20k in flakes in 2009 for us!

Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
20k in flakes in 2009 for us!
29
Thu, 11-12-2009 - 2:44pm

It's not like we're rolling in it - to the contrary, we're just facing one crisis after another - but today we topped $20,000 in flakes just for 2009! We're already short about 2k a month, so we made up that 2k and averaged another 2k each month to make it. That's 4k a month on top of regular pay! We had very little help from our tax return b/c that went for repairs and stuff.

If anyone doesn't "know" me, here's the condensed version. We're been flaking like crazy to get our bills down so we DON'T need extra each month. We don't have CCs so we literally have to pay off a whole bill to get any relief in the monthly obligations, and we're working our tails off to do it. So that's why we're still short each month and having so much trouble in spite of the impressive flaking.

In spite of the whole sordid mess and the fact that it's still not easy, I'm PROUD of that number. Or perhaps BECAUSE it's such a struggle. We had to fight for every penny.

I started the year with the goal to flake 6k. I'll have another $400 in flakes this year, but otherwise all that "extra" (LOL) is going for a cash Christmas. Man, it hasn't been easy, but I bet we shaved years off the struggle by digging in like we have. It feels GOOD!

Photobucket


FIVE KIDS.

Sarah

Pages

Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 12:41pm
Thank you, Becky. This site and the flaking site have really made it happen. I've been on the board for a few years, but we dug in to make it happen this year. Once we decided when and where to build the house, I turned into a pit bull, LOL. (Note to self: goals are FABULOUS - even when they seem impossible!)

Photobucket


FIVE KIDS.

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 3:21pm

Excellent job!




Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 3:33pm

Thanks, Marie. You've kicked some serious tail yourself, girlfriend! Sometimes it seems like the harder you have to fight for it, the easier it is. There's no waffling on that commitment - when it's sink or swim, it's easy to fight to swim. When it's lay on the sofa or swim, it's WAY too easy to lay on the sofa. Following that logic (if you want to call it that, LOL), I do believe that the wall we were up against is what made us do it. "Lucky" for us, that darn wall is still there!

You're a machine! I fully believe you'll be fine even with the college tuition. Here's to 2010!

Photobucket


FIVE KIDS.

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 9:00pm
Thanks for posting. You are an inspiration. I too read your blog. It's the success stories, big and small on this board that keep me focused. This board has helped to realize that a whole bunch of smart little financial decisions add up to bigger and better things.





Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-13-2009 - 10:01pm
Thank you. =c) And I totally agree. I feel like one small success after another (in a life dotted with setbacks, LOL) but this board keeps me focused and I love it! Thanks for reading along with me. =c)

Photobucket


FIVE KIDS.

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2009
Sat, 11-14-2009 - 3:13pm

Sarah darling...


You have not snowflaked at all...I totally disagree...


You have friggin created a....


GIGANTIC BLIZZARD........


Congratulatiions on all your hard work...


Keep up with that awesome blog...


Duke


Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 11-14-2009 - 5:22pm
Why, thank you! Snow in the south - how awesome is that? LOL. I'm trying to climb back on the blogging horse. I'm getting there. Once I knock Christmas out (fa la la la la, LOL) I'm going back to kick butt status. A house with more than one bathroom for a family of EIGHT is all the motivation I'll ever need, LOL.

Photobucket


FIVE KIDS.

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2009
Tue, 11-17-2009 - 7:43am
Awe that makes sense!! thanks for the explanation!! I am flaking away as much as I can!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2008
Tue, 11-17-2009 - 10:21am
Very, very well started.

Norma


"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble"- Plautus


Pages