Paybacks have started and a new garden

I’ve paid back two four people who loaned us money for the house, which is the start of my payback sessions. I’m doing all of the smaller balances first (I assume those people may be having tighter times), and working my way up to the larger ones over the next several months. Two people have refused to let me pay them back, which leaves a total of $1100 I don’t have to pay back.

I’m going to be alternating between that and putting money into the car so it’s paid off by the end of March.

I think I’ve decided to set a huge goal for myself. It’s not one I’m sure I can reach, but I’m certainly going to give it my best shot. I want to pay off the $7k on the car, the $5k on my dads loan, the $1300 in medical expenses by the end of 2009. That’s almost $14,000 worth of expenses paid off in 14 months. That’s a big goal, but one I think I can reach with the first time home-buyer tax credit (aka the interest free loan).

That’ll just leave my only debts as the remainder of the down payment people, the interest free loan to the government that I have 15 years to pay back, and the mortgage. The first of which I could easily have paid off within a year.

In other news, dad plowed up where we will be putting the garden today. We’re really excited to be able to have our own garden again, and I plan to have another small garden for herbs and such once I pick out a location. Eventually we’re also going to build a small greenhouse off the side of the house.