Debt Dumpers 2022

[afan]

The latter. Also they're too young to know what they really like or don't yet!

To me that says it's not worth the money that could be used elsewhere. I remember when I was 4 wanting to do dance and not getting to because of money. Looking back I'm sure I just wanted the fun shoes vs actually dancing.

To me extras shouldn't be forced and can always be done when they are old enough to know what they like as you say. It may also be that this is their way of saying they don't like it because they don't yet know how to say something or if they are allowed to.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I'd rather them have activities they can socialize at after two years of not seeing other kids than have that money go towards something else. I grew up poor and never had the chance to do extra activities so it's one thing I absolutely won't deprive my kids of. If I thought they hated it I wouldn't bother, but they're children who would otherwise be tethered to a tablet while I work three jobs. When they turn 10 they can decide what activities they want to keep and drop but until then we enroll them in things we want to expose them to that we think they'd enjoy.

But not many kids under that age are going to say "yes please take me to dance/karate/ice skating/gymnastics instead of letting me play this video game that I'll otherwise sit here and play unblinking for hours!"

 

[Nettlelondon]

I think the thing about socialising after 2 years of the pandemic is really important. I am involved with a small school - 300 pupils from 3 to 16 - and one of the key themes of all the meetings that involve the educational side of things is how the children just don't know how to be around other people any more. Don't know how to play, share, talk, manage friendships, fall over, get up & carry on.

We had a serious complaint from a mother that her child (aged about 4) had come home with scrapped knees. She felt we were abusing her. We had to explain that is what happens, they fall over when playing, and unlike her living room which is carpeted and the only the place the child had been for 2 years, the playground is not soft and comfy.

I think McDonald's after dance is a bit like the adult version - if I go to the gym I can have a pizza/fancy coffee/beer/wine - I will leave you to select your own vice of choice

 

[pblack]

End of April Update:

My 2022 Financial Goals:

• Pay off our Camry loan (currently sitting just under $12k)....This has now been paid off and replaced with our home equity loan payment.
• Continue to pay extra to our Highlander loan (especially once the Camry is paid off)....Back to paying an extra $50 on top of my $450/mo payment.
• Save an extra $1000 towards my main savings account outside of my automatic monthly transfers....$50/$1000...since I need to re-pay $2000 we'll see if I'm able to add this extra like I wanted too.
• Save money for the following expenses: cat/gifts/annual credit card fees....Added $100 4/29
• Save $$ for family Hawaii trip (tentatively April 2023)....Added $100 4/29
• Re-pay $2000 that I borrowed from my main savings to pay off the Camry loan....$385/2000...3/31 repaid $150, 4/29 added $235

My 2022 Personal Goals:

• Professional pool replaster/remodel …..The pool is complete and it looks amazing!!!
• Exercise at least 4 times a week....Really slacked on this in April.
• Spend less money on items that we don't need....I don't think we did too terrible with this and I was able to sell some stuff on Mercari to add towards my vacation.

Hard to believe it's already the end of April! We leave next Friday for our 3-day cruise and then our week in Disneyland. We've had some changes come up, both good and bad, and the last week or so has just been kinda of hectic and stressful. The good (depending on how you look at it) is that we are no longer going to Ventura over memorial day weekend so we won't have to worry about paying for that trip. Also good is my BFF/her DH/daughter are going to be coming home with us for a couple extra days after Disneyland instead of flying back to Texas. The bad: my DH has 2 grandparents that have been put on hospice this week and another grandparent that suffered a heart attack (which we think was caused from all the stress). So a lot of emotional stress going on this week and lots of conversations on if we change our vacation plans or not and/or what do we do if something happens while we're gone.

In not sad news I bought country concert/festival tickets for my DH and I for October. This was a pretty pricey expense ($500 for VIP tickets), but it's a 2-day event with a beer festival also going on both days also. I chose to do the layaway plan so I can pay it off over 3 months instead of shelling out the full amount now. I may also be buying tickets for another concert in September, but we'll see what the cost of it is when they go on sale in a few days.

I think that's pretty much it for me at the moment. It'll be a busy week of getting stuff together before we leave next Friday. Happy end of April!

