Comments on: 2008 Goals Shot Down

By: mapgirl

mapgirl — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:42:42 +0000

Sistah Ant – GREAT question. The roof will cost $10k vs $1.5K for 2 new and decent appliances. My folks live in a relatively nice area so I don’t want to saddle them with the cheapest appliances out there and my sibling agrees with me. But 10k is so much more than 1.5k.

The roof isn’t in bad shape. You can tell a few shingles aren’t quite straight anymore, but it’s not tearing apart either. It’s been at least 15 years since it was last redone. It’s getting to the end of its normal lifespan and shouldn’t be ignored. I’ve done some serious shingling, but never laid down tar/tar paper before and I think it’s going to be that kind of job.

Buying a house now while credit is still available isn’t a dumb idea. Though buying any house is a risk right now with falling property values and tightening credit access. I wish you a lot of luck.

By: Sistah Ant

Sistah Ant — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:36:38 +0000

The economy is making me want to buy my home NOW while banks are still willing to lend (which is kind of a panic move), but I have to keep telling myself no because my income isn’t stable.

Question: Why get the appliances first instead of the roof? Wouldn’t not having a sound roof potentially damage the house, making the cost to fix even worse?

By: Revanche

Revanche — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:13:05 +0000

Not just you, I don’t think. I’ve been feeling like that all year, so much so that I stopped setting goals for the year, quarter, month, whatever. I just needed to get through each month without withdrawing from the emergency fund. It’s thoroughly disheartening to miss one goal after another, constantly be taken off course because of one “minor” but expensive thing or another, and generally just not make any progress.

I’ve had a good run these last two months working at whittling the bills down, and lucking into the OT money, so have finally, FINALLY, filled in some goals. And, perhaps, an attitude adjustment wherein I’m not an ATM either has played a role in regaining my financial balance.

So no, not just you. A fat wad of cash in the bank DOES help maintain balance and perspective in facing down minor crises. Not just knowing that you have the cash, but knowing that it’s 1) not going to break you, 2) not going to ruin the month, and 3) not going to derail all your other plans/goals.

By: Asset Gatherer

Asset Gatherer — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:26:40 +0000

That’s so tough! I’m experiencing something similar, although my relatives don’t directly ask for money. My little sis is preggers, and her husband (the major income-earner) works for Wachovia. He may be out of a job soon. My heart goes out to them, because I don’t want to see my little sister, hubby, and unborn nephew struggle. But I have to remember to keep myself financially healthy also.