It's always something!

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
It's always something!
6
Tue, 01-24-2006 - 4:20pm

Just when I am getting excited about my upcoming bonus and tax return, and looking forward to paying off some debt, something else comes along. Now my cat needs an operation that is going to cost me $1,365. So I'm going to have to get my wonderful boyfriend to once again, charge something for me until I can pay him back. I already owe him $685 for car repairs and now this. That will eat up my whole bonus and a good chunk if not all of my tax return, and I won't have even paid off one cent of my debts. I am so overwhelmed and discouraged. Things look so impossible right now.

Cheryl

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Tue, 01-24-2006 - 6:55pm

I know you're discouraged, and as I don't know much about your situation, I know you feel as if things are impossible. However, they are not.

Ok, so take your bonus, your tax refund and pay for your cat's operation and your car repairs. Then start with a clean slate. Remember that things will ALWAYS come up. That's way financial professionals always encourage an "emergency fund". Believe me, I'm not where I should be when it comes to our emergency fund, but we're on our way.

Have you considered having a garage or yard sale to scrape together some extra cash? That's what we plan to do this spring. I'm also a big believer in rolling my spare change. I never use it... I save it in a big bowl and once a week I count it all out and roll as much as I can. So far for January, I'm up to $46.

Forgive yourself for your mistakes and let go of the things you can't control. Life is full of stress. You just have to keep on keeping on!

good luck!

xo,
Rebecca

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 8:14am
I wouldn't have anything to sell at a garage sale. We pretty much have just the bare essentials, and anything I could sell I've already done so on ebay. Add to the stress the fact that I've put in a complaint to the city because my landlord will not provide heat, and I come home everyday to an apartment that is between 50 and 55 degrees.
Having an emergency fund is something that sounds great, but every time I try to save, I end up having another unexpected expense.


Edited 1/25/2006 8:15 am ET by cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2005
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 10:24am

Man do I know the feeling of not being able to get an emergency fund built up. I finally have a small one built and wham something will go wrong. The trick is to keep socking it away. It's terribly discouraging though when things keep coming up though isn't it? If you don't have anything that you can sell is there a way you can pick up a part time job or something to help out your expenses?

Also I would think that you can get out of your lease if your landlord isn't providing the basics of life which includes heat. You may want to check with your state. That way you could maybe find a room mate and start spliting the cost of living. Not an ideal situation but it could help out in the long run.

Sorry that you're not having a better time of it right now, but it will get better at least that's what I always tell myself.

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
Wed, 01-25-2006 - 11:31am

Well I can't pick up a part time job, but the good news is that I can make overtime at my job and my boss lets me work as much as I want (not that I WANT to!). I get time and a half for overtime (comes to $30/hr), way more than I could make at any part time job.

I already have a roommate, my boyfriend! I'm just afraid if I break the lease because of the heating, I don't have any money saved up for a security deposit on another place. Yea, he will be required to give me my deposit back, but that might take a while. I'm building up a file against him because I plan to take him to court after I move out and try to get some of my money back! Did I mention my gas bill is $250 and I don't even have adequate heat!?? So frustrating!!! Most renters don't even pay their own gas bill, and the most any of my friends pay is around $30 a month for an apt. I asked some homeowners at work, my boss owns a 3 bedroom house and he only paid $140 last month. It's absurd!!
Well I'm swamped at work anyway, so working overtime looks like the way to go right now!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2002
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 10:17am

I just want to let you know I can empathize. My heating bill has been about $260 a month (gas only!) and I have a small one bedroom. The person that lives below me pays $70 a month. The landlords know there is a problem but can't seem to fix it. I finally said forget it and I am moving in with a roommate next month. I am scared - I don't really know this girl - but it will save me about $400/month but coming up with another deposit before I get my other one back....

Any my first bonus ever - I was so excited. Then I needed new tires - $580. I owed my mom money and my dad lost his job so I gave her $800. My dog needed a vet visit and although it was much less than cat's ($600) we found out he has 2 months to live. (I hope your cat is ok. A dog prior to this one needed $1800 in surgeries and did very well)I was so excited to get my bonus because I said "I am going to save my dog!" and the same day I found out he is in bad shape and nothing can save him...

In the end, I am just happy I had the bonus otherwise I would be in an even deeper hole. 3k gone aside from the $200 I put in savings but at least the vet is paid up and my vehicle is safe. Amazing how that just went so fast...and I still need to move out because i can't afford my heat...i was keeping mine at 55 and freezing at night.

Avatar for cherfer
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2003
Wed, 02-01-2006 - 9:37pm
Thanks for letting me know there's always someone else out there who can relate. I guess in the end I am glad I could afford the surgery that my cat really needed. I guess the new work clothes that I've been needing for 4 years can wait a little bit longer...