Dropping off the face of the earth.

[GoingDown]

Tired of debt,

If you truly want, you will be able to buy a house again. I have another friend in Atlanta (Alpharetta) that is a mortgage broker. She tells me that people buy houses 1 day out of bankrupcy. They actually are a better risk right after BK, since they cannot file again for a number of years. I do not happen to want to own a house again. I got forced (my own doing) to buy this stinkin house I have right now. I wanted an apt. but my MIL threw a fit and said that "children should not be raised in an apt.". Husband, who has no backbone with his mother agreed. I hate houses. Hate realtors, lenders (except of course my friend in ATL). If I did not have kids, I would love to live in an RV. You know, buy a good used one for 20-30k and park it in interesting parts of the country. Hot areas in the winter, cooler in the summer. Husband thinks I have cracked, he said you would be surrounded by transients. Yeah, like I know my neighbors now! Could not even tell you their names. I swear if I could find a way to do this with kids, I would. What a great education for them. Plus I am starting nursing school (at 40 + I might ad) and nurses can find jobs anywhere.

That would definitely be hard with kids. They need to be with their friends, and they couldn't make long lasting friendships if they were always moving around. But after they turn 18 or go to college, you should try it. I think it would be fun, too. I would spend the summers in Oregon and the winters in Arizona or New Mexico.

[PatrickM]

Great Title

I guess we are all learning how to live with our finances and what life ends up throwing at you. From my brief time on this site I can tell people have deep emotion attached to their comments. At least I am not alone! Thanks for making one person feel a little better.

[tresjolie]

Could not agree more!
I have lived in a 2 story 2500 square foot home (with just 2 people) in a really nice suburbia neighborhood and found out how you can be your most miserable (went through a divorce) when you have all the largest and best material things out there---the sports car, etc. I am not pooh poohing making good money or wanting nice things or those that have them.....just that, as so many others have noted, it can get you into trouble really fast and you think you are doing well and can handle the debt and living large and then one or two things can happen and there you are....on the other side of the fence---unable to even make one of your credit card payments...having to be really careful that you have enough food to eat until next payday---money for gas in the car to get to work....hoping your 8 year old car keeps on ticking...
Hate that it took getting to this point to make me live within my means---some of it not my fault and some of it is...
but we do go on and hopefully learn from it. Agree with the "Keeping up with the Joneses" mindset or worse "Doing Better than the Joneses". I think it's so interesting---look at something like the reality series Survivor--put everyone on a deserted island and strip away all their "things"...their "economic status/position"...their "titles" and you get to see we are all the same and those labels don't mean a thing....
So many people who are not on this site are just at the edge teetering trying to play the game---trying to keep afloat---just like that commercial where the poor guy is going around his home...everything looking okay and he is talking about his debt and riding on his lawnmower asking for someone to please help him...

[debtisbad]

I love that commercial. Cracks me up because it is so true!

[Minnymouth]

That commercial summons up a LOT OF HOUSEHOLDS..... glad its not mine anymore!!!

One of the best commercials I've ever seen and the most truthful.

[jane taylor]

My kids are out of school today for a teacher workday and my daughter had a friend stay over at our house last night. My husband told me that the girl commented to my daughter, "Wow, you must be rich!", when driving into our neighborhood. She also added, "I live in a trailer."

Don't get me wrong, I love my house, I would much rather be living in a trailer that is paid for and not be going through all of this! Right now we can't sell our house as it needs some repairs and we are maxed out loan-to-value!

I am thankful, however, that we have chosen to do something about our debt and are getting out and staying out of it!