Slightly More Clarity

I have recently executed a bunch of large decisions that I am proud of that are going to help me immensely in the following year.

I sold my car and leased a new one. This was a brilliant move because even though I have a new monthly bill on my shoulders, I am getting back about $8,500 for my old car in a private sale while the getting is good as they say.

I have saved enough money to pay the rest of my wedding's venue and I shouldn't feel much of a hit because of the car sale.

After some investigations, I found that student loan companies do not like to recalculate your monthly bill. Therefore you are much better off paying down your student debt chunks at a time, while paying the monthly bill.

Next year I will start my aggressive payoff by paying down my federal loans first in 5K chunks, and then I will pay off my private loan in 5K chunks. I approximately have 6 - 5K chunks to pay off and I will be free of my debt monsters.

I will then take the money I was paying towards my student debt and start saving that aggressively.

I will figure out my retirement options next year. And possibly enroll in a plan.

My main goal is to save up 250,000 dollars of cushion money so I can be some what shielded from any forseeable layoffs.