Debt Dumpers - 2019

[amalone1013]

Unless the bedroom in the basement has an egress large enough to fit through to get outside in case of fire, (i.e. a door or full sized window, not a basement window up high), it cannot legally be called a bedroom. So, that is how a lot of people get around that.

This is my biggest pet peeve when looking at home listings. They'll list something as 5 bedrooms and then the description will say 2 non conforming in the basement

 

[potterfanatic]

I’m struggling with a decision to attend my cousins wedding in NYC. I can get cheap flights but I know the rest of the trip will not be cheap and I will need to get a new dress for myself as I don’t own anything that would be remotely appropriate for a black tie optional reception (work from home mom so I don’t even have work clothes!)

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

This is my biggest pet peeve when looking at home listings. They'll list something as 5 bedrooms and then the description will say 2 non conforming in the basement

Then legally they shouldn't be advertising it as a 5 bedroom house.

@barkley The bedroom in our basement will fully conform with a proper egress window, so we will go from being a 3 bedroom to a 4 bedroom house. And from 2.5 bath to 3.5 bath. I am not sure what this will do to our property value, but since we live in the township, our property taxes are pretty low. I guess I'm not too concerned about it right now.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I’m struggling with a decision to attend my cousins wedding in NYC. I can get cheap flights but I know the rest of the trip will not be cheap and I will need to get a new dress for myself as I don’t own anything that would be remotely appropriate for a black tie optional reception (work from home mom so I don’t even have work clothes!)

A friend of mine used Rent the Runway to get a dress for a fancy black tie wedding reception. She did the monthly subscription option, which costs $100 a month and lets you take out 4 items at a time. A few weeks before, she rented a few dresses to find one that she wanted. Then she returned the other dresses and rented out accessories (earrings, purse and necklace) to go with the dress. After the wedding, she returned everything and cancelled the subscription so in total it cost her $100.

I loved this idea because usually for something so fancy, you buy the dress and then never end up wearing it again. If I have a similar event, I would probably do the same thing.

 

[potterfanatic]

A friend of mine used Rent the Runway to get a dress for a fancy black tie wedding reception.

Wow what a great idea! Thank you! That itself could save me quite a bit of money!

 

[amalone1013]

Then legally they shouldn't be advertising it as a 5 bedroom house.

That's what I thought! I was like, surely this is illegal, but it's pretty par for the course around Denver. I'm not even looking for 5 bedrooms right now, but I'll even see older ranch homes that have been flipped, ones that were 2/3 bedroom and 1 bath on the main floor. And they'll put a whole master suite in the basement. But it doesn't have a big enough window to be legal, though they advertise as an additional bedroom. Why would you do that????? DH and I are super frustrated with the housing market here.

 

[jen7233]

I’m struggling with a decision to attend my cousins wedding in NYC. I can get cheap flights but I know the rest of the trip will not be cheap and I will need to get a new dress for myself as I don’t own anything that would be remotely appropriate for a black tie optional reception (work from home mom so I don’t even have work clothes!)

Did you come up with an estimate of out of pocket cost? Maybe look at what you are willing/able to spend and have that cap as your decision maker.

 

[tzolkin]

That's what I thought! I was like, surely this is illegal, but it's pretty par for the course around Denver. I'm not even looking for 5 bedrooms right now, but I'll even see older ranch homes that have been flipped, ones that were 2/3 bedroom and 1 bath on the main floor. And they'll put a whole master suite in the basement. But it doesn't have a big enough window to be legal, though they advertise as an additional bedroom. Why would you do that????? DH and I are super frustrated with the housing market here.

Where I live they will leave the old/legal info in the specifics of the listing, but the description will say “additional room in basement can be used (or “is currently used”) as a 3rd bedroom”.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Got my husbands W2 back and plugged our numbers into Turbo Tax. We only owe $200! Hallelujah! He has worked overtime a lot this month and called me this morning when he got off work and said he has scheduled a bunch through March as well. Should give us a nice push on our progress.

 

[Eureka]

So we ended up needing to get a new garbage disposal from the kitchen sink leak - $450. There is mold growing in the cabinet beneath the sink and the plumber said it will keep growing and probably we need to replace that. We've talked about doing the whole kitchen before and while this might be a good opportunity, but with the shutdown, a rebid that we don't know the outcome to, and college looming, not sure if we'll do that now. We're starting with a mold specialist coming in next week ($69 diagnostic fee) to see exactly what needs to be done. We don't want mold/water damage going into the floor!

This week nobody got paid (I just mean it's an off week) and we actually spent less than I anticipated, unless there is something I am missing when I look at our bank app. I don't think there is, but whenever we have more money than I thought, I start to worry about what I've forgotten.

My birthday is coming up in about a month or so and I think I want to take an overnight trip, the four of us, to Colonial Williamsburg. It's been about 10 years since we went but now with one kid wanting to study politics and history and the other taking AP US History, they would love it even more than they did then. It's only a couple hours from us but they have winter ticket deals where we could get a three-day pass for not too much. We'd only use two days of it, but still would be fun.

