Dear Deani,
I have felt the crunch of the economy and financial hardships for a couple years now. It has affected our family in many ways. I almost lost my wife, kids and job. I just can’t seem to keep it all together these days and its putting a burden on our lives and I know it. I’m broke and barely getting by and I feel like I’m losing it all… I could use your “two sense.”
Signed: Justin Witsend
Dear Justin,
Boys we have all been there and its awful! I know where you are in life, I’ve been there. All the readers reading this have been there too. This economy hasn’t taken mercy on ANYONE and if you watch the evening news at all, you will see that you, my friend, are not alone. The foreclosure rate is up, the divorce rate is up, the unemployment rate is up, and the only thing that is down, is our bank accounts. It doesn’t seem hardly fair does it? We work hard. We’re good, honest, hard working people and the harder we work the worse it gets and we never catch a break. I used to say I felt like I was bobbing in the ocean and the water level was right at my nose. Every time I got a good sniff of air, a wave would come and drown me again. That’s exactly how I felt. It’s the most uncomfortable feeling ever. But you can’t just lay down and give up. You have GOT to fight harder than ever and do what you can do to get by. When you’ve had enough, and you’re
ready to quit, hold out a little bit more. This phase WILL pass, I promise.
It’s taken its toll on many a relationship. Who else do we have to gripe at than our spouse? I was guilty of that as well. I’d come home and holler at my husband when he had NOTHING to do with my bad day, but he is my best friend and he is who I come home to, so he caught the blunt of it. But who am I to come home and bring my crappy day down on him? How do I know that he’s not already fighting his own crappy day and I’m adding to it? That’s not fair of me, is it? No, it is not! So, the advice I’d give you is to sit down with your wife, say you’re “sorrys” and start over. Understand that you are BOTH in this boat together and not one single person is to blame. Don’t give up on your marriage; you owe your kids more than that. Too many marriages end in divorce and I think that people are just too quick these days to call it quits. Your vows said “for better or worse, richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live” right? Mine did! Well then, when you stood before God and said those vows, you meant them; Fight hard! It will pay off someday and you will have learned many lessons about the importunacy of saving your money. We all live beyond our means, and now that the economy isn’t there to support us anymore, we’re in a mess. But it’s a mess that only WE OURSELVES can get out of; cut down, cut back, start over, clean your slate, and above all, learn from these life lessons!
