Just when you think you are ahead... - Stupid money. Grr.....

PrairieMom wrote: I have mentioned before that I have Ramsey Rage from this financial freedom class that I am taking, well, now it has just gotten worse.
We were sitting good, I have been working so hard at pinching my pennies, watching my spending, and its been really hard for me. NOW just when I was starting to feel better about things, I get a $800 + bill in the mail for Al's heart Dr last Jan. Then, $80 + for the Dr visit when she got RSV a week later. THEN Dh had a dental cleaning that was $70 or something, THEN he got a filling last week that is $180. Not to mention that I have one other bill that should be coming from when I thought I broke Al's arm last week and had to take her to be x-rayed. (did I mention that before? )

The point is that I have about $1200 in medical bills now, that I wasn't expecting, at the worst time for it. I am so frustrated. Evey time I do something to try to better myself or get ahead I get a kick in the chest like this. Now we are actually doing worse with our financial freedom than we were BEFORE the stupid classes.

Sorry just needed to vent a bit.

My3LilMonkeys replied:

boyohboyohboy replied: tara, can u save ur $1,000 in savings... dont use it and just pay what u can until that tax refund comes in a few months?

PrairieMom replied:
I don't think we will have a return, if we do it def won't come in the next month or so, We are waiting for paperwork from DH's business. We are just hoping to not have to pay in.
I think we are just going to have to use our $1000, and hang on tight till next month. If we have to use the Credit card, then we have to. We got-sta eat.
I just keep saying, "it could be worse" to myself over and over. I was so frusterated before, now I feel stomped on too.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Sorry Tara, that stinks. Do you guys not have medical insurance? I'm only asking because with this new job DH is taking in CA, we have to pay for it ourselves. Which is new to us. DH gets pretty good benefits now. The new company is paying a stipened amount, like an allowance, but it won't cover much. I'm just scared of the bills, like you mentioned!

DH is looking into a medical savings account. This way we always put a certain amount in there per month, from his paycheck. And we know it's there. Sorry, don't know what they are really called because if you can guess, DH does the finances ...Could you guys do something like this too?

MoonMama replied:

Maddie&EthansMom replied: You're still way ahead of most people in the game. Really, Tara. You guys are fine. Just b/c you've had a set back like this doesn't mean you are in the hole. You will pull yourselves out and be on top eventually. Hang in there.

**I told you about my (ex) friend who did the Dave Ramsey thing. They had over $30,000 in CC debt, not to mention two car leases, a timeshare and medical bills out the wazzoo. Shortly after she started the Dave Ramsey thing, cut all of her credit cards to shreds and put some money in savings, her DH lost his job, had to move to a different city to get a new job, she quit her job and they were paying for his apartment, their house note, and they have two kids in private school. They never could sell their house and he just quit his job and moved back home.

You make good choices. Sure, you have a little bit of credit card debt, but it won't take long to pay it off. We all have medical bills. Being cash only is HARD. We've been this way for a long time and there are times that it downright sucks. Like right now, when I really want the vacation of my dreams. We will get a great vacation and it's even better b/c it will be paid for instead of something we are paying out for years. We both sleep better at night knowing we don't owe anyone. We have months when things are really tight. This month is one of them b/c I went on vacation. If we had a cc it would be so easy to buy things we don't need right now, but in reality we have everything we need and more.

Sorry this got long. You will be okay.

sparkys2boys replied: Aww sorry for the unforseen. It sucks to think you are getting ahead to be hit all of a sudden. Hang in there, I am sure its not as bad as you feel it is right now.

A&A'smommy replied: I'm sorry honey, money issues are the VERY worst and those unexpected bills or extra bills SUCK!!!!!

PrairieMom replied:
uh, no, we totally have insurance. That is AFTER, which is partly why its so frustrating. Insurance is really the only reason why i work. I am the only one who can get it, since DH owns his own business and can't afford it.

Rae, be careful about not having group insurance, private insurance sucks. SUCKS. its expensive, and they can pick and choose what they will and will not cover. I have Asthma, and BCBS wouldn't cover me for anything. even meds. thats why I have to work. so, With your son and the issues he has been having, be sure you find something that will cover him.

Cece00 replied: Why dont you just pay like $200 a month towards the bills rather than using that $1k? You can make payments to all these people.

PS- We are going to have like $3k in bills (at least!) from John's brain lesion/headache things....plus he has to have his wisdom teeth removed to the tune of like $600....at least you arent me!

amynicole21 replied: God that sucks, Tara. I'm so sorry.

I was just reading in Reader's Digest that often times doctors will negotiate their bills... it's worth a shot

boyohboyohboy replied:
how about the second return thats due in may or june? will that help?

luvbug00 replied:

PrairieMom replied:
the whole point of financial freedom is to NOT stretch out the payments, you are supposed to do this "debt snowball" and use your $1000 emergency fund for that stuff. and making smaller payments wont really help, ( I already thought of that) because I owe small amounts to many people, it just all adds up to the larger amount ya know? Its so annoying. Its the reason why I have that $ saved up in the first place, I just don't want to part with it.

I know I shouldn't complain, lots have it way worse, its just annoying that I have been working so hard, and doing so good, then SLAM! back to square one.

msoulz replied:

But you are really not back to square one, are you? Haven't you made a lot of other progress? I know these unexpected things suck, but that would have come whether or not you were trying to dig yourself out, and unfortunately they will continue but keep up the hard work and it will all pay off!!

Our Lil' Family replied: ***Disclaimer: Before anyone reads this, I know this Dave Ramsey study is Christian based and I'm saying this to TARA who I'm confident will understand what my point is.***

I sort of know how you feel right now. We are living a strange situation with DH in school full time. We have a pretty hefty savings account that I've had to dip into the past couple of months just to get by and I hated doing that. What I had to come to terms with was that, that hefty savings account is God's money just like our monthly income, he has provided that for us, however we got it (saving, student loan excess, etc...) he gave us those means and it should be used in those times. So as much as I didn't want to pull out $1000 last month to meet the bills, that's its purpose! You're doing great on this. Don't let evil get you down!

luvmykids replied: Oh boy, those bills are NO fun. But the good thing is, like you said, not wanting to part with the money is a lot different than not having it This is a good thing...you have the emergency fund to cover the bills instead of having to make payments!

Hang in there, as you get your other stuff paid off you'll really start to see the difference, it's just the beginning that is so hard. I'm very proud of you, financial discipline is VERY tough for people and you're great at it

TheOaf66 replied: sorry Tara, I know how it is...keep pinching the pennies

My2Beauties replied: I'm so sorry, when it rains it seems to pour doesn't it? At least you have the $1000 saved up instead of not having anything saved up, you could look at it that way. I'm so sorry though. I know exactly how you feel, I was there a little while ago and it's not fun! Just remember you will get through this and you will come out ahead....just have to scrimp for a little while longer.

jem0622 replied: Amen sister, I hear ya. You can what you can, and what you can't...you can (as in garbage). Don't fret. Everything will eventually work out.

We just got good news on our tax refunds, plus the stimulus $$...we will be able to pay off things we were worried about. God is good!