6 years, slowly getting closer), I re think my why and visualize what it will be like when I’m out of debt! Then I rewrite what my budget will look like without debt payments and it always reminds me why I’m doing this. You’ve got this!
What’s frustrating is feeling like you’re throwing away money. But it’s necessary at this point and imagine what your life will be like after this stage of your life is over. It’s all temporary.
Aja, You are doing a great job of working on your debt. The frustration is real but keep working on enjoying the journey because that's all you have today. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. You are so open and honest. Helping so many others to not ignore finances. You. Are. Awesome!!!!
Hi Aja...my husband and i have used the same credit card for years and years and its the only thing that enabled us to really keep our spending in check and be accountable to one another. Same goes for joint checking and savings etc. Its all one pot for us. But we didn't do it until we got married and it solved a lot of money stress for us just by changing the yours and mine mentality to the ours mentality.You are doing great...hang in there! The finish line is so close.....debt free is going to be so worth it!
I'm a huge fan of joint bank accounts. If you are worried or concerned, or just generally curious of your significant other's financial habits, a joint credit card works great in terms of you can see how they handle their finances, on time, budget, etc... It's great for handling a "couples" finances
This is the system my husband and I use: I have my retired income and my husband has his business income. We currently have 8 checking/savings accounts. 1. Our online emergency savings account 2. Our grocery/gas/entertainment fund 3. Travel savings 4. House maintenance savings 5. Car savings 6. My allowance account 7. Hubby’s allowance account 8. Bill payment account Each paycheck we figure out our bills. Then split in half and we both put the money for the bills in the bills account. Then we split all the savings and sinking funds (house,car, travel) and we both put it in the the respective account. And we do the same for the grocery, gas and entertainment as well. And then we all give each allowances for the month. We zero out our budget each month. It helps to have a separate account bills. That way you can figure out your whole monthly amount and dump it into that bill checking account. Pay all your bills from that account and you don’t have to worry about balancing that account or worry or forget if you have money that is for a bill if you had your bills coming out of the same checking account you use for expenses. This seems to work for us. I hope you find what works for you guys.
I never comment on videos but felt compelled to comment on this one because I see so much of myself in this video and your vulnerability. Girl, you have got to cut yourself some slack! You have been so committed to this journey and should be proud of how far you've come, but you are burning yourself out by only focusing on the big "zero debt" prize. Celebrate the small wins along the way. Zero debt will feel THE best, but $30K, $20K, $10K, $5K, $2K should all feel good, too. Be kind to yourself, Aja. We are rooting for you.
Be grateful for the amazing income you have and what you’ve accomplished. There aren’t many people who could have done this as quickly. Go get it!!!!!!
Hi Aja, if you don’t feel comfortable about a credit card, then don’t feel like you have to have one. A good system can be to have a particular bank account that you each transfer a weekly or monthly amount to spend for that week/month - for stuff like food, petrol etc. Big irregular expenses can be saved for using seperate sinking funds and also each have an account for spending money, for clothes and hobbies etc. Hope that makes sense. You are so close to getting out of debt!! You can do it!!
When I was young I never felt this way. But after spending much money trying to get pregnant via IVF, then getting a baby, the expenses of having a baby, after that paying a lot on credit card, then paying of my family insurance, house, car. It builds and builds. Then I get frustrated and I spend on myself and my family adding to more debt. How can I live of 900 after paying all expenses, debt etc a month with a family. So I feel you...a never ending cycle.
Agree with a lot of other comments. Do a joint chequing account and the credit card with a limit for shared expenses. Review together and add money to the joint account to pay off the credit card each month. That way everything is transparent to both parties without having to ask for permission to view each others personal finances. You’re doing great Aja! In a year you’ll look back debt free and be in awe of your accomplishments. Greener pastures are ahead!
My husband and I each have our own checking accounts but he has access to my acct where I am able to transfer money and he is able to pull money for our household. He makes all the household utility bills and mortgage. My acct pays everything for the home like grocery, kid necessities, gas, trips, etc. Hang in there Aja, we know and understand the frustration and you have been doing awesome. I’ve been a follower since you posted your first finance video. Texas is waiting for you 💕 (I’m in Dallas).
Hi Aja, I never comment on YT videos although I watch so many every day for so many years. I feel for you, I can only imagine how frustrating and overwhelming and crushing the amount of debt has been and continues to feel. However, please know and remember this. From the moment you bravely chose to embark on your journey AND publicly and openly share with us such an emotionally challenging and difficult endeavor each step of the way, you have changed not only my life but countless others who have followed your journey. You have helped so many people Aja. Know that you have affected so many lives for the better by continuing to tackle your debt, as we are too. Please go easy on yourself. You have done an INCREDIBLE job so far eliminating so much debt in what I (and I'm sure many here) would consider an astonishing rate!!! I feel you that it must still feel like you have a long way to go, but from my perspective as an outsider you have come so far and have reduced the pile tremendously to a point the you 3-4 years ago could never have fathomed. I recently heard a quote that happiness from obtaining a goal can be fleeting. We are "happy" for 5 min when we reach a goal we set for ourselves, be it salary or monetarily or weight loss or debt paid, and then we are unhappy again because we have to reach the next thing. It's far easier said than done, but I also tell myself that I need to also appreciate the journey, however hard, in getting there, not just the milestones. Thank you for your vulnerability and your strength. We love you and can't wait to celebrate with you when you get there! ❤️
So, about your question on family finances, my husband and I don’t share an account or credit card or anything (ground breaking, I know). We both use our own credit/debit cards for personal expenses (food, clothes, etc). We divided our shared expenses (groceries, rent, mortgage, etc.) according to our incomes, so we each have an expenses assigned each month. So, if I make more money, I take on the bigger payments; if he makes more money, he takes on the bigger payments. You get it ;) hope this helps! Keep going!!! You are doing so great and you will be done soon. You will look back on these videos and say: “Wow, I really got out of debt. On my own, I did it!”
We keep our finances pretty separate and both contribute to certain joint expenses (mortgage, taxes, groceries, etc.). Instead of having a joint credit card we have a joint savings account for household expenses. If we get a tax refund we put it into that fund. Or we contribute equally to it. Then when the hot water heater goes out or we need new curtains - it comes out of that savings account.
In regards to credit cards for a family. I am against it, due to the fact that debt should be your own, now a joint checking or current account is fine for household expenses. On the other hand if you get a joint credit card and set a limit for both of you and have a current account that holds this limit, before the month begins, then maybe, because expenses and life happens.
