Between the wife and I, (VENT) - Posted by Gerald(NC)
Posted by Gerald(NC) on June 18, 2005 at 21:52:47:
Stands a big lack of communication/understanding apparently.
Here’s the deal:
I’ve always been one to wanna “improve” myself. Financially, physically, spiritually, and even maritually. Being this way, of course I want the best source of income I can make. I want freedom. I want control of my destiny. Etc.
I’ve always wanted my own business. My parents had their’s, and my aunt has had hers. I wanted mine.
Me and the wife, mostly me, hasn’t exactly handled our finances the best. We started rough with a bit of debt, and lots of NSF fees from the bank. Well we had gotten passed that and eleminated all our debts.
Then of course bout 2 months later I decide to buy a motorcycle. Something I always wanted. Then I wanted a bigger one. Then I wanted it gone cuz I was gonna hurt myself lol. So I sold it.
This was last year. I sold the bike and instead of paying off the loan, which I didn’t quite sell it for enough to do so, (thanx to wife), we spent the money. I also cashed out my 401k, $11k, and we blew it. (Job got taken over by nother company, so had to do something with it).
The plan with the 401k money was to have a garage built. (Least shell it in). Well the contractor never called back with the quote. Anytime I have to hold money like that, I end up spending it bit by bit, then have nothing to show for it. I also got 3 credit cards and slowly got them maxed out for a total of $7500.
So now we’re in about $13000 in debt. We make enough to pay it off somewhat early, IF we actually live by the 15th budget I’ve made. We DID it once, we WILL do it again. (she’s never been real involved till something goes wrong :P)
Well I had started my performance auto parts business on a shoe string mostly using Ebay. Needless to say I haven’t made much, but I do have more than $25k in sales since March 24th :D. But I just got a counterfiet certified check from a customer for $3750.
Of course I had spent my “profit” of the money, and then some I could make up. THEN I try to pay for something on the web with my debit card, and it won’t go through! So of course I go to the online account and it’s -$750+!!! I bout balled my eyes out if not for the anger.
Here I am trying to get our finances in good standing, and just about do, cept the wife’s $300 Wal-Mart trip early in the month, and then this CRAP!
So of course, NOW she’s involved in it since we had to borrow $$ from the mother in law. And of course she’s against me continuing the auto business, and almost totally against ANY kind of REI right now.
My side? I feel we WILL get the finances in order again. I just about already had them good till her spending and this bad check. (I don’t usually use my personal account for business, mostly it’s Paypal, unless it’s a check).
I see my auto profits helping get out of debt. Even more so, I see REI as the best way to get out of debt. I ONLY plan on doing some flips and some bird dogging to begin with. IF I would take on a Sub2, I’d make sure I have the “partner/inspection clause” in the contract. But I’m really only lookin for flips.
Also concidering some moble homes since I can get someone to back me up for say $1-2k pretty easily. But mostly, just looking for flips.
Anyway, she doesn’t understand “how” you can “make money without money” as in REI Creative financing. Of course, she’s not sharing this reading and studying with me so she’d then understand. The only way she’s gonna “get it” is when I actually do it.
What she sees my desire for “self improvement” to be is, “not happy with ANYthing!” And it’s not about that! It’s about securing our future. Making sure, when we have/adopt kids, we can allow her to stsy at home. I also want the freedom to take “off” a month if I want since she’s a teacher and has some long holidays and summer vacations. I wanna make sure we can have the lifestyle we want.
I made some “bad” decisions, and she agreed to them. Now I think REI is a good decision and she won’t agree :(.
Sorry for the long post, but I had to vent to my peers and mentors.