 

[huggybuff]

@pblack I wish I could 'Like' your post and do a sad face for your DH's family troubles. *hugs*

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

End of April Update:

My 2022 Financial Goals:

• Pay off our Camry loan (currently sitting just under $12k)....This has now been paid off and replaced with our home equity loan payment.
• Continue to pay extra to our Highlander loan (especially once the Camry is paid off)....Back to paying an extra $50 on top of my $450/mo payment.
• Save an extra $1000 towards my main savings account outside of my automatic monthly transfers....$50/$1000...since I need to re-pay $2000 we'll see if I'm able to add this extra like I wanted too.
• Save money for the following expenses: cat/gifts/annual credit card fees....Added $100 4/29
• Save $$ for family Hawaii trip (tentatively April 2023)....Added $100 4/29
• Re-pay $2000 that I borrowed from my main savings to pay off the Camry loan....$385/2000...3/31 repaid $150, 4/29 added $235

My 2022 Personal Goals:

• Professional pool replaster/remodel …..The pool is complete and it looks amazing!!!
• Exercise at least 4 times a week....Really slacked on this in April.
• Spend less money on items that we don't need....I don't think we did too terrible with this and I was able to sell some stuff on Mercari to add towards my vacation.

Hard to believe it's already the end of April! We leave next Friday for our 3-day cruise and then our week in Disneyland. We've had some changes come up, both good and bad, and the last week or so has just been kinda of hectic and stressful. The good (depending on how you look at it) is that we are no longer going to Ventura over memorial day weekend so we won't have to worry about paying for that trip. Also good is my BFF/her DH/daughter are going to be coming home with us for a couple extra days after Disneyland instead of flying back to Texas. The bad: my DH has 2 grandparents that have been put on hospice this week and another grandparent that suffered a heart attack (which we think was caused from all the stress). So a lot of emotional stress going on this week and lots of conversations on if we change our vacation plans or not and/or what do we do if something happens while we're gone.

In not sad news I bought country concert/festival tickets for my DH and I for October. This was a pretty pricey expense ($500 for VIP tickets), but it's a 2-day event with a beer festival also going on both days also. I chose to do the layaway plan so I can pay it off over 3 months instead of shelling out the full amount now. I may also be buying tickets for another concert in September, but we'll see what the cost of it is when they go on sale in a few days.

I think that's pretty much it for me at the moment. It'll be a busy week of getting stuff together before we leave next Friday. Happy end of April!

That is such a hard spot to be in. Not only having so many health problems in the family but right before your trip which then leaves a very difficult decision. Hopefully you have trip insurance just in case.

 

[amalone1013]

Beginning of May Update
$1000 Maternity leave cushion -
1/1: $750
5/1: $805 (+$55 change since beginning of year)
I borrowed from here because I overspent out of the baby/Maternity Items fund. And then I adjusted my goal back to $1000 as now that I'm officially on leave, I can calculate out exactly what I'll miss... which is about $275 but we'll be over cautious lol.

Baby/Maternity Items -
1/1: Didn't exist
5/1: $443
As I said, I overspent. Ive been putting 10% of additional income in here, then taking what i needed for the Maternity leave goal, so this is all new funds. Some april overspending should come back because I picked up some newborn clothing and some assorted diapers so we wouldn't have to worry the first few weeks. So those will get returned now. Otherwise I mostly ended up with extra supplies for breastfeeding.

$20,000 Barn savings -
1/1: $6779
5/1: $18,631 (+$11852 change since beginning of year)
DH had a commission and April was a 3 check month for both of us, which I'd forgotten think we need to up this goal

Grocery/Eating out budget -
Grocery April: 2% remaining
Months under budget:
Eating Out April: 40% remaining
Months under budget:
Lots of grocery pickups not really worried about sales lol. Surprise, we didn't eat out much haha. Did a few pickup meals but they arent the most convenient and we can't get delivery. And my wonderful mother in law dropped of dinners every other night for a week with more than enough for 2 dinners and 2 lunches each time.

Budget Meetings - minimum monthly
Haven't been good about these
Months with meetings:

We've just been adjusting to life with a newborn, so nothing too exciting beyond that. I got the hospital bill today, funny how quickly insurance processes those claims vs routine appointments! Just under $5000 which will come from my hsa. Got a bit of a laugh as I got my updated premium cost from adding the baby, and my premiums (and even deductible) are so low for being a high deductible plan.

