As you may have noticed, I’ve been making YouTube videos! I work with a lot of people very obsessed with all things video so I’ve taken up my old dusty YouTube channel as a project to learn more about the process of shooting and editing video. It’s a random personal project since I’m not a video person and don’t love being on camera…. but it’s helping my learn new skills and hopefully relate better to coworkers and the customers we serve.

Since I’ve not got a ton of ideas for cinematic YouTube videos, I decided I’d just keep sharing what was happening in my rela life. That includes talking more about personal finance and my money goals – another little educational hobby of mine recently.

My latest video shares my next big goal: paying off my car!

I bought my current car back in 2014. I’d been driving a Dave Ramsey beater type car that I bought from a coworker for $500. It literally had three different colors and was the ugliest car I’ve ever owned.

I randomly decided I’d had enough and went to look at new cars… then proceeded to buy the first car I looked at. I didn’t have enough to buy the car outright obviously so I put a small downpayment and walked out with a new loan that was a couple thousand more than I expected all because I got too anxious to further negotiate or ask too many questions.

Suddenly I owed a bank $13,294.

I know most people don’t mind car payments and they are considered just a normal part of life these days. However I look back at the days of my tri-colored debt-free car and miss the freedom of not having a car payment every month. Since I bought my car I’ve lost and changed jobs a couple times and honestly those transitions were a lot more challenging because of higher monthly living expenses. There is a freedom and a peace in not owing money.

When I took out my car loan the estimated pay off date was 5 years later in 2019. I’ve already paid a bit extra and have moved it up some. If I keep paying as is I will be done in about 13 months in 2018. However, I want to be done this year. 2017. I’m ready to be free of all car payments.

So that’s my next big goal! Paying off the last $3,400 of my car loan by the end of the year or sooner. That’s my last bit of debt besides our mortgage so I can’t wait to be back to limited monthly payments.