Let’s take this equation one step at a time.
Septic Saga:
Well we have been assured that a quote really is on the way. The guy doing it has agreed to some sort of payment plan where we pay for the materials up front and then work out a payment plan with him for the remaining cost (thereby avoiding the bank). This is a huge relief for us as we can get this issue addressed in a timely manner. Once the relief settled in, the next feeling that came was a slight panic about getting our savings in order to cover the difference. Today at this moment, we could probably swing about $1k. I suspect we need closer to $5k. So we need to get a move on ASAP! Between tax returns and home energy audit grants I conservatively guess we will have around $2k – $3k in the next month. I think things are going to shape up okay.
Birthday Bashes:
May is going to be one festive month! My husband, my child (1 year!), my sister-in-law (turning the big 4-0), a friend and her son (turning 40 and 1 respectively) and another friend. So 4 big days really! Plus 2 others, not to mention the two other birthdays in April! I roughly figure I need about $700 to cover the birthday celebrations. Especially as hubby really lost out last year because I was overdue at the time!
How am I going to get all this money together?
Another Kijiji/Yard Sale? (UGH!):
Don’t get me wrong, this is a great way to score some extra cash quickly, plus it has worked out really well for us in the past. The snag is, we’ve thinned out a lot of our stuff already. Now I know it is recommended to go through all your things a second time anyway, the problem is, we found it a bit emotional the first time, I’m worried the “wounds” from the previous sale might still be a little too fresh to ask my hubby to do this again!
Nonetheless, I’ll have to try again anyway. I think it might be time to make a real effort to sell my wedding dress. I had originally hoped to donate it (I liked the idea of sending out my happy wedding day mojo out into the world for someone else to enjoy), but times are tight and I’m not sure that is the way to go anymore.
The only other major items of value that we may consider selling are our camping stuff. My argument is that we used the stuff once in the last 3 years and now that we have a child we definitely won’t be using it anytime soon. The snag is that it was such a good deal when we bought the stuff that it’s going to be hard to part with it. It kind of reminds me of a “How I Met Your Mother” episode where Lily makes Robin delete Don’s phone number. The argument was that deleting the number was like ruling out that part of you for the future and the camping gear is the same thing. Realistically we won’t use it, and by the time we reach that stage again, we’ll need something bigger anyway. But closing the door on that ‘possibility’ is a little tough.
Stay tuned for a potential budget to help reach our goals without anyone’s birthday gifts getting cheaped out on!
thedebtpreoccupation
Well, not much of an n, I guess (a little socail-science humor there), but the results are nonetheless clear.Actually, I was pretty much just looking for permission, I guess, because I opened it right after reading R.’s advice.And my mom ROCKS, is all I’ve got to say. I’d completely forgotten that when she was here in January, she copied down the info about the pattern of my good flatware, the 8 place-setting set she’d picked up for me at a post-called-off-wedding garage sale. She sent me four more place settings, another set of serving pieces, and most importantly a check. An utterly unexpected and all-around awesome present.