going to be going down ... fast

**Wendy99** · 12-07-2008, 10:44 AM

We have been hit with an entire lifetime full of Murphy's at once (well that's how I'm feeling). Our EF is about $1700.00 which we have to use this week as our dog is having surgery $200 +/- , then because we were doing well & able to save etc I decided to sign the kids up for a sport ($200) comes out. So the sport was planned, the surgery was not so that makes the EF down $200 before we get to anything else. I was in a car accident & our vehicle is totalled (according the mechanic), just need the 'official' word from insurance and then we are out to get a 'new to us' vehical (guessing down $3500 +/- from that, after considering what our current vehical would have been worth), then off to the dentist on Friday and found out my ds needs orthodontic work (his mouth is not large enough to contain all his teeth coming in & some of his baby teeth dont have adult teeth underneath). Orthodontics is not covered under our insurance policy will be entirely out of pocket - min few thousand ... all this to be hitting within the next month or so, so unfortunately there is no way to avoid going into debt again. It's so frustrating when we were doing so well & figured we would be able to save to life debt free etc. Guess your never safe from Murphy!! So back to the beginning we go

**homesteadmamma** · 12-07-2008, 10:56 AM

Just wanting to send some hugs. It can be so frustrating, however you do have $1700.00 which is certainly going to help.

**perSue** · 12-07-2008, 11:00 AM

don't look at is as tho you've failed - it's quite the contrary!

most people would already be up to their eyeballs in debt & then along comes all these things... but not you!!

You have the cash on-hand to pay for this... ok so it comes outta the EF... but at least you HAVE it to spend. and that's great!

Going into debt for only maybe a couple thousand (at most it sounds) & continuing to add to the EF along the way (I assume) & doing things that benefit the family (fixing teeth, fixing dog, kids get to do something fun)...

it doesnt sound like the sky is falling yet to me... i understand where you're coming from, but try to see the positive side to it.
You're doing great from a financial point... just keep on keepin' on & you'll be ok.

**bclements514** · 12-07-2008, 11:05 AM

I'm sorry to hear all of that. Thank goodness you are safe from your car accident. Hope things get better soon. At least tax season is coming soon, maybe you can use your return to help pay down your upcoming debt.

**Wendy99** · 12-07-2008, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by perSue

don't look at is as tho you've failed - it's quite the contrary!

most people would already be up to their eyeballs in debt & then along comes all these things... but not you!!

You have the cash on-hand to pay for this... ok so it comes outta the EF... but at least you HAVE it to spend. and that's great!

Going into debt for only maybe a couple thousand (at most it sounds) & continuing to add to the EF along the way (I assume) & doing things that benefit the family (fixing teeth, fixing dog, kids get to do something fun)...

it doesnt sound like the sky is falling yet to me... i understand where you're coming from, but try to see the positive side to it.
You're doing great from a financial point... just keep on keepin' on & you'll be ok.

Thank you for trying to show me the positive, but it's just really hard for me to see that right now. I'll try to think positive though. Our debt will probably be approx $7,000+ (depending on vehicle & dentist), so we will be out quite a bit and unfortunately while we are paying that off, we will no longer have money to put into an EF. We have discussed keeping $1,000 in the EF as per Dave Ramsey. On Tues I'm going to look into cutting cable until we get back on our feet again (about $35 a month). It's a bad time of year esp for this to happen; however most of our Christmas shopping is done & what's not done we'll just do bare minimum, there are quite a few loss leaders in the flyers this week for groceries so going to take advantage of those. I know we'll make it through, but it will take us a few years to get back on track. However if looking for something positive at least we know how to be frugal now .. the last time we were in debt it never went down because we just kept adding to it and didnt have regard for the value of a dollar .. so I guess thats a good thing .. that this time we will be in 'survivor' mode.

**perSue** · 12-07-2008, 11:17 AM

I think it's a good idea to keep some in the EF, for sure.
But you have a great attitude... you already know how to be frugal - that's a huge thing (imho)!

And you've got most of the shopping done for the holidays & everything else seems to be under control.
Just think simple, be grateful you're not in the situation you were before (you learned from it) & know this is only temporary... and many more of us are in the same boat as you are (w/the economic situation as it is).
For one, I'm proud of you.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 12-07-2008, 11:17 AM

I agree with perSue that the sky isn't falling yet. That is why you have the EF in place in instances like these. You're doing a great job, when you can breathe a lil easier start building that EF back up!!

**Patty A** · 12-07-2008, 11:36 AM

Murphy has a way of trying to make you think you have failed, but don't let him do that to you. Your frugal ways will get you by, and you have learned so much. Don't let a set back get to you, you know how to get the best of things by knowing how to be frugal this time. Murphy always has to raise his ugly head when we are least expecting it, I totally understand! He hit here and wiped out of EF fund in about 3 days. You just never know, but at least now we know the steps to getting back to the ways that will get us throught it. Hang in there, you can fight back and win!

**mom21ofeach** · 12-07-2008, 11:37 AM

Do you have a flexible spending account? If so, check into putting the money for the ortho into that, that it will be tax free. You may have to do this a year in advance....I don't know how soon your ds will need braces.

Check with the ortho about a payment plan. Most are VERY flexible with how they get paid. This will save you from putting it on a credit card.

**kita** · 12-07-2008, 11:40 AM

Is insurance paying for the car? If so you may be getting more than what you thought. I I was in an accident this summer and while it was a TOTAL PAIN, the end check was more than I thought the car was worth. (MInd you they didn't deduct for all the mechanical issues the car had) I ended up with a better car. If the accident was your fault and it didn't have collision, then, yes, the car will be a loss....

**Michelle68** · 12-07-2008, 12:31 PM

Sending hugs your way.

What a bummer that everything has happened at once but you will get through it, especially since you are of a frugal mindset.

**Katybird** · 12-07-2008, 12:59 PM

Sorry that Murphy decided to pay you a special extended visit and to bring all his relatives and friends too.

It sounds like you have gotten great advice from the other ladies here. I just wanted to second putting money into a health flex account. It will save you money in the long run by saving you the taxes.

**FrugalMomof3** · 12-07-2008, 01:18 PM

I am so sorry this is all hitting you at once. I totally know how you feel as my DH was in a car accident yesterday and his truck was totaled. Now we are in the process of waiting to hear from the insurance company, he didnt have comprehensive nor collision and he hit the guard rail on the highway because the roads were icy.

**Darlene** · 12-07-2008, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by mom21ofeach

Do you have a flexible spending account? If so, check into putting the money for the ortho into that, that it will be tax free. You may have to do this a year in advance....I don't know how soon your ds will need braces.

Check with the ortho about a payment plan. Most are VERY flexible with how they get paid. This will save you from putting it on a credit card.

Just what I was going to say.

Hope things calm down for you soon.