How do you keep "Murphy" from ruining your attitude?

1586 Views 20 Replies 13 Participants Last post by ladytoysdream, Oct 31, 2010

imagine

Discussion Starter · Oct 29, 2010

Life happens, Murphy visits, how do you keep it from making you feel stalled on your debt reduction/ budget keeping attitude?

Debt reduction was off to a great start. Feeling like it was something that could be accomplished.

Today I received a small paycheck from a job I did a two month back.

Had great plans for it. Most likely, it was going to be extra on debt which was making me super happy or it was going to get a need (if the clearance sale and right item can me along at the same item).
Then I headed down stairs and find that the sewer backed up.

So...

I'm waiting on the plumber and the cost involved with that.

Trying hard to remember that it is great that I received the job paycheck today and that it will be easier to pay the plumber cash.

But how do you keep from feeling like Murphy is out to thrall you in your debt? How do you pick yourself up, dust your self off, and start back on the debt reduction plan after Murphy visits/ after life happens.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

CrazyCat

· #2 · Oct 29, 2010

Life happens....or I should say..."Murphy happens".

Dust yourself off..and start over and be thankful that you DO have the cash to pay the plumber.

It's a big joke at our house...we just start getting ahead...and the dryer dies....or the water softener dies...or the washer takes a dump.~it all has happened to us within the last 2 years.
so..we start over..and we're thankful that we COULD buy the new dryer and pay cash.

We just DO it. I mean..what's the alternative?? Quit?? I don't think so.

Reactions: 3

LuLuBleen

· #3 · Oct 29, 2010

How do you pick yourself up, dust your self off, and start back on the debt reduction plan after Murphy visits/ after life happens.

I'd love to tell you that I just let Murphy's antics roll off me like water off a duck's back. But I'd be totally lying.

My first reaction to a financial setback is quick anger. I get over it pretty quickly, though, because I'm getting too old to get too upset over things I can't control.

After my tantrum, which I always pitch, :blush: then I look at things with a calmer attitude and determine what I have to do.

It also helps that I'm a complete pessimist.

Reactions: 1

frugalwarrior2

· #4 · Oct 29, 2010

We always joke about it. Like if we get a big check we say shhh don't talk about it in front of the car.

Mostly flip your perspective. Your lucky enough to have stuff to break. Thank goodness you had the check to cover it. If it's realllly pelting down i pray.

Reactions: 1

Vanilla

· #5 · Oct 29, 2010

I feel your pain. Sorry about that.
Murphy always 'knows' who has a tiny bit extra funds, then he goes there.
Sometimes it is discouraging, but I just deal with his vists & work harder on the 'sinking' funds.

Reactions: 1

Syn D

· #6 · Oct 29, 2010

Murphys been kicking our butt a lot lately, but I don't stop trying...

We've had some blows lately that are really hurting us, but we'll take care of them and move on.. I might fret for a few hours, maybe the day, but then I let it go..

We have an unexpected $78 coming out of hubbys check a month for the next 5 months of 6 months.. I was VERY:furious: in the beginning, cos' it wasn't our fault and if the person that caused it was in front of me it wouldn't of went well, but can't do anything about it, so just move'n on..

Reactions: 1

imagine

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 29, 2010

Vanilla said:
I feel your pain. Sorry about that.
Murphy always 'knows' who has a tiny bit extra funds, then he goes there.
Sometimes it is discouraging, but I just deal with his visits & work harder on the 'sinking' funds.

I'm still confused on what a "sinking fund" is?

Momto5RN

· #8 · Oct 29, 2010

i go into my room alone -,maybe scream into my pillow-maybe hit my pillow and sometimes have a good cry in the shower - its amizng how a good 10 minute private pity party can renew you and get it all out of your system so you can get back on a positive thought track again .

Reactions: 1

imagine

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 29, 2010

frugalwarrior2 said:
We always joke about it. Like if we get a big check we say shhh don't talk about it in front of the car.

Mostly flip your perspective. Your lucky enough to have stuff to break. Thank goodness you had the check to cover it. If it's realllly pelting down i pray.

Love the joke idea and the pray when it pours.

We joke about that and warranties expiring. We still having told our truck now 10 years old that it's factory warranty is over. LOL

Although our tv knew and it was nice enough to break a few weeks before it's warranty was over so it became as good as new right after it expired. Good tv Good job!

imagine

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 29, 2010

Momto5RN said:
i go into my room alone -,maybe scream into my pillow-maybe hit my pillow and sometimes have a good cry in the shower - its amizng how a good 10 minute private pity party can renew you and get it all out of your system so you can get back on a positive thought track again .

