This Month will be TOUGH!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
This Month will be TOUGH!
4
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 10:11am

This month is going to be really tough for us. My dog's surgery bill--post dated checks are starting to come through, and we are really broke this month. I am hopefully looking at a 4K commission from a closing coming through at the end of the month. That will be my only saving grace. But I can't count on that until the check is in my hand.

In the meantime we are pennyless. We have food, and gas until next week.. but my savings is down to $25 (mostly because of Bob.. my dog). I am just bummed about it. I hope nothing really costly comes up within the next week or two!

I just can't let all these money issues get me down! Good news is that May will be my last payment on my credit cards , then they will be paid off.. $205/ more a month!.. so I guess I have something to look forward to.. but for now.. we are in the poor house!!!!

I just wish that I wasn't the bread winner of the family! Are any of you out there like that? My DH works hard, but he makes half of what I make (I am a full time paralegal,and part time real estate agent.) I just feel like I contribute so much to our family, and have to watch every dime--I don't feel like he cares.. or worries as much as me!

Well, I guess I just needed to vent.. 'cause I feel better now!

I hope everyone has a good debt-savy week!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2006
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 10:20am

I'am right there with you in the breadwinner department! I make twice what the DH makes and take care of all the bills. I don't really mind - after seeing what can happen when you are too dependant on a husband for financial support after my parents were divorced, I made up my mind then and there to always know what's going on and be able to support my self no matter what. That said, once in a while the DH will come up with little gems, like - I don't want to buy a house, it'll just need yard work and improvements all the time, we don't need the investment" and I feel like kicking him (just for a second!)

Hang in there this month. It sounds like you're so close to paying off your cards, it'd be awful to have to use them again but you gotta eat, so maybe give yourself a small grocery and gas allowance each week that you can pay off with your commission? That way it won't be so stressful at least. And hey- Vons is having dollar days so you could eat pasta, sandwiches, and salad really cheaply!

Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 11:00am

Hello,


I understand what it's like to be the breadwinner in the house. While I'm no longer the only one with an income, for 5 months we lived on my income alone.


My husband worked some temporary jobs and did what he could to spend as little as possible. His entire entertainment budget was $15 per month for an online game he likes to play. He was aware of the money issue, but didn't really understand how much our debt affected how much was left at the end of the month.


Now that he's working again, I'm sending every penny to snowball. Our checking account balance is very low right now ($40) because I've already taken out the grocery money for the next two weeks. I paid every bill, sent the snowball payments on payday, and generally spent all of our income on each area of the budget.


If you find that you've squeezed a little too hard on the budget and don't have enough left over for food, I would suggest pulling a *very* small amount from the emergency fund until your next paycheck.


I took $10 out of the efund last month

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-1999
Mon, 04-03-2006 - 11:31am

Yeah, I too hear you on the breadwinner part. I've been at my job for 21 years, sure I'd like a change but who can turn away the $, plus free family medical & dental ins. & a pension in Northern WYO! My DH herniated disks in his back working as a lineman, for quite a few years we made way over $100,000, but that all changed when he had back surgery, went back to work & re-herniated the disk that he'd had surgery on. He now does a contract haul every day for a few hours, actually makes good $ doing it. But we need to get out of debt! When DH has back trouble now, I have to pick up the contract haul & work 8 hours on top of it, until he can get back to it. I do love having him home instead of on the road doing construction.

We were just so stupid with our $ for all of those years! We now have $ in savings, cushion in our checking acct & are 13 months away from being debt free except our mortgage.

I think if DH could he'd rack up consumer loans, we have great credit & seem to always be able to make the payments. I'm sure he'd at the very least buy a new boat. But I think we need to pay off our debt & then save up & pay cash from now on.

Plus, I like to take a vacation now & again & not just spend everything on payments! Well...those are some of my thoughts, I'm in a 23 year marriage & still seem to be growing & learning!!

Good Luck to Everyone on their journeys! Great Topic!
cindylee

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2003
Tue, 04-04-2006 - 11:12am

I am the primary breadwinner in our family as well, and I will admit I get very stressed by this at times. My Dh works as a construction electrician, and his income is totally feast or famine. He doesn't seem to worry or be as affected by our debt, and he struggles to understand why when he is working we don't have money to "play".

I hope that things continue to get better, I know for me, having light at the end of the tunnel always helps!!