Debt Dumpers - 2015

[thiabelle]

Oh Murphy! You really had me going there... thought you could mess with me by causing the furnace to crap out six weeks ago when DH was on a business trip. Ha! I got you. Shawn the technician was over in a flash and we had heat pretty quick. Only cost $777. Lucky number! What I didn't know was you weren't done. Nope. DH left on an extended business trip (overseas for six weeks) and you really did it this time. No heat- no nothing. In fact I believe DH was still on the plane when you killed the furnace. Shawn came back- joked that the neighbors were gonna talk cause every time DH was on a trip he was over- and you stumped him. Unfixable was the final determination. New furnace needed. $6498. Yikes.
I'm sad cause this is going to affect my Disney trip for 2016. I have an AP and was going to go end of July cause we are going on a Disney cruise first week of August (the cruise is paid for already). I know I am going to have to scale back the trip. I am hoping for a decent bounce back when I go in December (also paid for and I'll be darned if I cancel and lose money plus DH will still be overseas and I don't want to be home). DD is glad that we can still go in December and said if we can't go back to the parks in 2016 she's cool with it (after making sure the cruise was still a go!)
I am sooooo grateful for our emergency fund. I didn't have to finance anything and I keep telling myself I'll get a smidgen back on my Disney Visa. When the furnace broke the first time I realized that I would have to start saving for a new one. Just didn't imagine it would be this fast. I guess I'll take the $260 I managed to set aside and use it as the first repayment of the emergency fund. When DH gets home we are going to have sit down and redo the budget.
Thanks for listening and Murphy- if you read this- please leave us be for a bit. I can't take any more right now!!

 

[gracie1]

Oh Murphy! You really had me going there... thought you could mess with me by causing the furnace to crap out six weeks ago when DH was on a business trip. Ha! I got you. Shawn the technician was over in a flash and we had heat pretty quick. Only cost $777. Lucky number! What I didn't know was you weren't done. Nope. DH left on an extended business trip (overseas for six weeks) and you really did it this time. No heat- no nothing. In fact I believe DH was still on the plane when you killed the furnace. Shawn came back- joked that the neighbors were gonna talk cause every time DH was on a trip he was over- and you stumped him. Unfixable was the final determination. New furnace needed. $6498. Yikes.
I'm sad cause this is going to affect my Disney trip for 2016. I have an AP and was going to go end of July cause we are going on a Disney cruise first week of August (the cruise is paid for already). I know I am going to have to scale back the trip. I am hoping for a decent bounce back when I go in December (also paid for and I'll be darned if I cancel and lose money plus DH will still be overseas and I don't want to be home). DD is glad that we can still go in December and said if we can't go back to the parks in 2016 she's cool with it (after making sure the cruise was still a go!)
I am sooooo grateful for our emergency fund. I didn't have to finance anything and I keep telling myself I'll get a smidgen back on my Disney Visa. When the furnace broke the first time I realized that I would have to start saving for a new one. Just didn't imagine it would be this fast. I guess I'll take the $260 I managed to set aside and use it as the first repayment of the emergency fund. When DH gets home we are going to have sit down and redo the budget.
Thanks for listening and Murphy- if you read this- please leave us be for a bit. I can't take any more right now!!

Ouch!! Murphy hit a home run with you! It's a good feeling to know you can use your emergency fund and not go into debt - but it also makes me mad when I see the emergency fund go down because of Murphy! At least you will still get two of your trips!

 

[PrincessKymm]

I got the job offer today!!!!!!!! I can't stop smiling!!!!!

I want to resign today but can't. Apparently my bosses other assistant was told that we're rude busting into her office when the door is shut and we both are shaking our heads because the only time we do that is in emergencies (like the time a coworker found out their son died) and to bring in her lunch which is what we were asked to do! She just creates stress and I'm happy to leave. I work so many extra hours for not much extra pay so I'm thrilled to leave.