Our shower broke too a few days ago. LOL

It does a high pinched whistle that makes anyone want out fast and fixing it didn't fix it either it just started whistling a different tune. The children have asked it if it takes requests. LOL

frugal is fun

· #11 · Oct 29, 2010

like others have said, be thankful that you do have the cash to pay the plumber and just keep on keeping on.

good luck, you can do it!

Reactions: 1

imagine

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 29, 2010 (Edited)

LuLuBleen said:
I'd love to tell you that I just let Murphy's antics roll off me like water off a duck's back. But I'd be totally lying.

My first reaction to a financial setback is quick anger. I get over it pretty quickly, though, because I'm getting too old to get too upset over things I can't control.

After my tantrum, which I always pitch, :blush: then I look at things with a calmer attitude and determine what I have to do.

It also helps that I'm a complete pessimist.

I've decided that I will allow myself a poopy attitude/mood as long as my basement smells poopy.

Thanks for letting me know that Murphy doesn't roll off everyone's back like a duck's back.

napswithkats

· #13 · Oct 29, 2010

Used to get angry and or cry when Murphy came to visit. Now we try to focus on "how can we fix this WITHOUT using the credit card?" lol

Never ever talk about "extra" money in front of your appliances! They can hear you! Right now my garage door opener and the 12 year old frig are fighting over who gets to break next! lol

Reactions: 1

Vanilla

· #14 · Oct 29, 2010

imagine said:
I'm still confused on what a "sinking fund" is?

My understanding of 'sinking fund' - monies for unexpected/unpredictable expenses, (usually is for repairs), those could 'sink' the 'budget ship'.

For instance, in the last 2 months, both of our cars has problems, one needed 4 new tires, then the other car has engine problem, costs more than we thought, we had to pull funds from another account to get them fixed. I was so mad, after a while, I said to myself: at least we paid cash (sinking fund) for those 2 incidents (we used to use credit cards to pay these types of bills).

I could be wrong in explaning 'sinking funds', somebody please correct me if I am wrong, appreciate it very much.

Reactions: 1

imagine

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 29, 2010

Vanilla said:
My understanding of 'sinking fund' - monies for unexpected/unpredictable expenses, (usually is for repairs), those could 'sink' the 'budget ship'.

For instance, in the last 2 months, both of our cars has problems, one needed 4 new tires, then the other car has engine problem, costs more than we thought, we had to pull funds from another account to get them fixed. I was so mad, after a while, I said to myself: at least we paid cash (sinking fund) for those 2 incidents (we used to use credit cards to pay these types of bills).

I could be wrong in explaning 'sinking funds', somebody please correct me if I am wrong, appreciate it very much.

Is there a difference between sinking fund and emergency fund?

Debbie-cat

· #16 · Oct 29, 2010

I stomp on Murphy, open the door and kick him out! Literally! I am very competative so there is no way in he!! Murphy is going to beat me!

On a side note....be thankful you have something to break down. :hugz:

Reactions: 5

imagine

Discussion Starter · #17 · Oct 29, 2010

Debbie-cat said:
I stomp on Murphy, open the door and kick him out! Literally! I am very competative so there is no way in he!! Murphy is going to beat me!

On a side note....be thankful you have something to break down. :hugz:

Question everyone says be thankful I have something to breakdown. Doesn't everyone have a sewer line? You know that pipe/drain that all waste goes in on it's way to the city waste plant. (or spectic tank)

love the mental picture of you literally kicking him out.

khaski

· #18 · Oct 31, 2010

I use 'Murphy visits' as a way to remind myself why we're working so hard to get rid of, and stay out of more, debt. After a good cursing under my breath and sometimes a tear or two, I try to remind myself when we're debt-free Murphy will barely be a blink on our radar in most cases!

Reactions: 1

mauimagic

· #19 · Oct 31, 2010

My father used to lament all the time when something, anything negative happened - a real fun person to be around. I could never understand why he got so emotional about things that just happened.

Thankfully - as I've gotten older - I've had the opportunity to think about these things and realize that lifing wouldn't have have meaning or substance if everything went smoothly all the time - and that we tend to always remember the downs that happen with much more energy than we remember the ups.

We get to choose how we react to everything and I refuse to let the challenges of life get me down!!

Reactions: 1

frugalwarrior2

· #20 · Oct 31, 2010

a sinking fund is a specific amt of money put into a seperate acct. for a specific purpose. Like car ins. My car ins. is $2400. a year for 4 people. If i put $200. a month,every month, I can pay 6 months at a time. My ins. co. discounts $200. if i do so I will start a sinking fund for it.
An emergency fund is money set aside for an unexpected expense or emergency. Like an unplanned car repair or dental procedure or funeral. does that help??

Reactions: 1

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