Next year it can only get better, right??

[cassiesmom]

I am the number one supporter of 2009 being a better year!!! I am so sorry to hear of the terrible year you've had.

I've had three major surgeries this year, several major falls and accidents in my family, my daughter moved to NC, I lost my job because I was away so long, and have been diagnosed with many other medical problems. Phew!! Things can only get better. I have to go back into the job market at the first of the year and I worry about it all the time. I fear that there will be no one hiring. There are hiring freezes everywhere.

I finally feel like I'm on the road to recovery. That's the greatest thing I can think of. It's really paid off to keep a positive attitude through all this. Thank goodness for my family and friends. Thanks to Pet Talk for keeping me going too.

Thoughts and prayers going out to everybody that needs a better year next year!!! {{{{{HUGS}}}}}

Prayers and thoughts for Nomilynn, Daisy and Delilah and all those who are in need of a better year. My best friend's brother joked that this year on New Year's Eve we will say in our best Arnold Schwarzenegger actor voice, "Hasta la vista 2008!" He has had back problems for most of the year, my best friend has had a lot of major changes at her job that have not all gone as well as the managers had hoped and planned. I have several reasons to hope '09 will be better but I won't burden my PT friends with it again here. Just to say prayers, thoughts and good wishes for 2009.

Hugs,
Elyse

[Fett]

Count me in as 2008 being a horrible money year, perhaps my worst ever.

Had 5 flat tires (the last of which cracked the wheel itself so had to replace that, too).

We owed both state and federal for our tax returns so got nothing back.

Went on our vacation only because our friend's wife allowed us to use her frequent flyer miles on our hotel.

There's been many weeks during 2008 where I had to decide which I'd rather do.... buy car gas or groceries, and since gas gets me to work, I've had to go that route (and have lost 20 pounds over this year....not because I'm trying to. In February I was 148, now I'm 128. ).

I'm working two jobs and periodically pick up a third on the side. Kim picked up a second job this year as well, and I'm still just scraping by. I'm thankful I'm working, but it's literally been 10 months since the last time I was able to make a single deposit into my savings account....though I had to take some out one month later and therefore have had less than $9.00 in there for the last 9 months. I own no stocks, bonds, cds, 401k, etc. so that eight dollars and change is my entire "portfolio" and I'm 36 years old. Blah.

I've worked 45-53 hours per week between two jobs for all of 2008 and after taxes, I'm only taking home $1,300 a month. Our bills are $2,100 a month and we live in an apartment since we have zero money as a house downpayment. That $2,100 a month for our bills does not include gas for both our cars, or groceries, vet bills, medical expenses, any and all entertainment or savings, etc. At least gas has gone down recently. That's a huge plus! So, yeah for the most part I've basically been living paycheck to paycheck for over a year now and I hate it so much. "At least you're employed" everyone tells me because I think our state has the highest unemployment rating at the moment out of the country.

We've been paying off Chippers hospital bill for a little over two years now and next month would have been his final payment, but now Logan's in the hospital so we'll again have to charge thousands of dollars on it and continue to stay in debt for many more years to come. (Kim still has a fairly good sized credit card debt she's slowly digging away at, on top of the pet hospital debt).

Somehow I've been able to stay afloat this year, but it's been a struggle needless to say. This whole year has been beyond stressful on our bodies and minds, and I'm really hoping next year will be better.