The one downside of dispatching with all your student loans? When you emerge debt-free on the other side, you have to figure out a new set of motivations for your financial life. Not that I have much money to throw around, even now, but I’m a very intention-driven person: with one goal gone, another must follow.

With a huge chunk of my paycheck back in my pocket, safe again from the grubby fingers of Sallie Mae, I started to mull over what I wanted my money to do for me. And I wasn’t content to consider the question as a false dichotomy (splurge on luxuries with the excess, or hoard it for a rainy day?). After much thought, I came up with a mission statement for my money: I was going to invest in myself.

One aspect of investing in yourself is pretty stodgy-sounding, albeit important: socking away money in emergency and retirement savings. Those two things are the first things I do with my paycheck every month. And I’ll definitely sit you down here at some point, hand you a stiff drink, and talk to you about the intricacies of both of them.

But honestly, I think the other kind of investment in yourself—the kind where you figure out what you’re passionate about and educate the hell out of yourself to make yourself proficient in it—that’s the hard one. That’s harder than determining a proper 401(k) investment allocation, or setting up automatic deposits to your savings account. It requires you to dig down deep in yourself, ask some difficult and painful questions about why you’re here on this earth, and then believe in the answers—even, or especially, if they scare you. Most importantly, it then requires you to become the first investor in an (unproven) venture based on that dream.

But if you do it right, I think you could be the safest investment you ever made.

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If you haven’t read the lead-in to this post, do that now for some helpful context.

I guess you could condense my story this way: Girl meets student loans. Girl feels uncomfortable being in a draining, entirely one-way relationship with said debt. Girl kicks debt to the curb as fast as possible, so she can hang out with her cooler friends instead.

Like most 2009 college grads, my student loans went into repayment in January of 2010. I had a balance of $14,925. By mid-February of 2011, I’d finished paying off that scarily large number (plus about $1,000 in interest). I’d like to say this was made possible by my glamorous six-figure job. But let’s be honest: the economy had just tanked, my salary was fair, though not generous, and I lived in a frustratingly expensive city.

The secret sauce in my success story was determination, which I acted on with focused intensity.

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Okay, then: enough wistfulness about the home I’m currently stuck with. On to the empowering stuff!

In post-graduate life, a huge part of making a home for oneself involves striving for (and attaining) financial independence. While making my own money and paying my own bills was the biggest adjustment to life in the real world, it was also one of the most rewarding ones. Managing my own money is part of what I think of as the business of home—a household, after all, being the smallest (and one of the most important) economic units in society. In my little household, student loans have been a big part of the financial story thus far, and I want to talk about them here with you.

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1) Unleash my inner kindergartener. Tonight will mark my first kickball game as an adult! I joined a league that will play throughout the spring, so I now have a great excuse to run around on the National Mall every Tuesday night. Also, I’ll get to see some of my city-dwelling friends more often! It’s all really an excuse for that. And while this might be the most yuppified activity to do in DC outside of joining a softball league, who cares? Fresh air, acting juvenile, seeing old friends and making new ones made signing up a no-brainer.

2) Finish my spring cleaning. After a fun-packed Friday night at The Container Store, Ted and I dedicated ourselves to a serious weekend of spring cleaning (okay, with lots of enjoyable outings thrown in there, too; I’ve got one excursion to tell you about later this week!). The apartment smells like Murphy’s Oil Soap, jackets and sweaters are tidily packed in plastic bins under the bed, and we stuffed countless garbage bags with junk we won’t miss. I already feel a weight lifted off my shoulders! With a few more finishing touches, it’s really going to feel like a whole new place.

3) Sleep under the stars. This item is also in honor of springtime, but promises to be decidedly more fun than scrubbing floors. We’re making a return trip to Shenandoah National Park this weekend, and this time, we’ll actually (try to) pitch a tent and camp there! Recently, I’ve been staring out my office windows and loving how the light shimmers on this year’s new leaves; I can’t imagine how beautiful an entire parkful of greenery is going to be. I highly doubt either of us is outdoorsy enough to try making a campfire for s’mores, but baby steps, people! Just getting out there is sure to be a learning experience.

Dare I ask you for some camping horror stories? Hopeful, encouraging tales would be welcome as well!

