How many deal with Financial stress? (credit, payment, sell, company)

[wallstreet1986]

I had pretty big financial stress studying abroad in Paris.

I received 200 euro a month in budget for food which proved to be insufficient. One load of laundry was also 7 euro instead of $2 in the usa, eating out at a cafe was always 9 or 10 euro and out of budget. couldnt go to movies or events much because it was fairly expensive. (then again im a college student and making no money there.) One thing I liked was going to see the French National Team play at the Stade de France or the PSG soccer team. Definitely fun. Travel except for with the program out of the question. A weekend trip to Lyon or Tours could easily be 150-200 euro. Alright when you work i guess and per person but unaffordable for me.

Also in college pretty financially stressful. Im a very busy senior applying for jobs and schools with very little time to work. New tires, clutch --> credit card. You do the best you can but when im driving out to Naperville or Wheaton or Chicago stuff like that once or twice a week and spending loads on tolls, gas, and racking up mileage on my car for various interviews and stuff im involved with i have a lot of other expenses.

Law school omg the thought of it is kind of scary. Another four years with massive debt and some opportunity to make money in the summer but not a lot. What do I do then if my clutch goes out. Probably cant afford to get a new car or replace it outright. Guess i get new loans or more credit card debt. Debt is something we all must take down in droves now to have a better life in the future. I would have something like 80k in debt from something like Samford or U South Carolina instead of 150-200k from a place like Boston College or Emory. Law job in small-med southern city would pay 55-60 grand. Seems alright I guess.

or theres the military option. You get 2500 per month, food, housing covered, full med, trans budget and id have my credit cards paid off in like 2 weeks LOL. I ve never made like more than 1000 per month in my life. No job is going to be easy and I like the military idea because it seems like a job that would be more of a challenge and adventure than just a regular career, lot of opportunities and openings in different areas, meet a lot of cool new people, and give back to the country in the best way that I can. You see all the stuff America did for Europe when you go over to France and cant help but feel very very patriotic. Makes you wish your own country was less caught up in real estate greed and materialism and back to simple values, the one parent works one stays at home family, the family where people were less busy and ate together, and where employers didnt keep workers on 24-7 call. Stuff like desperate housewives and the OC is sad and unrealistic. Maybe thats why i prefer watching stuff like the food network or history channel or sometimes some fun sitcoms like Seinfeld or Everybody loves Raymond.

Be happy and comfortable with who you are. Maybe life wont be as tough or cause as much debt in the future particularly the cost vs benefit of higher education. People shouldnt need all to have like 6 years of college education to get jobs or maybe undergrad curriculums could be more consolidated and specialized. Much can be prevented by saving and not going out of your means. And when you are young or if you screwed things up and got in over your head its a learning experience. I like hearing about the Atlanta couple that bought the houses and fixed them up. They sounded within their means but not too stingy with stuff also and have some reward for their work.

[JenM]

I will raise my hand with a big yes. My husband and I have 3 children and have had trouble paying our bills for the past 4 years. I worry everyday that I won't have food, electricity, or water for the next day. I live everyday in fear of one of our cars breaking down or someone getting sick (no insurance). Hopefully our fears will be calmed when I finish school. I keep praying! OUr income is well below poverty level for a family of 5 (somewhere between $18,000- 23,000 a year)

[jkmewright]

It's hard to be under a financial burden. I have to keep in mind that there ARE ways to live w/out alot of money. The kids love to go to the park and play. Thats FREE! We get a neighbor to go along, pack up some snacks and head out until dark. Those crazy ducks love our old stale bread. In this day and age it's hard to remember the simple pleasures that create memories. To keep myself sane, I found that working around my home can be the most distracting chore to keep my mind off of money. I am redoing my kitchen and found a local habitat for humanity store for some GREAT supplies. We now have a stainless steel stove/oven for $10! and new paint for $5. I stripped my cabinets and repainted them and darn it if they don't look like something out of BHG. Now that cheers me up lol I won't go into gory details but we are under a TREMENDOUS amount of stress. By the time I get done, my home will be a decorating-on-a dime showplace and the ducks obese w/bread!

[msjbrent]

Originally Posted by jkmewright

It's hard to be under a financial burden. I have to keep in mind that there ARE ways to live w/out alot of money. The kids love to go to the park and play. Thats FREE! We get a neighbor to go along, pack up some snacks and head out until dark. Those crazy ducks love our old stale bread. In this day and age it's hard to remember the simple pleasures that create memories. To keep myself sane, I found that working around my home can be the most distracting chore to keep my mind off of money. I am redoing my kitchen and found a local habitat for humanity store for some GREAT supplies. We now have a stainless steel stove/oven for $10! and new paint for $5. I stripped my cabinets and repainted them and darn it if they don't look like something out of BHG. Now that cheers me up lol I won't go into gory details but we are under a TREMENDOUS amount of stress. By the time I get done, my home will be a decorating-on-a dime showplace and the ducks obese w/bread!

