My story

**sunshine** · 10-21-2006, 11:25 PM

Just thought I'd post this for some of the newer members that don't know my story on the frugal journey.

We were doing fine financially. We drove cars that were paid in full, no credit card debt, living in a trailer on my parent's property (paying no rent). Then I got pregnant. We had no maternity insurance, but we could pay the doctor and hospital bills out of pocket (so we thought). . . . I ruptured my appendix when I was 5 month pregnant, but didn't realize it. I worked the next 3 days. By then I was seriously ill. I had peritonitis with gangrene. No working for a LONG time, baby came 7 weeks early ( at least he didn't come when I had surgery for the gangrene) Dh got hurt at work at the same time, so neither of us had an income and we had a premie baby we just brought home. Once the diapers from t he hospital were gone. . . we had nothing for him to wear (diapers or otherwise) I put dishtowels on for diapers, and used bread wrappers for plastic pants. I took a sheet and made a few diaper shirts so he didn't have to run around with only a "diaper" on. We picked up aluminum cans to recycle for gas money, and I gratefully accepted any and all foods offered (he was a summer baby)- I took dropped fruits, cut around the bad parts and canned them, foraged for things. . . . Thankfully, we had a couple of baby showers right away, and I asked for (and received) loads of cloth diapers, clothes, etc.

So. . . we drained our savings accounts and paid off the medical bills. We bought a house when the baby was 5 months old. . . .and did ok. Again, drving only paid off cars, no credit card debt, tiny mortgage. Along came baby #3. (no money issues with baby #2 thankfully). Again, health insurance, but not maternity insurance. I had a uterine tumor right where the placenta implanted, so lots of concerns for the baby's (and my ) health. Then I fell when I was 6 1/2 months along. Preterm labor, leaking amnitotic fluid. . . . I spent a week in antepartem at $120/hr. then 2 months on limited bedrest. Again, no income for me. Final tally of the bill for dd------------- $138,000 . . . . none of it covered by insurance. I've gotten it down below $30,000 now and she's almost 16 years old.

So we regrouped, figured out a payment plan and contined on our merry way. . . for less than 2 years. . . then dh was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease- a terminal neuromuscular disease). He had to go 6 months with no income before we started to get disablilty for him. We threw frugality out the window. We traveled, bought our house on a farm, did the things we'd always planned on doing SOMEDAY. We thought we'd pay off the bill with his live insurance after he died . His orginal prognosis was less than 2 years to live. He tried to continue to work part time, but ended up losing his disablilty payments because he made $24 too much for 3 months.

There came a time when I sat down to pay the bills and realized that I had less than $11 to cover food and gas for 2 weeks. We had to borrow money to feed the kids and for me to get back and forth to work. That became a vicious cycle of trying to repay what we'd borrowed, then not having enough to cover the upcoming weeks again. I got serious with frugality. We sold off stuff, we figured out a budget that people claim is so anal retentive it would make the IRS's head spin. . . . and we started digging out of debt.

So here we are, 15 years later. . . dh is still alive and doing remarkably well. No income from him, but thankfully I have a profession that pays well and I can get all the overtime I can handle (I'm an RN). The overtime has been cut back drastically,since MY health has become an issue as well. We are still in debt, still have credit card debt that is HUGE (travel, etc. from when dh first got sick) and so on. . . but we pay the bills, I know where all the money goes, and where the next meal is coming from. My kids are clothed and fed. We have a roof over our heads, and it doesn't leak. What more do we need?

**Missy** · 10-21-2006, 11:53 PM

this is the kind of story i need to kick myself in the pants and get on the ball. Thanks for sharing this with us all.

**AmyMCGS** · 10-22-2006, 12:13 AM

I've been around the village a long time, but don't think I'd ever read your story. Thanks for sharing!

**autumnlynn** · 10-22-2006, 12:48 AM

Thank you for sharing your story.

**frugalnana** · 10-22-2006, 02:36 AM

Remarkable story sunshine. Good inspiration at least for me. My aunt died in 1986 from ALS. I'm just happy to hear that your dh is able to be around for everyone. There is hope.

**Darlene** · 10-22-2006, 09:18 AM

Very moving story Denise, thanks so much for sharing it.
Wishing good health and happiness to you & yours. Take good care.

**kabin63** · 10-22-2006, 09:30 AM

That's a great story! Very inspiring! I am also amazed by the miracle that your Dh is still alive! I have read that you have health issues, but you are a fighter, I can see that.

**FrugalMomof3** · 10-22-2006, 09:39 AM

Thanks for sharing your story, gives me akick in the butt to get the ball rolling and for me to stop worrying about every little thing. Thank you for allowing me to see some light.

**Tracy** · 10-22-2006, 09:46 AM

Inspiring! Thank you for sharing.

**Jill B.** · 10-22-2006, 10:16 AM

Thank you for sharing your story. I tell my DH about so many people with stories like yours on this and other boards. They are doing fine but then get hit with medical/health insurance issues and have problems. It is inspiring to see how you handled it.

**sunshine** · 10-22-2006, 10:44 AM

I wish we'd all post our stories of where we started, how far we've come and the means we've used to get there.

**littlemotherhaywood** · 10-22-2006, 11:09 AM

What an amazing story Sunshine. You are truly an inspiration. Thank you for sharing it with us.

**emily_hope** · 10-22-2006, 11:15 AM

Thank you for that inspiring story. So glad that your DH has survived much longer than the doctor's anticipated. I hope and pray that he will be with you and your children a much longer time. We never know what the future holds for us, so your story shows that it is best to try and be prepared.