What has Changed?

OK - Well, for starters, I am on salary at my job now. It took me begging and pleading my case and proving myself at several projects but it happened. While this looks better to the creditors, it can still be a little scary because I can't earn overtime and I can still have my pay reduced by a percentage if sales are down. I'm working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen.

I filed bankruptcy 90 days ago and have just been discharged. We are still struggling. It really didn't matter that we filed because we weren't paying our bills at that point anyway. This isn't a matter of poor budgeting - my fiance smokes and ciggarettes have increased to $5 per pack over the past year. Getting him to stop is like asking for someone to cut off their arms. It is his one vice that keeps him sane while we struggle. Of course, that is an oxymoron - he isn't stressed while his vice is causing us to stay broke.

I did the math and we are spending a whopping $6000 per year on his habits! This wasn't a big deal when he was working but since he isn't, that money is coming out of our main budget.

I am not working a second job right now so that is what we are working on. Ways to increase our monthly income when the job market is dry. I've been looking at work-at-home opportunities to supplement my salary but there are a lot of scams out there! He has been working on cars and doing some basic remodeling for friends and relatives but they are slow to pay and don't want to pay well (they seem to think we are doing this as a favor to them).

I just had a birthday and I really want us start thinking of having a family. I know that sounds rediculous in our situation but we are both at an age when we have to say now or never. Maybe we should be a "never" couple but then it would feel like we did all this struggling for nothing. Who needs a house if you don't plan on filling it with family? We could have just let it all go and lived in an RV if that were the case. Somedays I'm tempted.......