Married Without Children

Hubs just started a new job.  I am so proud.  For most of his life he was a driver.  He moved onto a cover driver position which was better pay and more hours.  My poor hubs was making pretty nice money but super busy and stressed.  After the cover driver position he moved into furniture.  He got a pay increase and the hours were much much better.  I really think he enjoyed the job.  Then came an unfortunate day….  Hubs lost his job.  He lost his job with a company which he worked for 7 years.

It was devastating for us.  Mainly because 2 weeks later I got my layoff notice.  The following 13 months would be some of the most difficult in our lives

During that time my Hubs and I had to make some decisions.  Hubs was going nowhere in his job search.  I could tell he was irritated and sad.  Then I kept hearing and advertisement for computer training classes.  They were developed to help you get your Microsoft Certifications.  Hubs is a computer geek genius.  Microsoft Certified computer smarty type people are really in demand.  So he took a chance.  He signed up for the classes, he’s finishing up the tests, and now he has a job that will lead to a successful future.  There has been some sacrifice, but we know that this career path can go in so many directions.

It’s all because he took a chance.

The biggest risk often reaps the greatest reward.  Sometimes investing in yourself will lead to a more prosperous future.  Think about your future- don’t focus on only immediate gratification.  Right now we are in the process of creating a secure future.

1. Hubs finished classes
2. Hubs is  almost finished with the certification tests.
3.  We filed bankruptcy
4. We have a fresh start

Next week we will delve completely into bankruptcy.  I’ll give you the latest on the bankruptcy and how we are dealing with that.

Anyone who knows Scotty and me knows one thing.  We’re broke. Broke, broke, broke, broke…..(anyone?) But we try not to let that get us down.  We’ve had some bad luck, but the good times are ahead.  Scotty is going to be technical-genius-computer-important-help-desk-person for a cable company.  Sweet!  Now we’ll be dual income again.  His car is paid off!  100% Totally completely paid!  One perk of the cable job is discounted cable and internet.   We’ll save a bundle there so 2009 is putting us in the plus.

I’m going to tell you about a website that allows you to document your expenses and income in a very easy way.  You can set spending limits and see how close you are to your goals.  One feature of the website is that it securely inputs your bank information effortlessly.  Your account info is right there.  You don’t have to keep track of it at all.  Nothing like trying to use an Excel sheet.  (Who in the world would do that? lol me).  There is a section to set goals, plus awesome pie charts and diagrams to display visually where your money is spent.  Oh and let me tell you how cool the tagging feature is.  You can tag all of your expenses which helps organize the diagrams even more!

I know the suspense is killing you. What is this fantastic Website.  Wesabe . Go check it out!  There is an online tour which will take you through the benefits of the site.

I first heard of this website from Steph, the author of the blog Back in Skinny Jeans .   Steph has instituted the Skinny Debt Diet .  Join her Skinny Debt Group after you join.  Our goal is to attain a size 0 debt.  Steph has posted some awesome tips for everyone looking to make the frugal change in 2009.

Forget the student loans.  Forget the impending bankruptcy.  Forget the fact that Hubs was unemployed for 14 months.  You know why I am broke?  The King.  Not only the King, but Crackdonalds, and Taco Hell.   Not to mention my addiction to Red Bull.

Remember last week when I told you to take all of your expenses from the last year and go over them with a fine toothed comb?  Well I was looking over ours and I  just couldn’t believe my eyes.  We ate out way too much.  Especially for a one income family.    And this was not your fancy shmancy dinner type places.  We’re talking fast food and your local pizza joints.  And Oh my GOD!  Did we ever buy a lot of booze over the course of this last year.  (And what’s sad about that is we really cut out a lot of drinking.  I know in prior years we would get a case minimum a weekend and I would buy a bottle or two of wine)  YIKES!  See this is why it is good to go over your expenses.

Now as I was going over the expenses last night I was flabbergasted!  I couldn’t believe how many times the Hubs went to a fast food joint.  I am not anti fast food.  In fact I love it, but I work in a very dangerous part of Baltimore City so if I forget my lunch 99% I just go hungry.  The rare 1% is when I get one of my office mates to come with me or we can get a delivery.  I am a packer (no dirty minds).  I pack my breakfast and lunch for work.  Hubs didn’t even work much last year and he was eating it up at the fast food joints.  The worst part of all this?  We go to the grocery store quite a bit.  We have specific grocery stores (and dollar stores) that have our favorite things.  Why on earth would we eat out this much?

I really can’t blame everything on the Hubs.  I adore the man, but he is weak. It’s just a shame that a child molesting looking clown can come between us.  The food there is like crack.  That is why I stay as far away as I can.  I know one french fry will lead to a thousand then I’ll want them every day.

And on that note I really can’t put all of the blame on him.  About 3 times a week I take the liberty to buy the super big can of Red Bull- which is like 4 dollars!  So there you have it.  We’re bankrupt over a clown and a bull.