Indeed, Carol, we are all seeds planted and watered with our tears! Keep going, you have plenty of company in all this! I hold fast to God, otherwise I would lose my way! Bless you, Wendy
Thank you for your honesty. I have been single all my life. I had to file bankruptcy twice. No shame, just not a good money manager. Living with my head in the clouds and Angels at my back. Thank goodness for the miracles that have helped me along the way. Now I live with a generous man as his amiable companion. Life lessons come in all shapes and sizes and the key is to accept and allow and not resist, that's what I have learned.
I am "in the same boat" and am happy to drop out of the rat race. It's a whole new perspective and each day, I feel blessed, grateful and I look forward to a new lesson, or gift that God has placed before me.
Thank you for sharing, Carol. I have been following you for a while, and I appreciate your honesty about your situation. I was living in my car because housing is expensive, and I have a lot of debt. I still work and am getting help. Your story encourages me, so thank you.
All of your stories shows here shows resiliency on next level. As long as we keep trying something will come along. I rebuilt a few times myself. I know how scary it can be. It’s real.
Yes, so real and can be scary too. But I got through by taking baby steps. Life is a little easier now, because I have an attitude of "it will all work out somehow"
Hi Carol. Ran across this in my email just now. I just turned 71. These past 5 years have been the hardest and most challenging. I am now in Louisiana. I moved from Los Angeles right when covid hit because we were 'furloughed', which turned into being let go. Because no one would be open or work again, right?! I flew back, got my stuff and initially moved to my sister's in Texas, now here, in Louisiana near another sister. I've moved 4 times since and never had the problems with landlords in my life I've had here. My job in LA was great. Had money to come here to visit for 2 weeks and back home with no worries. I don't work now. Had a short term job with the wackiest owner, and couldn't stay. So I am broke. I live on my SSI, create small batch boutique natural care items for dogs. It's still not enough. I have never lived in my car, but, my car has every problem it could and that kept me from getting a job. I feel you. Thanks for sharing. (Where in Louisiana?)
I get it. Many people don’t. I’ve been self employed my whole life. Doing many different things. I’ve been in all of the places you are talking about. I still have a mortgage. I’m almost done. I have a decent car because of a friend.
Being self-employed says a lot. Most people aren't able to do that. It's a hard road I know. But you're still here, still self-employed and almost have your mortgage paid off. I praise you for that.
I am so glad for your mentorship by example. It's hard for me to accept that for all the jobs, hard work, knocks & starting over & over & over again, I don't think there is any real security, for any of us, now aging.
A couple of men I know have lamented not having done more with their money & I laugh to myself, thinking they don't really know some losses & having to do so much with so little. But I don't laugh out loud because most of us were taught 'dignity DOES live in your bank account'.
Even if I had been smarter, more strategic, I feel I would been here, having to call again on the fortitude that somehow always got me through. Maybe there is freedom in that, this resource we carry in us, not the external relied on that has to be maintained.
I am very grateful to be reminded, today, that we do find ways to manage, & even better things come together when some pieces fall apart.
Yes, sometimes lessons are so very hard to learn. but somehow we get through them. We really can live on less than we realize. That was my great lesson learned after much time.
Yes, there is a message of hope. Debt is not always a bad thing. If I had not taken out student loans, when I was young, I would not have my advanced degree today. It would have been too expensive for me to pay as I go back then, when I was working so hard and had so much on my plate. So I advocate to anyone to get student loans and get a degree or job training to advance themselves. That kind of debt I do approve for anyone. It's a smart move.
Powerfully written about a very tough issue. Just thinking of you admitting you were broke makes me cringe on your behalf. It’s such an American faux pas to admit debt and many just keep moving it from account to account and digging their hole deeper so others won’t know. But you obviously came out the other side strong and ready to continue taking on the world. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it's been a long road with buy now pay later. Sometimes it's the best option for you, but I'm much wiser today and try my best to stop charge anything if at all possible. The freedom of being debt free is undescribed. It takes discipline and knowledge to know how to manage money. It's tricky as you probably know.
Must be nice I can't afford a Volvo or a camper van I wish I could. I can afford to pay my bills but then I don't do anything either so that I can afford to pay my bills
Positive Influences, KEEP PLANTING SEEDS, do not give up! The sheer planting brings the harvest, step by step!
I learned that lesson from gardening.
Indeed, Carol, we are all seeds planted and watered with our tears! Keep going, you have plenty of company in all this! I hold fast to God, otherwise I would lose my way! Bless you, Wendy
💞
Thank you for your honesty. I have been single all my life. I had to file bankruptcy twice. No shame, just not a good money manager. Living with my head in the clouds and Angels at my back. Thank goodness for the miracles that have helped me along the way. Now I live with a generous man as his amiable companion. Life lessons come in all shapes and sizes and the key is to accept and allow and not resist, that's what I have learned.
