I just need to vent a little, I am sure a lot of us are in the same boat and can understand. I hate to worry DH by telling him I'm worried if you kwim.

I should be thankful that all of our bills are paid, but the checkbook is down to $9.40. It has never been so low, in all of the years we've been married. We are not using credit cards, so no room for error. I don't want DH to worry, we have enough, but barely and he's not used to that.

I was going to go shopping with my FIL today, but I called and told him it would have to wait until next week. (Or the week after depending on the cash situation.) But I WILL NOT CHARGE anything!

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

We're in the same boat as you. Hubby has to work OT this weekend so I can pay my almost $500 oil bill that is due NOW. Plus, our 4 wheel drive is at the garage needing inspected PLUS some other thing that will involve lots of time to fix. Merry Christmas (MIL is giving us our Christmas money so we can pay for THAT). Like I wanted to fix the car for Christmas. LOL I wanted to buy a new loveseat or something............


After income tax comes we'll pay off one of the cars (the one that's getting fixed) and be albe to pay off one credit card. We'll have a little more "breathing" room then. Just a few more months to hang on until then.

I HATE being broke and having to watch our money so closely.

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Amy
Mom to Lauren, Eryn, Naysa
and announcing......
Gavin Michael Chase, 9 lbs 10 ozs
and 21 3/4 inches long on 10/13/09!

I think you should be applauded for NOT having credit cards and running up a huge debt!! I know it doesn't help to have only $9.00 in your checking account but I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are up to their eyeballs in CC debt and will never ever get out from under.

You and your DH should be proud and hold your head up high!! Hopefully by next week you'll see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'.

Good luck to you and ((HUGS))!!!

I know how you feel, we have been paying taxes $573 every month since May, I just made the last payment last week. It has been no fun having that much gone out of you budget on a consistant basis. Now to get some other bills paid! At least you are not putting it on the credit card, that is a big accomplishment!

My husband was in the hospital just before Thanksgiving,( I posted here about that, and he's fine now btw) and we lost a couple days pay and then the holiday to top it off.

I agree Mazzymay, when tax returns come we will get a little breather, but that's 3 months worth of bills away. Hope things get better for you too, we don't need anything new, I can sit on my old couch just as well as a new one, right!

We do have credit cards, but are working on paying them off, and if I am going to do that you just can't use them, it totally defeats the purpose of getting out of debt.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Ok I love to shop I used to charge everything I mean everything 5 years ago we sat down and got rid of all credit cards . It was so hard the first 2 years. especially for me. There were times that we needed groceries and had to wait until payday. Then I learned Everytime I had a little extra money I didn't shop with it I opened up a little savings account sometimes I would only put $5.00 in it but it was $5.00 saved for a rainy day. After it was in the "savings account" I didn't really want to touch that money. I thought in a few months I will have a ton of money to shop wiith. Well when a couple months came and I planned the shopping spree I stopped and said I have really worked hard to save this money I don't want it to be gone at one time it takes forever to save the money so I thought I will wait and get something I really want. I never really wanted anything. Like I said just save a few dollars and it will come in handy when your family really needs it. I understand you are not to that point but you will be. You have to make a promise to yourself to put a small amount of money in each week so you have that extra money. Pay it like a bill. I know this sounds silly but it got me over the helpless feeling because I had some control of that money. I am happy to say we are one of the few Americans that are debt free that means ....No Car payment, No Credit Cards, No House payment No Nothing we only have to pay normal monthly bills. And it feels good. I also want to add we don't make a ton of money we are middle class but we watched every penny that went out of this house. I mean we squeezed a penny till it made ten.
Good Luck with the money I know how hard it can be but the best thing you can do is get rid of the credit cards you will feel so good when it is over.

I know just how you feel. My Daughter who has a major chronic medical condition has been in the Hospital 5 times this year alone and an average of 8 days each. I don't get paid when i am out of work but I also don't get fired on the brighter side. This has set me a bit in the financial hole. I am fighting with myself not to hit the Credit Cards. Have charged very little because when all the excitement is gone in January I hate getting those Bills. You beat me cause today my balance in the checking was$5.60 cents. Really Stinks and we used to have a great finacial situation until Hubbies family decides to shut down very lucrative Family Business and put us in the dust. This gives me motivation to work harder and show them all we can stand on our own 2 feet. But with 3 daughters one in college and one with braces and major medical bills I to feel DEPRESSED!!!
Keep this in mind though and beleive me I thought I wrote this OP because today you have described my exact situation just keep praying for your health and your familys health beacause without it we will really be in trouble.
I truly sympathize and PM me if you need to vent further and we can vent together!

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Without Health you have no Wealth!

