24
Nov
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 10 Comments
Never has it been so clear to me that personal finance is really personal.
I have tried to find the tone for this post for a week now, but have to admit it is hard to land squarely on the side of happiness or condemnation.
You know how some things just make you cock your head to the side in a gooey blend of disbelief, empathy and mild-confusion? Not in a superior manner — instead, you want to be happy for someone, but can’t see around the enormous elephant in the room. …continue reading
19
Nov
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 5 Comments
This week: milestone #7 on The Road to Being a Grownup.
You know how every so often you back out of the dream world you live in and face facts? Yeah, me neither, but still… Don’t get me wrong, dream worlds can be hilarious.
For example, last night. I dreamed I pulled out my Google Credit Card and… actually… used it.
Like I said, hilarious. …continue reading
4
Nov
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 13 Comments
[T]oday I offer my list of things changed since that time of financial ruin…
It was one year ago last week that I was laid off and our financial tail-spin began in earnest. We came financially unraveled so quickly my memories of last November are more vague feelings of swimming in a fog than actual images.
One year ago I was tearing down Halloween, pretending to care about Christmas and sinking into a sense of hopelessness about money and finances.
We had no emergency fund, did not budget our income, had nearly $50,000 of unsecured debt, owed $30k more on our house than it was worth, had a small fortune in medical bills from The Wife’s fight with 400 pounds of falling building materials, and were in a leased 2008 Mazda CX-7. …continue reading
29
Oct
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 13 Comments
Most importantly, this October The Wife and I came together to agree on all spending
Do you have one of those months each year? A month that simply outsmarts you? I do.
For some reason our lives gravitated to October as though it were the only month of the year. Financially October is my speed bump and I am growing to accept it.
There was a time in my youth when October was just the month that had Halloween. It was the month that began the holiday season. The month when the air got crisp and chilly. The best time of the year. …continue reading
11
Oct
Posted by The Wife in Climbing Out. 5 Comments
I need to remember that we are in this together; that I am not doing this on my own.
I need to remember to talk to my husband. He knows stuff. He is super focused on getting us out of debt and listens to Dave Ramsey almost every day. Yet old habits die hard. I try so hard to be strong and independent and handle things on my own. I need to remember that part of this process of getting debt-free is the new communication that it has brought to our marriage. I need to remember that even the little things are worth sharing because Husband may have some insight that I don’t have that could save us a couple bucks. And right now, that means something.
Here’s the story. …continue reading
9
Oct
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 9 Comments
No dinner tastes as good as being debt-free will feel.
Some days getting out of debt is exciting! Some days it’s mundane. And some days it sucks.
Prepare for a rant.
I’m warning you right now that this post is going to hurt you as much as it hurts me. In fact, it is my goal to share my pain here.
Okay, to be honest, I think I just want to completely transfer my pain to you so that I can move on. …continue reading
