The Only Way is Up
Like most other people we were buying our house, had two children (school age), both worked and life was sweet.
Then disaster hit with husband's family in America. Three of his family members all had cancer at the same time so we refinanced and went to visit them. That was fine, we were working and could manage the debt load. Forward six months and I decided to go to uni to finish my degree while my husband still worked.
We decided to sell the house and get rid of as much debt as possible to help ease the debt burden. We did this and I started my uni degree. We were renting a house and only had debts of around $25,000, most of this was from the overseas trip we needed to make but we were okay with that.
Forward another six months and I am studying and our daughter gets a virus and doesn't seem to get well, she endured many tests and nothing showed up. After a few weeks of not even being able to wake her up they diagnosed chronic fatigue.
My hubby gave up his job to take care of her 24/7 and I worked part time and studied full time. Fast forward two years and we move house to be closer to family as my husband's health begins to suffer. Forward to today, our daughter still has chronic fatigue but is starting to get a little better, my husband has had seven strokes and I have just completed my degree and am working at finding a full time job.
During this time we have managed to pay off half our debt and keep our head above water (just)....there is light at the end of the tunnel and I live by our budget that is done on a yearly basis.
All going well we will be debt free by the end of 2009 and we can start saving for a home again.
I guess I live by the motto that no matter how bad life and debts can be there is always someone that is worse off and when you think you have hit rock bottom the only way is up.
Contributed by Kay
Then disaster hit with husband's family in America. Three of his family members all had cancer at the same time so we refinanced and went to visit them. That was fine, we were working and could manage the debt load. Forward six months and I decided to go to uni to finish my degree while my husband still worked.
We decided to sell the house and get rid of as much debt as possible to help ease the debt burden. We did this and I started my uni degree. We were renting a house and only had debts of around $25,000, most of this was from the overseas trip we needed to make but we were okay with that.
Forward another six months and I am studying and our daughter gets a virus and doesn't seem to get well, she endured many tests and nothing showed up. After a few weeks of not even being able to wake her up they diagnosed chronic fatigue.
My hubby gave up his job to take care of her 24/7 and I worked part time and studied full time. Fast forward two years and we move house to be closer to family as my husband's health begins to suffer. Forward to today, our daughter still has chronic fatigue but is starting to get a little better, my husband has had seven strokes and I have just completed my degree and am working at finding a full time job.
During this time we have managed to pay off half our debt and keep our head above water (just)....there is light at the end of the tunnel and I live by our budget that is done on a yearly basis.
All going well we will be debt free by the end of 2009 and we can start saving for a home again.
I guess I live by the motto that no matter how bad life and debts can be there is always someone that is worse off and when you think you have hit rock bottom the only way is up.
Contributed by Kay