We have a joint debit card for family expenses, and separate debit cards for personal expenses. When we used our separate cards for family expenses, it always ended up with one of us (mostly me) paying way more for family expenses, and having less left for personal use. Now we use a joint card, and we both see where the money go, and we both contribute evenly without having to save recipts etc. Very handy. Wouldn't want a joint card for all expenses, family and personal though.
Aja you're amazing and I love your videos. My husband and I don't have a joint credit card but we have a joint chequing account. Each month we put in the pre-determined amount. He makes a lot more than I do. I am also self-employed but have a part-time job so I always have a consistent amount of income. We have always scaled our expenses based on our income. All of our regular bills and our mortgage come out of this account, and then when I go grocery shopping I put it on my credit card and immediately pay it off from that account as well. We have been doing this for years and it works very, very well for us. We budget a little bit extra every month for dinner out or a trip to the movies. It also gives us a great indication of how much we are spending each month because it's separate from our regular bank accounts. Prior to this our system involved writing who paid for what on a calendar and settling up at the end of the month. That worked too, but it meant we always had to remember to add something to the calendar whenever we bought things. I'd highly recommend the joint chequing account rather than the credit card. Then the money can just sit there until it's spent and it's a little bit of forced saving if you don't spend your household budget every month.
My husband and I have a shared credit card and we love the points. We keep our budget and pay it off using a budget. So it’s not excess spending. We have at least 3 or so free flights a year
You got this Aja! You can do it. Bringing it down to $32k is awesome. Regarding the family budget, what I do with our family is we got a joint account and we put money every time we get paid. So my husband make more money so he puts more but we have an agreement on how much I put and every time I have an extra money I add a little bit more. Every bill is taken out from that checking account through autopay so that we never miss anything. The credit card will keep on building up so I don’t recommend it. Having the checking account will help you save too. Setting aside money first for the joint account and the rest can be your personal allowance. I hope this helps 💕
Aja...Aja...Aja.
Do you realize what you have done over the past almost 2 years? I mean, stop for one moment. Step outside yourself and objectively review what you have done with your finances. You have single handedly done, what I would imagine, few people have done (that aren't already independently wealthy). You've nearly paid off a sum that is equivalent to some people's 30 year home mortgages...IN 2 YEARS! That's effing AMAZING! And along the way, you've inspired so many people to get off their asses and take control of their finances, which in turn, helps them to take control of their lives. YOU'VE done that...YOU'VE provided that inspiration for others. And you'll continue to help others by sharing your journey. So don't give up. Don't lose faith in the process that has served you well and has gotten you where you are. You're nearly there and once you've enjoyed your debt-free scream, you can then start a new chapter of your life and the $$$ you spend will be on TANGIBLE things that you can finally enjoy. And as far as getting a mortgage, you'll feel differently about the $ you spend on your home. It is a debt that won't feel the same as educational debt.
Trust me.
You've said that you made the decision to put your life on hold because of your school debt. Well Girl, it's almost time to start really living the life that you want...unencumbered by the invisible yoke you've been wearing.
And I can't wait to see what happens next.
Ack, this was such a sweet and thoughtful message... I def got teary eyed!!
Girl sis, throw some dang ads in this video ! We dont mind ! Collect your coins and pay off that debt 😘❤️
Yassss!!
Roxan Smith seriously
Seriously! I'd watch them in full!
Yes do it aja!!!
Yes Aja! We don't mind!
You should make a video called "my financial successes" I think it'd be good for you and us 💕
This is an amazing idea and I think would help to put into perspective for her just how far she's come!
Yes! Please make this. I fee like it will be beneficial to all to see how far you've come and how hard you've worked!
that's a great idea. Thank you
Go for it Aja!
Aja Dang I wanna like this 20 times!!
You got this, Aja!!! You used to have over $150k in debt and hearing that you now have only $32k left is freaking amazing to me. You’re doing an awesome job and really so inspiring. You WILL be debt free in the near future and honey I’ll be celebrating and cheering you on through the whole journey ❤️
Also, I LOVE Dave Ramsey and follow most of his advice. But I do have a credit card I use and check the balance on consistently and frequently. I pay it off the same time every month and it honestly is so much easier for me than paying cash for things. AND I get cash back (free money basically) from my purchases! If you’re good with monitoring your spending and responsible with money then a credit card is worth it. As long as you pay it off every month there’s no interest and you can get rewards!
Yes! and also credit card churning! I got over $1000 of free money just from signing up for new credit cards :D
I second this. If you’re responsible with money then a credit card with cash back, like Bank Of America Cash Rewards, is totally worth it. Every month I spend around $800-1,000 and pay it off every month to avoid interest. I use it for gas, groceries, and anything I buy. Each month I get at least $30 back. Not bad!
Honestly if you’re not seeing a therapist already I highly recommend it. You are working so hard and putting so much pressure on yourself. Take care ❤️
tinybeast can’t help but think of her health insurance issues. Makes you realize how broken the system is
@@TheUnicornonthecob Yup. and its scary because even as an overall healthy person health issues can pop up out of no where and leave you in desperate need of a doctor (happened to me)
I've been looking for one but haven't really clicked with anyone. Had a great therapist when I lived in SF but haven't found that some connection with anyone in LA. thanks for looking out for my mental health.
@@AjaDang why not reach out to that doctor in SF and see if they can either do a Skype session or a recommendation? Good luck babe? Xx
@@AjaDang Could you maybe do video/skype with the therapist that you had in SF? Or even have sessions over the phone? If you already have a good connection with them it seems a shame to let that go. Anyway, just a thought. Also joint account that each person pays an amount into for joint bills etc, works well for me & my partner.🌻
Like I told you I would, I paid my student loans off last month. It was over 200k (undergrad and law school combined). It took 7 years which is actually pretty good compared to some other folks. Just keep your eyes on the prize. 30k will go by so quickly. You’re doing a great job and while you have had to make sacrifices, it will be worth getting out of the misery of debt. Plan something awesome for when your loans are paid off. It’ll be something to look forward to because trust me, just paying the loans off won’t be enough.
Did u end up in law? To pay of 200k in loans. U probably had a 100k salary
Josh yes, I did. I spent 5 years making between $50k-90k in different jobs. Then the last two years went to a large law firm. It was the only way I could pay my loans quickly.
Teddy James that’s pretty good if it’s starting salary. I could have made quicker progress if I didn’t start out making 50k.
