Congratulations! About 2 years ago I started working on my poor financial status. No major purchase in mind, I was just tired of the stress and insomnia my current state was forcing me to live in. Also, I was living a life that I was constantly trying to hide my finances from my husband. It didn't feel good and even though we had been married 23 years and were happy- the charade was wearing me out. Anyway I went from the 620-640's to now 776-792.
#1 It was tough, but I came clean to my husband
#2 I worked overtime like crazy to help pay off. It really cut our social life down- but I told my closest friends what I was doing and they were supportive.
#3 we traded in a repair prone car for a sensible reliable used car and took out a home equity to pay off credit cards
#4 We used 3 different cards and pay off monthly
#5 We have Christmas funds, so we won't charge on cards this holiday, plus EVERYONE in our circle of family and friends knows our new agenda, so expectations are lower.
#6 We have started an emergency fund( still small, about 1000) But will pay for new tires or a small car repair without charging
#7 We still have school loans -both ours and our kids- that we are paying off slowly, but surely. About 53,000. Down from 62000. I got a bonus this fall and the 2 grand went right to the student loans.
#8 I almost forgot, I also paid off my 401 K loan I had taken 5 years ago. It was eating $380 out of every paycheck I had!
Just to give you some ideas of how it can work. To me, it is like a diet. I am not perfect and occasionally , I fall off the "wagon", but I just wake up the next day and get right back on my mission. I am actually going for 800 and a comfortable retirement in 12-15 years. Who knows now??!!
There is hope!