Anyone else barely getting by financially?

Alligator · December 2009

DH and I are soooo stressed lately. We have always been so good with money. My Dad built us this house at cost. We were approved for the loan and I was naive and never thought the mortgage would be too much to handle. We both are so lucky to have stable jobs (teachers), but our salaries have been frozen for 2 years and our insurance costs have gone up so much. We've also added daycare to the bill. We don't have a dollar left over each month and don't want to rely on our credit cards. We just filled out the paperwork for a loan modification and are PRAYING they help us out. I want to take a vacation (reasonable, of course) and I want to live my life.

I just wish I could start over b/c I would downsize by so much.

I know many are in worse situations, but it just sucks to have no options but to walk away (we aren't doing that...YET). In a normal situation, we would sell the house and move on, but of couse, we aren't in a normal situation.

I just want to LIVE my life. I feel like all we do is work for nothing and still end up behind each month.

I'm really just venting.

Tell me I'm not alone.

teg · December 2009

do you have a budget? if you post your monthly expenses/income over on the Money Matters board, you will likely get some great advice on how to improve your money situation. gl.

lizzie53084 · December 2009

You are certainly not alone.

I feel all your pain

Alligator · December 2009

teg:

do you have a budget? if you post your monthly expenses/income over on the Money Matters board, you will likely get some great advice on how to improve your money situation. gl.

Honestly, it's all going to the mortgage. =( We've cut all luxuries and spend very little anymore.

BetchySprout · December 2009

Alligator:
teg:

do you have a budget? if you post your monthly expenses/income over on the Money Matters board, you will likely get some great advice on how to improve your money situation. gl.

Honestly, it's all going to the mortgage. =( We've cut all luxuries and spend very little anymore.

Still go to MM..they are a wealth of information even in your situation.

libby73 · December 2009

I hear you! DH also works for the school system and he currently has $1000 coming out of his pay check each month between the cost of insurance and the mandatory amount he has to contribute to his 403b retirement. We have no hopes of the salaries increasing here either for atleast 2 more years.

Mrs.Saxy · December 2009

we cut out our home phone and got Magic Jack for $20 a year. Yeah, it's hard paycheck to paycheck.

jays_bride · December 2009

We're doing ok, but my student loans come due in January. They currently want $550/mo. We already pay $490/mo for DH's...there is just no way. I'm going to try and work it out with them, but am prepared to go into default to get a lower payment if I have to. $1000+/mo in student loans? Just not possible.

MegGary · December 2009

Yes I feel for you. I'd like to LIVE as well. I"d like to be able to breath each month but just keep falling behind. It's very upsetting & I see no end in sight for it.

gbtc01 · December 2009

Alligator:
teg:

do you have a budget? if you post your monthly expenses/income over on the Money Matters board, you will likely get some great advice on how to improve your money situation. gl.

Honestly, it's all going to the mortgage. =( We've cut all luxuries and spend very little anymore.

We are there exactly also. When we first bought the house the bank miscalculated our taxes and we have had to pay the back escrow back to them this last year. We are finally done and I never knew $80 could feel so good.

We have taken in a roommate and while not ideal it works and helps cover daycare.

We are praying that something changes for DH soon jobwise so we can breath a bit more. We barely make enough for our expenses either.

Do what you can and hope for the best.

GL

Califlorida · December 2009

you're not alone. my little sister is going through a lot of what you described. they bought a huge house (she does have three kids) but now they worry it's too much. they're buried under cc debt. my H is a former financial planner and tried to come up with a plan for them, but at the end of the day his only advice was they have to find a way to bring in more money. easier said then done and not easy advice for him to give. hang in there...

Mrs.Goldenblatt · December 2009

You are not alone. We are in a nasty place financially because DH was unemployed for a year. We made a budget and are still tweaking things here and there. We put very little into savings right now because we are paying down debt. 2009 was a craptastic year. Here's to hoping 2010 is better!

t-kam · December 2009

I don't know anyone that is doing okay. Every person I know is struggling - big time. We are in REALLY bad shape. You are not alone.

I DO NOT suggest spending time on the MM board - you will just feel like you are the only one with money troubles. Anytime I read the posts on that board I just feel like a loser and feel like eveyone else in the world has got it all together.

LukeAndAmanda · December 2009

Since we sold our car, we're not drowning. But we have no car. Our problem is we went from getting paid once a week to biweekly, so we're still having a hard time adjusting. I'm almost positive my BFF is moving out in March, so we'll have to budget to start paying the rent and electric. But my tax return is supposed to be huge so 1,000 of it is going into an emergency savings incase we get behind, $500 is going towards some things I've been needing for a while, and the rest is paying off debt. DH's return will go straight to paying his back child support.

carolinaem · December 2009

Yup. We have most every penny planned. At this point we still put money away every month for dd/ds's college fund/savings account but $ into savings for us just isn't happening. I started to tutor 3 kids each week and we are using that money now to pay for almost all of Christmas. After Christmas it will pay for dd's 2nd birthday festivities and then we will save it all for a family vacation. Without me tutoring we would be struggling to do anything but pay the bills.

Bre92504 · December 2009

We live paycheck to paycheck and have no savings. We finally are getting ahead though. It took us years. DH was layed off twice and our heating expenses last year killed us. After struggling forever Im starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. That doesn't mean we're doing great just that I don't feel like we're drowning and might be able to save a little. Hang in there. I looked up every money savings website there was. A budget really did help us. We put the debit cards up and started taking cash out b/c it was easier to keep track of. I scour the Sunday ads and clip coupons. We did things like get on a budget plan with our propane company which really helped. Just keep trying and good luck.

BetchySprout · December 2009

t-kam:
I don't know anyone that is doing okay. Every person I know is struggling - big time. We are in REALLY bad shape. You are not alone.

I DO NOT suggest spending time on the MM board - you will just feel like you are the only one with money troubles. Anytime I read the posts on that board I just feel like a loser and feel like eveyone else in the world has got it all together.

Yea most of the people who "have it together" were in the same place at one point. Spend enough time on that board and you will see it.

My point? Don't ask for money advice from broke people.

nooniesgal · December 2009

We got rid of both of our cars with monthly payments and but a single family car with cash! And we are downsizing our house (closing on Monday!). I got so sick of giving everyone else my money and having my husband lose sleep at night. I could care less about what the neighbors next door think or do...I am convinced they are also broke. We are in Dave Ramsey's financial peace university course. It is amazing and I feel like we have a light at the end of the tunnel.

I can't wait to be able to close my eyes at night and sleep...without worry or fear or doubt. That is my Christmas wish for everyone this year.

userdeleted · December 2009

Pattypoundcake:
t-kam:
I don't know anyone that is doing okay. Every person I know is struggling - big time. We are in REALLY bad shape. You are not alone.

I DO NOT suggest spending time on the MM board - you will just feel like you are the only one with money troubles. Anytime I read the posts on that board I just feel like a loser and feel like eveyone else in the world has got it all together.
Yea most of the people who "have it together" were in the same place at one point. Spend enough time on that board and you will see it.
My point? Don't ask for money advice from broke people.

I agree with PPC. I used to lurk on the MM board a lot, and I learned so much there.

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