@Teddy James That avg CPA salary is super high 0.0 I'm in the same industry, just in LA, and I didn't think the avg salary is this high
brandilovesbeauty wow congrats girl!
So, with the family budgeting thing. Why not just have a joint checking account and use a debit card instead of credit card. Then you completely avoid the whole credit card thing and the risks associated with it. At the beginning of every month you and Brian can go over your budget and transfer the agreed upon amount to your joint checking account (say $6000 spending money for the whole month). Then you follow your budget and never have to worry about charging more than you can pay back at the end of the month! You’ve come so far don’t get discouraged!
This is very similar to what my husband and I do. We have our own separate credit cards and a joint checking account with debit cards, and use that account for our joint expenses like rent, food, internet, etc. It works very well for us!
I'm actually quite pro credit card, but I LOVE THIS IDEA!
In France credit cards don’t even exist and this is the system me and my boyfriend use on a daily basis (debit card on a joint checking account and equal money transfer at the beginning of each month)
I can totally vouch for this! I do this with my boyfriend and we each put in the same amount and if we go over budget we top up but it's conscious and then we check the budget or re-adjust next month. It's honestly surprisingly easy this way!
This is a really good idea. I was going to add that certain places (like my utilities) either don’t accept a credit card and payment or add a giant fee which wouldn’t make it worth it in the long run for you guys anyways. A joint credit account with debit cards is a much better idea
Aja. Go rewatch your first budget video. You will feel motivated and accomplished to see how far you have come. Keep putting one foot in front of another and move forward. You got this.
that's a good idea
Great idea!
Just by seeing the title and the tumbnail I immediatly watched the whole advertisement
Me too!!!!!
lady Az me too!
girl same
omg haha. maybe I should cry and ask for pity more in my videos! (jk)
When I saw this comment I did the same :D
Hi Aja. Couple things: 1) Credit cards are fine to use when used responsibly. I use them for earning miles. As a frequent flyer, it has truly made a difference. As long as you pay the balance by the due date, no harm, no foul; 2) As a subscriber, I appreciate your concern for your influence, but if your viewers make poor choices with their finances after viewing your content, that's on them. I think you "disclaim" enough and are real enough about your personal finances that people should know better than to blame a TH-camr for possibly making an irresponsible choice with their own finances; and 3) if you change your mind about something you felt so strongly about before (i.e., not having a credit card), that's fine! We're human, we change our minds all the time. It doesn't make you hypocritical.
You're evolving and learning and I'm thankful for your candidness because we're learning right along with you. This just goes to show how money can be bondage and controlling and how it CANNOT buy happiness. I encourage you to find other areas in your life where you can draw positive energy and happiness to keep you going through the hard times. For me, it's just spending time with myself and the people I love. No money needed, just time. Keep your chin up.
This, 100%. Credit cards are not inherently evil, as long as the user knows what he or she is doing. I've gotten thousands of dollars of free money just from signing up for new credit cards, and getting credit card rewards from normal usage. :D
At 19:00, I felt that Aja. Literally in the same ocean with you but our boats are so far apart it feels like we're alone. I got your back girl.
and I got yours!
Girl this kind of video makes me SO hopeful!! im about to face $260k of student debt coming this May. I am already nearing my 30s. I already know that I wont be buying real estate for a long time (or ever). But watching you go through this in such an organized and systematic way gives me such encouragement! I will have a long road ahead of me, but you have cracked the code for me with your persistence so don't let this crush you yet! Final stretch!
Not to ruin the moment... but imagine looking pretty crying
i'm saying though!!!
exactly my thoughts... I cry so ugly I don't even wanna look in the mirror and watch myself cry :(
I do. I look gorgeous crying
Yeah, Aja cries the prettiest
I wouldn’t use a credit card. A joint bank account is more safe in my opinion. Both parties add a certain amount and spend out of that like one would with a credit card.
I agree with you, Jessica.
There is something called “debt fatigue” and I suspect you might have it. This is the first video of yours that I’ve watched, but I really think that’s what’s happening to you. I’m in Canada, but I am a finance professional with a specialization in personal finance. I’ve listened to Dave Ramsey and while I like most of what he says, some I don’t agree with. I think his advice about not moving in until. You get married is rooted in his own personal religious beliefs more than sound financial advice - and there is no such thing as a one size fits all approach and I think that’s where people get into traps with his teaching, thinking he’s the gospel of debt repayment.
You need to go easy on yourself. It sounds like your debt was mostly a result of education, not running around spending money you don’t have.
Relax a little on yourself. Student loan debt is ok, if it gets you a career with a good earning potential. I live in Canada and our education is much cheaper so I can’t imagine what you’re going through.
Bottom line: debt fatigue is ok, the feeling will pass, continue to spend a little money on yourself, it will help you stay the course (in my opinion).
I look forward to watching more of your videos!
Girl this video is so raw and honest and I’m here for it! I’m in the same boat and I felt every emotion you described! Thank you for being so vulnerable because this shit is hard!!
It's definitely hard. I've also felt quite deprived when I first started living more frugally (I was even living in my car to save money!), but now I finally found a balance :D
Aja, you’ve done amazing at paying off your debt, your income level is top 5 percent in the nation. You will be done with your debt in a few months and then you will have enough for a down payment of a house in a few years max. Nothing to be upset about!
Hayden Hsu This is true!!
I did the debt snowball. You can do this. My husband and I are 31 and we are completely debt free. All the sacrifice pays off ,keep your eyes on the goal. You’re money frees up to do those projects and things you’ve always wanted to do. We weren’t always so strict in our budget because it can feel like you’re not living sometimes. Now that we’re debt free we stopped using credit cards we just use cash flow.This has helped us not get tempted to be back in debt. We learned to live within our means and as our income increase so does the freedom to do more things. Don’t lose heart girl, if we did it you can to !
❤️ this is so relatable. I’m feeling the burn out a bit too. I have to say these videos you started over a year ago have been so helpful. There was a buzzfeed video recently on women and financial literacy and it feels so powerful to have so many other females in these comments supporting each other. You’ve got this, and we are in this together!
I don't know if Aja will see this but I know exactly how you feel. This month is my last payment for my student loans. I can't believe I've made it. I started at about $70k in 2013 and it's taken me this long to pay them off. Celebrate all the victories you've accomplished within your timeframe. You're more than 75% done. I want people to know, this is the last leg, though it seems like the finish line is too far, now is when you give it all you got. I'm rooting for you all!
