Living within my means sucks

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Living within my means sucks
22
Fri, 01-08-2010 - 7:40am

I know that I'm supposed to spend less than I make.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2009
Fri, 01-08-2010 - 6:43pm

Hi Kate...


Sorry your feeling blue...Hope your daughter feels better soon...


I agree with Karen that you would def. qualify for a car loan with no debt.


Kate what is your daughter's degree in...is it specialized or general?


When I went to University I lived in dire poverty and worked fulltime in a very demanding university

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Fri, 01-08-2010 - 7:41pm

Thanks for the honesty Duke.

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Fri, 01-08-2010 - 8:01pm

OMG, the laundry detergent hair incident!

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2009
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 8:59am

I just wanted to ask, when she is healthy again, can she not get some kind of work to help pay for expenses? My husband and I plus our 1 yr old twin boys had to move in with family because of some issues. Now we are staying so my husband has help with the babies while I am in Air Force Basic Training and are going to pay back some of the expenses. We are young, only 24 & 25, and before we got pregnant, we spent and racked up debt, now we are paying for it. We are having to almost live below our means because we have only 1 small income that goes straight to debt. So, I feel your pain. When things start to look up, might I suggest that you start to save a little money off to the side so you can go on a weekend trip or something so you can enjoy yourself and realize that you do not always have to live "within means".


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 12:01pm

Oh my, so sorry for your daughter - I had pnuemonia and it is horrible.




iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2008
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 12:10pm
I hope your daughter is feeling better.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2000
Sat, 01-09-2010 - 11:09pm

"My oldest son was born with pneumonia 14 years ago"


My DS was, too, and my DD had it at 10 days old...scary to see them so tiny with IVs in their scalps!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-10-2009
Mon, 01-11-2010 - 9:07am

I understand what you mean about how it sucks to live within your means. This weekend we were so close to buying a new "used" sectional but then our dog got really sick and we had to bring her to the vet. It really sucks because ultimately I should pay off our car loan first and then get the sectional but I HATE our couches. It is really great that you are helping out your daughter but maybe it would be in her best interest is she finds a side job to give her some income until she gets

Liz

student loan paid off 2010

Bathroom remodel loan paid off 2013

Pending Car loan to be paid by the end of 2014!!!!!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Mon, 01-11-2010 - 11:32am

LOL, what a wonderful idea to have everyone write their debt on their foreheads!

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-08-2009
Thu, 01-14-2010 - 12:25pm
I don't usually respond here, but I am a writer and thought you would all enjoy this... which randomly went out yesterday. This is for all of you with a sense of humor, irony, and a shrinking bank account:



On Monday morning while half asleep and lying in bed, I reached for the remote, as I do every morning before my daughter wakes up and begs to play “Barbies.” I gently squeezed the “ON” button and received a wakeup call that I could not push “Snooze” on. Your lifestyle is going down the toilet, well actually it said, You No Longer Have Direct TV Service. Please Call Us, Deadbeat! Okay, there was no “deadbeat,” but all of the above was implied. In a frenzy, I switched to my “Tivo List” looking for a prerecorded episode of Jersey Shore, to calm my nerves, but the Tivo service was also, no longer available. “WHY?” “Say it isn’t so.” and “What does this mean?” escaped my lips almost simultaneously. Hello, the Bachelor narrows his bevy of possible flight attendants down to 12 ladies tonight, and what am I supposed to do while that’s happening… read?



Maybe this isn’t the first sign of my financial woes. Has the proverbial alarm been buzzing and I’ve been sleeping through it? Is it possible that being down to one credit card, that I randomly opened at Costco, was some kind of indicator that times are tough? Is the credit card Roulette I play at check out not a real game? You know, when you grab a card from your wallet at random and pray you don’t hear the dreaded “You’re Declined” which is followed by mental buzzer, while the contestant –me-- fishes through for another possible loser to swipe.



Now, in hindsight I feel almost silly. I think there may have been other signals I missed. Like when we cut out our annual vacations, or when we lost our savings in the market. Darn it, have I just been phoning it in? I’m not sure if those other signs are worth investigating, but the thought of missing the new Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice crossover (that they haven’t stopped touting) could send anyone into a deep over-advertising induced depression.



In response to my wakeup call, I’ve done what any pop culture/ TV addict would do. I pulled out my Costco American Express and called it in. I know, it’s not tightening the purse strings, but I intend to skip grocery buying this week to make up for the loss. Eating is overrated… especially after the holidays. The truth is, I have a perfectly tasty cat just walking around the house. Taunting me like a steak on wheels. That’s ridiculous, why would I eat my cat when my dog is 40lbs heavier? I may be poor, but I’m not stupid.



Yours,
Jenny from the blog
http://www.suburbanjungle.net