Debt Dumpers 2025

[Nettlelondon]

FIL is now home from hospital. DH is with him at the moment waiting for the Rapid Response Rangers who come in and assess what adjusments he needs to be able to live there - hand rails, bathing aids, kitchen aids etc and he will have carers come in three times a day for the next few weeks. As part of that they will report back on what they actually think he needs.

The initial period, and the adjustments, are paid for by the hospital as the hospital has basically sent him home to free up a bed space. Once that is done there will be a review and then the arguing starts as to who needs to pay for any continuing care - hospital (as he would be in hospital otherwise) or him (if it is determined to be living support not medical). He has too much money for social services to pay. We will also see how well he copes in the house or whether we need to move him to a more appropriately designed & equipped property.

He needs to go back to the hospital to see urology and has been referred to the memory clinic to assess whether his mental situation is temporary or permanent and what help & support he needs on that front.

 

[AquaDame]

I don't want to start a political discussion (and I won't get pulled into that), so I'll just stick with a brief explanation. I'm Canadian, and this is a US site. And not just this site. I might be back after the dust settles, but right now that situation is starting to feel uncomfortable. I haven't made a final decision yet, that'll probably happen over the next few weeks.

I'm doing the same when I can swing it (in particular buying extra when things are on sale), and I'm also looking for alternatives just in case.

As someone who has absolutely lovely extended family in BC and Alberta (and heck even if I didn't) I hope your fears bear no fruit... we plan on visiting Banff this July and stopping off to visit with them on the way, and I honestly can't imagine a world at the moment where that is impossible... I hope I'm right and not just being naive, and we see you around sooner rather than later! <3

 

[piglet1979]

In the UK we have something called Auto-enrolment for retirement savings. Within 3 months of starting a job your employer must enrol you in their retirement savings scheme which requires a minimum contribution of 4% from the employee, 3% from the employer and the government chips in another 1%. This applies to everyone over 21 and to earnings between the lower & upper thresholds. Employers can offer more generous schemes and employees can contribute more but this is the minimum.

Additionally you can ask to join below the age of 21 and your employer cannot refuse if you do.

Employees, once enrolled, can opt out - and get a refund if they do so quickly enough - and have to be re-enrolled every 3 years.

I worked in employee compensation for many years and clearly something I said over the years made an impression as my nephew started work at 18 and on his first day asked "how do I join the pension scheme?" I was really quite proud of that (although at times I do wonder if we have created a monster ). He fully understands the concept of compounding. And when he got his first payrise he increased his contribution % on the basis that "I haven't had the money yet, so I won't miss it".

We have talked a lot with DS and DD about retirement. They are both paying for their own college so they need to save right now for that but DS is pretty into economics and stuff and has a plan for when he graduates. He already has a teaching job lined up at the district that he graduated from because of a scholarship he got through the state. He has a really good plan going and will be able to start saving long before we did.

DD I am not too sure. She graduates this year from high school and her only plan is to go to undergrad with no loans. She wants to be a doctor so she knows that she will have lots of loans with the more schooling she does.

We have also installed a number of CCTV cameras so we can monitor what he is up to in case he has any falls etc. as he cannot be trusted to wear his fall detection/careline alarm pendant.

This is a good idea. DH's grandmother refused to wear the pendant because she said she didn't need it. She was so against it that she even sent it back. About a year later (the Friday after Thanksgiving this past year) she fell and couldn't get up. We didn't find her for 2 days. THe camera would have been so nice.

anyone's employers offer/promote this option?

I have never heard of this. I work for a college access program and we work with students on repayment consolidation as well as helping with scholarships for while they are in school. We are usually know what options there are and this one I have never heard about and hasn't been talked about at work.

 

[sandam1]

There are times he has been wearing the pendant, fallen and told the care company that he is fine when they have spoken to him.

Personally, I would have a note that the care company is to call you, regardless of what he says. Then you can call the regular phone and if you don't get an answer (i.e. your FIL can't get up), then you know that there is an issue.

