New Car

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We’re buying a car today – in cash.  The brakes in Mr. M’s car need repair and it equals about the same price if he traded in his car so we went car shopping. Mr. M and I searched used and new cars and discovered the following:

1.       To buy a decent car in our area used is the same price as a new car. Seriously – we looked at a 2010, 2011 and 2012 and somehow the 2012 was cheaper. How? I have no idea and my argument of only buying used cars was squashed on the spot.

2.       When a dealer sells you a new car, they make the same amount of money no matter what but they have the potential to make more money off a used car.

3.       If you belong to a credit union and try to buy a Buick brand, they’ll give you the suppliers rate (this saved us thousands of dollars).

4.       If someone in your family drives a competitors car, you can get a switcher discount

5.       More rebates for cars appear at the end of the month.

The downside to this purchase is that we did take the money from his parents.  This act kills me but I know that fixing his brakes and trying to milk his car for a few months would more or less be throwing good money at a bad problem. I’m trying to think of this is a positive light that this car will be paid off by 2014. We already know how to live beneath our means, the money that we borrowed will not have any interest accruing and we’ll just get gazelle intense.

Snowball Update

I realized this morning that I haven't updated the snowball since July but happy to report

that our new total is..

$6,514.89!!

To date, we've paid off $37,589.36 and ironically, while I type this, Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" is playing in the background. She's right - what doesn't kill you does make you stronger.

How easily we are fooled.

In my life before the debt snowball, I would have run to the Apple store yesterday to order the new iPhone. That was when I had no concept of how debt affected me and that I would magically pay it off without any blood, sweat or tears.

When I saw this video today, I had to laugh as it is interesting to see how many people instantly think that their personal phone (which is working well) needs to be replace simply because there is a new toy.

Dad...and I'm trying to smile...

Today I met my dad at the therapist office for his session. To being the meeting we were asked to set our expectations of the session. I’d like to give myself props for not crying but instead explained (all be in a little of an angry voice) that I was upset over the fact that he was selfish and had reverted back to a teenager instead of being a father figure to us.

I’m typing this in the therapist waiting room (I physically have to be here for it to count as a free session) and my stomach is knots. In efforts to brighten the mood – which I’m not sure is truly possible – I keep playing this video over and over and over.

How I feel...

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How I feel when I sell 3 textbooks on Amazon in one week!

Fork in the Road

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My father showed up at my house last week unannounced. It was almost 10 o’clock and there was a pounding on my front door. Luckily, Mr. M wasn’t working late that night and was home to answer the door.

It was surreal like something out of a movie.

I am not sure what he thought he would accomplish by showing up. Maybe a dramatic reunion with me telling him that I can forgive and forget all the ridiculous things he has done to our family in the last two years. Instead, my husband talked to him and told him what his daughters had been saying for years to find help.

Yesterday, I attended my first therapist session and while it was helpful, I did not feel any closure. That session along with three others is paid through the E.A.P. (Employee Assistance Program) and the therapist mentioned that my dad, mother or sisters could come to the next sessions.

I feel like I am at a fork in the road. If I take one path, I can contact my father and provide help in hopes he takes it. But what do I do if he doesn’t take the help? Do I chose the other path and completely cut him off in efforts to protect myself?

Update: I called my father and we are setting up a time to talk to therapist on September 10th. I pray that I picked the right path to take and this doesn't blow up in my face.



Future Appointments



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I called my office’s EAP program today to set up a counseling appointment. Last night I hit an emotional wall as I do agree that y’all are right – I should/need to forgive him but how do I ensure that I don’t continue to enable his behavior. Last year, I created a family contract asking mainly to go to counseling along with a Dave Ramsey class (paid for by Mr. M and myself) and he signed it. Now he’s taking money from my baby sister, up to his eyes in debt from pay day loans and STILL talking to the twit.

Needless to say – I am disappointed as well as embarrassed. I have always thought of my parents as role models as they may not be perfect but they were mine. Now I don’t who these people are which is why I am going the counseling route. My work provides four free sessions and I hope they provide me with some peace.