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Thursday, May 21, 2015

Climbing Out Of a Hole

Do you believe that you can get what you want by working hard?
Do you think some people are just destined to not be able to climb out of a hole?

I really don't know what I believe anymore.

What I do know:

My house interest rate is way high and we cannot lower it. Ocwen says "Too bad, so sad. You can afford it." Have I mentioned how much I hate Ocwen? Damn the people that keep selling my mortgage.

My truck interest rate is high. Because we got a used car, interest was higher. But, it is higher than it should be. My FICO was high enough for the best rate. Honeyman's was just a little lower so they decided to go by his so we ended up going through dealership.

Honeyman is not physically able to work a second job.

Due to various reasons, among them a mystery illness, I am not working. A few years back, I could bring in a few extra hundred a month online. Yeah, that's not happening anymore.

When pay goes down and insurance, gas, food, etc. goes up, it is hard.

I know there are many people that are living the way I am.
Not in my area.
Everyone around here seems to have plenty of money.

Sometimes it is baffling. How can they afford all this stuff?

Remember the good old days of looking forward to pay day?
I don't do that anymore.
It is just depressing.

See how much money I don't have after paying bills. Or to pay the bills.

But, as each month goes by, I can feel a little better. I am that much closer to paying off the truck.
The house? That is so far off, I really don't know what will happen. I could be dead by 2033.

OK, I could be dead tomorrow.
No guarantees.

Wow.
This was just really depressing.

You may have guessed that today was pay day.
And if you already guessed that somebody forgot to tell me about some debits, you might be right.


24 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry. These days it is really tough to make a living. I don't think it is possible to get by and what you want by working hard these days. I work hard 40 hours plus a week and I would not be able to afford living on my own because my pay has been cut at least 50% by my company since I started working for them 9 years ago. It wasn't a direct pay cut but they changed practices and said the new practices would make us more productive (I get paid on production) but in reality nope, still working just as hard but for less money. Frustrating but at my age of 57 I don't want to go out and look for something else.

    I do feel for you, it would be nice if you could get lower interest for the house especially if you have good credit. I don't like when banks or other places sell off loans.

    betty

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Betty, our credit wasn't the best because of that lay off and we worked hard to get it to where it is now. Apparently not good enough.
      I do understand not wanting to find something else. Higher production(according to them) is always good for the company and bad for workers.
      My husband calls us dinosaurs because we live off one income, which most people cannot do.
      I really don't know what these companies are thinking cutting wages or not paying well enough to begin with and yet charging more for goods or services. Eventually people won't be able to afford any of it and the company will go belly up.

      Delete
  2. Sorry, Ruth. I don't know either how some people can afford all they do. But I think a lot of us use plastic cards and don't live in reality. I'm finally feeling like I can someday pay off my debt. Whenever I feel that way, some major expense (surgery, job loss) pops up. It's a vicious cycle. What to say? Oy vey!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Robyn. I know how that goes.Medical expenses are the worst. I have one bill of mine to pay and a handful of my husband's. I go to a specialist in June so that is more money and depending on what. it may be a long process.
      There's the old saying " You can't squeeze blood from a turnip." That pretty much sums it up.

      Delete
  3. There is always something. And a lot of people look rich, but aren't, plastic cards abound. I know some with 12 credit cards and then some. Being unemployed at the moment I have to watch everything I do, can be a pain. Top that with my "mystery illness" costing me tons and vet bills that cost me tons, I can make it even more depressing lol but life goes on.

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    1. Pat, Yes it is. Just having an off morning. My inlaws have tons of cards, which I just don't get. He gets a pension and they both get SS on top of it. But, he still has to buy stuff. I wouldn't spend all that if I could.

      Delete
  4. "How can they afford all this stuff?"
    They lie, cheat and steal.

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    1. Susie, are you saying honest people get the shaft?

      Delete
  5. I am concerned about my children. My daughter and son-in-law work hard. They have three young children. She doesn’t get home from work until 6:00. Then there is dinner, homework, baths, etc. It’s a struggle for them, especially since they both have immense student loan debt. They bought a starter home 10 years ago, which is now valued less than the balance on their mortgage. Yes, I could go on and on. And you are right, it is depressing. But they are all healthy. The kids are good kids and are happy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lyndagrace, It gets harder and I don't know how some people do it. The younger generations are getting hit pretty hard.