 

[Eureka]

You live in Charleston, that is one place that is on my bucket list, and I will go there one day! I bet the food really is fantastic.

I'd love to go there too. It would be a doable drive for us, but until the kids are out of high school, summer is our easiest travel time and it is just TOO HOT for us to go then!

 

[DLgal]

Wow what a great idea! Thank you! That itself could save me quite a bit of money!

Go to Macy's or Nordstrom during any sale. I guarantee you will find a nice dress for well under $100. My husband is a Marine and every year there is a black tie/fancy ball to celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corps. I have found dresses for $50 and under...one year I got a dress from Nordstrom that was priced $189, but was on a sale rack, and when it rang up at the register, it was $25! I had a wedding to attend last fall and I ordered a dress from Macy's that was only $69. It's not hard to find a great fancy dress for less than $100.

 

[amalone1013]

Where I live they will leave the old/legal info in the specifics of the listing, but the description will say “additional room in basement can be used (or “is currently used”) as a 3rd bedroom”.

I get frustrated because it will be in the numbers for bed/bath, so if you are filtering by places that are 3+ bedrooms, it will come up as 3, and then in the description say "non-conforming in basement" etc. I'd prefer your way at least!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

So we ended up needing to get a new garbage disposal from the kitchen sink leak - $450. There is mold growing in the cabinet beneath the sink and the plumber said it will keep growing and probably we need to replace that. We've talked about doing the whole kitchen before and while this might be a good opportunity, but with the shutdown, a rebid that we don't know the outcome to, and college looming, not sure if we'll do that now. We're starting with a mold specialist coming in next week ($69 diagnostic fee) to see exactly what needs to be done. We don't want mold/water damage going into the floor!

This week nobody got paid (I just mean it's an off week) and we actually spent less than I anticipated, unless there is something I am missing when I look at our bank app. I don't think there is, but whenever we have more money than I thought, I start to worry about what I've forgotten.

My birthday is coming up in about a month or so and I think I want to take an overnight trip, the four of us, to Colonial Williamsburg. It's been about 10 years since we went but now with one kid wanting to study politics and history and the other taking AP US History, they would love it even more than they did then. It's only a couple hours from us but they have winter ticket deals where we could get a three-day pass for not too much. We'd only use two days of it, but still would be fun.

I love Colonial Williamsburg. We went many times as a kid and when I did a summer internship in DC, my parents met me over 4th of July weekend. It was so much fun and great memories. I can't wait until DD is a bit older so that I can take her there.

 

[amalone1013]

My birthday is coming up in about a month or so and I think I want to take an overnight trip, the four of us, to Colonial Williamsburg. It's been about 10 years since we went but now with one kid wanting to study politics and history and the other taking AP US History, they would love it even more than they did then. It's only a couple hours from us but they have winter ticket deals where we could get a three-day pass for not too much. We'd only use two days of it, but still would be fun.

I love Colonial Williamsburg. We went many times as a kid and when I did a summer internship in DC, my parents met me over 4th of July weekend. It was so much fun and great memories. I can't wait until DD is a bit older so that I can take her there.

*googles Colonial Williamsburg*

*adds to list of trip ideas*

 

[dayvewc]

I think I'm just about to give up. Does any one have any experience with gofundme? I am afraid that might just be my only chance left besides faking my death and moving to Mexico and trying to live on the life insurance money. I don't think I'd live very long with my medical bills, but at least in Mexico or Canada, the medicines wouldn't cost quite as much.

 

[barkley]

That's what I thought! I was like, surely this is illegal, but it's pretty par for the course around Denver. I'm not even looking for 5 bedrooms right now, but I'll even see older ranch homes that have been flipped, ones that were 2/3 bedroom and 1 bath on the main floor. And they'll put a whole master suite in the basement. But it doesn't have a big enough window to be legal, though they advertise as an additional bedroom. Why would you do that????? DH and I are super frustrated with the housing market here.

Where I live they will leave the old/legal info in the specifics of the listing, but the description will say “additional room in basement can be used (or “is currently used”) as a 3rd bedroom”.

dang, around here listing something like that could trigger a visit from any number of government agencies. there are people in the assessor's office who sit and go through the new mls on a regular basis and compare the listings to the official records. if they see that an unreported improvement has been done they are out to raise the taxes, if it's been done w/o the proper permits then it's reported to that division, if it's the basement w/ not to code bedrooms then it can be the fire inspector. fines, cancelled homeowners insurance, increased property taxes.....

i don't think it's limited to where we live though b/c i recently read something about how municipalities in an attempt to generate more income have these mls reviews as a regular deal-and now their appraisers just show up at open houses to take a look around (don't have to have owner's permission to enter when it's a public open house-and the appraisers aren't forthcoming on who they are).

o to Macy's or Nordstrom during any sale. I guarantee you will find a nice dress for well under $100. My husband is a Marine and every year there is a black tie/fancy ball to celebrate the birthday of the Marine Corps. I have found dresses for $50 and under...one year I got a dress from Nordstrom that was priced $189, but was on a sale rack, and when it rang up at the register, it was $25! I had a wedding to attend last fall and I ordered a dress from Macy's that was only $69. It's not hard to find a great fancy dress for less than $100.

