can I whine? Enough surprises

[FINFAN]

So we knew we were gonna owe taxes, but not double what we expected..then 2 crowns for me at the DDS last week~followed up with what today turned from routine to specialty contact exam/appt. I need new lenses or can't drive/work(I was there over 3 hours, multiple doc's trying to figure me out)...total I am staring at for visit and lenses is over a grand. We have optical, lol $110 pp total, lol...that coverd 45 min of the specialists time Car needs new tires, 8 years old, another grand. We HAD plans to take road trip to AZ and just bum/take photos and finally see the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. I get stuff happens, it hits, but geez , could it be spread out a little but more than 2 weeks? Obviously adjusted paychecks to handle next years tax hit, and looks like "financial creativity" is back in full swing lol. On the up side, our local grocer had chocolate bars for $.50 (big ones) so that helped for Easter treats we are giving! Still hoping for the trip, just need to knock 2 nights off tho, bummer.
Thanks for letting me whine~ I don't drink , I DIS.

 

[Disneylover99]

So we knew we were gonna owe taxes, but not double what we expected..then 2 crowns for me at the DDS last week~followed up with what today turned from routine to specialty contact exam/appt. I need new lenses or can't drive/work(I was there over 3 hours, multiple doc's trying to figure me out)...total I am staring at for visit and lenses is over a grand. We have optical, lol $110 pp total, lol...that coverd 45 min of the specialists time Car needs new tires, 8 years old, another grand. We HAD plans to take road trip to AZ and just bum/take photos and finally see the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. I get stuff happens, it hits, but geez , could it be spread out a little but more than 2 weeks? Obviously adjusted paychecks to handle next years tax hit, and looks like "financial creativity" is back in full swing lol. On the up side, our local grocer had chocolate bars for $.50 (big ones) so that helped for Easter treats we are giving! Still hoping for the trip, just need to knock 2 nights off tho, bummer.
Thanks for letting me whine~ I don't drink , I DIS.

I drink, Dis, and wine.
Sorry about your financial woes Finfan. These things really do seem to happen at the same time. Good news about those chocolate bars though. Right?
Hope you can still make the trip.

 

[FINFAN]

I drink, Dis, and wine.
Sorry about your financial woes Finfan. These things really do seem to happen at the same time. Good news about those chocolate bars though. Right?
Hope you can still make the trip.

Thanks,,full disclosure, I already ate 1 of those chocolate bars lol. The trip is still a go (just altered) unless another major thing happens that we don't have a fund for. Have one for the oven that is very iffy, have one for auto repairs before the trip, just that the "cushion" fund basically lost most of it's cush, all in 2 weeks which makes me veeeerrrrrryyyyyy nervous.

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanks,,full disclosure, I already ate 1 of those chocolate bars lol.

Don't feel bad. I ate the kid's Easter treats and I had to go out and replace them tonight. I've spent a fortune in chocolate.

 

[FINFAN]

Don't feel bad. I ate the kid's Easter treats and I had to go out and replace them tonight. I've spent a fortune in chocolate.

lol

 

[My3Princez]

Sorry you've been hit, but looks like you're handling it well. As far as glasses, look into Zenni optical. Never paid more than $90 for glasses there (although you can spend a bit more). My mom wore ultra-thin, no line bifocal transition lenses. Averaged around $600 at the office. Got them from Zenni for $90ish, and she loved them.

 

[FINFAN]

Sorry you've been hit, but looks like you're handling it well. As far as glasses, look into Zenni optical. Never paid more than $90 for glasses there (although you can spend a bit more). My mom wore ultra-thin, no line bifocal transition lenses. Averaged around $600 at the office. Got them from Zenni for $90ish, and she loved them.

thanks~once I recover from these blows and can consider glasses I will check them out! Just did a quick google and reviews are not favorable to say the least, glad your mom's experience was good tho.