Hi Aja! I finally started on my debt free journey about 14 months ago. If I had seen this video before I started, I probably would think you are crazy for crying when you’ve paid off so much debt and in comparison to where you started that you are so close to finishing. However, now that I am on my own debt free journey, I can completely relate. Even though our financial situations are completely different as far as income & bills, we both have the same goal of being debt free. While I do understand your frustration, please remember what a blessing it is that you’ve been able to pay off so much so quickly. You’ve worked really hard and you will feel so good when you are done! Looking forward to seeing you become debt free!
Sorry to see you so frustrated-but, holy shit, you’re really out here doing what feels impossible, and it’s inspiring. You have every right to feel so deeply disturbed, because this whole system is unfair, and having to put so much of your energy into this is exhausting. Please remind yourself that you’re a beast at crushing your goals, and sooner than later you’re going to be debt free.
I empathize with you sooo much Aja. I appreciate the realness and vulnerability you allow us to see in videos like this. It is easy to post and talk about the successes in our journies but it is rare to have that same transparency when we're going through the real, rough shitty parts. Just know that this journey of yours has inspired so many of us to look into our debt and finances. I stumbled across one of your finance vids late one night. Fast forward about two months later and because of YOU I've started tracking my spending and assessing my student loans and even copying your debt flow chart into my bullet journal. Who knows how many others who know nothing about finances will come across your videos in the midst of your last 30k? $150K paid off in less than three years???! WHO DOES THAT? You are a badass and an inspiration. Lifting you up, Aja.
You're amazing! $32,000 is the amount I started with and that number for me seemed overwhelming at the time as a recently graduated college student with no job prospects. It took me six years (with a year of help) to pay off my unsubsidized debt in full, which was a feat. Yet, you've paid off that debt amount 4x over in just two years!! And you're on track to be debt free in a few short months. Be so proud, so so proud of yourself. You've done so amazingly thus far and you're continuing to strive for greatness even now.
When I was in my last couple months of BS2, I felt it was dragging on as well. I needed to get re-motivated/inspired, so I just read books, listened to audibles, and continued to simplify my spending by selling things I did not need, donating and looking into the process of home buying. Looking into the next steps is the only way I am able to stay focused. Just continue learning about investing money and visualize your ideal home. Its really fun to look into the future and pick out what your home would look like/where it would be. For me, its about 2-3 acres of land close enough to a city (1-2 hours) in Texas, Colorado or Oregon. I want to build my home from the ground up, have a bigger garden, and be close enough to a body of water (lake or river) for weekend trips. I want to continue learning about living a low waste life and continue learning about how to make my money work for me.
First is off, I'm glad I can finally watch asians on a screen and feel represented and relate. At 26 I FINALLY can see someone who I look like. (+ Crazy Rich asians came out) Secondly, I LOVE openly talking about money, or anything else that we make taboo. We are social animals and yes there's something called privacy but I don't know.. there's no shame or judgement we can share our sentiments without numbers too. We are all acting like we're not handling bills and debt and that life is good BUT ITS NOT TRUE. We can talk about it openly, supportively, WITH NO JUDGEMENT OR PATRONIZING TONES. It's possible. I love this. Thank you, Aja Dang.
You are a budget warrior!!!!
I would caution you to keep paying your insurance until you find a new one.
Although you “feel” healthy one minor/major health issue could jeopardize all your hard work. It’s far better to pay $500+ for insurance than $5k for doctor’s fees, lab, Xray, etc.
ISITVAINTOSAYIMPRETTY agree! The moment you don’t have it is the exact moment a big health thing happens 😬
this is true
I had a super similar month in August. I've been working to pay off my $40k+ in student loans and am at about 10K now, but I just got so sick of budgeting that in August I just stopped for the month. straight up. STOPPED. I let myself buy so many things I've been wanting for so long. It was 120% necessary for me to do that and reset. Next year when I'm debt free, I will be able to go to target and not worry about that $20 or $50 I spent. It was perfect to help me remember WHY I am budgeting so strictly this year. It's so I can have total control over my money next year. Remember your WHY.
Also I echo the people suggesting that you get a checking account together and a debit card together if you don't want to do a credit card. However, I know a lot of people who got a credit card together and then they use the rewards points and money to pay for date nights and trips away together.
AJA YOU GOT THIS!!!!
The finish line is soooo close and I know it feels like the more you reach out for it the more it’s running away, but you have done an AMAZING job at putting so much into this.
Frustration is there and when it’s all done, you have something to look back on and see how you were feeling. This is growth for you at the same time.
You got this babe!
I thank you for the realness! Everyone focuses on the paying off debt but not enough on the emotions and reality of the journey. It is truly a journey. It's more about setting up a way of living that does not include debt in your life. If you only focus on the paying off of debt and not on the building management skills of dealing with money, you'll just end up right back where you were. I just started this journey again for the second time. Last time failed because I went all gungho and didn't leave room for any fun and it was extremely rigid. Again thank you for being real and letting us see all sides.
I find it interesting that you have been fighting debt for two years or so, because I burned out after 2 and a half years of college. My degree was in computers, and even 4 years later, I don't want to use them often. I burned out badly, and did nothing with my degree.
That being said, if I could give you and my past self advice, it's to get out of your own head. By which I mean, take your eyes off the goal, at least for a little while.
I know it might seem wrong to spend on yourself when you think you should put that money toward a different cause, but I think you shopping was a way of coping with extremes. Think of yourself as managing a balance scale. On the left, you want fun (shopping, hobbies). On the right, you want responsibility (debt release/savings). Your shopping spree might have been to keep you from neglecting the left (fun) side before it's too late and you go back to that extreme. It's all a balancing act.
Therefore, *within reason,* go have some fricken fun. Balance out that scale. Then when you're recharged enough, approach your debt with a fresh mind.
Hope that made sense. Good luck!
You deserve to treat yourself, don’t feel guilty for spending a little. Your story is inspiring, you are on the home straight. It is ok to slow down and take paying down your debt slowly. Keep it up girl we are all behind you.
Your going to be fine Aja. You have hustle like no one I’ve seen. I watch you and think “damn! This girl is pretty, intelligent and a hustler” I started my journey listening to Dave Ramsey, then I found you on TH-cam. You motivated me. I thought “ ok cool, us girls weir gonna pay off our debt” I only had $10,000 to pay but when I was down to my last $3,000 I Remember feeling more and more anxious because it seemed like that little $3,000 was just mocking me. It felt so close but so far. I know how you feel Aja. You’re going to be ok. Thank you for being so transparent with us. You’re doing good work.
this may be odd but your frustration gives me comfort as i feel like someone actually understands me. thank you for being real so publicly like this.
