Am I the only one?

[maat55]

Well, we already live off about $40,000 per year max. I can't imagine what you must make to make a statement like that! We are not rich people. We are middle to lower class financially wise. I don't have a "lifestyle". I yardsale, coupon and try to cut costs where I can. I frequent the goodwill store, they have great deals on jeans for my dh. I make about 25,000 gross, my husband grosses about 52,000 which we lose almost half that just in supplies and subcontractors, so his net or what we actually get is around 25,000 or so. My net is about $20,000.00 We are buying our house it is a 3 bedroom that we just recently added a fourth bedroom, bath and office to. We have done the work ourselves so it is slow going but much cheaper. With four kids every weekend there is no way to move into something smaller. The three bedrooms was fine but I wanted the fourth for comfort. Well worth the cost. we paid for most of the addition when my grandmother died and left us some money. We are paying 5.5% interest on the house and our payment just dropped from 400.00 per month to $327.00 per month. We are going to continue to pay the $400 though cuz we are already used to it. We only owe about $37,000 on the house less interest. Way silly to move. We don't have car debt. NONE. both vehicles are paid for. We have a huge expense that is not going to go away for several more years. Child support. He pays $500 per month for his kids. and that is fine. But it sure makes it harder to get ahead right now. The youngest is 10, the oldest is 13 (almost). so around 8 more years total. Our bills are probably like most. I didn't list my bills or debt for a reason. I wasn't asking for assistance in paying off quicker or building an ef fund. I was only interested in there were more people in my financial area on this board. I utilize the debt snowball calculators on the net and am working on goals to pay off all our debt within 5 - 10 years, the house included. Keep in mind that I know that to some people we probably have awesome costs on a house but we live in a very bad economy area. and the cost of gas and everything else is just going up and up. We are probably considered well off to our friends. to me that is laughable!

My income is not much different than yours, Our typical takehome is around 4000 monthly. My monthly expenses are around 2300 on my budget. Our house payment is 1100 and we spend about 400 on food. Since I have become focused on financial peace, I've worked more hours bringing in about 500 more a month. We have used this extra money over the past 6 months to payoff my truck and build an EF. We are beginning to invest 800 a month in roths.

Finding a way to increase our income a little and spend less money has made a big change in our position. We've went from 3500 in debt to debtfree and having an 9000 EF in six months. My EF will be finished in two weeks and then we begin to invest. This change for me, has been rewarding, even enjoyable. I don't know if you can do this also, but it seems like, with a great deal of desire, you can.

When you want something bad enough, you will find a way to do it. Read Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey, it might just be the push you need.

[cicy33]

I really don't need a 'push'. I am fine with my life. I work a full time job with a 20 minute commute each way, I work part time as the secretary for my husbands business, I have a small job as a bookkeeper for a local restaurant, and I have a granddaughter. between these items my life is incredibly busy. I would not want to nor have the energy for another job. I didn't mean to imply to anyone that I was desperate to become financially free. I was simply interested if there were other lower income people on this board. that is all. Most of the posts I read are about people that have $10,000 to invest or something like that. I don't want to change my spending habits, I don't feel that they are out of control. I may not be as geared to getting rich as some feel I should be apparently but I am okay with that. and while I have no real opinion on Dave Ramsey I have zero interest in purchasing anything to further educate me on debt reduction. That does seem silly to me. Pretty much everything I need is on the net. Library is not an option. ours are closed by the time I get off work and I have no interest in spending my saturdays trying to get to the next town to go to the library. I do however feel that Dave Ramsey is alot about getting his own finances set up. If he wasn't his web site forums would be free, they are not. Even if he charged for his books seems to me the forums could be free to the public.
P.S. thanks to the owners of this one! This has been a great site for me.

[aukxsona]

We don't get assistance because the state has certain rules about being able to trespass in your home at any time if you get food stamps or Medicaid. I don't want to give up my rights for a meal check when I can do it, albeit hard, with out it. I would rather have oatmeal, beans and rice, or found foods forever than give up my rights to keep people out of my home. They call them "welfare checks" to make sure your not too distressed, but often they lead to the state running your life.

