<prompt> Human: Previous thread: 1stPrevious thread: 2ndThis thread is an update to an update to an update, if that make sense. Just a quick re-cap of the previous threads is that I was in 34,000 debt as of December 31, 2012. I got in that much debt due to paying for my sisters wedding, student loan, spending money on my sisters wedding. When I posted the first thread, I had reduced my debt down to 22,500. By the second update, my total debt was 21,191.38. Which brings us today and this thread. Im happy to announce that my total debt is now 18,000, down from 34000 at the beginning of the year. This is not quite the halfway mark of the original debt of 34K but Im very, very close. My by-weekly salary is 2000 and I got some money on tax return. Ive have been living like a poor sap for the last 4 months to pay off as much of the debt as I can before my first child, a son is born, in mid-July. Between now and mid-July, Ill earn 12,000. Im hoping to pay 8000 toward debt and keep the 4000 on hand to do all the baby-shopping, food, family, etc. I know Im cutting it close, especially without an emergency fund. I have a 401K I can cash out if I really, really have to do it. I hope you guys dont think Im spamming with my updates. I just wanted to write about my progress and put my goals in writing; so, I feel accountable. Assistant: Dont forget to plan on paying for daycare as well. That can eat up quite a bit of cash if you need it. Congrats on the kid and the good job on getting rid of that debt so fast. Human: My wife doesnt work and we arent playing on her going to work for the first few years of the baby. And being a immigrant family of Asian origin, I live with my parents in a duplex. My mom is always home. She doesnt work. So we wont be needing daycare.  <response>: Awesome. That will really help out and save you tons of money. Day care is my single biggest expense these days. 