I just totalled up my debts: $21, 143.86. Hoo-hah! I suppose it isn't that bad in the grand scheme of things but it still makes me queasy. Most of it is student loan, followed by credit cards, with my car loan coming in third. The credit card debt consists mostly of medical bills, dental bills, and car repair bills.

I figured out that if the debt were just one big debt and had no interest (ha!) I could pay it off in five years for $352.40 a month. Not too bad. I could so do that, and I'd be able to do things like buy groceries and replace the clothes that are wearing out.

Save Karyn was the first to the "pay my debt for me" meme, and it worked out pretty well for her. Plenty of other people followed in her footsteps, to varying degrees of success, but I don't think I want to go that route. Granted, none of my debt is for frivolous expenses, but I did legitimately benefit from them. I could have chosen to forgo even owning a car, delay various medical or dental procedures until I had saved for them, and even college was a choice. No one made me go. I also know people who worked full-time while going to school, I could have gone that route. And when it comes right down to it, though the lack of proper advice from my guidance counselor didn't help I was the one who filled out the National Merit Scholarship application in such a way that rendered the scholarship useless to me.

I am very much willing to pay my own debts. However, the current non-consolidation, plus the interest (which is still pretty low) makes it burdensome. If I could get someone out there to loan me $21,143.86 at 0% interest, I would have them paid back within five years. Of course:

A. Who has $21,143.86 sitting around to loan? Certainly no one I know.

B. Who, with that kind of money to loan, would make a $21,143.86 loan to a complete stranger at no interest? People with that kind of money, no matter how altruistic they are, generally have better financial sense.

So realistically, that plan is about as likely as my winning $1 million from a candy bar; which is to say, not bloody likely. Instead, I have to face the real world and do the normal person thing. I'm looking into various debt consolidation options. Nothing in life is free, especially debt.

Still, if anyone out there has an extra $21,143.86 sitting around that they don't know what to do with, I could have it back to you within five years. Hey? Hey? Oh. OK.