Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Been pretty down lately. And I will admit, I have self medicated with a shot of vodka. I will probably not find another $60,000/year job any time soon. When we bought the house that's what our budget was based on. I know it is the economy and a lot of people are suffering, so we are in the best of company, but it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Like I said, I don't even want the house any more. I'd be willing to even see if the bank would talk short selling it to get rid of it faster and then maybe find an affordable condo or townhouse in Golden so we could be close to the mountains again. We've given up so much lately. It's not the stuff that ever made me happy, it was being able to travel, spend time with Brendan doing things together and being able to spend time in nature, hiking, back-country skiing, a long weekend to Zion to see the canyons, climbing the mountains. Those are the things that define my life, not all the crap that is cluttering my house. I'm drowning in the American dream. I wish I had a time machine, and I'd go back in time and still be living in that apartment that was very affordable and not in this big house that we don't have the time or money to take care of now. I would have my used cars and not a leased new car that we have to pay for but can't drive any more because we've exceeded the contracted miles. I've even considered filing Chapter 7 so the banks could quickly take all the crap and all the stress that goes with it and find a place in Golden to rent and buy two used vehicles with cash to get to work with. Whenever we would travel to Central or South America, we'd come back with the realization that "stuff" is not the answer, but actually a very dangerous road to travel. The feeling of not needing "things" was so freeing. Yet, we quickly become indoctrinated in the American system of greed and once again, it's collapsing around us. People driving down our road and our neighbors look at us as the success, but we have failed by trading what gives us temporary pleasure and have not pursued what truly makes us happy.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight {{{{{{{{{RMM}}}}}}}}}} Most of all , you are much loved by family and friends and things will get better. Things are so hard out there for many and this time of your seems to amplify these hard times. RMM,my heart goes out to you. thankfully you 'get' life and what truely matters. A long as you have that,the rest will fall into place , even when things seem so awful at the moment. I know you are already downsizing I'm sure. Have you talked to yoru bank about your house already?
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight What about renting your house out to someone? Or perhaps making it a time share thing?
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF I am so sorry.......things are tough for you right now.......hang in there. You are right when you say you have alot of company...
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie I've talked to the bank about our home and they will modify our loan to get us some time, but without our previous income, we simply can't continue to live entirely for our house. To rent the home, I'd have to charge more than our payments, which after the loan modification will be higher than now. There are three of us living in a 2800 sf house. We simply don't need this or the cost. We spend so little time in the house, that a townhouse, half the size would be more than adequate.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Just got a phone call from a co who wants me to come in for a job interview tomorrow morning. That is a good thing. These people already know me as I've worked with them before (not for them, but with them when I worked for another company) so the fact that they have an opinion of me already and want me to come in and talk I hope is a good sign.
Originally Posted By KCCHIEF that is a great sign........good luck...and let us know how it turns out. Wanting you to come in tomorrow......is a really good sign.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin I'm keeping you in my thoughts...sometimes when things look dark it's a sign that the sun is about to shine through.
Originally Posted By FilmNoir Good luck at the interview...it sounds promising. We too have had some hard financial decisions to make over the years. DH is just getting back to work after a year long paycut equalling over HALF his usual paycheck...*sigh* Gonna take a long time to catch back up. I've come to the conclusion that money comes and goes. Over the 32 years we've been married we've gone through 3 long term layoffs. At one point we had over $50,000 in savings. Totally gone during the first layoff. Second time we had almost $30,000 in DH's retirement fund. Gone with the second layoff. Third time we had our house TOTALLY paid off. Now with the third layoff we're back to owing nearly what we originally paid for our house. It doesn't end but if you can just think of it as *just money* and *just stuff* it doesn't seem so bad. You'll be in my thoughts as you work through your housing/job details. I hope my reply doesn't depress you further. *hugs*
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight Ohh RMM, how wonderful! Good Luck at the interview tomorrow. I bet you get it since you have already worked with them. I can't wait to hear allabout it when you get back form it tomorrow. :-D
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie On the one hand, I don't want things to be hard for anyone else, but there is a little feeling of relief to know that we are not the only ones.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin I don't want to be tooooo optimistic here, but if they already know you then it sounds like a really good thing.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight Yes. I agree ST, I can't wait to hear about how wellit went for her tomorrow.
Originally Posted By Lady Starlight It's so hard for people this timeof year for so many reasons. Just thnk about the people who don't have family or friends? this time of year just amplifys that reality for some. It makes my heart hurt. RMM, you are so well loved and have so many wonderful friends and family members ,you will be just fine. :-D
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Hey RMM -- I TOTALLY related to your post when I read it today. And can completely identify with your thoughts about house vs. apartment and all that 'stuff.' We were apartment dwellers in SoCal forever. After my parents died, they left us a nice inheritance, and we decided to buy a house. We got a great 30-year fixed home loan, with 20% down and decent to afford payments -- so I'm not one of the 'bit off more than you can chew' people. In fact, my loan amount was based on a 10-year snapshot of my income. Who would have thought that my income would drop 60% from last year? It has been a real tough year of cutting, cutting, and more cutting. And additional more jobs making less money. Not fun to say the least. I often wonder how my grandparents' generation made it through the Great Depression -- which went on for about what, 10 years? And then led directly into World War II? Listen, I'm grateful for what I have. I have a wife who I love and who loves me, and that is everything. And I know that eventually the economy will turn around -- but damn! The day-to-day when it's this rough economically is really stressful. Isn't it? Anyway, hang in there -- and you're not alone!
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie Yep, from the start of the year, until now, the times I did have a job, my income has dropped in half. It of course dropped 100% once I lost my last job. I received a job offer for a 50% decrease in salary for a job that I just really won't enjoy. Hopefully the interview goes better tomorrow.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 Yes, times are tough and you aren't alone. Good luck with your interview - maybe it's the sun trying to break thru! {{{{{RMM}}}}}}
Originally Posted By Ursula I've often wondered how our grandparents made it in the Great Depression, too. Then, I have to remember they didn't have cell phone bills, or internet bills, or housepayments or rent (the homes were already owned), or insurance or car payments or, or, or, fill in the blank. It is a different world and is like comparing apples to monkeys. I guess what I am trying to say is don't beat yourself up too bad. Homes were the THING to buy at the time for investments and for living. You've done nothing wrong to get yourself in your current position. Can you try and try crap on eBay to not only lighten your view for an uncluttered area, but to try and lift some of the weight you feel?
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie My plan is to try to unload some stuff on ebay and Craigs List. I've already put some items on Craigs List. Things that I think would be pretty good sellers right now. I have some tools that I never use and a Little Giant ladder that is just too heavy and bulky for me so I put up ads for those. I have hundreds of Beanie Babies and i figure if I sell them in sets of ten or so, I could probably off-load them. Plus we have sooooooo many books and DVD's that we have already read and watched and now just take up shelf space. I have a really nice food processor that I received as a gift, but it's so big and bulky that I've never even taken it out of the box.