 

[disney-inspired]

I just paid off my newest credit card, United Airlines. I opened because they were offering a $250 statement credit & 20k bonus miles and I had some big upcoming purchases for future vacations. I had a smaller running balance (around $500) but I had cashed out my ROTH contributions and figured might as well have a clean slate.

I had only been contributing to the ROTH for a year, not gaining much due to pandemic and I wanted the cash to pad my savings/sinking funds. I switched over contributing to my company's 401k instead to reduce my taxable income now for now. Once I've made significant progress against my student loans, I will likely switch back to contributing only to the ROTH.

Speaking of student loans, I'm not paying anything toward the federal loans since they're at zero interest and no minimum payment until Sept. I've been paying my private student loan continuously since they went into repayment. My minimum payment is $320 but I've recently updated that to $820 a month to hopefully see it go down more quickly. I was spending too much frivolously and realized the only way I would stop is if the money wasn't sitting there in my account.
Current federal loans balance - $15,285.20
Current private student loan balance - $34,181.28 (this will be $410 less in a few days).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Speaking of student loans, I'm not paying anything toward the federal loans since they're at zero interest and no minimum payment until Sept. I've been paying my private student loan continuously since they went into repayment. My minimum payment is $320 but I've recently updated that to $820 a month to hopefully see it go down more quickly. I was spending too much frivolously and realized the only way I would stop is if the money wasn't sitting there in my account.
Current federal loans balance - $15,285.20
Current private student loan balance - $34,181.28 (this will be $410 less in a few days).

Way to go! Keep kickin' it to the curb! At this rate, you should be able to put quite a dent in that balance before Sept.
That also lowers the amount of interest that keeps accruing every month, so each payment reduces the principal even more than the month before. That is so motivating to watch it drop over time. My inner nerd always found that very satisfying, just watching the numbers.

 

[jen7233]

@pblack sorry for your family's difficult time right now with hospice and health

 

[pblack]

Thank you guys for the condolences and well wishes. Unfortunately my DH's grandfather passed away yesterday afternoon and shortly thereafter his wife just couldn't handle it and ended up having a stroke which resulted in a brain bleed and it doesn't look like she's going to make it. This is in addition to my DH's other grandmother who is still on hospice care and it's only a matter of time for her as well. So my DH is looking at losing 3 of his grandparents in a very short period of time. When it rains, it definitely pours.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you guys for the condolences and well wishes. Unfortunately my DH's grandfather passed away yesterday afternoon and shortly thereafter his wife just couldn't handle it and ended up having a stroke which resulted in a brain bleed and it doesn't look like she's going to make it. This is in addition to my DH's other grandmother who is still on hospice care and it's only a matter of time for her as well. So my DH is looking at losing 3 of his grandparents in a very short period of time. When it rains, it definitely pours.

Oh my, I’m so sorry. That is so much pain for one family to endure in such a short time.

 

[piglet1979]

Thank you guys for the condolences and well wishes. Unfortunately my DH's grandfather passed away yesterday afternoon and shortly thereafter his wife just couldn't handle it and ended up having a stroke which resulted in a brain bleed and it doesn't look like she's going to make it. This is in addition to my DH's other grandmother who is still on hospice care and it's only a matter of time for her as well. So my DH is looking at losing 3 of his grandparents in a very short period of time. When it rains, it definitely pours.

I am so sorry.

 

[piglet1979]

Goals for 2022

• Pay off lower mortgage on the house -- Still plugging away at it. Should be paid off in October if I did my math correctly.
• Fix the sun porch (This will be a huge cost but it has to get done) -- DH hasn't called yet to get quotes.
• Save for trip to Disney in 2023 (kids are going with the marching band and DH and I are having our first no kids trip to Disney) -- Nothing here because I can't get DH to work on a budget with me.
• Lower the amount we spend on eating out. -- UGH!! This has been bad. Still need to reign this in

Person goals

• Lose 10 pounds (lost 10 this year and want to continue) -- I have done the opposite. I have gained the 10 pounds back. Now that things seem to be better with DD (the cause of most of my stress eating) I should get back on track with this
• Get a will put together (we have talked about this since we had kids. They are now 15 and 14. time to get this done) -- Nothing yet

