Debt Dumpers 2025

[pblack]

As 2024 is coming to a close, I figured I'd go ahead and get the Debt Dumpers 2025 thread going. Please continue to post your 2024 recaps on the 2024 board, but as you're working on your goals for 2025 post them here!

If you're new to the debt dumping thread, welcome! We're a friendly bunch who encourage each other in their wins and losses. No negativity allowed here! Most of us post a mixture of our debt dumping goals and personal goals, but it's not a requirement! Please post whatever you feel comfortable with and let us help cheer you on.

 

[Bellex917]

Excited to get this going!!! 2024 was *the year* for us and we finally got serious and got out of debt. We ended the year with my husband laid off from his job, and I can tell you the benefits we are experiencing due to getting serious in 2024:

-Less bills- no car payment, no DVC loan, no credit card bills (we use them, but pay it off every 2 weeks)
- Emergency savings
- PEACE OF MIND.

I am still stressed about the lay off, but it's not the tragedy it would have been last year. So for everyone hopping in in 2025, make it your year! You can do it!

My 2025 goals:
1- My husband to get a job (nothing else can happen until this one lol)... I'm posting the rest so when I look back at the end of 2025 I can see what my dream was.
2- Double our total savings by the end of the year. This lay off showed me that I'd feel even more comfortable if I had a separate emergency fund for home repairs... right now we have 1 efund and I'd like to get a second one that is targeted for home repairs as opposed to job loss.
3- Ideally I'd like to end 2025 with 8-10k saved towards our California 2026 vacation.
4- Add aggressively to my kids college funds... we got a very late start on this and the oldest goes in 6 years.
5- Begin saving for a new car

This lay off has showed me we can live very frugally and I'm not miserable. 2025 might be the year of "intentional and deliberate frugality" to try to meet the lofty goals above. Now let's hope #1 happens quickly so we can get to 2-5 LOL!

Dream big everyone! We can do it!

 

[bettertheangel]

I'll join in. I racked up some debt from moving across the country and then getting fired (due to burnout) in 2023, and I am still playing catch up.

2025 Goals:

• Add $2000 to emergency fund
• Pay off highest interest rate credit card balance
• Dispose of items that no longer serve a purpose in my current lifestyle (hard to quantify, but it's an ongoing process)

 

[barkley]

I'd like to get a second one that is targeted for home repairs as opposed to job loss.

very wise. we got hit with 2 major home repairs this year and thankfully we had emergency funds set aside (Which the early portion of 2025 will be used to replenish). we've been homeowners for 33 years (3 different homes) and had our share of repairs over the years but nothing prepared me for how expensive some now are-the cost of replacing our HVAC absolutely gutted me. granted, the newer more efficient system is proving to save us on utility costs but it will take decades for that to offset it. even 'minor' repairs are SO costly these days. a home repair emergency fund is a tremendous assett to work towards.

 

[disney-inspired]

2025 Goals:
- Build up emergency fund again; I've been operating without one since I have very few fixed bills. I'd like to have that cushion again for future medical issues; I have an autoimmune disease so it's not a matter of if, but when.
- Be more intentional with paying off off my DVC loan
- Cash flow my Epic Universe/WDW vacation in August 2025. This is a two week vacation with the family, very excited about it!
- Save up to move from CA to TX: Not sure when I'll move but my sister and her family are moving early summer 2025. I'll start apt/condo hunting once they get settled so I know their general location. I'm being very particular as to what kind of place I want so won't be moving until I find the perfect place for me.

 

[Tygerlilly]

I was just wondering when this one would pop up!

I'm finalizing all my thoughts tonight for achievable and realistic goals. I have a bad habit of putting down goals that are not realistic at all and then getting discouraged when they don't work out the way I wanted.

We have a pretty solid vacation plan already, just need to put some realistic budgets to them.

Excited to kick 2025 in the Budget butt another year with you all!

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

This is the toughest part of it. I want to do so much, but I've got to keep it realistic and achievable. If it's not those 2 things, then I'll give up, and it'll fall by the wayside. And I'll be right back in the same situation.

I'm finalizing all my thoughts tonight for achievable and realistic goals. I have a bad habit of putting down goals that are not realistic at all and then getting discouraged when they don't work out the way I wanted.

