by Hope
It’s the last day of the first month of 2025. I completed my first No Spend Month of the calendar year without going over my “budget” although it didn’t get spent the way I had planned.
Instead of groceries, I purchase meds and flowers. I was so sick for the majority of the month, that the food I did have, well, it’s most all still here.
That being said, despite being sick, this has been one of the most pleasant months I have had in a very long time. I had a lot of down time. I read a lot. I thought about what I want a lot. I slept a lot.
And I didn’t have to worry about anyone else.
The Plan
I have decided to sell my house. But I have also decided to do the work that I need to do to sell it myself. This includes touch up paint through out and refinishing the hardwood floors.
I will use a real estate agent. And my goal is to complete the work and be out of the house be the end of February.
For now, my things will remain in storage here in Georgia. I will head to my parents while the house goes on the market. All of the realtors I have interview are confident based on market, comps, and condition of house that it should be under contract the first couple of weeks.
If that’s the case, I will return from my parents before closing, complete the clearing of the house. And then decide where to go based on timing.
If it’s not under contract in the 2-3 weeks I plan to be at my parents, I will re-evaluate the plan.
Full transparency, I am still on the fence as to whether I am to stay here or go somewhere. I know the job market will be better elsewhere, there is no doubt about that. But the cost of living will be higher and the chances of me being able to afford to purchase again…iffy unless I get back into the corporate world.
This plan is 100% taking a step in faith and asking God to direct my steps. I’ve been praying for several years for clear direction, and frankly, I do not have it. So rather than waiting on God to appear in a dream. Boy, wouldn’t that be nice. I am taking steps and praying he will guide them as he did with Paul and Barnabas in Acts.
If the house doesn’t sell quickly and for the amount we are anticipating, I stay. If it does, I go. Just not sure where yet…
Dogs
I am down to two dogs, that will remain with me. I will share Opie’s story at a later date, but rest assured it’s a God story all the way through. (Jake will be moving to Texas with Gymnast next time I go.)
Work
I am working very hard to rebuild my reputation online as a digital marketing/technologist and have secured 3 contracts already with several others looking like they will close in February.
I am also on round two for a full time corporate job – pray for that. My 2nd interview is tonight.
I realize the house sale is not the best financial decision. But it will take an enormous burden off as far as debt goes. And I am truly, truly open to going wherever and doing pretty much whatever at this point. So leaning in and trusting God’s plan because I do not have one.
And I always love a good adventure!

Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.
Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.
Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.
We all knew you were going to sell the house. From the first moment you mentioned it as an option, it was a done deal. I feel like you’re lying to yourself. “This plan is 100% taking a step in faith and asking God to direct my steps.” I disagree with you. This plan is 100% doing what you wanted to do in the first place and expecting God to fix it when it doesn’t work out.
Well, you must know me better than I do. Even my dad hasn’t been sure I would go through with it. I feel like I’ve changed my mind every other week over the last 6 months since I first “decided”. After my first fall trip to Texas, I came back convinced that I absolutely did not want to sell.
Even this past month, I’ve prayed for clarity and some way to keep the house but lose what seems to be never ending financial stress.
So yes, I am definitely leaning towards favoring the sell just to take the financial pressure off. The thought kills me because I love this house. I’ve made it exactly what I want.
So we will see. And yes, I am definitely expecting God to guide my steps in the right direction because I have learned time and time again, I suck at it.
Hope, I have been following your story for years, and I wish you all the best. Based on that, I would ask you to look back at your history honestly and acknowledge all the times you have said some variation of, “this may not be the best financial decision, but it is what is best for my family/me”. Its been a lot.
Every time people on this blog have urged you to slow down, think things through, and make a plan before stepping off into the unknown. You rarely take that advice, much to your own detriment.
No one is telling you not to ever sell your house. Just to slow down, and make a plan before you step off the cliff. If the house will sell in March, it will sell in May. You have time. Take it. Apply for jobs anywhere you might feasibly live. If you get a job in Austin, go there. Thats a plan. If you get a remote job, live in your current place, which is cheaper than you will ever see again in your lifetime. Get therapy and confront your unhappiness. It isn’t in the house, its in you. Maybe if you ask God for guidance on that you will get a clearer answer.
I am wholly open to whatever. But after more than two years of seeking clarity of what that is, this is me stepping out in faith. If I’m meant to stay here, the house won’t sell for my bottom line price and I’ll get income coming in to pay the bills.
If I’m not, the house will sell. It will pay off my debt. And I will have an adventure that I have dreamed of for years. See where the wind blows and being open to where God leads me.
I wonder if God finds it this frustrating when he tries to communicate with you.
Oh, I’m sure he does. Just as I find it frustrating trying to discern his will.
