I hate money. Not in a I-want-to-be-poor kind of way, but in a I-wish-it-didn’t-run-our-lives kind of way.
Money is a requirement in today’s society, and generally the more the better. I grew up with not a lot – my mom was a single mom, and we did pretty well on $27K a year. Sure, I didn’t have designer clothing (which I really resented as a teen), but we had food, we had a house, and we even had some luxuries.
After college, I worked a series of low-paying jobs, but I was used to living on little, so it wasn’t too bad. Then I got the big job, and suddenly I was making more money than my own mom! To me at that time, $32K a year made me rich! I felt like I had made it in the world.
Currently, we make a bit more than that combined, but with a toddler and two adults, I don’t feel so rich anymore. Again, we’re not poor: we have a nice starter house, we have food, we have cars, and we have some luxuries (like Tivo).
But money is the big green monster that also is a part of our family, and I hate it. When I quit my job to take a part-time job, I had two contracting jobs lined up as well. Both fell through, which left us in a financial situation we didn’t want to be in.
We’re not drowning by any means; more like treading water at the moment, but one big crisis could be the wave that pulls us under.
On Friday, things were going well. The sun was out for the first time in weeks, and Cordy and I were returning from a playdate. Then I saw a light on the dashboard: the check engine light. And at that moment, my happy heart sank.
Here’s the brief history of my car. It’s a 2000 Nissan – my first large purchase when I landed my first big job. Great car, ran fine, until last year. It’s like it sensed money was tight for us, and decided it was time to give up. In one month’s time, the check engine light came on 4 times, and each time involved a different part of the engine or exhaust system needing replaced, to a total cost of over $2000.
The damn light is on again, and I dread what could be wrong now. To add to this problem, the air conditioning stopped working, and I think the brakes are nearing replacement. This could be that wave on the horizon, threatening to drown us.
If it’s a cheap fix, we’ll put it on the credit card and move on. If it’s not a cheap fix, it may be time to look into another car. A car payment is the last thing we need. Especially since my car is supposed to be the reliable one – Aaron’s car is a 96 Plymouth Breeze we bought from my grandmother. It also has high miles and could sputter and die at any time.
So now the big green monster is exerting his power over us. And like money has the ability to do, it’s affecting other areas of our lives. Aaron and I were snippy with each other last night, which I can only attribute to our money discussion. (It’s not my PMS. It’s never my PMS. Are we clear?) We accuse each other of wasting money, and then try to defend our own spending choices. Aaron and I rarely get into arguments, but I could feel the tension last night. It’s the same tension we had last year when my car’s repairs had made it’s own cozy space on our credit card bill, and the contracting jobs fell through.
Can you imagine what life would be like if money was no object? When you could just walk into a store and buy the item you want, not even concerned with the price tag? I’ve found myself occasionally jealous of people who have more money, but then I remind myself, you’re the one who chose a History degree. Should have gone to school for something more sensible, like Computer Science. Which is partially why I’m now back in school working on a nursing degree.
With the fate of my car unknown, this adds even more pressure to Aaron to get the job he interviewed for. Still no word from them yet, which is both promising and terrifying at the same time. I hope we’ll hear something, preferably positive, this week.
Things aren’t awful for us. Even with the car problems, we’ll still have food, we’ll still manage to keep our house, and we’ll still keep some luxuries. We may have to cut back in some areas (like eating out, which as of yesterday has been cut down to practically nothing) but we’ll figure out a way to make it all work.
But things would be so much easier if we didn’t have to worry about money.
You and everyone else. You are not alone in this! I have heard many times that the biggest disagreements that husbands and wives have with each other is usually over money. My hubby is very relaxed about it. I am not, because I have to pay the bills. We do pretty well considering. I think most people (myself included) spend what they make, therefore always playing catch-up. I would love it if money were no object! It would make life so much less stressful.
PS Congrats on going to school for your nursing degree. I was a nurse for many years, and I loved it.
Car troubles. Suck. I have to take mine in tomorrow and I put it off way too long – thankfully, it was because it was optional NOT because it was giving me trouble.
Life without thinking about money would be awesome. It’s a huge source of tension for a lot of people, I think. You’re SO not alone on this one.
greatings from Switzerland
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I so get what you are feeling right now. I seriously cannot even imagine what it would be like if money was not an option. We have food and all the essentials, even a couple of toys…..Still it sucks when money is tight!
My toes are totally crosses for Aaron to get the job!!! Good Luck with the car too!
Like the others before me have said … you are not alone on this one. I hate money. It IS the root of all evil and the root of all marital arguements. Ug!
Wishing for the job offer and that the car is an easy fix. You deserve some good news 🙂
Everyone else has already said it, but again – money sucks, but we’re powerless against it/without it.
Sucks.
I hope everything’s all right with the car! We had car troubles this weekend too even though we just put in $600 for maintenance so that things like this won’t happen. Arrrgh!
I’ll be wishing good things for you on the car AND the job. Good luck–these things usually have a way of working out.
Wow. Could our lives be any more parallel? I quit working full time to be with my daughter. Now Dan feels trapped(though he won’t admit it to me)in his current position. Our one car just died two weeks ago and we opted to buy a new one. It is our biggest chasm in our relationship. We both nitpick each other’s spending habits. A new baby this fall will definitely not make things any easier.
I hope Aaron gets this job!!
Amen to that sistah!!!! I hope that things work out for you and that the car issue is not too terrible.
I hear you – I got my degree in English with a Writing Emphasis – can you imagine? Everyone told me that due to my choice of majors my most oft repeated line for the rest of my life would be, “would you like fries with that?” Who knew that computer science would turn out to have been the money-making choice? Of course, my brain doesn’t function on the correct side for that sort of thing anyway, so the point is moot. Plus, I married Alpha Geek, so we’ve got the computer thing covered. ha ha! But yeah… Ugh! I hear you.
I know I’m late posting my comment, but I really know how you feel. My husband and I are struggling with the mortgage and taxes and medical bills from childbirth. I was on bedrest 8 weeks and I still haven’t fully recovered from this financially. And every time I get one step ahead, something happens that throws us two behind steps (my care broke in January, too).
All I can do is pray. For all of us. You included. I know things will get better. We all just need a little faith and encouragement.
Don’t know if you’re still reading this far back, but the “computer science” comment made me laugh. My husband managed to spend seven years completing his undergraduate degree – two false starts (one in engineering and the other in Bible college) followed by a dual degree in computer science and philosophy: computer science for the job and philosophy so he didn’t go crazy with boredom. Then he graduated and the high-tech job market magically dried up, so two years and one retail job later, he went back to school for law, and it was those good marks in philosophy (along with a kick-ass LSAT – my husband is a genius) that got him in. I always say that if he hadn’t wasted his time on that useless computer science degree, we’d be living the high life by now.
Sorry things are tight right now for you guys. I feel your pain.