Admitting We Can't Do It

When we moved to Roanoke, the plan was to use the extra money we'd be saving each month to pay bills and credit cards, and then look into buying our own home within 2 years.

Then we became pregnant without thinking it would ever happen like that for us.  And 2 months later, A's unemployment benefits ended.  And we had to start saving for baby related thing, I went on maternity leave and didn't collect a full salary for 6 weeks, and James had to have surgery.

The bills kept growing, and A began looking for work.  He applied, was turned down, and at one point ignored by one HR office when he asked for an update after being told to look for a job offer within a week.

It has been a roller coaster, with so many ups and even more downs, and when the lease renewal came in January for the apartment, we had an honest talk.

At this point, we are waiting for our court date to complete our filing of Chapter 7.  We went the route of hiring an attorney, filled out forms, provided them details, and sat in offices reviewing how we failed (our words, not theirs) and how we were going to move forward.

It's hard to admit it came to this, and that we couldn't do it.  But prices go up for everything, including our rent, gasoline, medical insurance, and basic groceries, and my salary has been the same for 2 years.  If you think about it, I do more work now for less because the premiums have continued to increase.

It's a little sad.

So that's where we are. 

And in a complete twist of irony, A was contacted about a job he applied for last October and never heard back for.  It's government work, possibly temporary, but it's work and extra income.  It will help us get to a point where we won't be driving a car that was manufactured before we met and maybe upgrade to a newer used car.

Then we can save.  And see where we are in another 18 months.

Amazing how things never turn out how you expected, but in the end we are still happy because we have each other and that amazing little smile who loves us.