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Last Month was Rough – No water, electricity, phone

I had fully intended to return to writing regularly here last month, but the hits just kept coming. And I could not focus to save my life. (Not to mention, the sense of shame and loss are pretty overwhelming at times.)

Last month (August) is the month that I…

Almost had my water and electricity turned off because I couldn’t pay the bills
Did have our phones turned off because I couldn’t pay the bill
Got a cancellation notice from our auto insurance because I couldn’t pay the bill
Got a “if you don’t catch up now we will go to collections” notice from my mortgage company

I will stop there. You can see the trend.

Keeping things afloat on just at $2,000 per month is not going well. Even at our darkest, it has never been this dark. (I am SO GRATEFUL that the kids are grown and mostly gone. That does take a great deal of pressure off.)

I had to break down and ask for help. I didn’t see a way around it at all.

Thankfully, I am hoping, that I will only have to pay back 1/2 of the debt I incurred. The other half may be a prepayment for a new website my brother has been asking me to do for a couple of years. He might be ready and the money I borrowed from him would cover most of that project.

And I am by no means, out of the woods, I have really just bought myself a month of peace. I will be back in the same boat if I don’t get some more income in the next 6-ish weeks.

So I owe you a new debt update. It is gnarly to say the least (I kind of like that word for some reason). And I’ve put it off because I am so ashamed that I am back in this place AGAIN.

That will be forthcoming. I’m just thickening my skin a bit for the onslaught of criticism, even though it is deserved on some fronts.

But the good news is:

I have already let my dad know that I will not be traveling at all for the holidays. (We typically go to Texas every Thanksgiving.)
I have had a recent up-tick in contract work. I’m not going to say it’s promising yet, but it is something.
And I just have to worry about me now. That’s a big difference than the last time things were almost this bad and I had 4 school age children I was single-handedly supporting.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.

But life has a way of rewriting your plans.

A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.

Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.

Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.

She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.

How to Receive Specialized Care After an Injury

by Semify

Recovering from an injury might seem as though it will be a long journey. However, you can shorten your recovery time by getting specialized treatment. You’ll need these specialists to get the care you deserve.

1. See a Neuroradiologist

You can help yourself recover by seeing a dedicated Neuroradiologist. This type of specialist can assist with diagnosing brain injuries from a car accident. He or she will use information from X-rays, CAT scans, and MRIs to determine the severity of your injury and point you toward the right care provider.

Seeing this professional is necessary after a car crash or any incident that harms the area above your neck. Traumatic brain injuries are prevalent in car accidents because of quick jolts and impact on the head. Therefore, you must see someone specializing in head injuries to get the necessary care.

2. Speak to a Trauma Therapist

Most accidents and injuries also produce emotional and mental damage. For example, you may have flashbacks from the car accident that caused your injuries. You may be afraid to return to your job if you experience a workplace injury. Even if you weren’t in a car accident or workplace accident, you’d likely need to talk to someone about the mixed emotions that might plague you due to your newly discovered limitations.

Specialists of this nature usually charge by the hour. However, it’s possible to get a discounted rate. Your success depends on your insurance policy and affiliations. Many providers can help you recover after experiencing this type of injury. You will need to research to weed out the mediocre providers and find someone who can provide excellent service to you.

3. See an Orthodontist

You’ll need to visit an orthodontist if you’ve been in a situation that has caused you to lose teeth or have issues with chips and breaks. Orthodontists are masters at creating a beautiful, straight smile in people who have been in accidents. About one in every five orthodontic patients are adults. Thus, plenty of these providers can take care of you and help you restore your smile.

The first step in getting help from an orthodontist is to call and schedule a consultation. The specialist will take x-rays, examine your injuries, and decide the best treatment method. They might use braces, Invisalign, crowns, bridges, or veneers.

4. Visit a Cardiologist

You might also need to see a cardiologist after a severe accident. A cardiologist can monitor your heart and ensure it beats regularly after your traumatic incident. About 805,000 people have a heart attack each year. So, it is not uncommon for someone in an accident to be overly excitable or nervous.

Visit the nearest person in this field and have them examine you thoroughly to avoid future problems with your ticker. Be proud of yourself for caring for your body this way.

5. Schedule Physical Therapy

Many people who experience accidents have mobility problems. They have dislocated shoulders, strained limbs, whiplash, and the like. A physical therapist is a provider who can help you recover using a slow process of helping you get back in shape.

This person will first examine you and determine the appropriate treatment plan. You may have to do certain exercises after you’ve healed enough. Those exercises will help you loosen up the affected part of your body so that you can use it how it’s intended. It may take a few months or years to recover, depending on the severity of the damage. However, you should stick with the program and continue to be hopeful that you will return to normal one day.

Those are just a few specialists you might need to see if you get into an accident. Don’t forget to speak to a personal injury attorney if you think your injury is someone else’s fault. Personal injury attorneys are in business to get accident victims the money they need to survive. Thus, you should include that specialist in your list of necessary providers. Take care of yourself and be well.