In the prologue, I talked about how I made it to the top of the mountain, both personally and emotionally. I was an avid saver, and made sure that the amount of money I laid out never exceeded, or in that fact even met the amounts going out. It as you get to the top of that cliff, and look out over the horizon, that many of us often forget ... Read More

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Image by pluckytree via Flickr If you haven't seen the new phenomena, you probably will.  It's called the disappearance of the PF bloggers.  Another Day of Life is no exception.  While you don't get a message saying, whoops sorry I am gone, like at MyDebtBlog, and now the latest MyCrazydebt.com, you do see that I haven't really posted much of anything since February 27th. So why are so many personal finance blogs ... Read More

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I enjoyed answering the questions from Quilly yesterday.  The questions were well thought out, and for me very thought provoking.  After posting my answers I spent the day doing some reflection on how it is I really got to where I am.  While many of the things that have happened, such as Fourteen's spiral, and our need as parents to do what was needed, in order to help him, the ... Read More

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I have been off for the last few days.  On my first day off I sent in all of the information we needed to CCCS.  I am awaiting their call.  One thing that the last few days have done is given my wife and I a bit of time to talk.  One thing that we touch upon is bankruptcy. While it isn't our preferred resolution, it is something that I have ... Read More

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Yes it can be that quiet around here.  I truly miss some of my more daily blogging, however it is a necessary evil for me to step back a bit while I attempt to get my life in a little bit of order.  Financially we are finally at the bottom.  We have decided to go to CCCS, Consumer Credit Counselling which was recommended by one of my blog readers, as well ... Read More

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It been hard to be so absent from blogging lately.  However, there are other priorities right now.  I plan to get back to more regular posting over the next few weeks.  So what has been going on?  Finally my wife has faced the reality that we are in the red each month by close to 2500 dollars.  And I have made the realization that I can't borrow from Peter to ... Read More

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While my hope over the week was to entertain and enlighten with my wonderfully detailed tales from the road of wonderful family time, and exciting debt free adventures, both time and family got in the way of that daily blogging fix. And you know what, that is fine. In fact that is great. I got to spend tine with my family, and I think for better or ... Read More

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When faced with an economic downturn such a s the one currently in the United States, which is having far reaching global effects, it can be hard to stay upbeat.  So how do you stay upbeat in the current market when you are struggling? The first thing is to realize you are not alone.  Foreclosure is the highest it has been in 20 years.  Credit card defaults are climbing, and more ... Read More

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It's been all over the news.  The US budget deficit is now the highest it has ever been.  For 2009 is it estimated to balloon to a record $482 billion.  What this does is put both candidates on the hook to explain how they intend to improve our economy without raising taxes or cutting services we so desperately need. This economic downturn has affected almost everyone.  And there are no easy answers.  ... Read More

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The weekend is upon us and fast approaching.  While I do love the weekend it is extremely frustrating to not be able to do much of anything, due to our family finances.  Our hopeful summer vacation is most likely off the shelf, and may not return for the foreseeable future.  But at the same point though unavoidable we have to learn to pay the price for our finances.  I do ... Read More

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So here we are in the here and now, today.  You have now followed all of the stages of my fanacial life.   “In The Beginning” “Addiction of Instant Gratification” “Going Down to the Bottom” “Redemption Part I” “The Market Meltdown” “A Life Complete” “Falling”   Once my wife needed to stay home with the older child we began to struggle.  We found that many of the things we needed became almost luxuries.  We found that the loss of income hurt and with each ... Read More

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So we have covered what my life was from childhood until my marriage (#2), in 2006.  You have heard the gory details.  I may have put you to sleep, maybe generated a small tear in your eye, and even made you roll your eyes.  So to recap, here are the areas of my life broken down into rather wordy entries.   “In The Beginning” “Addiction of Instant Gratification” “Going Down to the Bottom” “Redemption Part ... Read More

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We have covered the major stages of my life through the year 2001:   “In The Beginning” “Addiction of Instant Gratification” “Going Down to the Bottom” “Redemption Part I”   Now we can cover the period I called the market meltdown.  I last told you that upon the return from my honeymoon in 2001, I had an urgent call from my boss.  When I called her back I was told that all of the management staff with ... Read More

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We have covered the major stages of my life through the year 1998:   “In The Beginning” “Addiction of Instant Gratification” “Going Down to the Bottom”   One commenter had said how sad this story was so far.  Years ago I would have commiserated with that comment, and felt sorry for myself.  My life has made me what I am.  The experiences, and hardships taught me many things; valuable lessons.  I appreciate those lessons.   In the spring ... Read More

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I have spent some time talking about how I grew up in a frugal family.  How something like a dying parent, and the emotional toll that can cause can lead to perceived holes in your life.  People deal with those holes in many ways.  Mine was to spend, and get that “Instant Gratification” that came with a new purchase.   In 1991 after I graduated High School, I was ready for college.  ... Read More

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