I would recommend opening a joint checking account and splitting the budget down the middle instead.
Both of you could contribute a certain amount and once the money runs out in that account, you and Brian could split the cost for whatever else you need during the month and refill the account at the beginning of the month.
God bless, girl. You're an incredible woman.
My debt was smaller than yours but the smaller it got, the harder it was to pay off. I got so tired of paying all my income to my debt. When I paid it off everyone else was so excited but I was so over it and not happy at all. It's been about 4 months now and I still don't have those excited feelings. It doesn't seem like much has changed but I know I changed and I'm much more financially intelligent and I *am* proud I pushed myself to pay it off to secure my future. I will never put myself in that position again!
I also make monthly budget videos and began with Dave Ramsey's baby steps. We are still loosely following them, but for my husband and I, we recently made the switch to using our credit cards for monthly expenses. We learned how to be responsible with our money, not creating new debt, etc. through the process. So now we are ABLE to responsibly USE our credit, get cash back, and just pay it off every time we get a paycheck. YOU DO YOU!
Hi Aja, this is how my husband and I do our finances and I think it works really well!
- Banking -
We have a shared checking account & savings account via Ally (fairly good interest rates). We each set up monthly transfers that go into these accounts which then gets funneled out to various things. Within Ally we set up sub-categories under our savings account for travel, home goods, gifts etc while the checking acct is used to pay off our shared credit card.
- Credit Card -
Using a shared credit card for household expenses can be great for racking up tons of rewards. There's no sense in not earning "bonuses" on money you have to spend. We use the Sapphire Reserve which gives us 3x points, $300 travel rebate towards the annual fee (including uber), airport lounge access and free TSA precheck / global entry. We've taken at least 3 or 4 trips this year all using our points from this card and this is again all from money we had to spend regardless. This card is also great for booking rental cars with because it automatically covers damage insurance up to a certain amount I believe.
In addition we use Mint to keep an eye on our monthly spending.
I hope this is helpful and give yourself a giant pat on the back for making it this far!
Me and my husband have a joint checking account and we each have a separate checking account. We also have a joint savings account. Our pay checks get deposited into our separate checking accounts (so if I want to save some to surprise him with something he won’t see it and ruin the surprise) and then we transfer them into the joint to make our budget. It works really well for us. We just paid off $104,000 in student loans (in 24 months) and once it got down I had to do the same thing you did. I needed to spend just a little bit on me to keep my motivation and it worked for me. Keep it up, got got this!
You are doing a FABULOUS JOB tackling your debt. It may feel like you're still in quicksand, but YOU are being your own HERO!! If you want to feel better about how well you are doing, draw a TIMELINE on a very long sheet of bakers paper or something like that. A timeline will allow your EYES to see how far you have come, and how MUCH money you have SAVED by paying it off as fast as you are doing it. Like you said, you didn't wait for some knight on a horse to save you - -you SAVED YOURSELF... and THAT is a HUGE DEAL. Take a few deep breaths and realize that you are towards the END of that hideous journey, and not at the beginning! Be thankful about that! And in the process, you are inspiring others to 1) NOT get into debt in the first place 2) Pay off their debts as well 3) Become responsible adults. That's great! America NEEDS more young women like you --who are taking responsibility for their own choices and their own debts.
Cry it out Aja! Cry it out. It is frustrating, but you are doing so well! You still have the rest of your life to enjoy the benefits of your hard work!
From someone who has a super high mortgage balance and only a year into it, it is very depressing looking at how much money I still owe. To make myself feel better, I compare how much interest I can save by paying extra principle each month compared to what I would have paid to get to my current balance. It makes me feel like I’m actually making a dent. It is a long journey but you just gotta find the little joys in it or else it’ll be too easy to give up. You are very talented and your heart is in the right place, so a little treat here and there is no problem. You got this!
Aja, don't cry.. You've come so far and you can't get frustrated now. You have so much to be proud of!!! I admire that you've tackled this head on. There are so many people that would and do stick their head in the sand and act as if it doesn't exist. Hang in there, it's almost over and you will be stronger for it.
Watching this after all your financial success now shows me how strong you are during this journey. Thank you for showing this raw footage & real emotion during this time. It aspires me to budget the same!
First off, you need to remember to look back and see how far you have come and stop beating up on yourself for a small lapse in budget judgement. You have paid off a ridiculous amount of debt and should be so proud of yourself! Second, We own our own small business and get our insurance through the Mass. Businessman's association. You might want to look into an association in California, for a small business owner or something like that. Last, We are actually paying off our home next year (pending no hiccups) and that feeling of frustration and loss of patience is hanging over my head right now too. I totally get the "I just want to be done" feeling. You are so young and have such an amazing path ahead of you, now that you are getting your financial life together. Keep that in mind and focus on what your life will be, vs what it could have been if you did not make these awesome changes. Again, SO PROUD OF YOU!
I feel your struggle so much. I respect your ability to be honest and vulnerable. The road to becoming debt free is hell! It's so easy to feel alone and hopeless. But know that your videos are inspiring so many of us who are also trekking along to get out of our own financial messes. You're so close to the finish the line and you have so many people rooting for you. My cheering you on helps me feel motivated to keep going as I also struggle to pay off my debt. So thank you for sharing your journey. We got this!
The reality is, it may not feel enough until the debt is completely paid off. Our debt was huge and felt never ending, the only way I got through it was to start planning what we would do when it was gone. Start planning and dreaming. You have got, this just more your focus. 💕
I just paid off my 225K in student loans over the past 9 years a couple months ago. Every day when I was in debt, I knew paying off the loans are the single best investment and mature thing to do. No vacations, no spending sprees, no expensive foods, just hard work and paying it off. My next goal to reward myself will be a Tesla or a house. The light at the end of the tunnel is there if you keep your eyes open and keep on moving forwards!
Another option is to get a joint account that is just for home expenses and things you guys do together. So you have a debit card that you use for groceries, bills, rent, date nights, gifts for each other, etc. And still have your own separate accounts for your own personal spending money and savings etc. Just an idea! You got this, Aja!! I love all your videos so much
This is so real. I paid off my undergrad student loan last year and that's how I felt too. There was an initial burst of pride but then the realization that I still had $230k in law school loans. It is such a slow process and the guilt can be overwhelming. You are so close. I am rooting for you!!