So now, do I ask for the severance package that was offered to me a month ago or do I stick it out so I can collect my January bonus? 6 weeks of pay with no bonus or 6 weeks of hell for 6 weeks pay plus an extra $1400?

 

[gracie1]

I got the job offer today!!!!!!!! I can't stop smiling!!!!!

I want to resign today but can't. Apparently my bosses other assistant was told that we're rude busting into her office when the door is shut and we both are shaking our heads because the only time we do that is in emergencies (like the time a coworker found out their son died) and to bring in her lunch which is what we were asked to do! She just creates stress and I'm happy to leave. I work so many extra hours for not much extra pay so I'm thrilled to leave.

So now, do I ask for the severance package that was offered to me a month ago or do I stick it out so I can collect my January bonus? 6 weeks of pay with no bonus or 6 weeks of hell for 6 weeks pay plus an extra $1400?

That is fantastic news!!! I am so happy for you!!! What do you want to do - and what would make you happier? Now looking at it from a different angle - if you were to stay the extra 6 weeks and let's say at 5 weeks your boss says you can go ahead and go - your no longer needed would you still be entitled to that extra $1400?
If you take the severance package which is 6 weeks worth of pay and leave now when does your new job start? If you could start there immediately then you might want to think about the severance package - take one week off since you'll be paid and then start your new job. It'll be like double pay for a few weeks!

 

[PrincessKymm]

That is fantastic news!!! I am so happy for you!!! What do you want to do - and what would make you happier? Now looking at it from a different angle - if you were to stay the extra 6 weeks and let's say at 5 weeks your boss says you can go ahead and go - your no longer needed would you still be entitled to that extra $1400?
If you take the severance package which is 6 weeks worth of pay and leave now when does your new job start? If you could start there immediately then you might want to think about the severance package - take one week off since you'll be paid and then start your new job. It'll be like double pay for a few weeks!

My new job starts Jan 18. I have enough saved to get me through that if I quit today with no severance. If I got the severance it would actually be normal for me since it's almost exactly 6 weeks until they start. If I stayed I would make my last day Jan 15 which is a Friday (I'm guaranteed my bonus!) and start the 18 which is Monday so only the weekend off. Really I just have to decide if the next 6 weeks of stress is worth that extra $1400.

 

[Eureka]

My new job starts Jan 18. I have enough saved to get me through that if I quit today with no severance. If I got the severance it would actually be normal for me since it's almost exactly 6 weeks until they start. If I stayed I would make my last day Jan 15 which is a Friday (I'm guaranteed my bonus!) and start the 18 which is Monday so only the weekend off. Really I just have to decide if the next 6 weeks of stress is worth that extra $1400.

I say it's not worth it. $1400 is not that much in the grand scheme of things, a little over $200 a week. Your sanity is worth more than that and I say if you can afford it, give your two weeks notice and enjoy a month off!

 

[DisneyMandC]

I got the job offer today!!!!!!!! I can't stop smiling!!!!!

I want to resign today but can't. Apparently my bosses other assistant was told that we're rude busting into her office when the door is shut and we both are shaking our heads because the only time we do that is in emergencies (like the time a coworker found out their son died) and to bring in her lunch which is what we were asked to do! She just creates stress and I'm happy to leave. I work so many extra hours for not much extra pay so I'm thrilled to leave.

So now, do I ask for the severance package that was offered to me a month ago or do I stick it out so I can collect my January bonus? 6 weeks of pay with no bonus or 6 weeks of hell for 6 weeks pay plus an extra $1400?

AHHH Kymm I am so happy for you!!! What great news!! I know you are very relieved!

As far as the money goes, I think it would be nice to have that extra six weeks pay and the bonus, especially since you've been talking about your upcoming Disney trip and it could be useful for that. However, I know I certainly wouldn't blame you if you wanted to just up and walk out of there today, because I want to do the exact same thing! Maybe another thing to consider too is benefits? How long will you and your son be covered for health insurance if you were to leave immediately?

