Cicero and the budget

My friend Nat sent me this:

What have we learned in 2,064 years since the Roman Empire?

So here it is. What have we learned in 2,064 years?

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled,
public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be
tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should
be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to
work, instead of living on public assistance."

- Cicero - 55 BC

shedding $20,000 in debt

I am paying off my car today. It's exactly one year earlier than when it comes due, though I had still planned to pay it off sooner than this. But it reminded me of where we were a little over a year ago. Brian had $11,000 in credit card debt and we had three car loans with at least $9,000 across them. Now all we'll have is $8,200 in school loans and our two mortgages. The next thing to attack is the interest only balloon mortgage for 15% percent of our home's price. I pay a lot extra on it every month but have still only paid down $4,000 in principle in two years. The interest rate is 8.25% so we'd like to refinance if it becomes possible. Brian is talking about buying a truck and financing it, I am really hesitant to take on another loan. The book Total Money Makeover by David Ramsey was what inspired me to really get serious about paying things down.