This year has been a really rough year for DD and myself. Both of us have had some medically stuff and DD also had some mental health stuff going on. Bills are starting to come in and it is not pretty. Just going to continue what I can with saving. On a good Note. DH got a new job at his work with a significant pay raise. This will help a lot.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Goals for 2022

• Pay off lower mortgage on the house -- Still plugging away at it. Should be paid off in October if I did my math correctly.
• Fix the sun porch (This will be a huge cost but it has to get done) -- DH hasn't called yet to get quotes.
• Save for trip to Disney in 2023 (kids are going with the marching band and DH and I are having our first no kids trip to Disney) -- Nothing here because I can't get DH to work on a budget with me.
• Lower the amount we spend on eating out. -- UGH!! This has been bad. Still need to reign this in

Person goals

• Lose 10 pounds (lost 10 this year and want to continue) -- I have done the opposite. I have gained the 10 pounds back. Now that things seem to be better with DD (the cause of most of my stress eating) I should get back on track with this
• Get a will put together (we have talked about this since we had kids. They are now 15 and 14. time to get this done) -- Nothing yet

This year has been a really rough year for DD and myself. Both of us have had some medically stuff and DD also had some mental health stuff going on. Bills are starting to come in and it is not pretty. Just going to continue what I can with saving. On a good Note. DH got a new job at his work with a significant pay raise. This will help a lot.

It's so hard with teenagers. I did get counseling for both of mine when they were going through those years. They both have ADHD which has strong links to substance abuse. Four out of 12 of my in-laws' grandchildren have been junkies with 3 doing great now, 1 is kind of ups and downs.
I felt it was better to nip it in the bud before it ever gets to that point. Sometimes just being able to say I love you isn't the help they need and we have to turn to professionals. Sometimes it's easier for kids to talk to adults that aren't one of their parents.

Can you make a budget without your dh's input? If I left it up to my dh, nothing would get done. I love him and he's been handing his paycheck over to me since 6 months after we started dating but he is not good at planning anything. We have come to accept each of our strengths and weaknesses.

I totally feel your pain with the stress eating. I have been trying to be more conscious of this and to drink some water or eat a small Life Saver mint instead of a bag of chips. All of dh's family can't eat when they're stressed so they get super thin. His sisters weigh like 100-110 lbs.
This never happens with me or my family.

 

[npatellye]

Goals for 2022:

• Lower the amount we spend on eating out—check!
• Cut down discretionary spending.—This was going well until I bought a new car on Friday I did get my Explorer back but I traded it in for a 2022 CX-5 Premium Plus on Friday morning.
• Start saving for a kitchen reno.—In progress!

Personal goals:

• Get wills in order.—Check
• Stop checking work emails and taking work calls on weekends.—Check
• Take more day trips than we did in 2021.—In progress-6 day trips done and a few more planned for May and June.

On a happier note, I also ordered my father a wheelchair, shower transfer chair, and rollator because he’s finally coming home. Six months to the day he entered the hospital, he’ll finally be allowed to come home and he will have a daily visiting nurse, PT, OT, etc. coming to his house. I won’t really be able to visit (because he’s still less than 6 months out from his heart transplant) but I’m just so happy he’s finally coming home!

 

[piglet1979]

It's so hard with teenagers. I did get counseling for both of mine when they were going through those years. They both have ADHD which has strong links to substance abuse. Four out of 12 of my in-laws' grandchildren have been junkies with 3 doing great now, 1 is kind of ups and downs.
I felt it was better to nip it in the bud before it ever gets to that point. Sometimes just being able to say I love you isn't the help they need and we have to turn to professionals. Sometimes it's easier for kids to talk to adults that aren't one of their parents.

Can you make a budget without your dh's input? If I left it up to my dh, nothing would get done. I love him and he's been handing his paycheck over to me since 6 months after we started dating but he is not good at planning anything. We have come to accept each of our strengths and weaknesses.

I totally feel your pain with the stress eating. I have been trying to be more conscious of this and to drink some water or eat a small Life Saver mint instead of a bag of chips. All of dh's family can't eat when they're stressed so they get super thin. His sisters weigh like 100-110 lbs.
This never happens with me or my family.

