Gloom, despair, and agony on me!!!
I got Dave Ramsey's TMMO book in the mail today (free from someone who read it and passed it on to me) and read chapters 1 through 8. I'm not sure if I should feel some hope or if despair is called for.
I feel somewhat hopeful because his plan, while obviously not easy, appears to work. And (this is a biggie!) we don't have $85,000 in debt like so many people who sing Dave's praises. We only have about $16,000 in debt, not including the mortgage. However, we also don't make $120,000 a year! We've taken a loss the last two or three years so I can't say we really make anything at all. As Dave puts it, we don't have a business - we have an expensive hobby. And there's the crux of it all. Sure, we spend money on things we shouldn't at times but the reality is that we don't make enough money to cover our basic expenses. Last year our income taxes showed our $11,000 loss. So no matter how much budgeting we do we're still in danger.
After I read the book, my man person asked what I'd learned. I told him "Not a lot" as I'd listened to so many of Dave's archived radio shows and read so much online that the book was really a refresher more than anything but that I did learn a couple of things. He asked what, of course. I hesitated a bit and finally told him I did learn something I'd suspected. He asked what and I said, "I think it will work for us but to make it work, there would need to be major changes. I mean really major changes and to be honest, I'm not sure we'll make them." There, I said it. I've hinted, alluded, and suggested but tonight I finally flat out said it. He asked me for details. "Our problem isn't just too many expenses. It's also not enough income." He agreed and I told him that the only way out of that is to increase the income.
So, we talked for a few minutes and he told me that he's decided our business isn't working and that he'll just go get a job. Whoa! He hasn't had a "job" in the 13 years I've known him. He's been self-employed in one fashion or another and nothing has made him get a job, no matter how desperate we were.
I haven't the foggiest how this will pan out. I don't think he'll actually get a job. Why? Because I've told him more than once (and more than 10 times) that a job paying him $300 a week would be better and give me more security than a business that might or might not provide $2000 a month. I've tried to explain that if I knew we had $300 a week coming in, I could deal with that one way or another but not knowing from one day to the next or one month to the next what money there will be leads to insecurity for me. In all the time I've told him this he's never understood.
At any rate, I told him I'd get a job and he said no, we can't do that. I'm not sure what he meant by that but that's what he said. Since we only have one vehicle and he uses it during the day, I've told him before that I'll work nights but he won't hear of it because the only night jobs around here are at convenience stores and that's just too dangerous for me. That's nice and I would worry, too, but we're desperate. And have been for awhile! So I don't mind getting a night job if that's what I need to do.
So I'm wondering..what if I worked days and he worked nights? That would be hard but it could be done. Many couples have done that. He wouldn't like it nor would I but it's something to consider.
Anyway, I'm just rambling. Trying to figure out where we're headed, if we'll ever dig ourselves out of this mess, and just how we're going to do things. There might be light at the end of the tunnel, though. At least he listened to me and he said he'll read the book. And he's admitting that the business isn't working out and he needs to get a job.
That's progress. I think.
Not sure if I should feel hope or despair!
January 18th, 2007 at 06:25 am
January 18th, 2007 at 01:19 pm 1169126352
Not only do you realize the problem, and how to turn it around, but by concensus, also agreed to take life-alternating steps to improve for the better.
This isn't something as light as, "So, what should we eat tonight?"
I would also find out what he meant by not having you work. You don't have to work for long, but I don't see what's so wrong with working temporarily to generate additional, short-term income.
Best of all, you're already past the hardest part: Mentally choosing to take steps to change for the better. The rest is just a matter of time.
January 18th, 2007 at 02:39 pm 1169131152
January 18th, 2007 at 03:36 pm 1169134582
You seem to have good computer skills. Is there anything you could do, at home, using those skills?
Can you eBay purchases you find at thrift shops, or yard sales?
I know someone who makes decent money selling purses and vintage clothing on eBay.
At least you have the beginnings of a plan, and that is a great start.
Good luck.
January 19th, 2007 at 08:40 pm 1169239230
January 19th, 2007 at 10:21 pm 1169245317
January 20th, 2007 at 12:42 am 1169253772
Nance, we used to sell a lot on ebay but that's just about a dead venture for us now. We've tried books, garage sale items, etc and every now and then we'll hit on something that sells but the fees have gotten out of hand and it's hard to price items to sell for a fair price and still make a decent profit. It isn't impossible, though, and we continue to sell on ebay now and then. I tried vintage clothing, even, and bombed. I don't know why, though. It isn't my niche, I guess.
I also work for keyforcash.com and the work there is picking up a bit since it's about tax season. That helps. And I signed up to be a chacha guide but I have to wait til their Mac software is available. That should be soon. Nance, I think that's a lot of it - I'm a little nervous (and okay, scared!) about things...
Still thinking of things I can do to earn money....