Anyone is interested an alternative to an Apple watch, Garmin watches have the same incident detecting feature. I recently upgraded my running watch to a newer model and my mom was thrilled when I showed her this feature as she worries about me when I'm out on long runs by myself (it also have a live tracking function). I hope to turn this concern around when/if I need to when she gets older.

 

[DisneyTexan]

I have never heard of this. I work for a college access program and we work with students on repayment consolidation as well as helping with scholarships for while they are in school. We are usually know what options there are and this one I have never heard about and hasn't been talked about at work.

Unfortunately my ability to catch all the quote levels is limited, so I'm not referencing the topic properly. Here's an article regarding student loan payments with matching retirement funds.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/04/mor...lan-match-for-those-paying-student-loans.html

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[pblack]

I'm in search of a fire/water safe box for our important documents and just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I'm thinking something small for now. Big enough for our passports, documents, some cash, etc. Eventually I'd like to get an actual safe, but i'm not sure where i'd put it right now and i don't really wanna shell out the money for it at the moment.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

I'm in search of a fire/water safe box for our important documents and just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I'm thinking something small for now. Big enough for our passports, documents, some cash, etc. Eventually I'd like to get an actual safe, but i'm not sure where i'd put it right now and i don't really wanna shell out the money for it at the moment.

I bought this a few weeks ago. I plan to get it all together this weekend -- over the long weekend. I didn't know things existed such as this item, but here it is. I plan to keep it in a space that's easily grabable by everyone should we ever need to evacuate our home quickly.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5STNV6J?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[barkley]

I'm in search of a fire/water safe box for our important documents and just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I'm thinking something small for now. Big enough for our passports, documents, some cash, etc. Eventually I'd like to get an actual safe, but i'm not sure where i'd put it right now and i don't really wanna shell out the money for it at the moment.

are you looking for something that's strictly to protect against fire/water or something that provides the security of a safe?

 

[piglet1979]

This is the specific one we have but it is like the one we have. We bought it over 21 years ago. We just keep it in the bottom of DH's closet.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SentrySa...erId=0&wmlspartner=wlpa&gStoreCode=2266&gQT=0

 

[Sheree]

I'm in search of a fire/water safe box for our important documents and just wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I'm thinking something small for now. Big enough for our passports, documents, some cash, etc. Eventually I'd like to get an actual safe, but i'm not sure where i'd put it right now and i don't really wanna shell out the money for it at the moment.

i bought a cube size one thru walmart for less than $150
fire and water proof. gift for son and dil for their new home. they loved it! can go in closet, basement anywhere
sorry don't have link, bought in december

 

[comicguy]

This is the specific one we have but it is like the one we have. We bought it over 21 years ago. We just keep it in the bottom of DH's closet.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SentrySa...erId=0&wmlspartner=wlpa&gStoreCode=2266&gQT=0

We have the same one but grey. We keep it on the floor in the closet so it is easily accessible

 

[pblack]

are you looking for something that's strictly to protect against fire/water or something that provides the security of a safe?

At this point I think just something to protect against fire/water damage and something we can easily grab and go if we ever needed too.

 

[barkley]

At this point I think just something to protect against fire/water damage and something we can easily grab and go if we ever needed too.

if it's just a grab and go you might check out liberty safe's website. they sell 'cool pockets' which are made to go in their safes but could be used as a grab and go as well. the items we keep in ones we keep inside our safe maintain a significantly lower temp than the items just sitting in the safe so i can attest to their heat resistance.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Hope everyone is doing well.

We got hit with snowpocolypse and had about 8" of snow dumped on us in one day. Needless to say, everything has been closed down for 2 days (possibly 3 tomorrow), so we've been hunkered down at home.

I been playing around with trying my hand at making more things from scratch vs buying in store. We've been having muffins for breakfast, I just made granola, and we're having chicken and homemade noodles for dinner tonight.

I also started a sourdough starter, so we'll see how that ends up here in a couple weeks if it survives. The amount of things you can make with sourdough discard and flour is amazing and I can't wait to get into it and also make some yummy breads.

Stay safe and warm everyone!

