My proof that ZERO is a good number

**Lady_V** · 01-12-2012, 12:58 PM

I was online this morning looking up OldMan's paycheck for direct deposit in the morning. Well... I was a bit taken back when it was lighter than I expected...
a WEEK lighter!

The old me would be panicking about now (old me)>

Since paying down everything and keeping to the budget, I was able to still pay the bills that were due this time around, fill the gas tank, buy the groceries, tuck some away for vacation spending...

The call was placed to the manager to have that missing week tracked down, but it feels SO GOOD to not have to sit here worrying about not being able to pay the bills.

I know that not everyone can be debt-free right now, but don't ever feel as you can't be someday. It wasn't all that long ago that this would have devastated us. Pay what you can, when you can!

**Cricketlegs** · 01-12-2012, 01:40 PM

Great news for you. We get so accustomed to living at a certain standard and are positive we can not possibly squeeze another penny out and sure enough someone comes along and does it to their budget and makes the rest of us look at the numbers again!

**hmcart** · 01-12-2012, 02:32 PM

good for you! That is awesome!

**Libby** · 01-12-2012, 04:58 PM

LV - I hear you on this one and GREAT JOB of paying down debt so you didn't get tanked by this unexpected blip.

A friend recently divulged that she'd finally admitted to being 'house poor' and in the wrong for trying to keep up a lifestyle that she could never afford, even more so now with a mortgage.

**mndtrp** · 01-12-2012, 09:26 PM

My company was recently bought by another company, and the new year marked the changeover in payroll and timecard entry systems. Over half of my coworkers were incredibly worried about the possibility of the pay being messed up, and getting smaller paychecks than usual. It showed me just how many were living paycheck to paycheck, and simply couldn't absorb a one-time hiccup.

**frugalnana** · 01-14-2012, 12:04 PM

I can feel you on this one. Dh who never gets sick, except maybe with the sniffles, got the flu Dec. 4th. He was off 3 days then 5 days and then it turned into 2 weeks. He has never been this sick. But we went 2 weeks without a pay. He gets paid every week. When he did go back to work his last pay was for $71. His company took out the Health insurance and the other deductions we have. Years ago I might have fallen to the floor. But I just transferred some money and paid the bills as normal. Thats why the EF fund is so important to have. If you don't use it just let it keep piling up.

**rebecca** · 01-15-2012, 06:44 AM

I know exactly where your coming from Lady-V. I have been off for the last two weeks. I have all my bills paid and my mortgage for this month and didn't even have to dig into my EF. Took it out of my bill money and acct. I know at work some people freak out at work when they don't have a full pay check or are off for a few days from being sick.