As indicated the title, I have good news and bad news. First, the bad: I don’t think that I’ll ever be able to complete my puzzle. Because I’m fairly certain one of the puzzle pieces has disappeared into the abyss of my house and/or has been eaten by a baby. But I’ll at least get close.

I learned this sad news while prepping the pieces for this update. I’m now up to 400 puzzle pieces. That’s over $80,000 paid off reflected in the puzzle. Here’s the breakdown:

$19,805– remaining balance:

• $2,625 $0 (freshman year – undergrad)
• $8,500 $0 (1L subsidized loan)
• $12,000 $0 (1L unsubsidized loan)
• $8,500 $0 (2L subsidized loan)
• $12,000 $0 (2L unsubsidized loan)
• $8,500 $7,805 (3L subsidized loan)
• $12,000 (3L unsubsidized loan)
• $3,500 $0 (Grad Plus Loan – bar fees and prep)
• $1,200 $0 (Irresponsibility Loan #1)
• $2,500 $0 (Irresponsibility Loan #2)
• $1,200 $0 (Irresponsibility Loan #3)

At the beginning of this year, I set a goal of paying off $30,000 in principal. That goal was $10,000 more than my 2016 goal. I did say that I’d see how things went and reevaluate. In the last quarter, I decided to go for a stretch goal of $35,000. I’m thrilled to report that as of my last payment, I’ve paid off a total of $35,408.93. I should have no problem meeting my goal of paying off all of my loans before my 35th birthday.