While I’m not officially debt free yet, I’m close enough that I’m going to do a post about it. Strangely enough, making those calls today to pay off my loans felt a bit anti-climactic. I’m sure it’ll sink in over the next few days, but right now it doesn’t really feel that much different.
It’s amazing how debt changes your life though. Had I been debt free years ago, I probably would have quit my job in Vancouver and branched out on my own then. But unfortunately, when you have nearly $1,000 worth of monthly debt payments, you really can’t afford to take that much risk. The only way I was able to leave my full-time job early and branch out in January was because I essentially worked two jobs for the previous six months, banking nearly $10k in the process. That gave me enough runway to ramp things up with Dale and make it so I didn’t have to worry all that much.
Strangely enough, for the first time really since I was 18, I don’t really have any expenses in my life other than rent and food. Which means I could basically rent out my apartment, get on a plane and go exploring for a few months if I wanted. In reality I can work from anywhere with an internet connection, so conceivably I could spend my days sipping wine in Paris, working from a quant little shop with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
That’s always been a dream of mine to be honest — to be in some remote place in the middle of nowhere, doing some client work from a simple internet connection on the other side of the world. How cool would that be?
In the short term, I have no plans, but given how my lease is up in January, who knows where the wind will take me.
Congratulations! That is a huge step.. I’m getting close to my goal too! Can’t wait.
I think you should DEFINITELY go work remotely somewhere… how amazing would that be?
Morocco… the Maldives… New Zealand… Southern France… the world is your oyster!
If you do go, you better post lots of pics 😉
For sure. I have a good friend in Serbia, and the cost of living is amazingly cheap. Near Montenegro you can rent an awesome apartment for around $300/month I’m told.
Congratz that’s a big step forward. Sipping wine in Paris while working sounds like a fabulous idea, or people walking on La Rambala in Barcelona.
Congratulations!
As someone who is working hard to get out of debt, it’s inspiring to know that it is actually possible!
Looking forward to seeing where this will take you 🙂
Debt-free is so sexy 🙂
That’s awesome man! I’d guess that less than 2% of the population have this opportunity!
You’re single, have your health, and the means to work anywhere you wish! Think of the extra coin you could bank living where the costs are a quarter of what they are here! Congrats!
I bet it’ll really sink in when next month comes and you have all this extra money that doesn’t disappear from your bank account. And then again the next month. And the next….
Good job, Duane! Like, Jemmen, I too am inspired to see someone pay off their student loan debt. Gives me hope!