I think most of us can identify with being broke. One Christmas, our young sons each got a novelty sleeping bag for Christmas. The gifts from Santa were all little toys and trinkets I had gathered all year from cereal boxes and refunds. I used to cry myself to sleep frequently because we didn't have enough milk for the week. Things are much better now, and the *boys* are grown....and I sincerely appreciate what we have. For those of you who are struggling...hang in there. It's a tough road, but you'll get through the rough times.

OP I know how you feel! My checkbook says about the same thing. We got behind on our bills, no excuse except poor management. Now we should be caught up by the end of the month. It's Christmas and we're hoping hubby gets a bonus, then we can buy Christmas presents. It's just not fun!

This past Sunday I saw 3 children in one little Sunday school class who's parents has drug and/or drinking problems. They were SO sad. One little one just held up his arms to me just for a hug. Something he's never done before. Anyway, I say all that to say, my children may not have a big Christmas and that's OK because they have 2 parents who love them dearly, a warm bed to fall asleep in at night and all the hugs they want. This Christmas even though it's lean we are still going to give to others. I figure they (my boys) can do with a little less just so someone else can have a piece of Christmas too.

The checkbook being so low is frustrating and depressing, but after seeing those children on Sunday made me realize how much I am blessed! LOL Still I can't wait till January when the balance looks alot better!

Kelly

Hang In There! You are in good company! And I can identify!
This time of year everyone seems to have money for Christmas but I do not even have enogh to buy gifts. Not necessarily because of my income but because of my Bills!
Rent, dental, medical, utilities and yes credit cards! And we are using any money we get for gas so we can visit my elderly Mom over the holidays.

But we have each other and we will make a Christmas for the kids!

I think people go over board for Christmas. I also think they go into debt to have a "nice" Christmas. When you think back to being a child you remember one or two gifts but what you remember the most is the feelings you had while being with your family. Christmas isn't about gifts its about family and love. Kids aren't going to know or remember the lean times just the good times they shared with their family during this time of year.

By not using your credit card and only cash you are taking control of your finances. When you pay cash you know where every cent went. This is very hard and you should feel very proud of yourself for doing it.

All I can think of is that commerical with the man with and the nice thing riding the lawnmower saying he is debt up to his eyebrow, but it looked like he had everything. That could have been my FIL, he had to borrow money to pay for his second wife's funeral. But he lived in a big house with many things!

I agree people do go over board this time of year. I remember my mother made my gifts, even stuffed animals. She knit and sewed most of my clothes. This made them special, they fit me and no one had the same thing as I did. I still have some of the sweater she made me.

My kids are not going to remember the things they got but the times we spent together.

You are SO right! I've never really thought of that. That is basically all I remember about Christmas, the feelings! The one Christmas present I do remember was the dollhouse my parents made for me one year. The was my most favorite present ever and I bet they didn't have $40.00 in it since was all "made from scratch".

Thanks, it is good to be reminded of that. Even though we've never tried to keep up with other people, you do sometimes feel guilty when you think your kids are getting less than others.

(((((((((HUGS)))))))))) I know it's easy to get frustrated but no credit card bills? You're ahead of a lot of people out there.
We dont do credit cards either except the few that offer offer incentives/coupons, and they get paid off everytime they are used that month.
Hubby changed jobs two weeks ago. It will be better for us financially but he left his old job (that he was at for ten years) just weeks before the big bonus- and that was always our Christmas money. Then, I always got a bonus this month also, but my company hasnt done well this year so no bonus.
And any extra money hubby makes goes toward paying off where we live now so we can buy a nice house without worrying about two mortgages. And then once it's paid off, we are saving for a down payment as well as adding to the savings for things such as home improvement, etc.
I work full time then work a phone job at home for extra spending money. Hubby just accepted another job today that he will work two out of the three days he is off. We want to stay ahead without totally depriving ourselves. Not that the extra jobs will go to splurging- it will go to lunch money, gas money, etc.
I started to get down thinking about not having bonuses but you know what? I'm fortunate that after all the layoffs at my job, I'm STILL there and the company is gradually getting back on track. Fortunate just because of the money but because I sincerely love my job.

We were once in CC debt. We were once struggling. It does get better. Hang in there. YOu have a head start- no CC debt. That's a biggie!!

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Not all those that wander are lost.

Well like the others stated you are ahead of others with no CC debt & if all the bills are paid its not soo bad. I dont know when you get paid if its not for like another week I think I would be finding some money somewhere empty the change sell something you dont need or trade for pphf on something you already have around the house.

Once in awhile usually this time of year we get in the same boat as you I just keep trying to find lost money yesterday I was broke & then the mail came it was a bonus I earned from my job from August. I was totaly shocked & I got a free pullups coupon & all my bills are paid so I am not to worried my checks are mailed on the 1st & 15th & dh gets paid every other week so we will be ok until then hopefully I have money by monday & then friday he gets paid!!! ANyway point being keep plugging away on these boards & trying to find lost money & you shall be ok!!!

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mom of 3 greats girls

Things will work out,Don't give up yet:,)