I am in charge of my family's finances but my husband pretty much knows everything that is going on because we communicate everything. We do have a credit card, but I actually wish we didn't. It's just so easy to use and we do get points so we basically use it for everything and pay it off semi-monthly/monthly. We also have done it to where we have two checking accounts: one for bills and one for spending. The one for bills we used for rent, electric, phone bill, anything that was relatively the same each month. Spending we used for everything else: groceries, shopping, movies, whatever. If you are both financially responsible then a credit card seems fine, as long as you can pay it off every month and the balance doesn't get carried away. However, there are other options too (like the dual checking accounts...?). Good luck! Finances are super important in relationships so just make sure you both agree on whatever route you take!
Girlie it will be okay😊 every day you move closer to Financial Freedom. I dont have debt but i am currently living paycheck to paycheck we eat out to much etc so we have been eating at home to save more money and not buying a crap ton of stuff. Its been hard but this month I have finally been able to not have the urge to go shopping everyday and buy everything in site and feel peace like i have everything i pretty much need. I never thought not shopping would make me happy and ive been donating things i havent opened or wore or giving it away feels great also makes you see you bought so much stuff you cant enjoy what you have. Watching you be real and so happy and nice has helped me declutter start saving money eat at home more. Just see stuff is stuff and you dont need it to be happy. Love ya girlie hope you feel better💗
Girl you’ve done SOOO WELL from $200,000 to 30,000 is amazing, some clothes wouldn’t hurt for once!! You deserve it :)
Before we got married, my husband and I opened a joint checking account and we each contributed half of the total monthly expenses. We kept our own accounts as well and we still have them to this day. Now what we do is we put our income into the joint checking account - budget out all the expenses, investments and savings. And then what we have left over we split into our personal accounts. We call it our “fun money” so we can each decide whether to save or spend it. It allows us to treat ourselves when we want to without feeling any guilt. Hope this helps!
Girl.....your almost there! No regrets...you are moving forward. The universe has your back. Just breathe.
Aja...please remember we’re in this together. Your budget videos always resonate with me, but this is the one that resonates with me the most. I paid off my school loans, but I still have about 10% of my car loans to go. Health and moving finances got in the way recently and I’m doing exactly what you are doing. I feel extremely burnt out and I spent on myself as well because FUCK IT. It feels like it never ends, but the thing is, we all are human (not machines) and don’t need to beat ourselves up when we’re not as “efficient” as we should be. At least I’m telling myself that. We still have our overall goals in mind (which is most important) and I am hoping to end my debt journey by the end of this year too. Bumps on the roads aren’t indications of failures, right? And this bump right now isn’t either. I can’t wait to celebrate our journey once it’s over. And no BS...each day that’s going is one day closer to that day. And that realization is really encouraging to me. Hope it is for you. ♥️♥️♥️
"I don't like this feeling of not being satisfied." Has been my motto for nearly 2 years. I love your videos, they give me so much insight into my own financial struggles. Between school debt and the expenses I'm accumulating just to get by every month. It's so hard, and frustrating and I just want to live in a box somewhere. Thank you for putting out your own struggles, they help me feel like I have help ❤️
Aja you have been so strong sharing your personal financial journey. These videos help me while I'm saving cash for my car. Honestly I rather sacrifice a year to save the money and drive my old car around then to put myself into a 5 year car loan with crazy amount of interest. These financial struggles bring you appreciation later on down the line and the reason why to never put yourself in debt ever again. I wouldn't suggest getting a joint credit card unless you and Brian can be extremely disciplined. I do believe a 100 percent you spend more on a credit card then cash, which I've fallen into this trap and speaking from my own personal experience. Stay motivated and remember you have come so far!! Truly inspirational!
Money is SO personal. I think what people need to realize is that credit cards aren't for everyone but they CAN work in certain circumstances. I put my student loans in forbearance for a year while I was paying off a mound of credit card debt that was burying me. I would NEVER suggest that ANYONE do that. It happened to be the right thing to do in my specific situation but the majority of the time, it's not a good idea. You being honest with us about the choices you make should not influence people to do exactly what you're doing. It should influence people to research and weigh the options appropriate for THEIR situation. You are not a hypocrite. You are a badass.
You're not alone, Aja. Thank you for inspiring us with your vulnerability and constant/amazing strength. We love you
We don't have a joint credit card. My husband and I have a joint bank account and we use our debit cards. At least twice a month, we sit down and go through our budget.
I applaud you on your courage to be able to speak about this. You're doing great. Congrats on your progress thus far.
We figured out a yearly budget for all joint expenses like real estate taxes, utility bills, cell phones, groceries, heat etc. We divided it by 12 and we both out up 50% each. Took a while to get to the point that we had enough float or sinking funds in that account to pay large expenses but we did it. We never fight about money and we are prepared . We both have a debit card to that account. No credit card debt.
Girl, you're killing it. If it wasn't for seeing one of your budgeting videos, I wouldn't have started my own journey. I started March 10th with $182k. It was a rocky start. More medical bills were thrown at me and instead of my debt going down, it went up. And even worse, my dog got cancer and I spent almost $2k trying to make him better, only to lose him at the end of April :'( BUT, as of today, I have paid off almost $10k. I know it's not a lot, but if I think about how much longer I have to go (5-6 years with the money I make now), I will give up. And I started documenting my debt journey as well, to give me motivation and to also hopefully encourage others not to make the same mistakes I did. I know it's hard to see it now, but you're so close!
On the joint finances/ credit card thing. My partner and I moved abroad 3 years ago and that was the only reason we got a joint credit card. It’s been incredibly useful for buying plane tickets and all the other stuff we need for traveling. It makes vacations really easy to split down the middle. I think if we were living Stateside we wouldn’t use it much but it is super useful for big joint purchases. We split all of our bills 50/50 and sit down a couple times a month to go over bills/talk about money. I kind of love that we talk so much about money because now we’re really good at communicating about it. One tip I have from when we lived in the States is loading up gift cards. I was getting the groceries WAY more because my schedule allowed it. Constantly having to be like “hey you owe me 20 bucks” and 2 days later “hey you owe me $10” was super annoying. So twice a month we would go together and load up some money on the grocery store gift card and whoever bought groceries could just use the card and it was an even split. No interest fees just loaded gift cards. I feel like that could work at other places besides grocery stores too. It worked well for us.