if you don't mind second hand-check out goodwill or other thrift stores. they routinely have one and done occasion dresses. in the past i've gotten dresses for cruises that were obviously only worn once (it used to be my go-to place for fancy dresses for dd b/c kids would wear an item once for a wedding and then outgrow it so it ended up for less than $10 at goodwill and with dry cleaning i was only out $20 or so).

think I'm just about to give up. Does any one have any experience with gofundme? I am afraid that might just be my only chance left besides faking my death and moving to Mexico and trying to live on the life insurance money. I don't think I'd live very long with my medical bills, but at least in Mexico or Canada, the medicines wouldn't cost quite as much.

no idea on gofundme but have you tried consumer credit counseling's free services? don't use the ones that charge a fee-use the not for profit/free service one. they will look at everything and be very forthcoming on your options. bankruptcy is their last resort but if they truly believe it's the only way after they've made every attempt on your behalf to reduce/forgive medical bills then they can help you with the process.

 

[pblack]

Sending hugs your way @dayvewc I don't have experience setting up a gofundme, but my in-laws have done it. From my understanding it's fairly straight forward.

I actually got my W2 early this year. (My job usually waits until the last day of the month to send out W2s despite the fact that they have all the information they need by the end of December. So frustrating.) I've plugged in the numbers into Turbo Tax for everything we've received so far (I think we've received everything, this is the first year we have a house to factor in) and it looks like we should be getting back about $2000. My plan is to use all of it towards our debt, but that plan may change a bit. We're thinking about putting a soft water system in our house (my DH works for a soft water company) so we'd only have to pay for the install and then the monthly tank exchanges would be free. This should cost us less than $500. So if we decide to go that route i'll use whatever money is left over and pay it towards our debt.

 

[dayvewc]

no idea on gofundme but have you tried consumer credit counseling's free services? don't use the ones that charge a fee-use the not for profit/free service one. they will look at everything and be very forthcoming on your options. bankruptcy is their last resort but if they truly believe it's the only way after they've made every attempt on your behalf to reduce/forgive medical bills then they can help you with the process.

I haven't tried the consumer credit counseling service yet. I have been trying to look at all my different options, and I don't really think that bankruptcy is one. At this point, it is not really a matter of my credit use, it's a matter of my (static) income (and loss of income from deadbeat SO) vs escalating expenses. If I just pay my mortgage, utilities, car payment and insurance, and estimated gas to work each month it is about $1000 more than my net pay. That does not include food, medical visits, medicine, or any extras. Since my utilities are "levelized" they will eventually go down now that I have gotten rid of the several people who were living in my house and not helping any, but it will take a full year. If I could find 2 or 3 people to rent the extra rooms in my house that would actually pay rent would be ideal, but at this point I'm extremely leery. I've been burned on that too many times already. There are pinpoints of light visible. Some of my service / utility contracts will end soon, and I can cancel them without having to pay the early termination penalty. So, that will lessen the monthly deficit. Not significantly at first, but I'm thinking in snowball terms. It'll add up eventually. I hope.

Sending hugs your way @dayvewc I don't have experience setting up a gofundme, but my in-laws have done it. From my understanding it's fairly straight forward.

I've been looking at the website, and it all seems straight forward. I just am not sure I have enough of an online social presence to spread far enough to do any good, or (and this is the mental health issues speaking) that I and my situation would be deemed "worthy of help" by enough people to make a difference overall. I'm normally not fearless, but I'm also not usually this fearful of trying something.

Can I ask if your in-laws were successful with their campaign? and what was it for?

 

[pblack]

I've been looking at the website, and it all seems straight forward. I just am not sure I have enough of an online social presence to spread far enough to do any good, or (and this is the mental health issues speaking) that I and my situation would be deemed "worthy of help" by enough people to make a difference overall. I'm normally not fearless, but I'm also not usually this fearful of trying something.

Can I ask if your in-laws were successful with their campaign? and what was it for?

They were successful. Long story short, my mother in law is no longer capable of doing a lot of things on her own due to a benign brain tumor that they operated on 5 years back. She had a massive stroke while they were operating and while she's made great progress on her mobility and speech, there's just a lot of things she can no longer do including work. Soonish after that my father in law lost his job, so they lost their only income (aside from whatever MIL gets for disability/retirement). Due to that he lost his only vehicle and had been borrowing his step fathers truck which wasn't the most ideal vehicle for my MIL. So they posted a gofundme to raise $2500 to buy a new to them vehicle (they already had one picked out and were getting a good deal on it due to it being sold by a friend) and they had donations from family/friends/church goers. (My FIL is a music minister at a church.) It started off kind of slow, but donations slowly picked up and then they had one anonymous friend donate the last bit of money they needed.

Since you say your not sure if you have a big enough online presence for it, is it possible to maybe spread the word where you work?