Well I know it could be worse but things are not well with us financially right now. I feel as if I'm in my own State of Emergency.

About 2 months ago, due to medical issues with me and my child and my child moving away from home (with no money, no car, no medical insurance, and no job) we finally hit rock bottom and couldn't pay my electric bill. For the first time ever I borrowed money from my older sister to pay my electric bill. Thinking I would have it paid back within the month, she lent it and I assured her I would get it back to her right away and now I feel like pond scrum for not paying her back quickly. I am now 2 months behind on my house payment and can't pay again until the 3rd Wednesday of September. I have a $300 electric bill due next week or will face shutoff. My trash collection bill is so far behind they will be coming to pick up my rented trash can next week. Dishnetwork will be shut off next week.

I've made nearly $700 on ebay selling stuff from the house since the middle of July. You would think I'd have paid my sis and caught up on some bills....nope....More emergency money went to my child and the rest has gone to insufficient check charges to the bank and paying bills which were on auto pay out of the bank. I owe ebay $82.00 in fees and they sent that through my bank on Thursday and I was already overdrawn so that bounced. I'm now $135.00 overdrawn in my bank and no way to cover it. If I use money from dh's check next week then I can't pay the electric. Arghhhhh!

Dh makes $480 a week and I get $925 a month for disability. This is enough to live on and pay our bills if we are carefull. Dh has no clue that we are behind on the mortgage or any of the above. Actually, he doesn't want to know. He just wants me to handle it and pay the bills. He can't deal with "any" stress and especially the kind of stress he can't do a thing about. This is not all of it but sure gives me a good start on spilling my guts to world.

So my plan of action is....1. Cut off the kid. My child now has a job and is staying with friends so is completely "cut off" from any money from us. 2. Have a humongous yard sale weekend after next. 3. Do not drive to town for anything except for one day a week. 4. Join a different online auction site that doesn't charge listing fees and sell stuff to pay off ebay and other bills.

Ways we save everyday....Dh rarely eats out at lunch unless he has to. He takes his lunch and I always eat a sandwich or leftovers at home. We "never" eat out at dinner. I cook pretty much from scratch. I occasionaaly make my dogs food when they are running low on dry food from a receipe I got online. We never rent movies or go out to the movies. We never go out for drinks. We haven't had a vacation for 2 years. I am great at reusing and making things last and repair clothes that are worn to get the most wear from them. I only buy clothes at thrift stores. I don't remember the last blouse I bought brand new. I always ask for samples of medications from my doctor.

I guess this is enough for my first post. It's certainly more than I can deal with right now. Off to watch "Forest Gump".