Issue with Financial Planner--looking for thoughts/input

[mjkacmom]

Well, sigh! it's been a tough couple months.

On the finance side, things are going mostly well. Our new planners have us saving on taxes (always good!), and I've decided to take Social Security at age 62 (2 years). I can bump up when DH takes his--he hasn't decided when, which is fine. We're having no issues with paying for college X3 and the wedding. OTOH, DH completely missed a credit card payment! When he realized, he paid it on the phone immediately--luckily, we had the $$ available. But there are late fees and interest--grrr!

OTOH, our personal life has been brutal. My youngest went to Japan...and came back with double pneumonia. He was hospitalized, but not before giving it to his brother (who got off with just antibiotics). Both are (mostly) fine now--more in a sec. The dog tore her ACL--she's fine now, too. Older son had foot surgery, he can't drive, but is in a walking cast for now. Then I got an infection on my foot (urgent care, ER visit). Then our cat got pillow foot. About 4 days after she started her course of antibiotics, she died! Not related at all--she'd had a heart murmur, and threw a clot that paralyzed her back legs (saddle thrombosis). She was only 6, but the vet said her prognosis was poor, and she likely wouldn't survive the trip to the vet school for surgery (90 minutes away). Limping me and walking cast son had to wrestle the poor thing into a carrier--it almost would have been comical, had it not been so tragic. They were able to keep her alive long enough for my younger two to come down from college--just a few miles away--and say their goodbyes. To say that we're shell-shocked (and a lot poorer) is an understatement. But, as with any pet, you can only love them while they're with you.

Sorry for the book--not the update you were looking for, I'm sure.

I have most bills on auto pay now, but if I’ve ever paid a bill late, I always call, pay, and ask for the extra charges to be removed, I’ve never been told no.