I am fortunate I have not had to worry about money in my life thus far. I have done some pretty neat things. But one of my favorite morning, afternoon or early evening passtimes is feeding birds! I buy bread as well as bird seed everytime I go grocery shopping. Between that and my six dogs only 5% of it is for the two humans in the house. Anyways, I probally feed them 5 times a week. When I'm throwing the bread I watch all there faces and pick out my "favorites" and try to aim the next piece for them. They land on my shoulders and head. And look right at me. For the me, time spent with any animal is the happiest time for me. And it's pretty much free, to boot!

[lionking]

lol....eh,Im currently under a little financial stress

been there before,things got better.Im here with it again,I know things will get better again.I saw it coming so I put my house up for sale 10 months ago,miscalculated just how fast the real estate market would turn.So Im still waiting.

Last time I had money problems I stayed late everyday at work and weekends for free to learn a better paying position(a more marketable skill),did that for a year and then was promoted.

This time Im cashing out my equity,gonna start new somewhere else,though besides money there are other reasons for doing so.

Recently saw the movie Pursuit of Happyness,it is inspiring.I might have my own problems but Im lucky compared to some others,and its was inspirational that you can better yourself.

[FleeingFloridaForever]

It was October 2005, when I was at my lowest financial state. I literally had only $2.23 in my checking account!

What happened was, I had helped my daughter and her husband and two babies out financially at the beginning of that year ($2,500.00) to get set up in their house and have all the utilities turned on, food, clothes, diapers, new tools and supplies for his work, etc. With the understanding that they would make monthly payments back to me - - since I took that money CASH out of my checking account!

Well, one thing turns to another....they never made payments over the 10 months...they were always just hanging on by a thread financially and I couldn't see taking what money they had from them because of the two babies!

So, I was in financial ruin by this time (plus I had to raise my 13 year old son as well)....I had everyone barking down my neck for payments..I called one of those credit card consolidation places and voluntarily turned in my credit cards to stop the interest rates from climbing every month ( I was behind payments)..well, while I was on the phone with one of the consultants I told her I was about to give up and just give in. I was at rock bottom. She asked me if I believed in Jesus. I said yes. She prayed for me over the phone. She told me to just read the Bible and the answers will come and ask God for help. When God knocks you to your knees --pray -- He will pick you back up.
We were on the phone for almost 1 1/2 hours talking. She was very soothing to me. Quite unexpected, too. I hope she didn't get introuble for that..if her superiors were listening into our conversation and it wasn't about business!!

I did just what she said....I did pray. I told God that I could not do it anymore ON MY OWN that I was at his mercy..do whatever you must do to help me and I will do it gladly. I prayed to God and told Him that He was incontrol and that I give my problems to Him..

I felt sooooo relieved. I just stopped worrying. It felt like a blanket was surrounding me now- it's hard to explain the feeling. Then, the following week I had more money in my account. Checks from Social Security I didn't expect were deposited into my account. I was offered more money at work ( raise ), then there was more overtime available at work that was closed off to us before. I returned to the church in December 2005 and was baptised (re-birth) then. I had been looking all over for a cheaper place to live..I gave it to the Lord to guide me and within two weeks I was driving around and I was led to a place (neighbourhood where I never would have gone to) and it turned out to belong to my Pastor at my church (we didn't know we were both looking for renter/rentee) quite cheaper than where I was renting! (and I didn't have to pay 1 and last month rent)...just marvelous things.

I don't believe it was consequences...I do believe in prayer and the sincerity of the prayer offered.

Everything is possible with God.

I never got money back from my daughter, but she is working and supporting her family and no more hand outs to her. I understand now..that if I had not given her family my money and totally busted my checking account...I never would of called the consolidation place where I was prayed for and I never would of returned to the church....I praise the Lord every day for everything He has allowed me to have. It's not about you - it's all about Him.

I will never forget that feeling of despair. Imagine only $2.23 to your name?!

[mystree]

Glad things worked out for you,I get nervous if my checking account dips into the $300 range,let alone $2.33.

[FleeingFloridaForever]

Originally Posted by mystree66

Glad things worked out for you,I get nervous if my checking account dips into the $300 range,let alone $2.33.

Thank you

I am doing alot better. Thank the LORD.

I'll never forget that feeling of despair and I'll never forget the great feeling of praise.

[CharlotteAgent]

Originally Posted by dlh891

My husband and I have had our struggles over the years, but we usually have a very nice house (want), luxury cars (another want) and all that goes with it. At the same time, we bought quite a few houses and rented them out sometimes throwing $100 to $200 a month after rent to make the mortgage payments. So, while our friends and family are blowing money shopping and partying, we were painting, mowing lawns, replacing toilets etc. Now we are cashing out and selling the houses and all we have is our current mortgage and SUV payment and a huge bank account. We have paid off every single bill we have ever accumulated and life feels very good now.

I am in that situation now and things could not be going better. Real estate is well worth the headaches.

[dlh891]

Originally Posted by CharlotteAgent

I am in that situation now and things could not be going better. Real estate is well worth the headaches.

Amen to that! Real estate, and the sacrifices we made for it, has been very good to us. Now that we moved out of Florida, we are taking our money and rehabbing houses and doing lease to own for people down on their luck. What a great feeling to make a little money while helping someone else out. Not all investors are bad.