Normally, when the bridge is washed out, there are signs warning you. Someone for got to post the signs on my financial journey. I left for work Wednesday morning, and discovered my car was gone. Stolen! I also lost a day's pay dealing with that, as it takes time to fill out a police report, notify insurance, wait for them to get back to you, then find a rental car. So, I get everything taken care of, including me , and go off to work Thursday in my rental car. Half way through the afternoon, I'm testing, and I get asked to go to the temp agency's office at the company I'm working at. When I get there, they inform me my contract is being terminated effective Friday, the next day. Nice! It's due to internal restructuring, not performance. Still blows. So I am currently with out car, and with out job. Oh, they found my car Saturday morning, two towns over, missing the hood, front bumper and two quarter panels. It still runs, but who knows what insurance is going to want to do. We'll see.

At least I've been saving and living below my means for the past year. I have my money for August already saved, plus about a month to two months expenses saved, depending on what I'll need to pull from. I also have a part time job lined up to start in the next week or so, so that might be some income coming in. I also am sending my resume out to a ton of people in the next week, so we shall see. It's just such a blow to have two major things happen at once. Ouch.

Marianne

It costs me roughly $66/day to live. That is my net income, minus all true savings (any money not saved with the intention of being spent at a later date). While that's not a lot, and though I have no statistics, it is probably about average for the US, it is more than many people around the world see in a month. Sobering. Now I have to think of ways to lower that number.

We get to start wedding planning tomorrow. This should be fun, she says with only mild sarcasm. I want to get married, and I want to celebrate with my family and friends that day. I just don't understand why a one day celebration should cost me more than my car. At the same time, I don't want to seem 'cheap' and I don't want to look back and wish I'd done more, or better. I'd love to do a dessert reception, or a cocktail reception, however, that's just not what's done in this region. I'm not shallow, but I do care about the impression I make. I just don't get why $65/person gets you a chicken and pasta dinner for a wedding, and $50/person gets you the top of the line dinner choices for any other type of party. I understand a slightly higher cost for a wedding w/ the tasting, and the cake, but seriously. Am I crazy?

I will control my spending, I will control my spending, I will control...
Quick post - it's late, I have a sleepy fiance waiting for me. I spent yesterday and today helping him and his sister and her hubby clean his mom's house as she's in the hospital. I love her dearly, but it's an ongoing problem, and a costly one dealing w/ her and her husband. They are always one step away from losing their house, they have too many pets, and can't take care of things due to health problems. So we pick up the pieces as they let us. Which sometimes costs major money, and always costs some, as it's a 2hr trip, so tolls and gas, which ain't cheap. I know it's minor, but still can be a problem. Sigh. And this time, b/c of the stress, we treated ourselves to dinner after cleaning yesterday. Awesome dinner, but very trendy place, so very trendy prices. LOL. So worth it, but sucks when you're trying to control the spending. This is why I try to keep my monthly spending plan lower than my income, so I have a cushion for things like this. And as my grandfather liked to say "we plan, and G-d laughs". Have a good week.

Mair

PS - thanks for all the comments. I am not from England, though I have family there. My name is Marianne, and I got sick of the 'mare' jokes, so started spelling my nickname differently in college.

So, it's actually been a year since I got serious about fixing the financial mess I had gotten myself into. I think I've done a decent job. My debt is going down, and my savings is going up. Last month however, I started a new job - for less money, with a longer commute, and upped my savings goal, as I am now saving for a wedding. Eek! Talk about the mother of all curveballs! So I have less money coming in, more expenses, and more savings needs. What will happen? Will our heroine make it and realize her goals? Stay tuned!

Mair