Out of the Red

2012 was a year of very little disposable income, and subsequently a lot of stress. And no matter how hard we worked we just couldn't get ahead, so we decided to make some BIG changes.

Today, we completed the transaction to refinance our house. And I couldn't be more relieved that such a stressful time, a time where I was petrified of losing our home, is over. I can go to bed tonight and know that most things are up to date, and we're not sinking... if anything now it's the opposite.

Our mortgage repayments, even with the refinance (and withdrawing a good amount of $$), are less than what we were paying before - thanks to over a 1% discount on our mortgage rate. Cameron's very nice, completely unnecessary, yet relatively new car is able to be sold as we now owe less money than what we could sell it for (which was DOUBLE before we refinanced!). We now have a light at the end of the tunnel, and we've been able to book what will be a celebratory holiday for us as a family.

Because we deserve it. And because for us, time together as a family is more important than saving money 'for a rainy day'.

We've made the decision to take the kids to the US in the middle of the year. The middle of the American Summer, where we'll be hiring an RV and driving from one side of the country to the other. Over 5 weeks.

So for now, we are back to that very little disposable income, but by choice. Every single cent needs to be saved to make it happen.

That means no Harbour Town visits, no 'but it's on SALE!' tactics to try and sway hubby to let me make a purchase, and no splurging. Definitely no online shopping.

And I cry a little bit on the inside at the 'no online shopping'.

We're at least out of the red, and choosing to live frugally for the sake of a big win, a win that we've imagined for a number of years, but kept putting off... and even dismissed as a distant dream. And when we go, we'll have a sudden wave of relief that not only did we make this happen (without needing debt to get us there), but the money we're saving towards the holiday will be disposable income again once we are home.

And my goodness I am looking forward to that!