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Financial stocktake: Assessing the damage

Financially derailing fun:

  • Going down to one income
  • Traffic tickets
  • Illnesses (all bets are off when I’m sick, I will drop money on comfort foods like nobody’s business)
  • Actual health/medical expenses
  • All our annual insurance bills
  • Moving house
  • Depression/head burying/general laxness

Looking back, we just never really had a chance to get set up properly after coming back to New Zealand and have been on the back foot ever since.

T’s bringing in money again but technically it could stop at any time. (Also been having unpleasant dreams about being forced to move out of this house, sigh. This underlying feeling of insecurity is no fun.)

We’re still bleeding money post-move, what with work tools, long overdue dentist visits and a new line category: sports. (Coming off the year we’ve had, the physical and mental health benefits of the latter were WAY more important than waiting a full year for the next season to come around just for financial reasons.)

And now, to tackle the credit card balance that’s been accumulating. It’s a weird feeling, this. (Yes, we could take from savings to pay it off, but I am not giving up a cash buffer. Not without a second reliable income, no way Jose.)

5 thoughts on “Financial stocktake: Assessing the damage

  • Reply Rhonda Albom April 18, 2015 at 00:48

    It can only get better. At least you live in a better place now.

  • Reply That Blue House April 18, 2015 at 06:13

    We all go through those phases. I feel like we just caught up with building up our savings and then got socked with an almost $9K tax bill. Now, we’re saving up to get air conditioning before the summer hits. I know that it can’t compare to what you’re going through, but what I mean is that there will always be tough financial choices and moments. You guys will get back on your feet sooner rather than later.

  • Reply Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank April 18, 2015 at 13:05

    Just think that every experience no matter how bad or good it is, we have to move on and learn from it. Good luck Nzmuse.

  • Reply Tonya@Budget and the Beach April 19, 2015 at 02:20

    I think it’s smart not to give up a cash buffer not matter how much cc debt sucks. I hope you start to feel settled soon in the new place!

  • Reply Michelle April 19, 2015 at 06:07

    Chica, I think that you’re dealing with a loss of control in several parts of your life that you typically would like to have.

    The thing is, sometimes you just have to let things go and just manage what you can manage. Sometimes it’s all about how you manage adversity that comes your way and I feel like you’ve done an amazing job of managing a very stressful time in your life.

    Create some contingency plans for the situations you mentioned: possible move, triaging your bill repayments, and managing the depression (probably item #1). Once you have a plan that will help regain a sense of control in these situations.

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