[simpleyme]

nevermind;-)

[simpleyme]

nevermind ;-)

[cicy33]

Actually, as I started this one it wasn't the theme. The theme was only if there were other people around the same financial area that I am in on this board. It is great that there are people that have tons of money to invest and are financially free. But it is also nice to hear from the ones that are more like me and are struggling to pay their daily bills and get ahead. It is like anything else. having someone to relate to is helpful than only seeing what you cannot possibly achieve at this time. I obviously cannot come up with that kind of money within even a year at this time. I am okay with that. and it will happen but it will take time. It was just nice to see that there are other people just like me on this board and it is nice to hear how they are doing it. I am sorry but you cannot tell me that if you have lots and lots of money that you are relating to what I am currently going through. Not asking to be fixed just want to know that I am not a weird breed and that I am a fairly normal household. trying to get our debts paid off and save a little money. that is all. I have learned a lot from the ones that have lots of money and I am learning more from the ones that I don't usually see posts from. I am actually seeing an ending to a goal of paying off certain loans and being able to be comletely debt free within 6 years and that includes my house.

[disneysteve]

cicy33, surely you are not alone. Many, many households are in the same circumstances. Others were at one time and worked their way out, as you are doing now. And others were never really struggling but can still relate to some extent. If anything, I think you are the norm more than the exception. Sometimes that gets lost around here because this board is populated with folks who are the success stories, saving, investing, living below their means, etc. So don't despair. It sounds like you are well on your way to financial security. Just keep at it.

[simpleyme]

nevermind ;-)

[SnoopyCool]

We struggle, too, but are doing much better than before this site. I appreciate knowing that I'm not alone and knowing that it is doable, as others on this board have done it. It gives me hope.

[ThriftoRama]

I think just being part of this community helps you save more. You want to have something good to report on your blog! And, everyone has so many ideas, it really does help push you along.

[maat55]

maat55 your advice is good but unwanted LOL

its wonderful to be great with exactly where you are but that may tell you why you do not have 10k to invest ,which I believe was the theme of this thread

I'm not sure what you are saying, but I have more than 10,000 invested. I have been investing in MF's for the last twenty years. I put my investing on hold to become debt free and save an EF. Now I am beginning to invest more because I am debt free. I assume that you assumed you knew what you were talking about.

[simpleyme]

;-.......................

[maat55]

maat55 sorry the second part was just a general statement not aimed at you at all!

I had agreed with your advice ,I am afraid I was not clear at all

I should just lurk and never post




edited to add WILL lurk and no longer post

You are forgiven, now go and sin no more.

I've made my share of rash statements also, so keep posting, everyone's advice is welcome.

[nanamom]

In keeping with the original theme of this thread, you are not alone. I am a SAHM who also has grandkids. We want to be debt free but I'm not sure we ever will be! We are not extravagent, have no cable (DH company pays the internet bill)no land line but do have a cell phone since kids live so far away, mortgage on house, one car payment and a couple credit card bills that make me cringe. Most people would think we are doing great. We have no EF and a small 401. Hope that proves you ar enot alone. Oh and while I want to save and be debt free it is not a big enough burning desire for me to give up seeing my grand kids (long trip involving multiple motel 6's) or educating my kids at home so I can be with them. While I realize there are alot of people on this site (from what I've seen) who are well off by the worlds standards I think there are alot of us who are trying to make it while enjoying whatever our brand of luxury is. To each their own. (IMO)

[cicy33]

That is exactly all I was getting to. I do want to be worry free when it comes to money but I know that it is not going to happen even if I give up cable! I think it will start happening faster as soon as I get these dumb bills paid off. Which tends to peeve me off cuz I was so dumb to get into this mess and I would have a fair amount of money to be making more money if i hadn't done that. but I will get out of this mess. at least I am trying! but it sure helps to hear from the people who are like me and are struggling but slowly and surely getting it together. I want to be debt free with in 6 years and I can do it if I am determined. That is why I keep coming here. It helps to keep me motivated. Even reading the posts by the ones that are already making the grade help me to realize that I can achieve more over time. I probably won't ever start a blog. Would feel a little weird to me. but then again, who knows.