I found a bright spot in all of this

[Granny]

I can see it now, at Christmas in the future, I will be excited to receive a new vaccuum, new dustbuster, etc. Who's gonna need or want froo froo stuff when I will be grateful for all those things I used to buy when they needed replacing.

Won't my hubby be happy!

[debtisbad]

That is true. I am completely downsizing my life. After all, won't most of America have to do it in the future anyway as gas goes up. Say goodbye to the days of the McMansions.

Debit is bad

[lrprn]

It never fails to amaze me how completely we've changed when I think about the way we used to spend for something new without really thinking it over first. If something broke, we just replaced it. Wam bam....ka ching!

Now that we're in Ch 13, I'm always thinking about how to repair something - I even had a pair of hubby's shoes resoled last week! Before we would have just gone out and bought him new shoes that would have cost many times more than the resoling did. And all our grocery 'extras' (snacks, pop, cookies, etc) that we thought we couldn't live without? Well, we are living 90% without them and it feels good! Now when we have something a little extra, we appreciate it so much more.

Who would have thought that filing bk would have a silver lining? We have been surprised that ours has in many unexpected ways. I'm sorry that we had to go under financially to learn what we have the hard way, but I'm grateful we are emotionally much richer as a couple and family for it. Glad to hear your hubby will be a happy man, Granny! Hope you are finding the silver lining in little ways too.

[Granny]

It never fails to amaze me how completely we've changed when I think about the way we used to spend for something new without really thinking it over first. If something broke, we just replaced it. Wam bam....ka ching!

Who would have thought that filing bk would have a silver lining?

Hope you are finding the silver lining in little ways too.

Actually, I am. Today I went to Wally World and was able to splurge a little and used the debit card and it felt good. I won't be getting a bill later. As I was checking out, there wasn't the usual heavy feeling of dread that had been there in the past. I also found it very easy to look at something and decide that it was not the best purchase and walk away. Before I would have just thrown it in the buggy without thinking it over and then I would would have been disappointed later.

I am also learning to say no to my grandkids...hard for them, but good for us all (even if they do't know it yet!

I feel good today.