Could you please give us an update on the insurance once you get advices? I am in the market looking for a good insurance as well. Thank you!!!
once I sift through all the information coming at me. I know a lot of people are just as confused as I am.
Aja Dang thanks! I am paying the same amount of money as you do for insurance right now. And the coverage is still not ideal. It is so frustrating.
I’m curious as well. Lurking the comments for people’s suggestions, haha. Please update us on this!
I am in the same boat. Paying a large monthly premium, don’t use it and want something better. Let us know if you find something. You are a warrior....stay strong!
Thank you for being so open and honest about the true struggles of paying off debt. It takes a mentally tough person to tackle something like that. You’re truly an inspiration to me to keep at it, even when I’m feeling frustrated too.
My boyfriend and I don’t use a joint credit card. We do have a joint debit account, and every month we each transfer (from our own separate bank accounts) the same amount of $ to cover shared expenses like rent, utilities, food, etc.
For my husband and I (married 3 years, been doing this method for about 4 years), we do have a shared credit card. What we do is transfer a fixed % of both our income into a joint checking account every payday. The joint credit card is then paid for with that joint checking account. I think a BIG part of the joint credit card is trust, and knowing that we don't use it for anything else. I've talked to other women who said they'd never trust their spouse to have a shared credit card and that was pretty upsetting to hear! However you decide to pay it is up to you, but you definitely have to be able to trust each other.
Just thought I’d present a different perspective for anyone scrolling through that needs it. Aja is amazing for dedicating herself to this cause. It’s extremely admirable. But also, what if debt isn’t good or bad? What if it’s just a tool? You can live with it. And you can live without it. Either way, you can live. Money does not rule your life. You do. You figure out what works for you. Don’t beat yourself up for your own journey. You’ll figure it out. You’re living.
Just found you and this is my 2nd video of the day. I can’t even tell you how amazing it is to find someone going through the same thing!! And to be so real and transparent. Thank you so much!
You got this girl!! What I do with my fiancé is 1) joint checking/saving and 2) each of us pay different things. He’s responsible for the electric, utilities, internet and I’m responsible for groceries, and rent. This way we don’t feel any resentment towards each other.
If you don't want a credit card you guys can both save up 5000 and put it in a shared checking account. Then at the end of the month you pay half of what was spent from there back into the account. It's like paying yourself instead of paying them.
Victoria Walker this is really smart. Thank you for the idea🌱
My husband and I decided to get a joint credit card because it improved both of our credit scores by building a credit line. I don't recommend using it frequently, but it did give us more security for traveling. It can make you feel better going to other countries or places where you might have unexpected financial costs such as an unexpected doctors visit, accident, or a cancelled flight plans.
Don’t give up Aja. Look at where you are now compared to 2 years ago. You are doing an amazing job and you have inspired many along your journey.
Aja, Don't be so hard on yourself. You are looking at the glass half empty rather than the glass half full. You should be extremely proud of your accomplishment and how much you've been able to pay off in just a mere 2 years. That would take other people several if not more than several years to pay off. If you were able to pay off $120,000 in debt in 2 years another $30,000 is really nothing. Right? You should probably be able to get that done in the next year. Perhaps scale back and treat yourself more often. Think long term and don't sweat the small stuff. There are many of us out here that have debt. You cannot consume yourself about your debt at the sake of living or being happy. I think you are so eager to pay off this last amount that it is frustrating you. Be proud of what you have accomplished. If it takes you 12 more months, who cares? What will you do when you have a 30 year mortgage? Many people have mortgages similar to what you have (HAD) in student debt. Pace yourself dear and love yourself. You are doing just fine!! 🧘♀️ :)
Girl I’m watching you 5yrs later also into my debt free journey and I am so thankful for these videos. I’ve been so frustrated and people don’t understand how I never ever want to be in debt ever again. $100k total majority student loans. It f*cking sucks. I’ve paid $30k so far hardest ever and as a single mom. It sucks.
You’ve given me the drive to put an actual budget together for myself. It has not been easy but while for me it’s only $20,000 in debt it’s still a large portion of my income. Thanks for showing what a realistic debt journey looks like.
Keep going! Whenever I get frustrated (I’ve been on this debt journey 6 years, slowly getting closer), I re think my why and visualize what it will be like when I’m out of debt! Then I rewrite what my budget will look like without debt payments and it always reminds me why I’m doing this. You’ve got this!
What’s frustrating is feeling like you’re throwing away money. But it’s necessary at this point and imagine what your life will be like after this stage of your life is over. It’s all temporary.
Aja, You are doing a great job of working on your debt. The frustration is real but keep working on enjoying the journey because that's all you have today. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. You are so open and honest. Helping so many others to not ignore finances. You. Are. Awesome!!!!
Hi Aja...my husband and i have used the same credit card for years and years and its the only thing that enabled us to really keep our spending in check and be accountable to one another. Same goes for joint checking and savings etc. Its all one pot for us. But we didn't do it until we got married and it solved a lot of money stress for us just by changing the yours and mine mentality to the ours mentality.You are doing great...hang in there! The finish line is so close.....debt free is going to be so worth it!
I'm a huge fan of joint bank accounts. If you are worried or concerned, or just generally curious of your significant other's financial habits, a joint credit card works great in terms of you can see how they handle their finances, on time, budget, etc... It's great for handling a "couples" finances
This is the system my husband and I use:
I have my retired income and my husband has his business income.
We currently have 8 checking/savings accounts.
1. Our online emergency savings account
2. Our grocery/gas/entertainment fund
3. Travel savings
4. House maintenance savings
5. Car savings
6. My allowance account
7. Hubby’s allowance account
8. Bill payment account
Each paycheck we figure out our bills. Then split in half and we both put the money for the bills in the bills account.
Then we split all the savings and sinking funds (house,car, travel) and we both put it in the the respective account.
And we do the same for the grocery, gas and entertainment as well.
And then we all give each allowances for the month.
We zero out our budget each month.
It helps to have a separate account bills. That way you can figure out your whole monthly amount and dump it into that bill checking account. Pay all your bills from that account and you don’t have to worry about balancing that account or worry or forget if you have money that is for a bill if you had your bills coming out of the same checking account you use for expenses.
This seems to work for us.
I hope you find what works for you guys.
