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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Overwhelmed

I don't know what's been up with me the last couple of days. I just haven't wanted to do anything. At all. I have lists a mile long, and just don't have the initiative to do anything on them. At all. I hate when I get like this.

It's not like I haven't been sleeping - I actually slept for close to 10 hours the other night (first time in months that I've done that). But maybe I am just worn out. Trying to do everything that I need and want to do leads to very little sleep on a regular basis.

And then it never fails that whenever I do get on a roll and start getting things done, something else comes up that I have to do right then and there. Like when I'm in the process of cleaning up the kitchen - and making progress - and I open up the fridge and a kamikaze egg flies out of the eggholder on the door and plunges to an untimely death on my already-hideous kitchen floor. Of course, the boys had a field day with that one, because I didn't get it cleaned up right that minute, and they had to point it out to me repeatedly for the next 5 minutes until I did get it done. I love those boys, but sheesh - give me a minute to finish doing what I was doing, will ya? It's not like a little egg is going to make the floor any uglier.

But the day itself hasn't been all that bad. I got an email from the electric company this afternoon, informing me that my bill was ready for viewing. I logged into my account, fully expecting to see a $200+ bill because of the brutal heat that we've had lately, but instead I was very pleasantly surprised.

See, when you are habitually late paying your bill, as I was before I moved into this house because of the financial disaster that I was in, they charge a healthy deposit in order to set up new service. Or, better yet, if you're in good standing with no deposit, but then you screw up and start paying your bill late, they just tack the deposit onto your bill and take it from you mid-stream, which is what happened to me. Anyway, after you get your act together and start paying your bill on time again (I think you have to make 9 out of 12 payments on time or something like that) you get your deposit back. This was a pleasant surprise!

Also today, I got a call from a collection agency. I know - not generally a good thing. But, there are still several outstanding bills floating around that I haven't been able to deal with yet. The bills were a direct result of my second marriage - credit cards that yes, were in my name, but were run up because the money that we did have was used for *ahem* other things (pretty sure that the sales of Jack Daniels and Jim Beam were increasing at the same time as the balances on these bills were going up - you do the math). Anyway, I've been slowly getting old bills taken care of (including paying back taxes that should not have been my responsibility) and this particular one was actually sitting on my desk to address today. But, the agency called me, I talked to the lady, set up a payment arrangement, and it will be paid off in the next 10 months, max.

Bit by bit, baby step by baby step, I'm clearing up these things. They're not huge by any stretch of the imagination, but with each one, I feel as though I'm putting the past behind me and getting back on track. It's taken a long time, and I'm not out of the financial hole yet, but at least I'm getting there. I paid the taxes (pissed me off, but I did it), paid off his medical bills that were left behind, I've been working on one credit card already, starting on the other credit card, and then next on the list is getting the bill from our joint checking account paid - that one happened thanks to him draining the account after we had split up and I already had bills scheduled to be paid from that account. I know, I should have closed the account, but I didn't, blah blah blah. But I think that after those are paid, it'll all be done and over with.

Anyway....I didn't really intend for this to be a rant about my finances, but sometimes that happens.

Back to the whole Being Overwhelmed thing.

I was going through my calendar today trying to figure out what I have to do and when. We have so many things going on over the next few months - parties that I'm supposed to attend, a few charity functions, school functions, 2 craft shows....the list goes on and on, and doesn't even include Boy Scouts for Jared (no schedule yet) or the girls' basketball schedules. Then the holidays will be coming, and it's just going to keep getting worse. I feel like all I'm ever doing is running around like the proverbial headless chicken, and I don't see any relief in sight.

But, this too shall pass. What doesn't kill me.....whatever.

Ok, I think I'm done ranting. For now.

10 comments:

  1. Amy, thanks for the breath of fresh air! I think for most of us things are not always great...but who wants to admit that to virtual strangers when we can pretend otherwise?? Hat's off to you and congrats on getting in there and rolling up your sleeves...even stepping up where you probably shouldn't have had to...
    You will be blessed and your kids will have a wonderful example in life...PLUS, you will have a clear conscience and a sense of total accomplishment...SO SO SO worth it!
    Now...get to bed and have another decent night's sleep (or part of one anyway LOL)
    Mare

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  2. Mare, I'm going to bed now. Honest, I am. OK, so the TV is still on, but I'll fall asleep to that. I have to be up in 6 hours to get the boys ready for school.

    :)
    Amy

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  3. I'm not gonna lie - it's awesome how you take responsibility for your actions, even if it is just baby steps. Many people simply give up and never pay the people they owe. It's honorable to give others what's due to them.

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  4. **HUGS**

    I know the feeling.

    It will get better.

    Keep pushing forward!

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  5. I've also had financial issues due to a marriage, and while I feel like I'll be working them out forever, it does feel good to know I'm making progress.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you everyone. While I think that some of these bills are a total crock and I shouldn't have to deal with them, no one else is going to step up and take responsibility. At some point they have to be paid, so I might as well get them taken care of.

    It's all a part of my plan. I have a timeframe for staying in this house, and then I'm planning to move to the town where my older 3 go to school - that way all of my kids can go to the same district. I have to get this stuff paid off before then.

    Now hopefully I can be more motivated today than I was yesterday.

    :)

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  7. AMY, YOU ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION. YOUR OVERWHELMED. BREATHE. TAKE A DAY AND DO NOTHING.YOUR DOING WAY TO MUCH. RELAX.
    I ADMIRE YOU SO MUCH. I KNOW SOMEONE HERE THAT WAS PUT IN THE SAME SITUATION BY HER HUBBY.[STILL MARRIED] JUST BROUGHT UP DIFFERANT. SHE HAS YOUR WAY OF THINKING. HE THINKS MONEY GROWS ON TREES. SHE CLEANING UP HIS MESS. JUST ISN'T RIGHT.HE NEEDED TO BE KICKED TO THE CURB.HE RUIN A GOOD THING.

    GRANNY

    GRANNY

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  8. It's called burning the candle at both ends!! You can only do so much, you are human! You are a wonderful job, you are a great mother. See if it wouldn't help you up by giving your children more responsibilities. Take some of the onus off of you. Keep up the great job, any of us that are mothers know that life can be overwhelming and sometimes you have to go one day at a time!!

    Lynn

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  9. I have had days and nights like that... I try and not worry, leave it all to God, etc.. then I start getting frazzled again.. Good job on working on your finances.. that is no fun having collection agencies call you.. been there done that. NEVER getting another credit card!! Anyway just wanted to stop in and say hi, been so busy lately that I haven't been reading my blogs as much! So, hi!! :)

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  10. Thank you for the encouragement everyone - I really appreciate it! I know that I'm wearing myself out, but if I don't do what needs to be done, no one else will. =/ Getting the kids to help out is another battle in and of itself - the girls should definitely be doing more than they do, but there's no way to force them to do it.

    Sometimes, it's easier to just do it and get it over with, as much as it may suck.

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