 

[dayvewc]

I got the job offer today!!!!!!!! I can't stop smiling!!!!!

I want to resign today but can't. Apparently my bosses other assistant was told that we're rude busting into her office when the door is shut and we both are shaking our heads because the only time we do that is in emergencies (like the time a coworker found out their son died) and to bring in her lunch which is what we were asked to do! She just creates stress and I'm happy to leave. I work so many extra hours for not much extra pay so I'm thrilled to leave.

So now, do I ask for the severance package that was offered to me a month ago or do I stick it out so I can collect my January bonus? 6 weeks of pay with no bonus or 6 weeks of hell for 6 weeks pay plus an extra $1400?

Woo-hoo!!!

My new job starts Jan 18. I have enough saved to get me through that if I quit today with no severance. If I got the severance it would actually be normal for me since it's almost exactly 6 weeks until they start. If I stayed I would make my last day Jan 15 which is a Friday (I'm guaranteed my bonus!) and start the 18 which is Monday so only the weekend off. Really I just have to decide if the next 6 weeks of stress is worth that extra $1400.

IMHO the answer is "no". With the stress you've been describing at work, plus the additional stress of this time of year, I vote just take the time for yourself. Tell your current boss it was an experience working with her, but you'll never see her again and just leave this afternoon. Or as soon as you can if you can still get the severance package. Take the month to 6 weeks as a chance to get the "bad taste" of that work-place out of your daily attitude and enjoy the break.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Tell your current boss it was an experience working with her, but you'll never see her again and just leave this afternoon

What I wouldn't give to utter those exact words right now.

I do agree with dayve that it might be nice just to get out and lay low for a couple weeks. If I can get out soon, that's what I'm hoping to do.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Hooray for PrincessKymm!! For me....six weeks of hell would NOT be worth $1400. I wish you all the luck deciding. I'm sure you'll do the right thing.

 

[gracie1]

I say it's not worth it. $1400 is not that much in the grand scheme of things, a little over $200 a week. Your sanity is worth more than that and I say if you can afford it, give your two weeks notice and enjoy a month off!

Exactly! And really once they tax the $1400 you won't even be getting $200 a week. As another poster mentioned - will you have health coverage to get you through till your new job starts? I say stay home in your pajamas and relax! And you'll get to spend time with your son while he's on break! Does your job also come with vacation time that you haven't used? That will be a pay out

 

[dayvewc]

Ok, so I heard from the insurance adjusters about the roommates car. It is being counted as a total loss. So, good news is was appraised at a higher value than we expected. The total payout is almost double what the Kelly Blue Book listed for the average price. YAY!!

So, this should give the roommate enough cash in pocket to buy a fair used car and still have enough left over to pay taxes, etc., and to pay down at least some of what he owes me. Which will let me boost my emergency fund a bit faster. YAY!!! again.

And I will need to call and double-check with insurance again once everything is finalized, but when I talked to them the other day, they said that since it was being counted as a 0% - no fault comprehensive accident (the deer hit him) that the insurance rate shouldn't go up due to the claim at all when it next renews. YAY!!!! yet again.

So far, everything about this accident is actually turning out to be a positive. Who knew? He should have been hit by a deer a long time ago. ;-)

Exactly! And really once they tax the $1400 you won't even be getting $200 a week. As another poster mentioned - will you have health coverage to get you through till your new job starts? I say stay home in your pajamas and relax! And you'll get to spend time with your son while he's on break! Does your job also come with vacation time that you haven't used? That will be a pay out

Vacation time is great, but here it isn't required to be paid if you quit or get fired. It becomes a literal "use or lose" in every sense of the phrase. I still say quit now and not worry about it, but if you do have vacation time, file for and take that first - unless you know that it will be paid anyway.

 

[bcwife76]

@dayvewc that is very good news about the car!

@PrincessKymm yay for the job!!!!!!!

