7
Jan
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 11 Comments
My dislike for the credit industry is matched now only by my apathy for their business methodology
Last night I realized that with a $48k debt snowball, like a hostage situation, Stockholm syndrome eventually sets in.
We have become comfortable with our method, level of focus and debt-reduction. Yes, we have three debts left, but we are making steady progress and have a plan. Mechanically, the system has found a groove: income is earned, payments are made, debt goes down.
In a way, when you have gotten used to living on a budget and spending less than you make, you can buckle down, do the work and forget the “whys” of getting away from credit card companies.
Then they remind you. …continue reading
31
Dec
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 8 Comments
What were you like 10 years ago?
Isn’t it interesting how we attach significance to some numbers? Turning 40 is over the hill. $99 is a much better deal than $100. 5 miles over the speed limit is okay.
As this decade ends today I find myself weighed down with the importance of looking back ten years at where I was, what I did and, maybe more importantly, what I didn’t know.
Certainly nothing makes this ten year span more important than any other, but what the heck. …continue reading
4
Dec
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 12 Comments
There is always tomorrow. Another month. Another budget. Another chance to get it right.
Oh. My. God.
After ten months (TEN MONTHS!) of financial responsibility… no, financial PERFECTION, today I screwed the pooch.
Actually, I screwed the pooch more than a week ago when I ignored our budget and decided things were going even better than I thought they were… and gave away the farm. …continue reading
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
6
Nov
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 7 Comments
I remind myself to speak clearly and honestly without hidden agendas both at work and home.
I cringed as my phone rang at work. It was a call from a colleague, Larry, who has an amazing ability to suck time and air from any situation.
“Hey, what computer is 172.168.00.55? Is it important?”
That’s the LDAP, our directory server, the most important computer in the place. Why do you ask?
“Someone left a page up in here and it’s down.”
Someone left a page up in here and it’s down. I don’t understand what that means.
“I’m in the office and there’s a screen up with a bunch of of computers on it and they all have green dots except that one, it has a red dot and says ‘not connected’.”
I’m like, you’re freaking kidding me, right. …continue reading
28
Oct
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 10 Comments
How can anyone think that this is good business?
Have you ever watched a person or a business do something self-destructive and just stood there in disbelief shaking your head?
Two letters came this week from Wells Fargo, the holder of our first and third largest debts. One contained the annual new credit card. Yay! A new card to destroy. Got to come up with a creative way to do that.
The second letter was the mind-boggling one. Apparently they have caught on and we aren’t fooling them anymore. …continue reading
