Debt Dumpers 2023

[barkley]

I know what you mean. My DH really wants us to move out of the city to a more rural area. We've been talking about it off and on for a while. We refinanced the house we are in during the pandemic at 2.75% for 15 years - We have 12ish years left on it now. I just can't imagine that we will leave this house while interest rates are high - so I guess we will be staying here. Our house is a great house, but we are just in a very busy suburb that has grown exponentially in the 14 years we've been here and it's just so busy everywhere all the time.

i suspect that in some areas if you wait a couple/few years you might see some incredible deals on rural. we live rural and saw some massive deals on homes and properties people bought (or home equity mortgaged beyond belief) during the 'big short'. so many folks buy rural but are unaware of the additional costs of maintainance that a traditional 'in town' home does'nt carry with ownership (septic and well upkeep, fire abatement, snow removal to name a few in our neck of the woods), top that off with higher costs for routine repairs and maintainance (we pay a premium for travel b/c we are 10 miles outside the closest town) and it adds a significant chunk of change to your monthly expenses let alone year after year. i look at the INSANE prices people were paying (it's starting to cool a bit) esp. mid covid and unless those owners have VERY exceptional incomes AND their employers have continued to permit remote work-they have to be taking a large financial hit. i also suspect that some purchased under short term/adjustable rate loans and once those come to maturity it will all come crashing down (many express horror when they see their first property tax bill after only paying on what the previous owner's value was set at (they don't get much sympathy at a tripled property tax bill-they drove our values up as well).

maybe wait and watch-the first sign will be some short sales.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Sometimes I wonder if I should just go back to having a cleaning service instead of cutting my paycheck in half. That would free up a lot of my time and pressure that I put on myself. I had this after our 2nd child was born until he turned 10.

It is one of the most wonderful bits of self care! If you are not the sort of person who loves cleaning - and I know there are some who actually find it satisfying and relaxing (to my mind they are a little odd, but that may just be me .

Knowing that a certain level of chores are complete just creates a base level of comfort that if funds can be found for it, it is probably more cost effective than working part time. A staging post to part time?

 

[jen7233]

This. I've been working like a dog for 40 years. I'd like some more "me" time. Time to take better care of myself and exercise. Time to visit our families more often. Realistically, not working at all would mean finances would be super tight and that simply adds a different type of stress that I don't wan either. I think working part time would be ideal. That is my goal for when I turn 60 which is a few years away. Getting all of these big house projects out of the way now will make me feel a little more comfortable with throttling back.
I am lucky in the sense that work doesn't pile up for me when I'm gone. I'm just a cog in the wheel and we're all mostly interchangable. Our patients get taken care of whether no one is off or if 2 techs are on vacation plus 2 call out sick. Eventually the day ends.

Sometimes I wonder if I should just go back to having a cleaning service instead of cutting my paycheck in half. That would free up a lot of my time and pressure that I put on myself. I had this after our 2nd child was born until he turned 10.

My job we're probably cogs in the wheel as well, but we get work assignments and you pretty much own it until completely done while on it. When someone is out due to an emergency, that work is reassigned to someone else, and if we're out for a week off, for example, we may have to ask a coworker to cover something or get something out that's due while we're gone. I'd love a cleaning service, but our insurance bill just went up alot, so there's that.

Saw an Instagram video today about how for some people their starter home has become their forever home because they're locked in at 3% for 30 years and man did I feel that in my soul. I think we're locked in at like 3.25%, never intended our home to be our forever home, and I originally wanted to sell and find our "forever" home within 5 years. We hit 5 years in our home this year and there's no way we can afford to sell and buy something else right now with the interest rates and housing prices what they are.

I'd love that rate, we locked in at 5.75%. We still have people here bidding over on houses, in some neighborhoods. Inventory is one factor on the bidding over. Here you could go further out, but that has considerations as well such as commute, shopping, lifestyle, etc.

 

[pblack]

I'd love that rate, we locked in at 5.75%. We still have people here bidding over on houses, in some neighborhoods. Inventory is one factor on the bidding over. Here you could go further out, but that has considerations as well such as commute, shopping, lifestyle, etc.

