Frustrated

**Wendy99** · 10-02-2008, 10:08 PM

How frustrating ...

During the winter & summer this year it seemed we were able to save up money so fast for things we needed ie. roof & patio door (our income tax etc helped, but still it happened fast). Now I'm just trying to scrape by to get the EF funded (which keeps going up and down like a rollar coaster) & it's so frustrating. I had plans to put money away for a new to us vehicle and to have our living room window replaced, but I dont seem to have that money I thought we would. The van needs work now and it's about to go down a couple hundred again, dh income is going down with winter coming, yet groceries & our heat bill have gone way up. We went on budget billing for gas because our income is lower in the winter and we can't afford the high bills, we were first quoted at $65, then $75 for our budget billing for heat each month .. the first bill came in at $99 - so there goes the budget again!! ds needs winter boots, tried at thrift store, but the only pair that fit him had a hole in the bottom - not going to do, going to have to go new, I need boots badly and I feel like it's a struggle to get the ball rolling again. I guess I'm just down about things right now - seems like we cant get ahead the past bit.

**dcompton** · 10-03-2008, 12:24 AM

It is frustrating. As for the EF, at least there are ups to go with the downs, so that's good. But it does seem like everything happens at once, and I know heating is a huge expense for you folks up north. Hang in through the winter and hope for an early and warm spring. And no, boots with a hole in the bottom definitely won't do in snow country. Brrrrrrr! Not to mention wet!

Here's hoping it gets better soon for you. Don't give up.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 10-03-2008, 02:29 AM

Keep your chin up... Sorry you're having such a EF 'roller coaster ride'.

Have you tried Freecycle or Craigslist for the boots? I know they have a category for clothes on craigs...worth a try.

**Greebo** · 10-03-2008, 05:48 AM

Hang in there, Wendy! This too shall pass!

You're in so much better of a position than so many. Just remind yourself how much worse it could be.

**Squirt** · 10-03-2008, 06:57 AM

It might be a shot in the dark, but I have a good pair of thinsulate steel-toed men's work boots that I don't wear much. I'm a ladies 8 1/2, I think they may be a men's size 8. If they'll fit you or your hubby, I'll send them to you.

**cheles2kids** · 10-03-2008, 08:03 AM

Wendy99, I think alot of us will really begin to feel the pinch in the next few months.
Be strong, continue to look forward to tomorrow and continue on your frugal path.

I agree with the above posters, I know for me, my EF kinda goes through an ebb & flow system.
Right now, I am definately not "flowing", but I continue to tell myself that it will get better.

Sometimes I havta take the same approach to my EF that I do my stockpile.
*Every* single extra dollar, does into an envelope and then I will take it and deposit it either bi-weekly or monthly, depending upon how much I have, no amount is too small, whether it's $2.00 or $25.00.
Now would be a good time to cash in any change jars you have accumulating, and dollar bills that you have saved and then add it into your fund.
Seeing the small increases can also be enough motivation sometimes to pull you up out of a funk.

As they say, "Just keep on, keeping on!"
Oh & I'm sending lots of these

&

, in hopes you get to feeling better in the coming days!

**cheles2kids** · 10-03-2008, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by Squirt

It might be a shot in the dark, but I have a good pair of thinsulate steel-toed men's work boots that I don't wear much. I'm a ladies 8 1/2, I think they may be a men's size 8. If they'll fit you or your hubby, I'll send them to you.

Squirt, that is an unbelievably kind offer.

Here's to hoping that her family can use them.

**Dancing Lotus** · 10-03-2008, 08:09 AM

Wendy99 - what size shoe do you wear? I hope it's a size smaller then mine cause I got some that pinch my feet you can have.
What size does hubby wear , post it ya never know.

**Cricketlegs** · 10-03-2008, 10:16 AM

I agree the EF goes up and down and bills keep on coming.

I myself have been happy with the rate my debt is going down but it is so long til payoff that I was able to find more money(thanks to dhs raise) and then find yet more money!

It will be hard slim pickins around here but I talked to my dh and he said to "go for it" so no surprises coming to get a jump start going.

I am so sick of paying and paying and being stuck in the snowball!! I have to do something!

My Ef was up and it went down and then up and then down and now I am puttng it back so I understand what you are feeling.

I haven't even figured income taxex refunds yet or even let myself think anout what I could do with it and won't until I actually have it so no disappointmenst if things don't work out as expected.

Keep on going because forward is up. Stopping is down and we don't do down anymore right??

**Wendy99** · 10-03-2008, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Squirt

It might be a shot in the dark, but I have a good pair of thinsulate steel-toed men's work boots that I don't wear much. I'm a ladies 8 1/2, I think they may be a men's size 8. If they'll fit you or your hubby, I'll send them to you.

Originally Posted by AnnK

Wendy99 - what size shoe do you wear? I hope it's a size smaller then mine cause I got some that pinch my feet you can have.
What size does hubby wear , post it ya never know.

Wow thank you both so much!! The offer is so kind. My husband is lucky and has a good pair of boots this winter (he got them at a liquation store a few years back and they are still holding up). It's just me (ladies size 10 to 11) and my son (he's 7yrs - size 1) that are needing boots. I'm going to keep checking out the thrift stores over the next couple weeks before buying new and hopefully we'll lucky - they get new stuff every day.

I'm so lucky to have the emotional support from you all - when all this money stuff gets tough. Greebo I agree I'm lucky to be where I am with no debt, but I know it's only a matter of time without a good EF before the debt comes. I'm still not convinced our vehicle is going to hang in there much longer, guess I'll see how the latest repairs go (hopefully this weekend) dh seems to think it's invinsible. We also have a mold growing in our bathroom so we need to put in one of those exhaust vans asap before winter (we never had troubles until a couple years back when we replaced the window - just shows how bad & drafty our old window was LOL). Anyways thank you again for all the encouragement!! Going to keep being as frugal as possible & plow through this