I grew up in a home where money was no object. Don't get me wrong, the house I lived in needed some serious home improvements and we had the original 70's kitchen until about 2001, but there was nothing I went without. I was the kid who had a car at 16 when I didn't even get my license until 5 months into my 17th year. The kid who went on exotic vacations, went on shopping sprees, spent the summers at the beach and was involved in every activity imaginable.
I went to college without student loans and probably only really survived my first real job and apartment in Florida because my mom would send me money or come visit and buy us the things we needed.
But don't be fooled, I was also taught to fend for myself and that I did. Once we (my now husband and I, along with our pets) moved back to Pittsburgh, I was able to pay our bills (mostly) on time and still do the fun things we like.... like going to Disney World 9 times that year!
Everything changed in 2009 when my mom passed away. She left me a small inheritance and I did what every other person would would have been raised in my family would have done -- we vacationed and had an amazing Disney wedding! Smart people would have saved or invested, but I was taught to live for today and to go out and live out my dreams.... so I did!
We were also left with a house that, looking back, there was no way we could have afforded to keep. We stayed and paid the ridiculously high mortgage for a year and a half before deciding to move out to be near our friends on the other side of Pittsburgh.
Well, here were are a year later, paying almost $1500 in rent, with a decent amount of debt, struggling to get by. I was used to buying whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, but when we went to apply for a mortgage and got turned down initially, my wheels started turning.
We are both working professionals who make a decent living for our age and I do not want to be stuck in renting hell nor do I want to be turned down for any kind of credit. Maybe this is a wake-up call. No more inappropriate spending. Much easier said than done as I think as I was the queen of spending unnecessary money, but there comes a time where enough needs to be enough (I guess...)
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This blog will journey with us as we try to save, pay off debt and still live our lives without being "have-nots.