 

[Tygerlilly]

2025 GOALS

Finance
• Pay off all credit cards.
• Emergency fund: one month of bills ahead
• Complete savings challenges
• Continue to work on and improve budget

Home
• Finish DD7 bedroom makeover
• Start DS3 bedroom makeover
• Start DD9 bedroom makeover
• Redo downstairs bathroom
• Repaint our bedroom
• Flower beds out front

Travel
• PA/IN trip in Spring to see family
• Branson trip in early Summer (maybe)
• Camping on weekends
• Cruise in November
• Adult trip somewhere at some point

Personal
• Meal plan and prep
• Run another half marathon
• Lose last 20lbs
• Read more
• Do more crafts


I wanted to at least get my rough draft down. I can add details to it and balances or cost estimates as I do some more research on them and finalize details.


The best news is that I scraped and took out a small loan and was able to get the deposit made on an apartment in a retirement place for my mom. We went and looked at it on Monday and I got the deposit paid yesterday. She liked it, the location is about a mile from me, and she can take her dogs. She'll have to walk them to the pet area, but that's just outside her patio, and I've explained if she doesn't do that we will rehome them. She gets the keys on the 31st and we will start moving her in on the weekend following. And then I can start clearing that house out and get it sold without her underfoot.

 

[428mom]

Hello all!
My name is Kara and I want to join this year's challenge. My family just got back from a Disney trip (including a day at magic kingdom, the Christmas party and a cruise on the Fantasy). We had a great time but now I'm focusing on our budget. We became completely debt free in 2016 but over the years have had some credit card debt here and there. We aren't taking any big vacations this year but we're planning on visiting my brother in Italy in 2026. I'm sure I will change my goals as the years goes along but these are the main goals.



Finance

• Pay off $3500 credit card
• Add $5,000 to our emergency fund

Personal

• Read 100 books
• Lose 20 lbs
• Finish the 75 hard challenge

HOME

• Clean and organize the backyard
• Seal our driveway
• Get 2 tree stumps removed
• Meal plan

Travel

• Save for Italy plane tickets and spending money (We will be doing the 100 envelope challenge for this.
• Save for weekend trip for my nieces graduation in Indiana $600
• Birthday getaway for my kids (birthdays are 6 weeks apart and we started last year doing an experience instead of a party) $500
• Weekend camping trip $300

 

[barkley]

Hello all!
My name is Kara and I want to join this year's challenge. My family just got back from a Disney trip (including a day at magic kingdom, the Christmas party and a cruise on the Fantasy). We had a great time but now I'm focusing on our budget. We became completely debt free in 2016 but over the years have had some credit card debt here and there. We aren't taking any big vacations this year but we're planning on visiting my brother in Italy in 2026. I'm sure I will change my goals as the years goes along but these are the main goals.



Finance

• Pay off $3500 credit card
• Add $5,000 to our emergency fund

Personal

• Read 100 books
• Lose 20 lbs
• Finish the 75 hard challenge

HOME

• Clean and organize the backyard
• Seal our driveway
• Get 2 tree stumps removed
• Meal plan

Travel

• Save for Italy plane tickets and spending money (We will be doing the 100 envelope challenge for this.
• Save for weekend trip for my nieces graduation in Indiana $600
• Birthday getaway for my kids (birthdays are 6 weeks apart and we started last year doing an experience instead of a party) $500
• Weekend camping trip $300

welcome!!!

 

[barkley]

And then I can start clearing that house out and get it sold without her underfoot.

that is going to make it SO much easier.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Hello all!
My name is Kara and I want to join this year's challenge.

Welcome!!!

I tried 75 Hard twice last year and failed on day 17 and day 24. It was always that second workout that got me. So kudos to you for doing it!

I'm also doing the 100 envelope challenge to hopefully pay for our big fall trip. I started last week with a couple of the smaller numbers to at least start, but will focus on it a lot more in the new year.

Can't wait to see your progress!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hello all!
My name is Kara and I want to join this year's challenge. My family just got back from a Disney trip (including a day at magic kingdom, the Christmas party and a cruise on the Fantasy). We had a great time but now I'm focusing on our budget. We became completely debt free in 2016 but over the years have had some credit card debt here and there. We aren't taking any big vacations this year but we're planning on visiting my brother in Italy in 2026. I'm sure I will change my goals as the years goes along but these are the main goals.



