debt Archives - Page 43 of 49 - Blogging Away Debt Blogging Away Debt

As of yesterday morning, I have locked in enough work to cover the bills through the remainder of the year. No extra. But with the work I have contracted out, I will be able to cover all bills through my mortgage payment on the first of January.

Now it’s going to take a few weeks or even a month to get caught up with everything, especially since this is contract work so clients often delay in payment. But all the work is with existing or previous clients so I have complete faith that I will get paid in a relatively timely manner. Woot. Woot.

I.am.so.grateful!

What now?

This work buys me a couple of months of breathing room, but that’s it. While there will most likely be some ongoing work as a result, I don’t anticipate it will be much.

And this work still leaves me plenty of time to pick up another, at least part time job. I’m will continue to pursue a local in person job to pad things a bit more.

I have also been informed that I will most likely be able to pick up some more hours come the new year from my part time job during tax season. Things are looking up.

Pivot and Focus

Finally, I have been playing around with my now 17 year old consulting firm. It was put on the back burner a couple years ago when I went back into the corporate world. I REALLY wanted to stay in the corporate world, but after a solid year of applications, it’s just not looking like that’s the direction I’m to go.

So I’ve decided on a pivot to my service offerings and am relaunching in a big way. I’ve created some flyers, social campaigns, and beginning next week, I’m going to start pounding the pavement.

For the first time, in a LONG TIME, I am feeling hopeful. And once I get caught up…it will be time to zero in on my debt again. After I save at least $1,000 back in my EF!

Personal note: I greatly appreciate all of the BAD community’s feedback on my posts and decisions. Even when it’s rough, it helps keep me focused and honest. This is a very new phase of my life. And I am genuinely working to make decisions with my head versus my heart. It’s a hard habit to break, but I realize that in the long run, it will be for the best. Please keep pounding on me.

Hope

Hope is a creative, solutions-focused business manager helping clients grow their business and work more efficiently by leveraging expertise in project management, digital marketing, & tech solutions. She’s recently become an empty nester as her 5 foster/adoptive kids have spread their wings. She lives with her 5 dogs in a small town in NE Georgia and prefers the mountains to the beaches any day. She struggles with the travel bug and is doing her best to help each of her kids as their finish schooling and become independent (but it’s hard!) She has run her own consulting company for almost twenty years! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally in a place to really focus on making wise financial decisions.

Pet Spending – Ask for It

by Hope

I’m sure this post is going to have readers slapping their foreheads at my decisions and priorities again. So just wanted to start off by saying, I realize that spending money on pets is not everyone’s priorities, and I feel that I have fairly reasonable boundaries on acceptable spending in this category.

I have 5 dogs. Down from 7 earlier this year. Their food costs around $150 per month. And once a year, they all get the required shots which typically runs about $30-50 per dog at the local Tractor Supply.

My Heart Dog

Addie is my heart dog. I got her off Facebook as a puppy for free about 2/1/2 years ago. And fell in love.

I don’t know if the statement about having a favorite child applies to dogs, but she is hands down my favorite. She has travelled with me to Texas twice this year, sleeps with me, sits with me when I’m working, crying, whatever.

A few weeks ago, during one of my “most broke” weeks, I needed to take Addie to the vet. I had held out as long as I could, tried all sorts of over the counter remedies, etc. but it became apparent that nothing was working. I was about a week out from getting another paycheck. And had no money.

I called the vet to make an appointment. After letting them know the symptoms, etc. they asked if I could bring her that day. Of course, I could, I’ve got a lot of time on my hands in the afternoons. But I couldn’t pay them, anything.

I was upfront about the financial situation and asked if I could write a post-dated check. The receptionist said she would have to check and would call me back.

In the end, they agreed to accept the post-dated check, and Addie was seen that afternoon. She was put on anti-biotics, steroids, and another medication. Two weeks later, she is right as rain. And this dog mama is so relieved.

That post-dated $200 check hurts in a lot of ways financially. But for my mental and emotional health – worth every single penny!

Pet Insurance

When we got Cali, Sophie and Murphy 6 years ago from the Humane Society, they came with 1 year of “pet insurance” or something like that. Murphy was Princess’ dog, a Chihuahua that was OLD when we got him. Within a week, he was having seizures and come to find out also heart issues. That “insurance” covered NOTHING. It was such a waste, so I’m glad it wasn’t an expense.

But since then, I don’t even consider health insurance for pets. Do you?

Princess and Murphy when I went to pick him up from her at school to bring him home to say goodbye

I am so blessed to have had very healthy animals. And when the dogs were fosters, all those expenses were covered anyways. We had to let go of Murphy earlier this year. I cannot remember if I wrote about it. He had been living with Princess at school and it was time. I am so grateful for the compassionate and affordable service the Humane Society provided when it was time to say good bye. He is buried in our side yard.

What is your personal experience with pet health insurance? And how do you cap what you spend on your furry family members?