Happy New Year...not so happy
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| Tue, 01-04-2005 - 8:50am |
Hi everyone. I thought things were looking up before, but expenses keep popping up all over the place. First off, our computer totally died. It was old and we knew it was on its last leg. So because we keep track of our business on Quickbooks, we had to purchase a new computer. Not a cheap expense. Then I had to purchase two new tires for my car. Then a baby shower...it's never ending! And to top it off, DH and I purchased new living room furniture in November with that no interest-no payments until 9/05. So between that and our only credit card being racked up with all these unexpected expenses, I feel that we're screwed. DH and I have been together for four years and the only furniture we ever purchased together was a bed! His "bachelor" furniture is all scratched up and looking old, so we had to purchase something or else we'd be sitting on the floor! On another downside, we're seeing a decrease in income b/c we switched from a billing company to doing our own billing. We have so many bills it's not even funny. And to top it off, I may be pregnant with our second child! Not that that's bad, but a child is expensive too!
Jen

Sorry to hear you're bombarded with so many unexpected expenses. Have you got a workable budget going for the new year? A budget is so important and will help you out a lot. Becky also has the Snowflaking site to help tackle those bills.
Good luck!
slojuly
Wow, Jen-that's alot to deal with isn't it?
When we started paying attention to our finances, it was amazing all the odd things that started popping up. I guess I didn't notice them as much before because we'd just put them all on the credit cards.
Now, we are re-starting our emergency fund for things like that. I know that some people on the board use what is called Freedom Accounts ( I think that's right, lol) to be sure that they have the money to pay for the expenses as they come due. The author, Mary Hunt details how those are set up and used in her Complete Cheapskate books.
Is there anyway that you can return some of the furniture? I know that you probably wanted it, but if you don't pay the balance in full by the due date, the interest is retroactive to when you bought the pieces.
It's all good-really. Just remember in the middle of all this, you are NOT your debt. (Although it sure seems like it!)
Lisa