Monday, handling setbacks

 Sometimes when one is trying so hard to pay off debt and make financial plans, we have setbacks.  Now I am not talking about the current state of our economy, that really has not hit yet for most of us.  I am talking about unexpected large bills or large than planned for bills.

I have very little in savings right now due to unexpected bills and also trying to meet savings goals for particular things. Let's just say after these goals have been met Kim is going to have a much larger emergency fund. 

Roscoe's bill was $627.00, so the emergency fund took a hit.  As I am a widow and this is the first year of actually living correctly on my SSI and Joel's pension, I owe $469.99 in Federal taxes.  Only in America can your income go down by over a 1/4 and you can still have your taxes go up.  The world is not kind to widows. On top of that the accountant was $420.00 I was expecting about $300. Her fees have gone up significantly and I may not use her next year. So, I in just a couple of weeks have had $1,516.00 worth of oops's to my financial life.  This on top of meds and gad going up significantly.  What am I going to do?

Throw in the towel? Believe me parts of me wants to.  Then again, I think of the two goals I have already achieved this year, and I realize I can do this, after all no one is going to do it for me. I have been able to save for a $5670.00 goal and pay off another 9247.00 goal and it was before the 1st of April!  Now will this put me behind on my yearly plan. Why yes, she says. But will I let it completely derail me? NO!  Why?  Because there is no rescue party, and I will find ways to make it up.

Right now, I am scrambling to find cash on hand to pay the accountant. I have $335.00 of the $420.00. Hopefully in the next couple days I will have enough product picked up to earn the remaining money.  That is my plan.  I have already incorporated the $627.00 into my budget by not putting more money into a savings plan that I cannot touch. Now the money I owe the Feds $469.00. I am just going to have to write the check and pray that before the 15th of April those funds will be here. I have 8 days. I am pretty sure I can do this. The $1000.00 emergency fund is not enough.  I will not go into funds that are invested, and no not in the stock market.

Kim is going to have a $5000 emergency fund by the end of the year. This is scary!!!!!

I don't like setbacks, life is hard, I work hard.  But I am blessed to have a good life and skills that make my life easier.

I have goals for the week.

1. No eating out except when I am going to the Temple

2. buying no groceries unless it is such a good loss leader it cannot be passed up.

3. Working hard in the shop to make money to pay said bills.

4. Being grateful for what I do have

It would be so easy to just sit in a puddle and scream and cry but is that going to solve my problem?  No not really.  I might feel a little better for a short time but even that.... Not really.

So here I am off the hem a dress and complete 4 bags of piles and I know I have at least 2 more clients coming in with bags! 

I can do this.  Drum roll please, or at least some applause would be nice.  A little louder please?

Have a great and productive day!

God is good!

Kim