 

[momtosam]

Congrats on the new job!!

 

[DisneyMandC]

DH and I talked more this weekend about my job. I have not heard back from the person who had asked for my resume that I was hoping to hear back from very soon. I did send him my resume late Thursday evening though, so I'm hoping maybe I'll just hear something tomorrow. I do have a couple other people looking for me at their companies as well. DH and I have decided that unless I have someone contact me and try to bring me in for an interview sometime this week, I am going to go ahead and resign on Friday. I just cannot take it anymore. I mean, it's 9 AM on a Sunday and I've already flat out sobbed on DH's shoulder once. This just isn't healthy, and DH and I have such a great relationship that I don't want to sabotage that by bringing home so many work problems (not that he's complaining about it, he is very supportive but I just don't want to do that to us). If someone does bring me in for an interview this week, I'll wait a couple extra days to see if I get that job before resigning, so at least that way I can have a seamless transition to a new job if I get it.

It's a relief knowing the end is in sight. I just cannot believe this is how this job has turned out for me. I guess it happens, it's just really insane. Thank you all for listening to me rant and providing all of your support.

 

[Eureka]

Well, we have been bleeding money this weekend. Chanuka started tonight and older DS birthday is Friday. Plus we celebrate Christmas. Most of the shopping is done but still a few things to go. We have money in checking that I've set aside for other things but we've been very heavily borrowing from ourselves this weekend. I hate that, but better than using the credit card. DH and I had a date night Saturday, and our meal out was not cheap, but you know, sometimes it's worth it.

Plus I spent $100 to make "snack bags" for the soup kitchen we're involved in fundraising for. The bags are for the people to take home with them. Three or four times a year I make 24 of them with 8-10 items, including a bottle of water, can of tuna, granola bars, applesauce, cracker packs, etc. Again, totally worth it, in part because we spend SO much money on ourselves and family this time of year and it's always good to remember how lucky we are, even if we have some credit card debt, you know?

A week and a half before I had (unexpected) surgery, I had a scheduled medical test. The first bill from that came in this weekend. I think it's the facility fee, and "only" $116, so at least I can pay that next week when I do bills (DH gets paid every week and I do twice a month so I pay bills on Fridays) without setting up a payment plan.

I don't really have a point, I'm just kind of thinking out loud. The amount of money we spend this time or year always stresses me out, yet DH wants to give the kids a nice holiday. I don't disagree with him, it's fine that he wants to do that and we've always been able to pay our bills, but it still stresses me out. Thanks for listening.

 

[gracie1]

Well, we have been bleeding money this weekend. Chanuka started tonight and older DS birthday is Friday. Plus we celebrate Christmas. Most of the shopping is done but still a few things to go. We have money in checking that I've set aside for other things but we've been very heavily borrowing from ourselves this weekend. I hate that, but better than using the credit card. DH and I had a date night Saturday, and our meal out was not cheap, but you know, sometimes it's worth it.

Plus I spent $100 to make "snack bags" for the soup kitchen we're involved in fundraising for. The bags are for the people to take home with them. Three or four times a year I make 24 of them with 8-10 items, including a bottle of water, can of tuna, granola bars, applesauce, cracker packs, etc. Again, totally worth it, in part because we spend SO much money on ourselves and family this time of year and it's always good to remember how lucky we are, even if we have some credit card debt, you know?

A week and a half before I had (unexpected) surgery, I had a scheduled medical test. The first bill from that came in this weekend. I think it's the facility fee, and "only" $116, so at least I can pay that next week when I do bills (DH gets paid every week and I do twice a month so I pay bills on Fridays) without setting up a payment plan.

I don't really have a point, I'm just kind of thinking out loud. The amount of money we spend this time or year always stresses me out, yet DH wants to give the kids a nice holiday. I don't disagree with him, it's fine that he wants to do that and we've always been able to pay our bills, but it still stresses me out. Thanks for listening.