I am "in the same boat" and am happy to drop out of the rat race. It's a whole new perspective and each day, I feel blessed, grateful and I look forward to a new lesson, or gift that God has placed before me.
Thank you for sharing, Carol. I have been following you for a while, and I appreciate your honesty about your situation. I was living in my car because housing is expensive, and I have a lot of debt. I still work and am getting help. Your story encourages me, so thank you.
All of your stories shows here shows resiliency on next level. As long as we keep trying something will come along. I rebuilt a few times myself. I know how scary it can be. It’s real.
Yes, so real and can be scary too. But I got through by taking baby steps. Life is a little easier now, because I have an attitude of "it will all work out somehow"
Hi Carol. Ran across this in my email just now. I just turned 71. These past 5 years have been the hardest and most challenging. I am now in Louisiana. I moved from Los Angeles right when covid hit because we were 'furloughed', which turned into being let go. Because no one would be open or work again, right?! I flew back, got my stuff and initially moved to my sister's in Texas, now here, in Louisiana near another sister. I've moved 4 times since and never had the problems with landlords in my life I've had here. My job in LA was great. Had money to come here to visit for 2 weeks and back home with no worries. I don't work now. Had a short term job with the wackiest owner, and couldn't stay. So I am broke. I live on my SSI, create small batch boutique natural care items for dogs. It's still not enough. I have never lived in my car, but, my car has every problem it could and that kept me from getting a job. I feel you. Thanks for sharing. (Where in Louisiana?)
Shreveport
I get it. Many people don’t. I’ve been self employed my whole life. Doing many different things. I’ve been in all of the places you are talking about. I still have a mortgage. I’m almost done. I have a decent car because of a friend.
I’m still self employed.
Hi Barbara,
Being self-employed says a lot. Most people aren't able to do that. It's a hard road I know. But you're still here, still self-employed and almost have your mortgage paid off. I praise you for that.
Well said!
I am so glad for your mentorship by example. It's hard for me to accept that for all the jobs, hard work, knocks & starting over & over & over again, I don't think there is any real security, for any of us, now aging.
A couple of men I know have lamented not having done more with their money & I laugh to myself, thinking they don't really know some losses & having to do so much with so little. But I don't laugh out loud because most of us were taught 'dignity DOES live in your bank account'.
Even if I had been smarter, more strategic, I feel I would been here, having to call again on the fortitude that somehow always got me through. Maybe there is freedom in that, this resource we carry in us, not the external relied on that has to be maintained.
I am very grateful to be reminded, today, that we do find ways to manage, & even better things come together when some pieces fall apart.
Yes, sometimes lessons are so very hard to learn. but somehow we get through them. We really can live on less than we realize. That was my great lesson learned after much time.
Thank you for your transparency. As I read your story of some difficult times, I also heard a message of hope.
Yes, there is a message of hope. Debt is not always a bad thing. If I had not taken out student loans, when I was young, I would not have my advanced degree today. It would have been too expensive for me to pay as I go back then, when I was working so hard and had so much on my plate. So I advocate to anyone to get student loans and get a degree or job training to advance themselves. That kind of debt I do approve for anyone. It's a smart move.
Do you also live in a house in Louisiana, as well as in your van? I didn’t quite understand from reading this post…🙂 Judi
Hi Judi...yes I'm blessed to have a paid for home in Louisiana and a camper which I live in too.
Ahh, that certainly is fortunate. I understood from your earlier posts that you only lived in your van because that’s what you could afford. 🙂
Powerfully written about a very tough issue. Just thinking of you admitting you were broke makes me cringe on your behalf. It’s such an American faux pas to admit debt and many just keep moving it from account to account and digging their hole deeper so others won’t know. But you obviously came out the other side strong and ready to continue taking on the world. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Amy,
Yes, it's been a long road with buy now pay later. Sometimes it's the best option for you, but I'm much wiser today and try my best to stop charge anything if at all possible. The freedom of being debt free is undescribed. It takes discipline and knowledge to know how to manage money. It's tricky as you probably know.
I enjoyed your article Carol. Persistance and perseverance. You have it. You sound very happy. Brst of luck.
Thank you Sandra
Must be nice I can't afford a Volvo or a camper van I wish I could. I can afford to pay my bills but then I don't do anything either so that I can afford to pay my bills
Why not
Sure if you have a lot of money and you can afford a Volvo and a camper van that's great!
You are not alone in this situation. Also in my 70's.