 

[barkley]

I also started a sourdough starter, so we'll see how that ends up here in a couple weeks if it survives.

dh has kept his going since starting it in July. he does a loaf every week or so which is nice with the cold weather soups and stews. he found a chocolate sourdough recipie and has so far made it once-very tasty esp. with some peanut butter spread on top.

 

[Tygerlilly]

dh has kept his going since starting it in July. he does a loaf every week or so which is nice with the cold weather soups and stews. he found a chocolate sourdough recipie and has so far made it once-very tasty esp. with some peanut butter spread on top.

I've seen so many recipes for cookies, pancakes, tortillas, crackers, flavored breads, and all kinds of pastries. I'm SO EXCITED to try all the things.

 

[CGB]

Hope everyone is doing well.

We got hit with snowpocolypse and had about 8" of snow dumped on us in one day. Needless to say, everything has been closed down for 2 days (possibly 3 tomorrow), so we've been hunkered down at home.

I been playing around with trying my hand at making more things from scratch vs buying in store. We've been having muffins for breakfast, I just made granola, and we're having chicken and homemade noodles for dinner tonight.

I also started a sourdough starter, so we'll see how that ends up here in a couple weeks if it survives. The amount of things you can make with sourdough discard and flour is amazing and I can't wait to get into it and also make some yummy breads.

This week has almost been a late winter break due to the weather for us. Not a crazy amount of snow but enough to call snow days. The brutal temps have us home again today. I won't like it the end of May, but I'll take the time off now.

I started my sourdough starter last January. You'll love it. Cinnamon rolls and English muffins are our favorites. It also makes great pizza dough. I occasionally bake a loaf of bread, but end up cubing and freezing it before it goes bad for French toast casserole. I'm somewhat free-wheeling with my sourdough...no weighing or expensive dutch ovens. I just wanted to warn you about the sink, which I'm sure you've heard already. I never put discard down the sink, and always wipe my bowls/spoons out with a wet paper towel to get out any dough pieces. I wasn't as careful early on with cleaning out my bowls and my garbage disposal locked up a couple of times... and I'm sure it was a small piece of sourdough that hardened in it. A little olive oil did the trick and loosened it up... but better to avoid the issue in the first place. It is not the same as yeast doughs.

 

[Tygerlilly]

I just wanted to warn you about the sink, which I'm sure you've heard already. I never put discard down the sink, and always wipe my bowls/spoons out with a wet paper towel to get out any dough pieces

Yes I did hear that. And as someone who is guilty of abusing her garbage disposal, I'm actually listening.

 

[bababear_50]

goofytinkerbell said:
"I don't want to start a political discussion (and I won't get pulled into that), so I'll just stick with a brief explanation. I'm Canadian, and this is a US site. And not just this site. I might be back after the dust settles, but right now that situation is starting to feel uncomfortable. I haven't made a final decision yet, that'll probably happen over the next few weeks.

I'm doing the same when I can swing it (in particular buying extra when things are on sale), and I'm also looking for alternatives just in case."

Hi Hon
Mel here
Also a long time Dis Board member and a very proud Canadian.
Yep lots of crazy times right now and it's causing lots of stress for many people.
I've taken to watching the Flipp App for any specials and trying to bulk buy when I can. Today was 10 boxes (six boxes per pack) Kleenex tissues . Each six pack was $3.33 and Palmolive dish soap at 1.25 a bottle,, I bought 6.
Health wise I am on leave from supply work due to a torn rotator cuff and tendonitis in 2 spots on one arm. I did retire 3 years ago but ended up going back to supply. In my field (special needs) you need to be in good physical shape.
I'd like to just give up the supply work but I have this level of uncertainty about the future which I didn't have when I retired.
I have 3 sons, 2 that are in Tech are currently unemployed,,, so many of our Tech jobs got outsourced. Makes me mad that I worked fulltime and part time (single parent) to ensure they got good post secondary educations (One University degree and One College Diploma) and now they are struggling.
Many on the Canadian forums are struggling with upcoming trips and financial ties winter homes, DVC etc. and relationships they have with our American friends. We will get through these tough times and come out wiser and stronger Hon.
Thinking of you
Hugs Mel