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Staying calm in very disturbed waters

January 31st, 2008 at 01:43 am

Since posting the entry earlier today about our

Text is Cash Flow Plan and Link is http://pinchthatpenny.savingadvice.com/2008/01/30/fpus-cash-flow-plan-hold-me-im-scared_34907/
Cash Flow Plan shock, DH and I have done a lot of talking. Blessedly, we're on the same page in all this. And even more wonderfully, he's a rock right now. He's concerned but is staying calm and keeping me from freaking out. He'll freak out later when I'm calm. That's how we do things around here;only one person freaking at a time. Otherwise it's pure chaos.

Together, we decided to have dinner out tonight (our last hurrah for quite awhile!) and enjoy it. So we went to a place that serves great hamburgers. He had a hamburger and I had a steak sandwich and we split an order of incredibly fantastic onion rings. The cost was $16.72. And since we'd already decided that we must quit smoking NOW we went to Target and got a week's worth of nicotine patches. We know the patches help since we used them during our quit in 2004. While at Target we got milk and a couple other things we needed and I used my 10% discount and a coupon for $5 off any purchase of $25 or more so we spent $37.96.

The patches cost $24.34 with the tax and discount figured in and although I'd guessed we spend about $45 a week on cigarettes he told me today we spend closer to $70. So, since we won't smoke while using the patch that's an immediate savings each week of $46 and some change. Back in 2004 I used the patches for just a few days and he used them for a couple of weeks. I don't think we'll need them for more than 3 weeks so we will see the $70 a week savings very soon if it goes as it has before.

We talked about me finding a different job and the issue with my medical expenses. He made me see some positives in all this mess like the fact that his business has very low expenses and is growing and we both know how to live on almost nothing and creditors aren't hounding us right now.

I get paid Friday and will use $87 of whatever I get to put in the food envelope. This is a three pay period month so I figure it's okay to divide the monthly food budget amount by three rather than two. It makes me feel a little better, anyway.

I remind myself to take deep breaths and I tell myself, "Four walls first, we'll be fine.." It helps.

6 Responses to “Staying calm in very disturbed waters”

  1. Broken Arrow Says:
    1201745703

    Have you ever seen the movie, "What about Bob?" When things get kind of overwhelming and scary (yes, us guys get scared too... sometimes Big Grin), I think of that movie where Bill Murray keeps telling himself, "Baby steps. Baby steps." It keeps me smiling anyway, but also reminds me that even though I am overwhelmingly far away from where I want to be, I can at least do that baby step that's in front of me.

    Anyway, I hope the scary stuff passes by quickly for you, and you'll get to celebrate all the little steps you've taken that has made you come so far. Smile

  2. DeniseNTexas Says:
    1201746252

    BA, I've seen that movie and thank you for the reminder about the baby steps. This is really freaking me out but it's good to know you all are here and are supportive. I think the scary stuff will pass fairly quickly. We just have to come up with a game plan and we're working on that. Smile

  3. lost in debt Says:
    1201777110

    Best wishes to you and your family, my husband is trying to quit, his doctor put him on a pill - he has made two attempts (this being his second) and I saw him leave with a pack of cigs this morning, he says it's his last pack from the carton we bought 10 days ago. If he doesn't stop, I'll look into this patch thing. My husband is a cancer survivor and he should definately not be smoking.

  4. Broken Arrow Says:
    1201785411

    I have to admit it does seem like you guys are tackling quite a bit all at once. Hoping for the best!

  5. DeniseNTexas Says:
    1201786116

    Lost in debt, my other half had attempted to quit about 7 times before using the patch. He'd tried cold turkey with no aides, gum, and even hypnosis. Nothing worked for him. And although it was hard for him with the patch, it was much easier than it had been with the other attempts and he went almost a year with no smoking. Starting up again after 11 months and 2 weeks was one of the stupidest things we ever did! Good luck to your DH!

    BA, yes it's a lot to deal with at once but we'll manage. It's crisis management (again) but hopefully what we do will lead to fewer crises to manage! Smile

  6. Ima saver Says:
    1201786122

    Good luck!!

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