 

[My3Princez]

thanks~once I recover from these blows and can consider glasses I will check them out! Just did a quick google and reviews are not favorable to say the least, glad your mom's experience was good tho.

Yeah, I can't figure out the reviews issues unless it is that people order wrong. I have ordered at least 30 pairs of glasses from them (we're a glasses family +my mom's sight went through a period of rapid change + ordered for several non-internet-using friends) and we've had ONE pair of glasses that had minor issues.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Yeah, I can't figure out the reviews issues unless it is that people order wrong. I have ordered at least 30 pairs of glasses from them (we're a glasses family +my mom's sight went through a period of rapid change + ordered for several non-internet-using friends) and we've had ONE pair of glasses that had minor issues.

Same here! We've ordered at least 25 pairs of glasses from Zenni over the years for our family and have never had an issue with them.

Pam, hope the hits stop coming so you can make your trip out West.

 

[Minnesota!]

I hear ya, OP. Still paying on medical bills for DH's surgery last year (because the $938 they promised us it would be, in writing, became double that....). I had the $938 saved.

Then, DH decided to go get himself sick, again, with a leg infection. So, here come those bills. Kids registration ($400) is due, summer registration ($200) is due, baseball and soccer registrations are due (another $300 or so), my overtime that was part of my budget has suddenly disappeared the last two weeks, and then this weekend is Easter ($$$) and kids birthday ($$$$$). If it had been spread out over 3 - 4 months it would be one thing. But, literally, everything needs to be paid March 29. It just stings.

 

[usnuzuloose]

We have the same issues, one income. We pay quarterly taxes. The way I see it the needs come before any trips. We have not had any vacations in 3 years. I have to be content with what I have. No need for me to complain, it won't change my situation. But I hope you get through it soon.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Gosh, I'm really sorry you are being hit with all these expenses--especially at once. That's no fun at all. Hope you have a long season of calm (cheap) living and can get your eye issues figured.
One thing I'm curious about: a grand for new tires? That's seems really high. Have you checked tirerack or walmart?

 

[FINFAN]

Gosh, I'm really sorry you are being hit with all these expenses--especially at once. That's no fun at all. Hope you have a long season of calm (cheap) living and can get your eye issues figured.
One thing I'm curious about: a grand for new tires? That's seems really high. Have you checked tirerack or walmart?

the size tires for our SUV run a bit higher,(Discount Tire) and given that we got 8+ years out of the current set, we want to get same quality. We may go with just 2, but since we are going to be driving cross country, budgeted for 4. Need an alignment as well. Thanks for the kind words. The contacts came as a much bigger hit than planned. I was expecting multi-focal gas perms, and now it looks like some funky new type that encompasses most of my eye. After all the measuring, machine imaging, drops, doctors...I don't even remember how many types of lenses were being tried anymore. All I know is I have to see, lol.

We have the same issues, one income. We pay quarterly taxes. The way I see it the needs come before any trips. We have not had any vacations in 3 years. I have to be content with what I have. No need for me to complain, it won't change my situation. But I hope you get through it soon.

Our needs are coming before the trip as well, just that things like this that we have our fund for, all hit at the same time, giving the fund a mighty blow. We don't travel often either but DD can meet us from CA (we live over 2000 miles apart) so not passing this up. I will build the fund back up, but I am frustrated, hence the whine~ even tho like you, I know it doesn't change anything, but it DID allow other posters to offer suggestions so you know what? It DID possibly help change things

 

[FINFAN]

I hear ya, OP. Still paying on medical bills for DH's surgery last year (because the $938 they promised us it would be, in writing, became double that....). I had the $938 saved.

Then, DH decided to go get himself sick, again, with a leg infection. So, here come those bills. Kids registration ($400) is due, summer registration ($200) is due, baseball and soccer registrations are due (another $300 or so), my overtime that was part of my budget has suddenly disappeared the last two weeks, and then this weekend is Easter ($$$) and kids birthday ($$$$$). If it had been spread out over 3 - 4 months it would be one thing. But, literally, everything needs to be paid March 29. It just stings.

sorry you are in the same boat (def not a fun cruise , lol) of rotten timing~I agree, spread out over time doesn't change the amount but it does help with the stress level, for me anyway. Looking forward to April!

