I can't believe I am actually going to post this. It has been something that has been on my mind for a long time.
Let me first start of by saying ... I LOVE READING FINANCIAL AND BUDGETING BLOGS!
I really do. I love reading about what sacrifices families make in order to make their ends meet, gain financial freedom, and achieve their dreams.
What does drive me crazy is that these blog posts either ...
a) don't use real numbers
or
b) if they do use real numbers they are NOWHERE near what our bills look like.
Why does it drive me crazy that they don't use real numbers?
Let me tell you.
If you are going to talk about how you make your ends meet, please use real numbers. I want to know what your income looks like and what your bills look like. Let me into your family. Show me.
Tell me what you did wrong.
Tell me what worked for you.
Was your spouse on board?
Did you have budget meetings?
Where you in debt?
Did you have to pay child support?
Did you receive child support?
Do you have student loans?
Where do you live?
Do you eat processed food?
Do you only buy organic?
Do you watch tv?
Are your kids in sports?
How many kids do you have?
How old are your kids?
Seriously, I want to know all these answers.
Maybe you are thinking that it is none of my business and you would be right.
But if you want me to relate to you then I need the details.
Part B ...
Why are your bills so small in comparison to mine?
Seriously ... if you are saying your mortgage is $500 a month ... I CANNOT RELATE.
I live in the midwest. To rent our 3 bedroom townhouse that isn't updated nor does it have a finished basement costs us $1475 a month. Sometimes that is more than one paycheck we receive. We get paid bi-weekly.
How do you only spend $50 a week on groceries? We spend at least $150. I don't always buy organic but with 4 boys in our house (my husband, a 13 year old, a 12 year old and a 7 month old) food goes fast. They always need a snack. My husband loves pop. He drinks a lot of it. My boys love to eat. They don't just eat one plate of food, they want seconds. They invite their friends over. The friends get thirsty and hungry. Our daughter has food allergies. We cannot just pick up a bag of noodles for $0.99. We have to buy brown rice and quinoa noodles for $3 a bag. It is a never ending battle with food at our house.
Do you have to buy prescription medication every month? We do. Well we did. We were spending $235 a month for my son's ADHD medication. Thankfully we no longer are on prescription medication but I am spending money each month for Young Living Essential Oils that help him in school.
There are a lot of families out there that are blended families. Do you have to pay child support? Because we do! Do you receive child support? We do.
Do you have to pay student loans? We do. But right now since funds are so tight one loan is in forbearance and one we pay interest only.
Are your bills late? Are you a month behind? Maybe two months behind? Because we are there. What bills are your top priority? Rent, groceries, credit card bills, electric, gas, water, garbage ...
Right now we are in a place that we are late on a lot of bills. I don't know how to handle it. But if I look up blogs that are talking about this they are super vague and don't really give you advice on how to get yourself out of this mess.
Many blogs will suggest you move to a cheaper house. Trust me I have thought of that. But we have boys that need to spend time with their other parents so we can't move far. Also, they are older so they don't want to leave their schools. And honestly, I have looked and our townhouse is cheap for our area.
I will continue to read budgeting and financial blogs because they do have helpful advice but I think this just solidified the fact that I want to now be your go to person to give you real numbers, in real time, while we are doing it.
I am going to be honest.
I am going to share my heart.
Some day's it may not be happy news.
But be prepared REAL is coming. Would you be interested in joining me?
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