We had a decent amount of money in checking (for us, anyway) but could touch almost none of it. We had to leave enough money for general expenses for the coming week, plus my husband’s insurance premium — a painful $502.

It was also the second week in a row we couldn’t even make a dent on our credit card debt.

I just felt so… well, like a failure. My husband calmed me down and reminded me how far we’ve come in three years (about $25,000 on one income). He told me it was all thanks to me and all that other sweet stuff spouses say. It cheered me up a bit. And my mom (one of THE frugal women out there) even told me: It doesn’t matter if you can’t always move forward — so long as you’re not moving backward.

I don’t know why but that combination is really helping me stay strong, as we face potentially living on even less in a couple of months. (Hubby’s unemployment may run out, which will mean we live on $1700/month instead of $3100.)

I’ve spent the past 12 years working my way out of the business & personal debt my ex left me with (community property state), including filing bankruptcy & dealing with an IRS lien on my house – while raising 2 boys as a single mom & working full-time.

I’m finally in decent shape financially – car paid, all debt paid except mortgage, a good emergency fund in place & FINALLY collected some back-due child support & starting to save for retirement (way behind).

After all this I’m pretty OCD about my finances as well. I’m just learning to live without severe financial stress & really determined to keep expenses to a minimum & save money. It’s hard to believe that I’m actually okay & don’t have to worry every day.

In the end, everything worked out. And I didn’t use a credit card to ‘bail me out’ like I used to in the past. THAT felt good! Like DDFD, I am now focused on rebuilding that $1k emerg fund and getting back to my debt snowball.

Thanks for being honest with us! Like GrannieAnnie, I don’t feel alone.

14 months ago we purchased a tiny house on 4 acres, while hanging on to my first home as a rental. The ancient, tiny house needed a lot of work to become fairly livable, and a shop (just a big metal pole building) had to be built. That took so much longer than expected that I don’t know whether to laugh or cry, or both.

Then we had to rehab the rental house, have it completely repainted inside and out, redo the hardwood floors, wallpaper removal, etc.

We’ve done as much of the work ourselves as possible while working fulltime, and paid for professional help when prudent and affordable. Nonetheless, we have been carrying TWO mortgage payments for 15 MONTHS! About 5 months longer than we had planned.

A renter is moving in this Sunday, and thank God the nightmare is ending. But we now have to really focus on building our cash reserves again, as well as work hard to pay down the $9k in credit card debt we amassed as a result of this debacle. I haven’t had credit card debt in 11 years!!

It’s been a very tough 15 months, but we lived through it. We’re employed in health care and high tech infrastructure, and our work seems very secure, thank goodness. Yes it was horrifying to see our budget evaporate because nothing went as planned, NOTHING. But we’re alive, we’re still happy, and we’re focused on counting our blessings! Obama copied our personal “YES WE CAN” mantra! )