Finance

• Pay off $3500 credit card
• Add $5,000 to our emergency fund

Personal

• Read 100 books
• Lose 20 lbs
• Finish the 75 hard challenge

HOME

• Clean and organize the backyard
• Seal our driveway
• Get 2 tree stumps removed
• Meal plan

Travel

• Save for Italy plane tickets and spending money (We will be doing the 100 envelope challenge for this.
• Save for weekend trip for my nieces graduation in Indiana $600
• Birthday getaway for my kids (birthdays are 6 weeks apart and we started last year doing an experience instead of a party) $500
• Weekend camping trip $300

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[jackers]

I'm not great at posting my updates on a regular basis, but I do read regularly and you all have continued to inspire me to work torwards my financial goals.

2025 Goals:
1. Pay off mortgage.
2. Max out 401K.
3. Max out HSA.
4. Continue reduced discretionary spending
5. Get healthier


2025 is already getting hit by Murphy. Our youngest (2.5 years) cat has been in the animal hospital since Christmas Eve with a urinary blockage. So that will be a hefty vet bill. So, I have now invested in pet insurance for all 3 cats - won't help us this time around, but as this is a condition that can crop up again, it will help with future potential issues as well as medication or special food he may need going forward.

 

[Shellyred8]

For those that are struggling with getting started on getting out of debt (or struggling to keep going with the process), I want to share a little bit of my story as some encouragement for you.

About 20 years ago I got really serious about getting my finances under control. I'm not going to sugar-coat it, the first couple of years kind of sucked. But I was determined to get myself out of debt and starting controlling my finances better. I cut out most entertainment. The only vacations I did were short ones that I could drive to and for those went during the off-season so the hotels were less expensive. I was single at this time, so it was just me that I had to worry about.
Fast forward to today: I'm now married (he had very little debt when we got married) and debt free. Earlier this year we paid off our 30-year mortgage 16 years early! We've been able to save pretty aggressively for retirement and next year we are both looking at retiring. DH is at the typical retirement age, but I'm younger than he is, so for me it's early retirement. Our years of living within (and usually below) our income, means I'm able to retire early and we won't have any debt hanging over us during retirement so we can enjoy this time. Our plans are to do some traveling and also find some places to volunteer our time at.

Note: I consider us in the middle-class income range. We both have jobs that pay decent. But neither of us is making boat-loads of money at our job. Over the years we've just stuck with the plan of not spending more than we are making. And that last point is really what the game changer is when it comes to getting out of debt.

So, go forth and get yourself out of debt! You can do it! It can be a hard road, but the feeling of not being indebted to someone else is amazing!!!!

 

[firefly_ris]

I might end up tweaking this but, just to get started:

2025 Goals
- Max out 2024 IRA contribution before tax season
- Max out 2025 IRA contribution
- Lose 7 pounds
- Continue regular purging and de-cluttering (I'm good at this but one can never let up!)
- Regularly re-examine and reduce discretionary spending
- Sell off remainder of bins of eBay stuff in the basement
- Put $1,000 into personal brokerage account
- Add $500 to each child's custodial brokerage
- Read 1 book per month at least

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'm not great at posting my updates on a regular basis, but I do read regularly and you all have continued to inspire me to work torwards my financial goals.

2025 Goals:
1. Pay off mortgage.
2. Max out 401K.
3. Max out HSA.
4. Continue reduced discretionary spending
5. Get healthier


2025 is already getting hit by Murphy. Our youngest (2.5 years) cat has been in the animal hospital since Christmas Eve with a urinary blockage. So that will be a hefty vet bill. So, I have now invested in pet insurance for all 3 cats - won't help us this time around, but as this is a condition that can crop up again, it will help with future potential issues as well as medication or special food he may need going forward.

Are you sure it will be covered since it is pre-existing? A lot of the pet insurance policies will not cover conditions diagnosed before the policy was put in place.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[Tygerlilly]

*If* I get all the cards paid off early enough in the year, a bonus goal I have is to put an extra $2500 on the mortgage.

I'm also needing to speak to a financial advisor on what to do with the money from the sale of mom's house and how/where to invest that money. We'll be keeping some in a HYSA so she can access it when needed, but I'd like to be strategic with the rest. And while I'm there I'd like to ask about starting my own investment strategies and get *something* going.