WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR OCTOBER 2023

kevrit wrote: »

Long post in spoiler logging my financial history. Skip if you like, but you can learn a lot about me by reading. Thanks for all your support and empathy. I love you ladies!

My money management skills were pretty good until my first marriage. All the money I had saved went toward my diamond and wedding rings. Our income was doubled but so were expenses. Two years after marriage, I had had a miscarriage, then a live birth. We waited 4 years while we built a house before having another. We did but the last was a ‘surprise’. I was nursing the youngest at the time and didn’t expect to get pregnant. I just accepted it as Gods will. During this time, the house wasn’t finished as my then DH was doing everything himself. My MDD was born with dislocated hips and was prone to infections, lots of money went to doctors as well as the house. When my last was born, we were still dealing with the MDD’s health issues, then added me having to leave work at 5 months due to sciatica issues that made me fall from sudden pains. Working in a glass plant was dangerous, so falling was much more dangerous. So finances were stretched very quickly during that time. Jump ahead 10 years, we have things caught up, but divorce was happening due to his abuse. We had some money in the saving account, which he promptly took out when he got the papers. He also sold a motorcycle that was mine, he had his Harley, and kept that money too. So I was left with 3 small children a $1000 mortgage, no wood for the wood stove so electric flew up to $600 for one month (this was in mid 1980’s so add in inflation) which all I could not keep up, so fell behind. Started selling what I could. Met my second husband (married 5 years later) who didn’t make as much as my X did, but helped the best he could. I was so far behind at that time (add in lawyer costs, court costs, etc.) there was no catching up. Bankruptcy ensued and we moved to TN. The year of the move, we got married, I lost my job of 22 years due to the company closing, I had tendinitis surgery, and the bankruptcy went through. So moved to TN with no money a DH and 1 child. My oldest was 18 and went off by herself. My MDD chose to live with her dad (that is a whole other story). So I’ll stop there. Long story short, a move back to CT for more money, job loss there to a closing (again!) stuck with 2 houses, couldn’t sell the TN one and bankruptcy once again. Jump ahead once again and took early retirement. Was able to sell the TN house and only broke even. Sold the CT house and made a small profit which paid for the RV and paid off the car loan. Now, we are still playing catch-up from all that mess but treading water. No savings left but all bill accounted for. Not having any housing costs is really helping up get out from under.

RVRita

exermom wrote: »

Did the 20-40-60 workout on the treadmill then walked to Food Lion to get potatoes that are on sale for Vince for dinner, the guy who did the trimming of the bushes (I’d told him that for 2 years Vince has been saying “they need to be trimmed”, it never happened just like I predicted) and put down the mulch. Gardeners: Preen is stuff that deters weeds from growing but doesn’t hurt the plants, right? Because one thing I am OCD about is weeds. I see a weed and I have to pull it. So I’d rather put Preen down on the slope where he put down the mulch so weeds don’t grow. Then went to Aldi.

Lisa – love what you’ve done with your craft area.

Pip – you have the same popcorn maker that I have! I’m looking for an airfryer lid (just the lid) for the IP to give Jess for Christmas at a decent price. The only one I can find is on Amazon, and they’re asking $150. For a few more dollars, you can get a new IP. So I’ll just keep looking for one. Every place I’ve found they’re out of stock. Love the color of Lucy’s new collar

Rebecca – poor Athena! That looks nasty. Hope she’s OK, I’m sure she is

Lanette – Bryan just said that Leo eats a lot (like Bryan did) and giggles a lot. I’m hoping that being a parent he now realizes that it’s not a piece of cake. You try your best. I’m not getting my hopes up because like you said, I’ve been disappointed before and I don’t want it to happen again. Denise did text us a picture of PJ in his Spiderman costume. When we were there, he was watching a Spiderman show. Personally, I thought it was too violent for him at that age. But he’s not my child

Kylia – so glad you found those keys

Margaret – regarding your friend who needs to drink water: I find that if I eat something like popcorn or a protein pancake or dried chickpeas, that makes me want to drink. That’s nice of you to have her talk about other things besides her illness

Annie (not Annie DE) – congrats on your new home

Now for Annie DE – (((HUGS dear)))). You have so much on your plate. Glad you got your electric bill paid

joyfulandactive – welcome! Glad to hear that your cancer is in remission. What kind of career are you training for? Many of us on this thread don’t do the “friend” thing, but we’re all friends checking in here. Glad to have you join us

Allie – I had heard that eating ice cream helps with migraines. Don’t know since I’ve never had one (thank goodness). I think it has something to do with the “brain freeze”. Guess it couldn’t hurt to try…..lol Can you think of a better reason to have to eat ice cream???????

Rita – you may fall down, but you always get right back up. So very proud to call you my friend

At the gym I realized that I have coupons to use the Y for free. That’s where they have the olympic size pool and I used to take the deep water aerobics. I have to talk to the gal who is at the front desk (who used to let me go in for free before Covid) to see if these passes are still good.

Maybe I’ll work on the kitchen towel for the lady who helped my father.

Michele NC

Whidislander wrote: »

Today was cookie making day for sons birthday present. I figured since we're down, we might as well bring him the cookies I normally make. They turned out well. Oatmeal with a broken up bar of Lilly's dark chocolate. I made 2 dozen.😁

Excited for this weekend.💖
Rebecca
Wa