Does anyone else feel this way?

**Precious26** · 03-11-2007, 01:42 PM

Do any of you ever feel a little stressed out that even though your not in debt it just seems that there is always something that needs to be paid for? even when your just trying to move forward even when you have started saving. How do you deal with the little things that you are unable to to control?

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-11-2007, 01:51 PM

That happens to me all the time, I saved up my EF got it to about $2000, had some dental bills, dr. visits (I had the flu), medications, new rotors for the van and I have no health insurance for myself right now so my EF took a huge hit and I mean huge, I am down to $160 but I am building it back up slowly.

I just keep thinking that everytime I see my EF get bigger even if by $5 I am happy, I also like the fact that I didnt have to use a credit card, that really makes my day.

**autumnlynn** · 03-11-2007, 03:37 PM

I agree with Tracy. Having that emergency fund is great so when things come up, you will have the money and not have to use a credit card. It's just part of life that things will keep coming up that are out of our control. Just keep working on building that ef up.

**kaykwilts** · 03-11-2007, 04:01 PM

I know what you mean. Dh just paid the house insurance and it was like $800 and we have a high deductible. It would even be higher if we didn't have that high deductible. Seems like every time you go to the grocery store things are even more higher.

**tigo** · 03-12-2007, 10:46 AM

I do- Just got my income tax refund, had the EF up to $1000 when everything hit the fan - divorce attorney $1000, both kids needing wisdom teeth out $4000, DD needing braces $5000 with $1750 up front before they will even finance. Looks like I will have zero in the EF and checking and be starting from scratch in April. On the up side, there should be no big expenses again until August (insurance, back to school). Hopefully I can make some progress back up.

**cara-lynne** · 03-12-2007, 11:24 AM

i agree; emergency fund is all you can do.

**Telephus44** · 03-12-2007, 09:34 PM

I feel the same way about our down payment for a house fund - we really need about $50,000 in order to actually buy a house, and it seems that every time we get up to $5,000 then something comes up - like the tax bill this month - and we get knocked down. Sometimes I get depressed and think that we'll never be able to buy a house...

**ama** · 03-12-2007, 09:44 PM

It can be frustrating but I try to stay positive and be patient. Imagine what would have happened if you hadn't had that money saved! Mega debt and who wants that?

**chatterweb** · 03-13-2007, 12:06 AM

I know just how you feel!!! I had 13K in the ef 1 year ago. Now we have 12K.

Guess what?
Property taxes are due, 2200.00 gone.

My new computer bill due, another 650.00 gone.
DH's truck will need work soon. My car will need new tires too.
My dad wants us to fly to AK for a family reunion and he is offering to pay 1/2 the airfare. I still do not want to go and get into debt since we need the dogs put in the kennel,a rental car and hotel. No Way!
So I know how you feel.
Mybrother is not going either so I feel better.

Anyways, even insurance bills catch me off guard.
Now Dh wants to book a 400.00 2 day fishing trip in August. So yes, I am in the same boat here too.
And do not let our seemingly large ef fund decieve, we did have 56K at one time.
Sure we used some for investing and for Dh's dental health,but it is so easy to spend money.

**nwmissourigal** · 03-13-2007, 09:25 PM

Those little things just sneak in every once in a while. And always when you least expect it. So it is good to have a EF. That's what it for, but I always hate using it...

**HandyMom** · 03-13-2007, 11:56 PM

I used to think that if I dared to say I had some money saved, the car would hear that and break down at once, gobbling up what little savings I managed to tuck away. So I say nothing but keep trying.

This is what I don't get. Those I know who do not save a penny seem to almost never have a need for an emergency fund and they regularly blow money on expen$ive vacations, clothing or some other thing I do without.

I get sad to have to pay out my savings on medical bills or repairs while not having any sort of a vacation since I can remember and regularly doing without things that others take for granted. This is not the kind of life I think I signed up for!

**chatterweb** · 03-14-2007, 01:38 AM

I hear ya. The last real vacation we took was a cruise in 2002.
It costed $2500.00. But we did have a grand time!

Anyways, we are just going to stay home and pass up the offers for visiting family far away.
Even just visiting family 2 hours away this past Sunday costed $50.00 in gas alone. It is over 3.00 a gallon here now. However it was well worth the trip to visit family.

**Marie78** · 03-14-2007, 01:48 AM

I feel badly too about building an EF just to see it depleted and go towards things I didn't have a chance to save for yet. Just as my car and college loan come to an end this September, I will be using that money towards paying off the 0% cc I need to take out to attend to my growing dental work. *sigh* it always feels like something is coming up for me. At least I don't feel alone, it seems to be the norm. I'll keep working at growing my EF and keep a positive attitude that it will all work out well.

**TheRootedNomad** · 03-14-2007, 07:19 AM

I know what you're saying. Even when things appear to be going fairly well the oddball things can pop and stop you from moving ahead. Currently I'm still working full time as well as DH working full time so that we can make sure we're in a decent place before I stay home for awhile. We've been where it was really bad and have clawed our way over the 1st 2 mountains 1) baby EF and 2) lots of debt and are working on 3) Fully funded EF and 4) paying off the morgage simultaneously.....Knowing how long it will take makes months when we slide down some very frustrating . Things as simple as the two dogs needing thier yearly shots, or the Ancient Queen

(our cat) needing a vet appointment, or DH's $60.00 truck needing breaks (which he does himself) can send my fear/frustration level skyrocketing.

Feb. and March have been loaded with those kind of "joys" for us. I just concentrate on tightening up elsewhere and trying to hold our ground even if we aren't moving ahead. If we can't even do that I look back at where we were a year ago, two years ago, and see where we are compared to where we were....and where we could've been had we continued on that path .... and that's what helps me to stay motivated.

**TheRootedNomad** · 03-14-2007, 07:19 AM

I know what you're saying. Even when things appear to be going fairly well the oddball things can pop and stop you from moving ahead. Currently I'm still working full time as well as DH working full time so that we can make sure we're in a decent place before I stay home for awhile. We've been where it was really bad and have clawed our way over the 1st 2 mountains 1) baby EF and 2) lots of debt and are working on 3) Fully funded EF and 4) paying off the morgage simultaneously.....Knowing how long it will take makes months when we slide down some very frustrating . Things as simple as the two dogs needing thier yearly shots, or the Ancient Queen

(our cat) needing a vet appointment, or DH's $60.00 truck needing breaks (which he does himself) can send my fear/frustration level skyrocketing.

Feb. and March have been loaded with those kind of "joys" for us. I just concentrate on tightening up elsewhere and trying to hold our ground even if we aren't moving ahead. If we can't even do that I look back at where we were a year ago, two years ago, and see where we are compared to where we were....and where we could've been had we continued on that path .... and that's what helps me to stay motivated.