I’ve been reading more and more stories lately on how the high interest loans are putting an extraordinary burden on recent graduates paying off what they thought were federally controlled student loans. These loans were extended via private companies, but carried variable interest rates that, like a lot of mortgages, fluctuate with current interest rates. The ending result? Sky rocketing interest rates on loans for tens of thousands of dollars and none of the benefits you get with federal student loans like deferment and locked-in rates.

I’m not one to toot my own horn, but I will today because, frankly, I deserve it. Today I became a card-carrying member of the Debt-Free club. This beautiful day follows an intense two years of handing over half of my salary towards debt repay, and I am tickled pink to have finally gotten to the point where I don’t have to throw away my paycheck on crap that I purchased eight years ago.