At least 5.75% is better than what they're currently at! We started at (I think) 5.25%, but refinanced twice during covid to lower our rate and get rid of our PMI.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Y'all. I stopped by my local casino before work yesterday to do my free play. I get $100/week so I took that and another $100 in. I walked out with $7800. That's roughly 4 months of my checks. We had planned on me quitting by our November Disney trip (it was totally paid for thru the homeschool group and non refundable and they denied my vacation request even though I requested it off 9 months ago), but this just covered all my wages, so we took the leap and I'm officially done.

I had been buying the stuff for my side hustle over the last couple months and finally have everything here. I just need to build my space up in the dining room that we don't use. I'm so excited and feel so much better mentally to be able to be home with my kids.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Y'all. I stopped by my local casino before work yesterday to do my free play. I get $100/week so I took that and another $100 in. I walked out with $7800. That's roughly 4 months of my checks. We had planned on me quitting by our November Disney trip (it was totally paid for thru the homeschool group and non refundable and they denied my vacation request even though I requested it off 9 months ago), but this just covered all my wages, so we took the leap and I'm officially done.

I had been buying the stuff for my side hustle over the last couple months and finally have everything here. I just need to build my space up in the dining room that we don't use. I'm so excited and feel so much better mentally to be able to be home with my kids.

Congrats to you and your family!

 

[pblack]

My wallet just took a hit . I was able to get a pre-sale code for Luke Combs' tour next year and two 2-day tickets set me back about $500. I wanted better seats, but I couldn't justify spending more than that since we'll also have to pay for a hotel for the weekend. I'm super excited though! We've seen him twice before and he's an amazing live performer.

 

[jen7233]

My wallet just took a hit . I was able to get a pre-sale code for Luke Combs' tour next year and two 2-day tickets set me back about $500. I wanted better seats, but I couldn't justify spending more than that since we'll also have to pay for a hotel for the weekend. I'm super excited though! We've seen him twice before and he's an amazing live performer.

Concert ticket prices have gone insane. I'm looking at getting some Andrea Bocelli tickets.

 

[pblack]

Concert ticket prices have gone insane. I'm looking at getting some Andrea Bocelli tickets.

They are definitely pricey! I feel like this wasn't completely terrible seeing as it will be 2 back to back concerts and each night will have different openers/setlist. But my niece called me right after I bought these and she bought tickets for a different date and spent $1000 on 2 tickets. I just couldn't do that. Too many other things to pay for.

 

[LoveDaisy]

They are definitely pricey! I feel like this wasn't completely terrible seeing as it will be 2 back to back concerts and each night will have different openers/setlist. But my niece called me right after I bought these and she bought tickets for a different date and spent $1000 on 2 tickets. I just couldn't do that. Too many other things to pay for.

Are you buying tickets on the resale market or is this what the artist is charging? I’ll be honest I’ve never heard of Luke Comb but I see a lot of live music and never paid anywhere near that price. I’m see phish this Friday and Saturday and tickets were $65. They do not have an opening band but will play two sets for over 3 hours. I saw Dave Matthews last month and those tickets were $85.

 

[jackers]

DH and I changed our long weekend to a six day trip to the Outer Banks. We have never been there. We leave in two weeks and I can’t wait. Spending too much on a gorgeous Airbnb but don’t really care. I so need a break from day to day life.

 

[LoveDaisy]

DH and I changed our long weekend to a six day trip to the Outer Banks. We have never been there. We leave in two weeks and I can’t wait. Spending too much on a gorgeous Airbnb but don’t really care. I so need a break from day to day life.

I love the outer banks! It reminds of the Cape 25 years ago. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[pblack]

Are you buying tickets on the resale market or is this what the artist is charging? I’ll be honest I’ve never heard of Luke Comb but I see a lot of live music and never paid anywhere near that price. I’m see phish this Friday and Saturday and tickets were $65. They do not have an opening band but will play two sets for over 3 hours. I saw Dave Matthews last month and those tickets were $85.

This is what the artist is charging. The tickets were $185/ea and that covers Friday and Saturday night. But once Ticketmaster charges all their fees that tacked on just over $100 in fees alone. I loathe Ticketmaster most of the time and I think all of their fees are ridiculous. But if you were to break down my cost it's $92.50 plus fees for one person for one night. I'm not sure what single day tickets will cost since this was a pre-sale specifically for the 2 night tickets.