      Delete
  6. I am a Credit Counsellor so I see this sadness every day. It is so difficult for people when they have to deal with the same expenses but their income has reduced due to job loss or medical reasons. One great, great thing we have here in Canada is free Health care. It does not cost anything to see any Doctor. I feel so bad for you that you have to spend money for this. I also did not know they can "sell" your mortgage. If we get our mortgage from a bank it stays with this bank all the way through unless you change mortgage holders when the term comes up. I always tell the people I see that the mortgage comes first followed by utilities, insurances, medicines, food and gas for the car. If one has a car loan, one has to pay that since they can take the car otherwise. Here, one can ask for a I month loan extension. If one has a bad month, one can ask to "skip" that month payment. You don't get "dinged" for it and the payment is added to the end. One can do this once per year. I say to my clients to contact the creditors and see if they would be willing to lower the interest rates or extend the term of the loan..no harm in trying. Sorry if my work thing came out but I feel so bad for you because it is very tough out there and the stress of this does not help your health

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birgit, My first mortgage company turned into another. Basically the same, but for legal reasons changed their name. After that they sold it and that company sold it, rinse and repeat. All in all, this is the fifth company to handle my loan and they swear they help people but they really don't. I have tried and they don't want to do anything. Complaints on them all over the internet and I can't refinance with another company because my house isn't worth enough. I have done the extension for the truck before and I may have to before all is said and done. I don't really want to.

      Delete
  7. Oh and fyi-the people who seem to have money....they haven't found that banana peel yet. Don't think they are doing great because most aren't. Most people hide the financial stress

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    Replies
    1. I read enough economic articles to know that tons of people are not doing so well and I have talked to a lot of them. But, I see all these people buying this or that and it just seems like things are not bad for some. I know you are right. No one wants to wave a big flag and say " I really don't have any money".

      Delete
  8. When I was younger, I always wondered why my parents did not have any savings. Then my mom told me that if only their paychecks were bigger than their expenses. Also, she said that even if they cut down some fun expenses they would not save a whole lot, so was it worth it to not have a good time with our dad just so they could save a few rupees.
    Economics was my major. The figures are supposed to show up even, if we watch closely, but to me giving so much importance to money does not make sense. I believe in having bold and big figures drawn on a budget then within that if we play around it should help a little.

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    1. Munir, Money should not be as important as it is. It is sad that it makes the world go round.

      Delete
  9. It is the American dream. Live big, spend big and die broke.
    I overspend a lot and regret it instantly. Car payments are ridiculous anymore. For me to get a new truck it would cost $45,000. Divide that by 60 months and add interest and I call it a mortgage payment.
    Hang in there and soon there will be light.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jeff, I cannot imagine paying that much for a truck.
      Somehow we always manage to get the bills paid. Wouldn't it be nice if for just one month we didn't have to pay and no late fees or added interest? That's me, dreaming big.

      Delete
  10. I've come to the realization that, no matter how much progress I make, I will be looking up from the hole (until they actually plant me IN a hole) for the foreseeable future. One step forward, two steps back. While it sounds depressing, I try not to let it get to me. I live for the joy of friends and family. And beer.
    It helps.

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    1. Al, you pretty much got that right. Just when I believe I am getting somewhere, I am back where I started.

      Delete
  11. Right there with you. Just when I think we can finally make ends meet, something always happens that throws us right back into debt. Pay Day is ALWAYS depressing now…..

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    1. Mama, I am glad to know I am not the only one that finds it depressing.

      Delete
  12. Others have already mentioned it, but the truth is that these people aren't rich. They're just in debt up to their eyeballs. I'd rather pay for something with what I have than have a bunch of shiny toys and trinkets that will cost me double with interest. Or get repo'd when I can't pay it off.

    Any kind of loan company is the devil, and I just hate dealing with them. Isn't it funny that their commercials are always about them caring so much about you, yet when you deal with them they don't give a damn about you at all?

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    1. ABFTS, I know, I know. It's like that commercial with the guy riding around on his lawn mower talking about all the stuff he has and proceeds to say that he is in debt to his eyeballs.

      Delete

Thanks for commenting.