There are some moments in life when the air just feels different — like you’re breathing lighter for the first time in what feels like years. Selling my home was one of those moments. It wasn’t just about changing addresses. It was about closing a chapter that had been filled with stress, hustle, and a whole lot of heavy debt. And now, for the first time in a long time, I am stepping into a future that feels full of possibility.
As I sit here reflecting and staring at this huge number in my bank account, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I’ve just arrived in Texas and am taking some days to unpack, unwind, and settle in. Before anything else, I had one priority: to pay the people who stood by me when I needed help the most.
I ended up with $51,660 from the house sale.
First house proceeds spent
First up was the painter – this man who did incredible work on my home since I purchased it. He has patiently waited for the second half of his payment for the painting done during the sales process until the house proceeds came through. His trust and understanding stayed with me through the entire selling process, and it felt amazing to finally send him what he was owed.
Then, my dad. Where do you even begin thanking someone who quietly steps in with a solution when you’re freezing in your own home? In January 2024, my furnace gave up on life in the middle of winter, and my dad didn’t even hesitate to front the cost for a new one. He’s been patiently waiting almost a year and a half for repayment, never once making me feel rushed or guilty. Writing that check to him was a full-circle moment that left me teary-eyed and full of gratitude. (I actually mailed a thank you card and post-dated check before I left Georgia.)
And finally, the beast: $21,000 in credit card debt. Typing that number still feels surreal. It’s been the kind of mountain that looms in the background of everything I have done – making every grocery run, every birthday gift, every small joy feel a little bit heavier. But not anymore. With the house sale proceeds, that debt is gone. The payments are processing as I write this, and I can’t wait to share more detailed updates in the coming posts.
A new chapter
Right now, I’m standing on the threshold of a brand new chapter. One without the constant, gnawing anxiety of “how will I pay for this?” One where I can breathe easier and plan for a future instead of scrambling to patch up the past.
To everyone who extended grace, patience, and support through this messy, beautiful journey: thank you. I will never take this fresh start for granted.
Here’s to new beginnings and living a life that’s almost completely free from the weight of old debts.
Next, I will be making firm decisions on what to do with the remaining monies from the sale. While I’m not completely debt-free just yet, with only my student loans standing in the path. I can see the finish line ahead. For the first time since I was 21 years old, being completely debt-free feels not just possible, but inevitable.
The post Gratitude and Fresh Starts: The Proceeds from Selling My Home appeared first on Blogging Away Debt.
