How many deal with Financial stress?

[FedUpInFtMyers]

Originally Posted by MoMark

I have been in that situation. I recommend prioritizing what's most important and paying the most essential items first. Stop using credit cards period and keep up at least the minimum payments which have been upped as a percentage of the balance so that they automatically are now designed to help pay principle down. Get rid of or sell things you don't need. Reevaluate cell phone expenses, landline expenses (drop one), forget eating out and learn how to make meatloaf (easy and delicious) and cooking at home. No more Starbucks coffee (it's crap anyway) and brew your own from beans you can buy at any grocery store in bulk.
Get rid of anything that is a luxury you don't need. Stop buying clothes for now.
I've been there. I remember how it felt and it's not pleasant, but you can only do your best, and if you're truly cutting out the fat you don't need, then you'll relax knowing that you are sincerely using your brain to do your best.
I now own my home on 4.3 acres, a custom built 2301 sq. ft. brick house totally free and clear. I haven't had a car payment since 2002. I have zero credit card debt and refuse to use them. If I can't afford it, I don't buy it.
You'll find if you live as simply as possible and keep track of any money you pull out of the ATM along with checks you write, you'll get a handle on it.

That is an excellent post, MoMark! I couldn't agree with you more. We live in a society that is hooked on "convenience" items (saving time but not money - and oftentimes paying more for something) in addition to "starter" home, car - sometimes even "starter" spouse - mentality! We do need to learn to live more simply and learn to want what we have. I also agree that if you have to use plastic to make a purchase, you very simply cannot afford that item, and it should not be purchased. That being said, I recognize that there are some people who are struggling financially due to genuine circumstances that they did not create, and hopefully, they will take all of your advice!

[carolinajack]

No troubles to speak of, live below my means, save and invest, and live simply. still have all i need and all i want.

[theqbaby]

I am struggling with a decision I made....

Have lived with financial stress all my adult life. Credit card debt, car payments, insurance... you name it. Just like alot of other posters. Had hit some very hard times and some not so hard, but not so good times, never GREAT times (financially).
After relocating out of Florida recently for husbands work, I have started to see things differently (not always by choice).
Our relocation (prior to sale of house) cost us more than we expected, which meant using credit cards . Racked up ALOT of credit card debt (double digits), also had attorney bill of $40k.
Well, we finally sold the house in Florida, paid off ALL our credit cards and attorney, which was my main goal. We are currently in a company paid rental, which is amazingly beautiful. We began hunting for a place to own. What we wanted was acreage. Not alot, but enough, without a huge mortgage. We finally have $$ in the bank. We both drive OLD trucks, but are dependable and paid for.
I am being stingy with what I pay out for the moment.I kind of like seeing my bank account over $300.00 Being new to the area, I just don't feel comfortable throwing $200- $400k into a house and having a big mortgage.
The problem we ran into looking for a home was that in this area, most acreage come with a manufactured/mobile home. We found a very nice place w/ 2 acres. 2800 square feet, very clean, excellent condition,on culdesac,clean neighborhood, 33 acres maybe 12 homes, in a small rural area (which we wanted rural) for $70,000. We could pay cash, but I want to keep money in the bank. We origianlly planned to build our own house, but that is yet to be determined in this particular area. It may not make sense at this time.
We have lived in a 2/1 cbs home, then a 6/4 pool, waterfront cbs (just overbuilt for neighborhood, nothing fancy). We have always owned a House. I am having the biggest contradictions in my head right now. I have never owned a manufactured home, I know that they don't hold as much value, but I don't want to be living paycheck to paycheck anymore.And I am insuring it to the max !! (which is still alot cheaper than minimal insurance in Fl.) I want to buy my husband a newer truck, if not new (something we never had). I want to be able to see him enjoy life a bit, rather than not being able to take time off for vacation, or have the toys that he wants without being in debt and not having the time to enjoy the toys.
I see this purchase as a temporary thing until we find "what we want", and as a new adventure, something we haven't experienced before. What his company pays him for rent here will pay 4 months mortgage at new location. On paper, it is beautiful and promising. So why am I struggling with the decision I made????
In Florida, we spent alot more money. It was just plain easy to do. 2 to 3 nights a week we would eat out ($100.00 each night) and so on, always something to spend money on. Here it is different, much slower and much less convenient, yet just 30 minutes from town if wanted.
I guess you really don't know if you made the right decision until you live it !
Please, I am looking forward to your comments, the good, bad and ugly.
I have weighed the pro and cons over and over again, and the pro always seem to outweigh the cons, but there is still doubt.
Would you downscale your way of life to live a more relaxed and comfortable life ?

[Manhattan-ite]

I am sorry for those who work hard and save but still can't make payments and live somewhat poverty. Sometimes life is a b**ch!

But I have no pity whatsoever for those -and they're many, too many in America- whose financial problems come from frivolously spending credit money they don't have in products they don't need.

If, as Momark very well said, "I can't afford it, I don't buy it". This should be the golden rule.

Once you're into trouble because you were non-smart and spent too much, you and only you should be able to get out of the mess.

I have great respect and admiration for those who sunk into debt but were able to pull out by themselves.

I have no admiration for those who overspent living beyond their means and then paid a financial guru or a church to get advice. In my opinion, the weakness involved in the whole process (both the sinking and the getting out) cannot guarantee you'll stay out of debt forever:

What if the guru fails? What if the church can't deliver? What if your mind falls again into spending?

[msjbrent]

I just saw a 1 hour special called True Life: Declaring Bankruptcy. Followed 3 young people under 25. One young woman, 21 yrs old, was trying to "get out" of her credit card debt the easy way. Did not want to work or really change her lifestyle. I think at 21, she was still living at home, that is ridiculas. And she worked. Made around $2,000 monthly. She should have been able to manage.

[Cherron]

We have always lived frugally and saved for the future, never having any real fun in order to prepare for our retirement. Well now that we are near retirement age, the government is doing it's best to make sure we never retire. Medicare that used to be free now costs nearly as much as the premiums we still need for medigap health insurance. If it wasn't for the cost of healthcare, we could retire and have some fun. As it is, we'll work until we drop dead on the office floor. Yep, it's stressful and terribly depressing. It's looking more and more like we should have spent all our money as fast as we got it, having fun while we could, then qualify for Welfare and Medicaid in our senior years.

[lionking]

Originally Posted by FleeingFloridaForever

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 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?!

I do understand this,I have been there myself and my life changed afterward also.I still get stressed out sometimes, I am recently but I now know that things will work out someway.Thanks for this post,it helps to revive my batteries and remind me.

I like the saying "you can't be the captain of the sea but you can be captain of your boat".Recent events financially such as job relocations,insurance increases and such have put a strain on me but I know that I will make it better with a little help.

I have never taking any handouts from the government or charity thankfully I have always made my bills even if there is nothing left after.I am so thankful that a certain times my dad has been there for me when I truelt needed it.This week I shut off internet service to combat insurance increases but I know things will get better.