National Champs!



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In unrelated money news...my alma mater won the College World Series last night for the SECOND year in the row. Way to go Gamecocks!

I would also like to say thank you to all the kind comments about my meltdown yesterday.  There are times in this debt-free and now medical journey that life is truly frustrating. I have many things to be blessed about but it was very helpful to let off some steam. 

Giving it to God

I'm having a hard time with giving over my worries, fears and frankly - tears - over to God this week. The nurse that has our test results is on vacation, followed by the next week when the doctor goes on vacation so Mr. M and I stay in this financial limbo for another few weeks. We're paying off debt like we planned but my type-A self wold like to set a financial plan for the rest of the year like yesterday and this waiting game is killing me.

In other fun news, a friend that I had confided in about our health issues has basically ended our friendship this month making me feel like a leper. I guess she thinks male infertility spreads from the wife to friends so something pathetically silly like that but to say that my feelings are hurt is an understatement. She is pregnant after years of infertility and I guess thinks that I can't handle her news. How many other friends will ditch me under the umbrella of "trying to protect me", I'll never know as I'm not telling another soul for a very long time.

Christmas

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I realize for some it's a long way off (less than six months as of this last weekend) but for someone who has to watch every penny she spends during the holidays - it is quickly approaching.

My 2011 budget is set with suggested amounts for each family member and friends. Nothing major but those $10 gifts here and $20 gifts there add up. I'm also looking into buying food boxes or bags now for that Christmas in July sale if efforts to save money. Last year, I spent basically nothing on my godson due to using coupons and sales which what I aim to do again.

So like I said, it is early to think about snow and the holidays but what do you do

to plan early for the Holidays?

It's a Lovely Day!

This song was the first to play on my Pandora station this morning. It's so chipper and put me in the right mood to start the work day.

On another positive note, the insurance company PROCESSED my two medical bills. Instead of paying the dreaded $715 for two labs, I now only have to pay $156. WHOO!  And since I worked the wedding last weekend, it should cover that expense.  We still haven't heard back from the doctors on Mr. M's results so if you would, say a prayer for us that the reason that we haven't heard anything is a good thing.

Hindsight being 20/20

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This weekend was my first full weekend working weddings and overall it went great. The couple was adorable {fresh out of college} and the family was very loving. It made me think of my own wedding and how Mr. M and I have grown closer over the past two years than the nine years of dating. Yes – I said nine. That’s what you get when you find the love of your life at 18.

I think what initially forced us to communicate early in our marriage was our debt crisis in September of 2009. We had just gotten married in May and then after three months in we really looked at our finances. Most of the debt is my fault – I’ll admit it. Mr. M came from a great family that paid for his college and my family did not. I got credit cards because I was told that it would help “build up my credit” and my husband has never had a credit card – ever. So trying to explain all of my dirty laundry was well…not fun.

Trying to create the plan that you both agree on I believe is the hardest part of getting out of debt but we survived it. Hindsight being 20/20, I’m almost {almost} thankful for the Recession because it forced us to really take a look at our budget, talk about money and overall communicate with each other. We’re not a perfect couple in finance or health but we are a happy couple.

House for Sale...but why?

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Apparently there is something wrong on my block as 9 homes are for sale all at the same time.  Six of them have been on the market for over six months (some over a year) and two (my neighbor across the street and the one next door) went on the market this month.

My first question is WHY?

Housing values have dropped dramatically more so than the Great Depression and it will take an estimated 19 years for the market to recover. The family across the street and the one next door are both my age - under 30 and they have only one child. Our community does not have the best unemployment rate so there is not a huge influx of people moving here to buy houses.  So why on earth would you do this to yourself financially? They're reasons for moving (across the street (4bed/4bath) is because they want "more land"...but I personally think they're broke and can't afford it anymore. The house next to us (2 bed/2 bath) wants more room. Seriously? The kid is six months old...why now? Mr. M sent me a text yesterday asking if we smelled when he saw the sign in the yard next door.

I'm not trying to be ugly but I hate it when people make poor financially decisions and then it affects me. With all of these homes for sale in such a short distance, my housing value is dropping. It's to the point that I don't open my e-mails from Zillow anymore. So if Mr. M and I tried to find a better paying job in another city, we couldn't sell our house right now since there is clearly to much inventory on our street. Do you see my frustration?

On Pins and Needles...

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This is the week that we should find out Mr. M’s test results from the urologist. I thought they would have called us by now but for some reason they have not. Mr. M wants to wait until tomorrow but of course I want to call right this instant to see what the results were and what our next steps will be for the future. I feel like I’m in a holding pattern since we’re not sure financially what our plan is for the next few months.



Right now, this is the skeleton financial plan:



1. Finish paying of the Credit Card #1 as planned

2. Save up $500 towards Mr. M’s deductible (which we did as of last week) so we have cash in hand.

3. Work out a payment plan with the medical offices in case the bills arent’ covered by insurance (as of right now I have two being battled out with the insurance company…lovely).



Our skeleton emotional support plan is this:

1. Figure out what the heck is wrong with us and then tell family and friends.

2. Find a therapist.



The reason for number 2 is that I had a massive crying spell on Sunday out of no where (I mean really…I’m watching Finding Nemo and folding laundry and randomly start crying and could not stop). Mr. M needs someone who is strong and while we can play the “we’re strong for each other game” for a while, I’m going to need someone else to vent to besides the guy who’s dealing with the medical issue. Luckily, my work provides Employee Assistance with issues like ours and I called today. Hopefully I can schedule an appointment soon.

Weddings and Singing!

I survived my first wedding training session this past Saturday. The job doesn't appear to be too stressful which I'm glad about since it is part-time. The place that I'm working at is a historic building located at a school and a bride can schedule her wedding and reception there. Most only schedule their receptions but there are a few that do both. The bride next Saturday is scheduled for both which equals a longer day for staff. No complaints here since I look at it as more hours = more money.

Ironically, when I got in my car on Saturday the song "It's A Great Day To Be Alive" by Travis Tritt was playing. I love it simply for it's chorus:

"And it's a great day to be alive

I know the sun's still shinin when I close my eyes

There's some hard times in the neighborhood

But why can't every day be just this good?"

{Lyric Credit}

It's true - there has been some hard times {um...some really hard times} but overall it is a great day.

2nd Job

Photo Credit

Remember the second job I interviewed for a while ago? Well I'm finally able to work my first wedding tomorrow. The HR staff at this place "forgot" to process my paperwork and I have had a dozy of a time trying to get everything taken care so I could work. Ironically, it wasn't until a few weeks ago when we went to visit the urologist that I sat at work and prayed for God to provide us work. Twenty minutes later I got a call from the HR department who "found" my paperwork.  God is seriously in control.

Batteries recharged. Let's Go.

We're back from a fun filled trip to California and managed to stay on budget! I'll post photos soon but all in all it was a great trip and a chance to "unplug" from society. It was nice to experience a completely different part of the country for a few days.

In other news, I'm not sure how many of you all have heard the story from Florida in which a couple decided to foreclose on a Bank of America branch. Bravo to the couple's lawyer Todd Allen for his creative way of getting some national attention on this growing problem. Here's a clip from CBS News: