I want to give a transparent look at our personal finances—where we’re starting, what we’re currently working on, and where we’re hoping to go. This isn’t advice or a blueprint, just our real numbers and real-life decisions.
Where We’re At
Over the last three years, we’ve worked incredibly hard to pay off approximately $37–43K in credit card debt and loans. That debt was originally taken on to build a welding rig and position ourselves to earn where we are today. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
That said, we didn’t stay perfect.
We went a little overboard at Christmas, and currently our numbers look like this:
- ~$17K in credit card debt
- $44K in vehicle loans
(although I made the final payment on one vehicle this week—YAY! 🎉) - $55K+ in student loan debt for a degree I can’t currently use (boo 😕)
We’ve applied twice for a mortgage and were denied both times. Our credit scores are currently in the low-to-mid 600s, largely because I lost my job last year and missed student loan payments. Before that, my score was close to 800—and we still didn’t qualify.
So if you’re wondering whether credit scores and lending feel stacked against normal people… yeah. Same.
What We Did This Week
1. Opened a CD
I moved $1,400 into a 182-day CD earning 3.8% APR.
This money had been sitting untouched for over a year in a savings account earning 0.2% interest. Since our long-term goal is saving for property, letting money sit idle didn’t make sense anymore.
I used a free CD calculator to compare options (I’ll link it and explain more in another post). That $1,400 will earn $26.81 instead of $1.40—easy math.
Before anyone asks:
Yes, I know credit card interest (20%+) > CD interest (3.8%). I’m broke, not stupid 😅. There’s logic behind this choice, and I’ll explain that strategy in an upcoming post.
2. Paid Off a Car Loan Early
The second (and possibly questionable) move was paying off my car loan five months early.
I bought the car in February 2020 at a 3.9% interest rate, right before COVID hit. Payments were a little over $400/month, and by this point in the loan, nearly every payment was going straight to principal. I only owed about $1,300, so I made the final payment.
More explanation coming—but mentally and financially, closing out a loan felt like the right move for us.
Where We’re Headed
Our goal for this year—despite not qualifying for an FHA loan, traditional mortgage, or land loan—is to save close to $50K.
That money gives us options:
- Try again for financing
- Explore owner-financing opportunities
- Or simply strengthen our overall position
The dream?
13–20 acres, a barndominium, and a small shop/garage.
We’re both in our 40s and trying to buy our first place. We know the system isn’t built in our favor—but this is where we’re headed, one step at a time.
Final Note
This is our personal situation. What works for us may not work for you.
You’ll notice I use a lot of “I” statements, and that’s only because I’m fortunate to have a partner who trusts me completely with our finances. These posts are about transparency, learning, and progress—not perfection.
If you’re walking a similar path, you’re not alone. 🦙💚
Happy Llama Home 
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