This Saturday morning the very first thing I did was sit down and write several checks to my jailers (um, lenders). After eleven years of living on figurative macaroni and cheese, DH and I are free from law school debt. How did that happen? It was a long uphill battle of paying interest, then finally whittling down the principal - made far easier by the fact that for once in my post law school career, I was actually employed full time for twelve continuous months straight.

For now being debt free feels like winning the lottery.  I will not need nearly as much (of my husband’s) income to enjoy my lifestyle.  (Do not read that to mean that my employer should continue paying its attorneys a paltry $62 - 70K, and calling it generous).  My goal for 2007 was debt reduction.  The goal for 2008 is amorphous.  I think about living the same close to the bone way and saving like a madwoman for some inevitable rain storm.  On the other hand, I think about lavish vacations, and quitting the job that only pushes me into a higher tax bracket.

Give me a month or so of foolish spending, then I’ll be ready to make my financial new year’s resolutions.