Things are literally — and figuratively — falling down around our ears.
Figuratively falling? Bobby’s officially leaving his company. There’s nothing like getting a phone call from your husband that goes like this:
Bobby: Uh, sweetie?
Me: What?
Bobby: So I have some news…
Me: WHAT?!?
Bobby: You know the paycheck that went into our checking acct last week? Yeah, well, that was the last time I’m gonna get paid.
Commence freak-out. I mean, it would be one thing for the *next* paycheck to the be the last one… but the one that’s already disappeared into the void of bills? Great. Super. That’s just fan-fucking-fastic.
And literally falling? I was sitting here a few minutes ago looking at the shambles that is our budget, and a dinner plate-sized piece of our ceiling fell. Like, PLOP, oh look, there’s a piece of our ceiling lying on the floor.
So what am I doing now? Drinking a beer. I mean, hell, what’s the appropriate course of action when a piece of your ceiling is lying on the living room floor & your finances are an abysmal mess? That’s right, there IS no appropriate course of action. So I figured a beer would work just fine.
I’ve done the numbers… with my little piddly-ass paychecks, and the class that Bobby’s teaching at Clem.son, we go into the red on Dec 15th. Go directly into overdraft. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.
I’m aware that I’m bordering on tacky by talking about money… this is America and we don’t talk about how much we make or, in this particular case, don’t make. But this is my blog, damn it, and I can be tacky if I want.
So we have a short-term problem — that would be Dec 15th & beyond. And a long-term problem — that would be my husband is currently unemployed & I don’t make enough to feed a family of rats. Skinny rats. And she’s offered, but I don’t, don’t, DON’T want to ask Bobby’s mom to make our mortgage payment. DON’T. As in Do. Not.
Short-term plan: we’re selling shit. Seriously, anything that’s not nailed down is being evaluated for resale. The dogs are cowering in fear, with good reason. Bobby’s sitting at his computer furiously inventorying his gadgets & gizmos. And I’ve got my eye on the guest bedroom furniture… I never really liked that furniture anyway.
I asked Maggie if I could sleep in her big girl bed with her, and she agreed. So hey, I do have a back-up plan if everything goes completely to hell.
Oh wait. Too late.
Oh wow, honey. I’m so sorry. That super sucks. Vent and rant away. And drink another beer. Ugh.
Been there–on the selling stuff to make the house payment front. Jeff sold his most favorite “baby” of a car last year…no, almost two years ago…and bought shit on wheels as a replacement until the economy bounced back. Well, this year we sold our very beautiful guest bedroom furniture. And, I’ve craigslisted and yard-saled anything that anyone would dare pay money for. I can tell you that it certainly gives a “fresh” new perspective on material possessions. Sorry to hear about Bobby’s job. :( I hope it gets better fast.
Oh, Sarah! I’m so sorry you guys are going through this!! We’ve been there, last year and at the beginning of this year, in fact! We are still, slowly but surely picking up the pieces! You will bounce back, though. You will. Good luck – and as a last resort, let anyone who is willing make that mtg payment for you!
I feel your pain! We’ve been having a hell of a year this year. I’m in the construction business (it’s a family business) and to say it’s been hard is putting it mildly. All you can do it keep hanging on……. My husband and I have been saying how we’ve learned a lot this year. Learned what we can do without and what we can’t. Hang in there! Damn it’s hard though!!!! (from someone who is in your shoes.)
I’m so sorry. We’ve had to accept help from our families a few times to get the bills paid and it sucks. We may soon be behind you with our business too… we’re holding on- for now- but I’m not sure how much longer we can do it with this economy. I hope everything works out for us both!
That sucks!
I hope Bobby is able to find a new job soon! It’s not an easy feat in this economy, for sure, but hopefully something will come along quickly.
Craigslist is a life-saver – we have sold furniture, old building supplies that were left around the house, a car, kitchen appliances, etc. I hope you’re able to keep your head above water and don’t have to ask your MIL for help.
Thinking about you both…
I’m really sorry. It does really suck! My husband hasn’t worked for over a year. I had a good job until July when that went to he(& in a handbag! It took me three months to find a job close to home, but pays very little….and it means I have to get up at 5 am which I absolutely HATE! But it helps defray our bills….Hang in there!
Wow. I will seriously be praying that Bobby finds something that is just a perfect fit for him, job-wise, or in the mean time, anything that will help out.
It’s all the kinds of drama at the same time :(
I can sympathize with the worry and frustration – my DH was unemployed for almost exactly six months and it was hard, and harder on him (he gets really depressed about these things). However, I was working full-time and we were able to make do on my salary.
So I compulsively offer totally unnecessary advice, and I will say only one thing and only here in this paragraph – I think I would want to *borrow* a month’s expenses from family and repay it, interest-free loans being excellent. (I’ve offered small loans to younger siblings many times and it always makes me happy to be able to help, and I know they like being able to pay it back too, so I don’t think that’s so awful. These things do happen.)
And after my wretched a$$vice that nobody wants, I will say prayers for Bobby to find another job that’s everything both of you want double-quick, and say how very, very, very rotten it is that you have to deal with all of this stress – and at this time of year! I’m so, so sorry.
Hang in there Sarah.
I know the feeling…*what, oh, what can I sell?* Hope you have good luck selling the things you don’t need. (Which doesn’t include the beer, of course. :) )
Been there. LOTS. I’m a great resource for meals to eat/cook on the cheap, by the way. One time when Matt’s awful job trashed him because they had an “Oh Shit! We can’t afford him” moment,I came close to pawning my grandmother’s diamond ring she gave me. I wouldn’t have gotten much for it, but I took it in there & was seriously considering it. But I couldn’t. So we, of course, eliminated things we didn’t need – cable, Internet (briefly, anyway), eating out, unnecessary driving. We ate up savings until it got scary. And then, Matthew decided he should get some unemployment to help. And it did, sort of.
Long story short: Everyone hits this. EVERYONE. This will pass, and you will live through it.
Gah! It feels good to not be alone, eh?
There’s one phrase I use to describe situations such as these…prepare yourself…. it just “sucks monkey nuts!”
I know it’s vulgar, but sometimes it’s the only phrase that fits.