1) Keep the vacation inspiration alive. After returning from a long weekend away, I’m recharged and relaxed, with a fresh outlook on the regular day-to-day. It’s inevitable that old frustrations will soon creep into this post-vacation zen, but I’m trying to fend them off for as long as possible. I left California with a better sense of what’s important to me: quality time with close friends and family, exploring new places, and taking time for creativity and personal reflection. Yes, I came back to an apartment whose carpets need to commune with a vaccum, and to a checkbook in dire need of balancing, but I hope I can keep administrative needs secondary to the needs of my soul, you know?

2) Celebrate Record Store Day. April 17th, people — mark your calendars! I asked for a record player a few Christmases ago, and it’s been a gift that keeps on giving. Music on vinyl sounds richer and deeper, and listening to the turntable is an experience; my friends love sifting through my record collection when they’re over. That collection was built from my parents’, which is one of the other perks of owning a record player: You can mine your parents’ old records for hidden jewels! There’s probably a ready-made record store in your attic that’s waiting to be plundered. If not, head over to a real record store this Saturday, since they’re offering lots of special releases (details here) for the “holiday.”

3) See more of my loved ones. I may have just spent time with my brother, a very dear college friend, and some cousins to boot, but apparently it’s just that kind of week. My dad’s in town tomorrow, and a lovely friend from high school will be in for the weekend. I couldn’t be more blessed!

Do you have any tricks for holding onto that vacation mindset, even when work beckons? And if you have any album recommendations for my Record Store Day purchase, please — send them my way!

1) Get prepped for some California sun. Los Angeles, here I come! I’m taking a four-day weekend to visit some of my favorite people in the world, who all conveniently live in the sunniest, most laid-back state imaginable. I’ll bring back photos and stories, but until then all I’ve got is anticipation for what awaits: will there be a family-reunion barbecue? Will we catch a flick at this weekend’s film noir festival? Will I tour USC with my brother? Will we cap everything off with drinks on the beach?

Thursday night can’t come fast enough.

2) Get serious about training…fast. Six months until my hilly half-marathon is more than enough time to train adequately. Knowing this, I’ve been running oh-so-leisurely, and simply characterized my laid-back schedule as “building base mileage.” But since my dad convinced me to do the Waterfall Glen Xtreme 10-Miler in late July (yay for father-daughter races!), I’ve realized that I am woefully unprepared for such an imminent long run. Sure, the crushed limestone path will be easy on my legs, but gasping for breath would mitigate that benefit. I’m studying this Runner’s World article for its insights, tips, and warnings, and programming its training plan into my calendar. (I’ve also signed up for the Army Ten-Miler in late October, for which I have far more time to prepare.)

Honestly, I can’t say I have any other plans this week. Looking forward to a much-needed vacation is occupying a lot of my time! When I haven’t been daydreaming about the sun, though, I must admit I’ve been devouring new issues of my favorite magazines. When you’re lazily drifting through a week, what’s your favorite thing to do?

1) Book a plane ticket to Croatia. You heard that right — our plans to visit the Balkans are well underway! Having gone vacation-less for almost two full years, I was intent on saving up for a really excellent getaway, and Split, Croatia has won this year’s title of “dream destination.” Early September, warm Mediterranean breeze, island-hopping, day trips to Dubrovnik and Bosnia…I only wish I were buying one-way airfare away from the daily grind. Alas! It’ll have to be a round-trip ticket, but that’ll make the week even more precious.

2) Bulk up my lunches. I can finally run without gasping for air, and I find myself looking forward to my jog all day. But my anemic lunch and snacks leave me ravenous for a big dinner, which doesn’t precipitate comfortable exercise immediately after work or supper. So I’m experimenting with leftovers for lunch instead of sandwiches, hoping that a happy belly at work + nice light dinners = prime running fuel. (More on those delicious leftovers later this week!)

3) Go all-out for Easter. This is the second year that I’ll be visiting Ted’s family for the holiday, and they sure know how to celebrate. On the agenda: an ultra-competitive egg hunt, an equally competitive egg-decorating contest, incredible Easter baskets, and two types of traditional Easter breads (Italian and Portuguese). Plus, I’ll get to see The Ten Commandments (their Easter must-see) in its entirety. I love their holiday spirit; you never get too old for tradition!