I personally don't feel like $185/ea for a 2 night concert is bad, especially considering the artist. I just wish they didn't tack so many fees on top of that price.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I love the outer banks! It reminds of the Cape 25 years ago. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

What is the Cape?

 

[LoveDaisy]

This is what the artist is charging. The tickets were $185/ea and that covers Friday and Saturday night. But once Ticketmaster charges all their fees that tacked on just over $100 in fees alone. I loathe Ticketmaster most of the time and I think all of their fees are ridiculous. But if you were to break down my cost it's $92.50 plus fees for one person for one night. I'm not sure what single day tickets will cost since this was a pre-sale specifically for the 2 night tickets.

I personally don't feel like $185/ea for a 2 night concert is bad, especially considering the artist. I just wish they didn't tack so many fees on top of that price.

I agree those fees are awful. I bought my tickets directly from phish and Dave Matthews avoiding Ticketmaster, which is a huge savings. I wish more artists sold tickets directly. I hope you have a fantastic time!

 

[pblack]

I agree those fees are awful. I bought my tickets directly from phish and Dave Matthews avoiding Ticketmaster, which is a huge savings. I wish more artists sold tickets directly. I hope you have a fantastic time!

Thank you! I'd love it if more artists sold tickets directly. I usually try and wait for Live Nation's $25 all in sale every year (I think it's either in April or May) and then hope that the artist I want to see is included in the sale. This year they didn't too many I wanted to see and the ones that I did want to see, the dates didn't work for me. But I did buy my 50 cent concert tickets during this sale, so only spent $50 on two lawn seats.

 

[goofytinkerbell]

I'm so insanely close to saying eff it and quitting my job. I hate it. Mentally I'm done. I want to be with my kids, I want to have a day off with my husband that isn't scheduled in advance where we normally have to *do* something that day, I want to not be exhausted every day.

I got all the stuff for my new little side gig. I'm going to start making inventory this week to get into some craft shows locally and a few online showcases. I won't need to make a ton, but it'll be our fun money.

I feel this SO much! I'm down to one full time job now, but that's just because with places cutting back office hours during covid they couldn't keep me because I wasn't available when they were open. I was exhausted then, and I'm still exhausted. I'm also extra stressed because I now have less income, and my full time job keeps piling on. I'm doing the work of at least people.

On the bright side, I used to be out shoveling the driveway (for example) when I got home at midnight (often later), then be up at 5am to make it to work on time. I can now start things earlier. Unfortunately, I'm too tired to do the things I should do, and years of ignoring things means it's going to take forever to catch up.

I saw if you can swing it you should do it. If it's going to be a big financial strain and stress you out more then no... but the time with family is more valuable than a job you hate. That's coming from a workaholic

 

[Eureka]

My older son graduated from college this spring and will be finishing up a masters this coming year. Little did we know that grad school, even at the same university, is much more expensive. Plus we have the younger son still in college too. The 529s won’t cover it all, so we ran the numbers etc. and made their first tuition payments. Today my older one was offered a grad assistanceship that comes with some level of tuition remission and a stipend. Don’t know all the details yet but he did mention with the stipend, he probably wouldn’t need us to pay his rent this year. And whatever amount less we‘ll need to pay in tuition is always appreciated. Plus he’s happy he won’t need to find internships for each semester because this is a year-long job. Which is good, because he’s already thinking about what his life will look like next year when he’s done with grad school, so one less thing to worry about now.

 

[barkley]

My older son graduated from college this spring and will be finishing up a masters this coming year. Little did we know that grad school, even at the same university, is much more expensive. Plus we have the younger son still in college too. The 529s won’t cover it all, so we ran the numbers etc. and made their first tuition payments. Today my older one was offered a grad assistanceship that comes with some level of tuition remission and a stipend. Don’t know all the details yet but he did mention with the stipend, he probably wouldn’t need us to pay his rent this year. And whatever amount less we‘ll need to pay in tuition is always appreciated. Plus he’s happy he won’t need to find internships for each semester because this is a year-long job. Which is good, because he’s already thinking about what his life will look like next year when he’s done with grad school, so one less thing to worry about now.

congrats! what is his grad degree in?

 

[Eureka]

congrats! what is his grad degree in?

International relations.