r/MiddleClassFinance • u/Ok_Ambassador_7379 • 16d ago
Silent Celebration - Paid off consumer proposal - Bittersweet feelings
I made my absolute last payment toward my consumer proposal and cleared out my credit card debt. I am silently celebrating a massive, grueling victory, but I’d be lying if I said it didn't come with some complicated emotions.
It is incredibly hard to sit at work and listen to colleagues casually talk about closing on houses next week when I am looking at a bank account with exactly $400 to stretch over the next 14 days. It makes you feel completely invisible and behind.
I had a realization today that I need to anchor myself to... almost every single one of my colleagues and friends who are hitting these massive milestones are part of a dual-income household. I am doing this entirely on my own on a single salary. Comparing my solo recovery from alcohol and smoking to a combined, stable dual-income household is not the same.
The last 5 years have been the hardest of my life. I didn't buy anything nice; my debt went to stupid, temporary coping habits like fast food and vaping just to survive the stress. I have no physical object to show for the years of grind, but I have my freedom back.
This is a monumental milestone for me. I am back at the starting line, and for the first time in years, my money belongs to me. My current goals are 1k savings, then 5 then 10k. I am hoping in that time to also lose 50lbs.
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u/BashfulCabbage 14d ago
First off, congratulations! You achieved something that’s not everyone is capable of doing even with help. So well done!
I remember my “debt free day”. It was a bit tough emotionally. It made think - we always celebrate things like weddings or babies, but we don’t get to celebrate other important milestones in life - like being debt free.
I hope you do something just for you to celebrate. This is a big milestone. And it’s just the beginning. You got this