We be Poor Folks

We just got our student aid back.  And it's already spent.  Does anyone else burn through their money as fast as we do? 

Trust me.  It's not like I have a hole in my pocket.  We're pretty frugal.  We rarely go on dates.  The last one was in December.  Before that, was in August.  We didn't have a super fancy Christmas.  We don't have glamorous anniversaries by any means.  I'm pretty good at staying away from Target.  We take advantage of free activities.   

Maybe you could lend me some help with this financial thing.  Or maybe you're going through the same problem too.  Maybe we could help each other out here.   So I'm going to be honest about this whole money situation.  Really. 

So once the school gets its chunk of money for Mav, we get the remainder for living expenses.  It's about $11,000.  $11,000 for the semester, January 1 through July 1.  Roughly, $1800 per month to live on.  $650 of it goes to rent.  $310 goes towards a car payment.  We spend about $250, probably more, for bills: phones, utilities, car insurance.  We're up to $1,210 with rent, car payment and bills.  This doesn't count for gas for the cars, diapers, groceries or fun.  Wait, what's fun? 

I'm sure you're wondering how we afford to live.  Let me answer that question.  Credit cards!  Credit cards have saved our hineys.  But it's also going to get the best of us.  See.  Between our cards, we have a balance of about $6,000.  And we have to make payments with the remaining money for the month. 

Here's where we're scared.  We're pretty close to maxing out.  Then what?  What do we do?  The bank will laugh in our faces if we say we want  need a larger limit on our cards.

Luckily, I guess, we have the option of taking out more loans for fourth year.  But this is to cover interviewing expenses and moving.  And that is expensive. 

So by graduation, we will have racked up about $250,000 or so in student aid, in addition to maybe another $10,000 in credit card debt.  That's a grand total of $260,000.  Not counting interest, people! 

See the reason for my anxiety. 

I would love some input.  How do you survive?  Do you just push through it?  Is there some sort of trick?  Is this normal? 

I Take It Back

Remember when I said third year bites?  I take it back.  Third year was a breeze.  Until now...

Mav is currently on an eight week surgery rotation.  Now.  This.  Sucks.  He's on trauma surgery during the nights.  It's fascinating.  He loves it.  Why wouldn't he or any other surgeon?  He's observing trauma surgeries at night in the homicide capital of the nation.  Yeah.  He sees some interesting things. 

Want to know what Squeaks and I don't see?  Him!  Mav's shifts are 6 pm to 6 am.  He sleeps till he wakes up.  At 4 pm I give Squeaks the all clear to wake up her daddy.  We normally get to see Mav for about an hour, or two if we're lucky.

So this surgery rotation does bite.  But I'm okay with it for now.  Want to know why?  I get the whole bed to myself!!  I can watch what I want to watch at night!!  I can make whatever I want for dinner!!  Squeaks and I have been eating super easy meals: cereal, waffles, grilled cheese and tomato soup.  I am having a Grey's Anatomy marathon.  You know, I have never watched it.  Never.  And I'm hooked!  And it's a good thing Mav isn't around to ruin this show for me.  Any medical show I used to enjoy is now ruined by him telling that this isn't possible or that isn't accurate. 

Anyway, I'm keeping my head up.  I'm enjoying my new freedom to do what I want to do.  But I do miss sleeping with Mav; I do need someone warm to put my freezing feet on at night.

Outraged!

I’m mad. 

I caught some news today.  It’s a rare thing.  I don’t like the news here in St Louis. It’s depressing.  There was a shooting here today and a murder there.  I don’t watch it.  It’s depressing. 

So I caught a glimpse of a story about the presidential race.  It’s getting interesting.  The Iowa caucus is just around the corner.  The republican candidates are trying to convince folks to vote for them.  Nothing out of the ordinary for a candidate on the campaign trail, right? 

But one part infuriated me!  Mitt Romney attended an evangelical church today.  I’m sure you’ve heard that his religious preference is a big deal to a lot of people.   A person was interviewed following Romney’s visit.  This young man was asked if he’d vote for Romney.  “No,” he said.  He was asked why; “Because he’s a Mormon.”

This is completely ridiculous!!  Does the Constitution of the United States of America not protect your rights to worship as you please?  Does it not guarantee the separation of church and state?  Why are people so worried about Romney being in office?  Why are they not extending this grand right to him?  Who cares what religion he practices, or doesn’t practice?  It’s his right.  It’s his business.  It’s a right that is protected by our government.

We should be looking at the bigger issues that will affect us, people!  For instance, how are we going to get out of this mess of an economy?  What is going to be done about our failing health care system?  Immigration is a big deal.  Is the war against terrorism ever going to end? 

Personally, I don’t care if our next president is black or white; man or woman; raised Mormon or raised Muslim or nothing at all; if he’s a doctor or a lawyer or comes from humble roots.  I want someone who has a real plan to get the United States back on track.  Because people, we are on a very slippery path to somewhere not good. 

Take a look at this video I found.  I feel it applied just as much then as it does now.  It’s so odd that sometimes history repeats itself but I’m hoping that it doesn’t.

Now.  If you're interested in my opinion, feel free to read on below.  But remember this is MY opinion.  I don't speak for any candidate.  It's just my ideas and I'm putting them out there.  

Read it at your own risk.