Anyone else struggling with finances?

Re: Anyone else struggling with finances?

• heather_09_15_07 member

  September 2009

  We are not struggling, but I admit I have my moments where I get panicky and wonder how the heck we're going to afford everything. Even though I know we CAN afford everything. kwim?

  2 girls and a dog

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• mrs_sherod member

  September 2009

  We are doing okay, but I get your pov.  I have to tell DH no quite often.  He doesn't like it, but he also doesn't want to be homeless, so I tell him to zip it!

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• newmom2londyn

  September 2009

  omg! i could have written this post myself! this is exactly what we are going through. this is our first child, we both have solid jobs, and just bought our first house in Jan. Now we feel like we are so poor all the time because we literally live paycheck to paycheck and cannot survive if we were to miss one paycheck. we are 15k in cc debt, no savings, and are barely scraping by. its really ridiculous. something always comes up that causes us to go into the red. we just had to pay to get our heat fixed, property taxes, and now our fridge just broke. its always something. im scared cause i only get 70% of my pay while on maternity leave and dont really know how we will manage for 12 weeks with that. i am so there with ya. totally understand how u feel.

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• jennaglardon

  September 2009

  Trust me. You are not alone! I feel the same way. I have worked for the same company for 6 years and have been living comfortably (for myself) now with a LO on the way, Im worried that I wont have enough . .

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• Lizzerd13 member

  September 2009

  These past couple of weeks have been like that.  We just ordered our furniture, painted the nursery and are putting in hardwood floors.  I feel like it was so much in a short time that I am kicking myself for not starting on the nursery sooner.  Also, there are some items on our registry that we MUST have by the time baby arrives so if no one buys us those few items, we are going to be doing that ourselves as well.  I know that we will be fine, it's just hard seeing so much go out and not nearly as much come in...

  

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• nmr79

  September 2009

    DH and I are both in solid jobs, but we still freak out about money too.  It's hard when you don't know what to expect, but I've also heard that if you wait until you can 'afford' a child, then you never will have one!  I'm sorry you have to be the money cop with DH though.  Fortunately, DH is more cautious with money than I am. 

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• mistywhite400 member

  September 2009

  We aren't struggling yet, but we are definitley on a budget!   Daycare is f-ing rediculous!  So that scares the crap out of me! I am just telling myself it will all work out!   I wish I had a talent/craftiness or something that I could do on the side to bring in a little more money! 

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• Twirler55

  September 2009

  My husband was laid off in Feb and still no luck!  I am totally freaking out.  I never thought it would be this long!  I feel so much pressure to go right back to work after LO comes.  I'm totally stressed!!!

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• areschke7 member

  September 2009

  We aren't struggling, but we are definitely being extremely careful about what we spend.  We clip coupons, buy things only when they are on sale, buy from Craigslist when we can, etc.  We also went through our entire condo and cleaned out things we really don't ever use and sold them all on CL and believe it or not, it paid for all of our baby furniture.  Just by cutting corners where we can, it's that much more $$ that we can put in savings for any of those random things that can come up unexpectedly. 

  Have a talk with DH and make sure you guys are on the same page as far as your expectations of how your money is spent so he can understand where you guys are financially...it might help make him stop asking for things that he really might not need at the moment.

   There's my 2 cents! GL! 

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• missmags3

  September 2009

  ohhh honey i hear ya! i havent been employed since MAY and i have $1.00 in my checking account woop woop! FI has a great job, with more job security than one would ever need - but still its nervewracking. we go 2 months with ZERO income, then get a check for like $50,000, then go a couple more months with ZERO income, then another check... so on and so forth. its tough to figure out how to spend money and budget appropriately when you never know when the next check is coming. our income depends solely on how hungry some ugly fish are.... its ridiculous.

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• stephrodjoos

  September 2009

  it seems like the more they say were getting out the recesion the worse our finances become.I am just wonering if everything I have been buying for this baby is now catching up with me.

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• blueyez09

  September 2009

  I would say stuggling, but stressing YES! I am an Army Contractor and my position is becoming a government position in FY2010 (Oct), the want me to just switch to government but I still have to go through the application process. With where I am (DC Metro Area) we have ALOT of base realignment people that automatically get bumped to the top of lists, not to mention anyone with prior Military or is a current government employee... so I'm more or less just stressing about coming up on the list... if I do then the job is mine no problem....BUT then come that fact that federal government has NO maternity leave or STD...nothing, you are expected to use your annual leave, we'll i'll have NONE! so that's my stress right now... all I can do is wait and see what happens, if I don't come up on the list then they are planning on keeping my position contractor...but who knows...

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• TTCinOC

  September 2009

  We definitely aren't where I would like us to be, I lost my job this year and couldn't find another one before I was visibly pregnant and DH's business isn't doing well. I also handle the finances and feel horrible when DH asks if he can go buy something and I have to say no. Our savings has gotten much smaller with making the big purchases for baby and like you it seems that every week there's some new disaster where we are having to shell out hundreds instead of putting it into savings. I'm completely stressed about the holidays and the arrival of LO.

  It's been hard making the transition from living very comfortably only a year ago to pretty much living paycheck to paycheck, we've eliminated all amenities, clip coupons, and have completely changed our way of living to ensure a roof over our head and food on the table. This has also taught us a huge lesson about necessity and bad choices we've made like my car lease for $500 a month, when it's up in a few months we'll be turning it in and purchasing something much more affordable.
  

  Good luck to you and DH, have faith it will all work out!! 
  

  

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• thetwistedwillow member

  September 2009

  natfal1104:

  I feel like there is just never enough. I have a solid job, but it seems like there is always something unexpected that comes up making me feel like finances are out of control. I am scared that when the new baby comes, any minute now, we will really spiral out of control. I handle all the finances for the house and sometimes it gets overwhelming to always be the one to tell DH no when he wants something. I hate being the bad money cop.

  Are you my long-lost twin? That is how it works at our house too. I pay all the bills, do all the shopping and then DH wants to go hang out or go on a date or do something and I have to say, "Nope, sorry! We have no money." Of course then I get blamed for spending all the money. Yeah, like TP is a necessity, dude.

  Anyway, I'm right there with you. 
  

  
  

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• natfal1104

  September 2009

  Thanks all. It helps to know that during these tough times a lot of people are making difficult financial decisions or cutting back.

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