Yesterday I was embarassed.  Today I am reeling.  I finally worked up the courage to wade through the complicated mess known as the U.S. federal tax form to file for 2007, and was amazed that the software said we will get a large enough return to completely pay off the truck note!  That’s right: As soon as we get our tax return we will be officially “DEBT FREE but the mortgage!”

It’s “here” in that I know the money is coming in about two weeks.  I’ve been working toward this for over thirteen months now, and the big debt pay off day is quickly approaching.  I’ve been working and planning and dreaming, and now that we are almost to that point…

It’s kind of scary all of a sudden!  I guess it’s because I only found out twelve hours ago, but wow this is happening so fast.  I know I said I wanted it to happen fast LOL but I guess this is a psychological quirk popping up for me.  The truly overwhelming part of this year’s tax return is that we will have some left over even after paying off the debt.

Hubby wants a couple hundred for “fun” money.  I want a big fancy debt free celebration.  My son hasn’t started in with what he wants yet.  I want enough left over to get rolling on the big emergency fund.  We want … we want … we sound like kids in a candy shop! LOL

I intended to blog a bit more about basic investing, but my mind is totally spinning over this whole tax return-slash-refund thing.  This doesn’t even include the whole “economic stimulus” concept still being tossed around Washington DC like a political football.  Speaking of a political football, I debate whether I should mention we are getting back more than we even paid in?  (ducks for cover)  Ah, the so-called joys of being classified “low-income” by our federal government … but the truly funny part is that thanks to aggressive budgeting and determination, we are probably better off financially now than people who earn more than twice what we do but are still in debt.  I’ll take that trade any day!

So … once the last consumer debt is officially paid off (watch for that announcement in the next couple weeks…it will be in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS) it will be “onward and upward” as we move to pad the money market account with three month’s expenses and enough to replace the aged heating and air conditioning unit.  Then I will need to understand investing, because I will be to that “baby step” in the Dave Ramsey plan!