How did we get here?

I had some time to reflect the other day, while I was driving around town, stressing over money. How did this happen? Why is it that every time I go to talk to Hockey Dad about money I shut down and accept the answer that it will be better in a few months? How is it that 16 months ago we had to make excuses for why we wouldn't move our large sum of money from our checking into a savings (when the tellers at the bank constantly asked us if we knew we could be making substantial interest on that sum)? And are we living beyond our means?

I have done the math and we aren't. We should be fine, so what happened? A child, that is what happened. A child, a sprinkler system, a vacation, and some more medical bills. We have great health insurance, but 10% of a large hospital bill is still over a couple $k. We have never had to think twice about getting ourselves what we wanted. But now I can't even get a soda without over thinking it. There is now daycare to pay, diapers to buy, and clothes that are constantly out grown.

And have I mentioned that I'm not crazy about my job lately? I am thankful, that's for sure. But am I making what I want? No. Am I doing what I want? Not really. Do I believe in what I'm doing? I don't really want to know the answer to that. So where does that leave us? Things need to change. I need to be home more, but we need to tackle our current financial situation first. And we are close to payoff on the credit cards. One more month, that is what I'm told. But then what? Ah, that'll be another blog...

Cycling Mom