The main reason I get stressed is because Murphy always likes to hit me around this time and all the "unexpected" happens. Like you for instance with surgery and now the medical bills. I think if we could be guaranteed to get past the holiday without the unexpected events then they could be more enjoyable!!
That is so nice of your to make those snack bags! Are you able to shop at the dollar store for most of them items? I know around where I live you could get just about all those items at the dollar store - just thinking that may save you a little bit

 

[gracie1]

DH and I talked more this weekend about my job. I have not heard back from the person who had asked for my resume that I was hoping to hear back from very soon. I did send him my resume late Thursday evening though, so I'm hoping maybe I'll just hear something tomorrow. I do have a couple other people looking for me at their companies as well. DH and I have decided that unless I have someone contact me and try to bring me in for an interview sometime this week, I am going to go ahead and resign on Friday. I just cannot take it anymore. I mean, it's 9 AM on a Sunday and I've already flat out sobbed on DH's shoulder once. This just isn't healthy, and DH and I have such a great relationship that I don't want to sabotage that by bringing home so many work problems (not that he's complaining about it, he is very supportive but I just don't want to do that to us). If someone does bring me in for an interview this week, I'll wait a couple extra days to see if I get that job before resigning, so at least that way I can have a seamless transition to a new job if I get it.

It's a relief knowing the end is in sight. I just cannot believe this is how this job has turned out for me. I guess it happens, it's just really insane. Thank you all for listening to me rant and providing all of your support.

I am so happy that you are going to resign on Friday regardless of whether you have something lined up or not. I feel so bad for you - because I've been there as well as some of the other posters and it is just a horrible feeling to have this happening to you. I'm glad that you will be able to resign and even if you just find something hourly till you get a better job it would still be a little help with your dh salary. Hugs to you!!!!!!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Eureka...

Hey man....sometimes you just gotta vent!

I don't think I've EVER held such a tight rein on the finances in December before. Like you said, it's easy to "bleed money" in December.

I decided this year that I was only going to have one cheat day in terms of my diet (the 25th) and no cheating AT ALL on our budget.

So far, I'm standing in good stead. I have contingency money if we need it, and allocated what SHOULD be enough money in each category. My Christmas shopping is done with the exception of a few chocolate bars, which I will pick up at the dollar store on Wednesday and I have a $10 bill set aside for that.

I am hoarding every little dollar like a miser. We still have $24 left in our family fun money budget after going out to eat this month, but I'm debating staying silent on that little tidbit of info so I can avoid spending it. It's not really enough to do anything with and I could definitely use it elsewhere. I'll keep it quiet for now and see how it goes. I'm sneaky like that!

But I can definitely commiserate with you. I have had Decembers before where the money just leaked away somehow and I eventually gave it and just let it happen. Sometimes, that's they way it goes.

I hope your stress dissipates and you are able to enjoy your holidays more fully!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

DH and I talked more this weekend about my job. I have not heard back from the person who had asked for my resume that I was hoping to hear back from very soon. I did send him my resume late Thursday evening though, so I'm hoping maybe I'll just hear something tomorrow. I do have a couple other people looking for me at their companies as well. DH and I have decided that unless I have someone contact me and try to bring me in for an interview sometime this week, I am going to go ahead and resign on Friday. I just cannot take it anymore. I mean, it's 9 AM on a Sunday and I've already flat out sobbed on DH's shoulder once. This just isn't healthy, and DH and I have such a great relationship that I don't want to sabotage that by bringing home so many work problems (not that he's complaining about it, he is very supportive but I just don't want to do that to us). If someone does bring me in for an interview this week, I'll wait a couple extra days to see if I get that job before resigning, so at least that way I can have a seamless transition to a new job if I get it.

It's a relief knowing the end is in sight. I just cannot believe this is how this job has turned out for me. I guess it happens, it's just really insane. Thank you all for listening to me rant and providing all of your support.

Woo hoo! End in sight.