DD has had anxiety for a long time and has been seeing a therapist since 5th grade. She is in 9th now. The anxiety got really bad this winter/spring. It started with my grandma passing away right before Christmas and then she got sick. We thought it was covid but 3 at home tests, 1 PCR and an antibody test almost 2 month later all say it was not. The illness has caused her heart rate to jump and BP to drop with just standing. It was causing her to be really dizzy all the time. It took 2 months and several doctor appointments to figure this out. It was actual found by PT. She was on meds for her anxiety but that was causing lots of other issues. Since stopping them she is doing much better.

I have put a bit of one together but I am trying to figure out where we are going to stay. It will either be a moderate or a deluxe. This is why I can really get a full budget together. We also need to decide what we are going to do while there. It will be the first trip without the kids (well kind of. they will be their with band) so we are looking at some adult stuff like the dueling pianos at the Boardwalk.

I wish I was still like that. When I was in my teens and 20's I would stress eat and still not gain a pound. Now I just look at it and I gain.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Goals for 2022:

• Lower the amount we spend on eating out—check!
• Cut down discretionary spending.—This was going well until I bought a new car on Friday I did get my Explorer back but I traded it in for a 2022 CX-5 Premium Plus on Friday morning.
• Start saving for a kitchen reno.—In progress!

Personal goals:

• Get wills in order.—Check
• Stop checking work emails and taking work calls on weekends.—Check
• Take more day trips than we did in 2021.—In progress-6 day trips done and a few more planned for May and June.

On a happier note, I also ordered my father a wheelchair, shower transfer chair, and rollator because he’s finally coming home. Six months to the day he entered the hospital, he’ll finally be allowed to come home and he will have a daily visiting nurse, PT, OT, etc. coming to his house. I won’t really be able to visit (because he’s still less than 6 months out from his heart transplant) but I’m just so happy he’s finally coming home!

Congrats on the new car and your dad coming home!!

DD has had anxiety for a long time and has been seeing a therapist since 5th grade. She is in 9th now. The anxiety got really bad this winter/spring. It started with my grandma passing away right before Christmas and then she got sick. We thought it was covid but 3 at home tests, 1 PCR and an antibody test almost 2 month later all say it was not. The illness has caused her heart rate to jump and BP to drop with just standing. It was causing her to be really dizzy all the time. It took 2 months and several doctor appointments to figure this out. It was actual found by PT. She was on meds for her anxiety but that was causing lots of other issues. Since stopping them she is doing much better.

I have put a bit of one together but I am trying to figure out where we are going to stay. It will either be a moderate or a deluxe. This is why I can really get a full budget together. We also need to decide what we are going to do while there. It will be the first trip without the kids (well kind of. they will be their with band) so we are looking at some adult stuff like the dueling pianos at the Boardwalk.

I wish I was still like that. When I was in my teens and 20's I would stress eat and still not gain a pound. Now I just look at it and I gain.

I hope things keep getting better for her.

Dh and I have gone to WDW without kids a few times. We don't really change the way we visit; we still like what we like but maybe we are boring. lol

Be thankful you had that time in your 20s. I've been battling weight since my earliest memories. I was relatively slender in my 20s when I joined a gym and did 60 minute aerobics classes 3x/week. Then I had kids and life was turned upside down. I kept telling myself as they got older, eventually I'd have time to workout but then when you're younger, you have no idea how much older you'll feel in 25 years. Now I tell myself, when I go part time I'll have time to work out again. It's just not gonna happen with this crazy FT job.

 

[crazycatstacy]

I am trying to do weight watchers and we are having a step challenge among a few of us at work. Because I am so out of shape and lazy the step challenge is kicking my butt! It makes me sore and exhausted which makes me want to just grab something for dinner that's quick and easy. So far I have held off on doing that.

Still plugging along paying off things. We go to Jacksonville for a week to see my nephew next month. Hopefully, we will stay on budget but we always tend to go overboard when we see him.

 

[jen7233]

Thank you guys for the condolences and well wishes. Unfortunately my DH's grandfather passed away yesterday afternoon and shortly thereafter his wife just couldn't handle it and ended up having a stroke which resulted in a brain bleed and it doesn't look like she's going to make it. This is in addition to my DH's other grandmother who is still on hospice care and it's only a matter of time for her as well. So my DH is looking at losing 3 of his grandparents in a very short period of time. When it rains, it definitely pours.

I am so sorry this is happening for your family. It is so hard dealing with losses back-to-back. That is me, for years quiet, then loss after loss. It’s tough, hang in there.