 

[FINFAN]

Same here! We've ordered at least 25 pairs of glasses from Zenni over the years for our family and have never had an issue with them.

Pam, hope the hits stop coming so you can make your trip out West.

Thanks..WDW is not is the budget and DD can meet us in AZ which is the BEST! We are looking forward to just bumming and taking pictures, winging it for the mos part other than accommodations. Been a long time since we have had a trip like this and my first time to AZ~ First time to the GC for ALL of us . How did your DD's CP go? Did she extend?

 

[capegirl]

Yes, I have been in this boat too. Usually all **** breaks loose just before a major holiday, or Disney trips. This is when appliances, cars, plumbing, cell phones, teeth, and eyewear join forces in an effort to sabotage on our budget.
Pass the chocolate.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Thanks..WDW is not is the budget and DD can meet us in AZ which is the BEST! We are looking forward to just bumming and taking pictures, winging it for the mos part other than accommodations. Been a long time since we have had a trip like this and my first time to AZ~ First time to the GC for ALL of us . How did your DD's CP go? Did she extend?

She didn't extend, but she wanted to. She did get into the alumni CP program for this coming summer but may have to forego that if she can make up some of the classes she missed doing the CP over the summer at our local community college. It's up to her to decide and I know that she's torn. She'd love to go back and have fun, but adult decisions await. She's already stressed about not graduating with her friends because she's a semester behind.

We made the trip to the Grand Canyon from Chicago in 1998 just after our second DD was born. We found hotels along the way and had a great time. We even made a trip to Las Vegas because we figured we probably wouldn't be that close again. DH ended up finding a 1964 Ford Galaxie that he fell in love with in Gilberts, AZ and flew back to get it with his brother after we got back to Chicago. That didn't turn out to be such a budget trip after all but it's his pride and joy and something he hopes to tinker with when all of our kids are off on their own.

Hope you all have a great trip. After all the planning that goes into a trip to WDW, I hope this one is a piece of cake for you.

 

[smokeyblue]

I feel your pain! I've been a very lucky girl, never had a major car repair issues in the 20 years I've been driving. Just minor stuff. I guess my luck has changed, car needs head gasket, water pump, timing belt and assorted other goodies to the tune of $2,200. Things are tight as it is and I decided it was best to get a loan. This may sound funny, but I feel relieved. I've been told for many years that "this" can happen at any time because of my high-milage vehicle. It's finally happened and everything has come together better than I could have imagined with the loan and the repairs.

I totally get the contact thing. I have specialty lenses for my glasses that are very expensive. My doctor wants them made in their lab to their exacting standards because the lenses are used to treat a condition, not just to correct vision. The lenses alone are anywhere from $400 to $800 each and I have 3 pairs of glasses, regular, sun and computer/reading. I've had my prescription changed 3 times in the last 8 months. Luckily my car insurance paid the first time, the second change was free (this is customary) and I just got new lenses recently. I pray that they aren't going to hassle me about paying for my new lenses.

 

[superme80]

Right there with you! My car needs to be registered and smoged, but it had to go through some major repairs. And once the computer reset itself, the check engine light came on! Add that to new tires, alignment and tire rod for my husband's car, there goes a huge chunk of money. Then our hot water heater leaked and we have a mold issue. Plus our HOA is after us to fix our lawn after the grown cover killed it. I am not seeing a vacation for awhile!

 

[Minnesota!]

sorry you are in the same boat (def not a fun cruise , lol) of rotten timing~I agree, spread out over time doesn't change the amount but it does help with the stress level, for me anyway. Looking forward to April!

I spoke too soon. Younger son broke his arm Friday. Can't wait to add that bill to the pile...