I never comment on videos but felt compelled to comment on this one because I see so much of myself in this video and your vulnerability. Girl, you have got to cut yourself some slack! You have been so committed to this journey and should be proud of how far you've come, but you are burning yourself out by only focusing on the big "zero debt" prize. Celebrate the small wins along the way. Zero debt will feel THE best, but $30K, $20K, $10K, $5K, $2K should all feel good, too. Be kind to yourself, Aja. We are rooting for you.
Be grateful for the amazing income you have and what you’ve accomplished. There aren’t many people who could have done this as quickly. Go get it!!!!!!
Hi Aja, if you don’t feel comfortable about a credit card, then don’t feel like you have to have one. A good system can be to have a particular bank account that you each transfer a weekly or monthly amount to spend for that week/month - for stuff like food, petrol etc. Big irregular expenses can be saved for using seperate sinking funds and also each have an account for spending money, for clothes and hobbies etc. Hope that makes sense. You are so close to getting out of debt!! You can do it!!
When I was young I never felt this way. But after spending much money trying to get pregnant via IVF, then getting a baby, the expenses of having a baby, after that paying a lot on credit card, then paying of my family insurance, house, car. It builds and builds. Then I get frustrated and I spend on myself and my family adding to more debt. How can I live of 900 after paying all expenses, debt etc a month with a family. So I feel you...a never ending cycle.
Agree with a lot of other comments. Do a joint chequing account and the credit card with a limit for shared expenses. Review together and add money to the joint account to pay off the credit card each month. That way everything is transparent to both parties without having to ask for permission to view each others personal finances.
You’re doing great Aja! In a year you’ll look back debt free and be in awe of your accomplishments. Greener pastures are ahead!
My husband and I do a joint checking and savings and use a debit card. Works great for budgeting!
I've been on the student loan debt journey for 10 years. Many people can't afford to pay off huge chunks like you have in two years.
My husband and I each have our own checking accounts but he has access to my acct where I am able to transfer money and he is able to pull money for our household. He makes all the household utility bills and mortgage. My acct pays everything for the home like grocery, kid necessities, gas, trips, etc. Hang in there Aja, we know and understand the frustration and you have been doing awesome. I’ve been a follower since you posted your first finance video. Texas is waiting for you 💕 (I’m in Dallas).
Give us ads girl! Everyone else does it, we still gonna watch
Hi Aja, I never comment on YT videos although I watch so many every day for so many years. I feel for you, I can only imagine how frustrating and overwhelming and crushing the amount of debt has been and continues to feel.
However, please know and remember this. From the moment you bravely chose to embark on your journey AND publicly and openly share with us such an emotionally challenging and difficult endeavor each step of the way, you have changed not only my life but countless others who have followed your journey. You have helped so many people Aja. Know that you have affected so many lives for the better by continuing to tackle your debt, as we are too.
Please go easy on yourself. You have done an INCREDIBLE job so far eliminating so much debt in what I (and I'm sure many here) would consider an astonishing rate!!!
I feel you that it must still feel like you have a long way to go, but from my perspective as an outsider you have come so far and have reduced the pile tremendously to a point the you 3-4 years ago could never have fathomed. I recently heard a quote that happiness from obtaining a goal can be fleeting. We are "happy" for 5 min when we reach a goal we set for ourselves, be it salary or monetarily or weight loss or debt paid, and then we are unhappy again because we have to reach the next thing. It's far easier said than done, but I also tell myself that I need to also appreciate the journey, however hard, in getting there, not just the milestones. Thank you for your vulnerability and your strength. We love you and can't wait to celebrate with you when you get there! ❤️
So, about your question on family finances, my husband and I don’t share an account or credit card or anything (ground breaking, I know). We both use our own credit/debit cards for personal expenses (food, clothes, etc). We divided our shared expenses (groceries, rent, mortgage, etc.) according to our incomes, so we each have an expenses assigned each month. So, if I make more money, I take on the bigger payments; if he makes more money, he takes on the bigger payments. You get it ;) hope this helps! Keep going!!! You are doing so great and you will be done soon. You will look back on these videos and say: “Wow, I really got out of debt. On my own, I did it!”
We keep our finances pretty separate and both contribute to certain joint expenses (mortgage, taxes, groceries, etc.). Instead of having a joint credit card we have a joint savings account for household expenses. If we get a tax refund we put it into that fund. Or we contribute equally to it. Then when the hot water heater goes out or we need new curtains - it comes out of that savings account.
In regards to credit cards for a family. I am against it, due to the fact that debt should be your own, now a joint checking or current account is fine for household expenses. On the other hand if you get a joint credit card and set a limit for both of you and have a current account that holds this limit, before the month begins, then maybe, because expenses and life happens.
We have a joint debit card for family expenses, and separate debit cards for personal expenses. When we used our separate cards for family expenses, it always ended up with one of us (mostly me) paying way more for family expenses, and having less left for personal use. Now we use a joint card, and we both see where the money go, and we both contribute evenly without having to save recipts etc. Very handy. Wouldn't want a joint card for all expenses, family and personal though.
Aja you're amazing and I love your videos. My husband and I don't have a joint credit card but we have a joint chequing account. Each month we put in the pre-determined amount. He makes a lot more than I do. I am also self-employed but have a part-time job so I always have a consistent amount of income. We have always scaled our expenses based on our income. All of our regular bills and our mortgage come out of this account, and then when I go grocery shopping I put it on my credit card and immediately pay it off from that account as well. We have been doing this for years and it works very, very well for us. We budget a little bit extra every month for dinner out or a trip to the movies. It also gives us a great indication of how much we are spending each month because it's separate from our regular bank accounts. Prior to this our system involved writing who paid for what on a calendar and settling up at the end of the month. That worked too, but it meant we always had to remember to add something to the calendar whenever we bought things. I'd highly recommend the joint chequing account rather than the credit card. Then the money can just sit there until it's spent and it's a little bit of forced saving if you don't spend your household budget every month.
My husband and I have a shared credit card and we love the points. We keep our budget and pay it off using a budget. So it’s not excess spending. We have at least 3 or so free flights a year
You got this Aja! You can do it. Bringing it down to $32k is awesome.
Regarding the family budget, what I do with our family is we got a joint account and we put money every time we get paid. So my husband make more money so he puts more but we have an agreement on how much I put and every time I have an extra money I add a little bit more. Every bill is taken out from that checking account through autopay so that we never miss anything. The credit card will keep on building up so I don’t recommend it. Having the checking account will help you save too. Setting aside money first for the joint account and the rest can be your personal allowance.
I hope this helps 💕