I will more than likely enjoy my economic stimulation check for all of two seconds as I flip it over, sign it, and then cash it in at my bank.  Upon actually receiving the funds in my account it will go towards paying off my debt.  The ‘fun’ of the spending money will be gone in a flash, but the excitement of being that much close to debt free is there.  In fact last night I got paid for some work and that money is going straight into the debt snowball.  Five hundy down in all principal since I’ve already made the normal monthly payment on  the Disguster Discover card.  It is this kind of extra payments that are exciting, but at the same time are a monument to my folly.

There are very few things in life that don’t come with lessons, but when they kick your pocketbook, the lessons feel a little more like sandpaper than satin.  I’ve found that each check gets me closer to the short term goal of debt paid off, but serve as a reminder, as I sign them,  that I’m signing off on the consequences of my previous stupidity.  I don’t say that to be melancholy, but more to emphasize that I recognize the consequences of past actions, and in the future, as I sign other checks after having my debt paid off, I’ll be signing them as a monument to where I’ve been, where I’m going, and to help build the foundation of the long term goal: financial independence.

Do you care about your economic stimulation check’s arrival date?  I figure that a few months difference in interest payments can be somewhat important, but the short term difference to me is insignificant.