I’ve definitely required a “frying pan to the head” kind of guidance throughout my life. I’ve always envied that were able to hear “that still small voice”.
As someone who believes in God herself, you are relying FAR too much on God here. You’re expecting visions, guidance, a mission to rain from the heavens. It’s up to you to find your purpose. God doesn’t “direct” your steps, as you wrote. You do. Your faith is beautiful, but you can’t leave things up to God. It doesn’t work like that.
I am absolutely HOPING for guidance. But since I have been very clear is asking for the last two years with no clarity. This is my step. I am 100% certain that he will guide my steps, I just need to start taking them. I’m surprised that a fellow Christian doesn’t believe that God guides us.
I realize the hope for a dream or a vision is far fetched in this day and age. I laugh almost every day when I have quiet time and read about those. But I am stepping out in faith that He has a plan for this next phase of my life. And perhaps I have let this house anchor me somewhere that I am not been to be.
If he wants me here, he will prevent me from moving. I’ve lived with enough turmoil to be able to look back and see his hand in things that at the time just baffled me.
Renting another storage unit is a bad idea that will cost you way more over the long term than just getting rid of your stuff.
Since I am not “moving” anywhere other than my car. I must have storage unit. There are things/furniture I am keeping. It’s much more economical to leave it here at $79 per month than to hire a truck and take it ??? where storage is much higher and I have no idea where I might settle someday.
Alice is correct. Anyone that has read here for any amount of time knew you would sell the minute you mentioned it. All the God talk is a total cop out. You are responsible for your decisions. You live in a very LCOL area with an extremely low mortgage payment. You had a great income last year once your new job started. How on earth is that low payment “financial pressure”? How is selling your ONLY asset and moving to a HCOL area with no job going to help your situation. Once your family is no longer supporting you in their homes, what is the plan? You will have spent any nest egg you got from the house (please at least pay off all your consumer debt with it and close all your cards but one or two) and have mediocre credit so getting in someplace else will be very hard. You are paying $750/month to your daughter, she should be willing to store you things a few months even if it is not super convenient for her. Every penny counts in the situation you find yourself in again. I recommend renting your house out for now while you see if your Austin move is viable for a year. I have always had the impression your family is a bit weary of your financial shenanigans, are you sure they plan to support your living situation as expected? I wish you the best, but shake my head a lot at your decisions.
God talk is a cop out? Interesting perspective.
I agree 100% that my decisions are my own.
My family is not planning nor expected to “support me”. Without my debt load and current living expenses – mortgage, utility, etc. I can easily support myself with the income I am making.
If you are referring to me staying with my parents to help my dad out with my mom’s care, yes, we have discussed that. And it is my dad’s idea. But it will be a come and go type of situation as it has been this past fall.
What income are you making? You referred to a few gigs that brought in a few hundred dollars but did you find something more stable?
I now have 4 on going clients under contract totalling just over $6K per month. (Just signed last deal yesterday).
And I am on the 3rd round of interviews for a corporate job. And have another contract that has a verbal agreement for either $6K/month for 6 months or $15K over the next two months.
I hate when people recommend renting out the house. There is no way on any planet that Hope should be a landlord with the state of her finances. Can you imagine being a renter where when something breaks and the landlord has no money to fix it? I’ve been on the renters end of it.
It turns into stolen security deposits (robbing peter to pay paul, which Hope already does with bills when she falls behind). And it eventually turns into the renter being an unwilling seller when the house goes to short sale or foreclosure. Not to mention, I don’t think her house in it’s current state would attract the best tenants so there is another potential for Hope to get stuck with people who fall on hard times and can’t pay. Renting out the house is a horrible idea on all levels.
First, thank you. I 100% agree. I’m just not confident in my ability to be a good landlord especially not being close by.
I wouldn’t “not pay” the mortgage or sell out from under a renter, but I do know that happens. But maintenance issues and paying for any “big” expenses and worrying about that, would just be another layer of stress that I am trying to get out from under!
I did and have considered all rental options…renting out a room or two, putting the house on AirBnB, renting out the house. But I agree with your assessment that it is not a good idea for me any way you look at it.
Not sure what refinishing your floor involves, but we just had it done and there is no way I would have had the knowledge, the tools or the time to do it myself.
Is your area an area where it might be difficult to buy back in to if you decide you don’t want to move?
Definitely good points shared on the floors.
While this is a low cost of living area, housing is at a premium. I don’t want to be here. Unless the house literally doesn’t sale what my hard line bottom, I will not be coming back or living here. (And none of my kids have any interest at all in coming back here outside of quick visits to me.) So me going is approved across the board.
We did explore the kids wanting to come back or even wanting the house someday during this process. But they are all in agreement that I sell.