Are any of you dreamily looking forward to a trip? And what holiday traditions does your family hold dear?

1) Buy a swimsuit. I expected horror-movie music to begin playing when I wrote this one down, but although society says I should find this task daunting, I just…don’t. I left my body image issues back in college (frankly, they require more stress, thought, and time than I care to commit) — and besides, J. Crew’s colorful suits just make me happy. With the aid of a gift card and their free-shipping-on-swimwear offer this week, there’s no reason not to jump in. Oh, right, and I’m going to California in a few weeks.

2) Iron things out. In my personal equation, near-vegetarian + female + athlete = iron-deficiency breeding ground. My levels have always been low, but I stopped taking supplements when I stopped running. Now that I’m hitting the pavement again, I can feel myself getting sleepy mid-jog; time to start downing the recommended daily value again, with a bit of Vitamin C for better absorption.

3) Get a haircut. I vowed to take better care of myself in 2010. Teeth cleaning? Done. More regular exercise? Check. Really cute haircut? That’s coming on Saturday — and I’m taking style ideas under consideration. Any ideas for fine, wavy hair? I like the side-swept bangs that my girl Christina Hendricks sports here, but I could be convinced to try more serious bangs, like the ones Ali Larter shows off here.

4) Throw in a wild card. I’m clearing out my Sunday to make room for some spontaneity. No advanced planning or furrowed brows involved — just spur-of-the-moment decisions based on inclination!

What are you planning, or just making room for, this week?

1) Celebrate birthdays! The Pisces children are clearly having their week, with my dad, Ted, and Ted’s sister all celebrating birthdays. Ted and I procured some lovely gifts in Annapolis for our relatives (I’m keeping my lips sealed until they’re opened), but Ted has no idea what’s coming his way, gift-wise! I will be baking him a chocolate cake, though, and his chosen celebration will include Thai food and laser tag, natch.

2) Cross-train (ouch). With spring having sprung, running outside feels fantastic. But I’ve got to get strength-training into my routine before I get comfortable just jogging! This Wednesday, in between days of outdoor miles, I vow to be gym-bound. You know, to build those muscles and such.

3) More celebration! It’s St. Patrick’s Day, silly. I’m most commonly mistaken for an Irish lass, and I’m born to wear green, so of course I’m excited for Wednesday. This is also a great excuse to bake some soda bread myself, since the delicious version Ted’s mom brought us was snarfed down all too quickly. Check back soon for more details from the baking front!

Also, there shall be experimentation with my new Turkish cookbook (thanks, Mom!), and I’ll be out for a pizza lunch with coworkers on Friday. In seventy-degree weather. Is there anything similarly lovely waiting for you this week?

1) Build up that mileage base! I am officially registered for the half, and that probably means I should prepare myself to to train for a 13.1-mile race. I’ve already decided on a training program, but before I even think of doing speedwork or long runs, I need to get to the point where a 5-mile run feels fun and comfortable. I’m loading my iPod with pump-up music, which should make this effort more enjoyable. Anyone have suggestions for good, punchy running tunes?

2) Get better at quick weeknight meals. Some strategic planning this week will prevent Monday through Friday from becoming a food desert. I’m hungry after work and never feel like cooking anything involved, so I’ve chosen some quick, easy dishes whose ingredients can be prepped ahead of time. On the menu: easy fried rice, firecracker salmon marinated during the workday, and Madhur Jaffrey’s Nigerian kidney bean stew.

3) Cheer for my friend at her first race! D.C.’s big 8K race, in honor of St. Patrick, is set for this Sunday. My friend Emily will be running it, and it’s her first race; I’ll be there yelling, and will bring my camera to capture everyone’s ridiculous costumes!

4) Start thinking about my taxes… Err. Taxes. I don’t know how to do these. It’s the first year I’ve made enough money to be obliged to file, so I foresee some frantic Googling in my future, as well as panicked calls to my parents and the inevitable download of TurboTax. Let’s be honest, fellow procrastinators: it ain’t likely to be done this weekend. But I’m valiantly putting it on my list, and if nothing else, it’s going to happen before April 15th!

I hope your week is off to a great start! Anything special on your to-do list?