For the Time Being...
I'm sitting in here again, day six. Even though the work hours are very light at this time because business is down, I gave today's shift to a co-worker. I still haven't had a proper nights sleep. I'm really feeling it today. I have no energy and almost feel drunk. If I don't get sleep soon....
It is hard to see your child in a hospital bed, even if they are 21 and just resting and waiting to give birth. The doctor has estimated the babies weight to be around six pounds, and after the ultrasound they did when she arrived at the hospital they let her know it's a girl. The waiting is the hard part. Her room is in front right by the nurses station and she has already watched several families come through the door, scream for a while and leave the next morning with a newborn mewing softly like a kitten. I'm exhausted and she is bored. My husband is tense and sleep deprived as well. There is just too much to do, too much to be accomplished, and too little money coming in to the household. Okay, that's enough of me complaining.
Jinx
I should never had said anything when I did, but a year and a half ago I bragged about becoming debt free within a few months. I was so excited about my shrinking debt that I had to share. The bills were dwindling, the student loan was finally off my back and there was just one credit card. That's when Chloe (our dog) became even more ill. She needed hospitalization and more frequent medication and a very expensive specialized diet. I'm not complaining because she needed it and it had to be done, she was family after all. Too frequently there wasn't enough cash to cover her care and quite a bit of it went on credit. We even opened a new account for her final hospitalization thinking a miracle would be performed that would buy us a little more time with her. I'm not upset I used credit at all, I just feel I may have jinxed myself a bit by calling myself almost debt free too soon.
I keep track of my total debt each month and I can almost taste it. When I saw $1500.00 in black ink I smiled. Soon after I was giddy when I wrote the figure of $1200.00. Now it is at $869.00 and I am trying to get rid of it as soon as possible. I can't wait to see zero.
RV Lust
I know that I will never remain debt free forever. There are some large ticket items that I may need to purchase on credit. Recently I decided to see how good my credit was and see if I qualified for a loan. I know, I really should reach zero first, and there is a lot going on in my household, but... I have wanted an RV for a long time.
I want an RV with a burning passion. I wouldn't mind living small, and I want more travel in my life. We can do the types of jobs we do anywhere. Also at this point with a full house, a night owl two year old, and soon to be a squalling newborn, it would be really nice just to park it in the driveway and get a full nights sleep.
We went to the dealership just to look, and then we fell in love. We test drove, discussed, and then decided to fill out the paperwork just to test the waters and see what shape our credit is in now. We had a bankruptcy in the past because of a bad housing decision, and poor budgeting choices. I had no idea where we stood credit wise. Turns out we were at 710 and 719, not bad but still too close to the bankruptcy so we were turned down. They said if we tried again in a few months we could probably be approved. It's okay because it's nice to know we are almost where we want to be.
I plan to try again in six months to a year and have it paid off before we do any extensive traveling. It may keep us here longer in the land of no jobs and low pay, but I don't want to take a chance and go anywhere when I have more than just a few thousand in debt to keep up with, unless of course I have a fabulous job waiting for me.
My husband tells me to stop lusting over RV's. He tells me I stare at them when we pass one on the road, and I need to quit. Sigh, I'll have one one day.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Keep your eyes on the prize. You deserve it!
ReplyDeleteYou also need some sleep. People our age can't run on fumes indefinitely like we did when we were younger. Take care of yourself.
Oh, I know well what you mean about jinxing yourself. I am quite proficient at that myself. I hope you can swing the RV painlessly. Please get some sleep. You need it. I cannot wait to hear about the arrival of the grandmunchkin. SQUEEEEE!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from the PNW: if you ever do travel, come out to Seattle/Portland area in the summer (which is about july 15 - sept 15). You will fall in love with the PNW. However the rest of the year is kind of dreary. Glad to hear baby is ok. Waiting is hard. Sleep deprivation is a terrible thing, that's why it's a form of torture! And I think it's against the Geneiva Convention!! I'm always trying to get the families' of my patients to go home and get some sleep. :) On the bright side you have time to blog. Take care.
ReplyDeleteDreaming is free...dream and lust away and eventually you will be driving that rv
ReplyDeleteJudy
Oh, good luck to you and your daughter WP!
ReplyDeleteOn the RV front... check into pplmotorhomes.com - I've seen some smoking deals on there in the last year or so. Makes me wish I would have delayed buying myself. ;-)
I don't know that I'd rule out traveling and working - have your cake and eat it too, no need for the deferred life plan.
There's a couple that you might have something in common with that work in the summer close to family and spend the winters down in Mexico. They blog at: http://www.travelwithkevinandruth.com/
I think this last summer she worked at a campground and he worked at an RV dealership. That might have been the year before, not sure on that. They have a lot of financial detail on his site so you'd know what to expect on that front I think (and they're frugal). :-)
There's also "Travels with Miranda", not sure of her site name, but she's a singleton working out on the road doing transcription at "home" in her RV.
"Now the dreaming is over and the real work begins." (William Rainey Harper)
ReplyDeleteGet some rest. Here's to baby arriving safe and sound. And if all you are lusting for is an RV, sounds harmless to me!! ;-)
I am not at all superstitious and do not believe anyone can jinx something by talking about it. You experienced a simple setback, nothing else.
ReplyDeleteWhy not dream of an RV? It is nice to have a dream even if it is unattainable at the moment.
I knew a couple that worked in campgrounds, living in their RV. Plus, you can do jobs along the way that will still not pay much, but your expenses will be less. So, you may not be so strapped for money.
Perhaps you should rent an RV for a short time and just sample one...
ReplyDeleteWow I so relate ! That's our dream too. Unfortunately, my job is not transferable and DH is an artist and has his studio at home. Our dream is to one day travel maybe going from art show to art show, if and when we are financially stable enough to just do it!
ReplyDeleteDon't fret too much about becoming debt free kiddo- you'll be there soon enough. We got rid of all our debt on plastic about 15 years ago now.
ReplyDeleteIt's fabulous.