Debt Dumpers 2020

DH and I are both lucky that our jobs can be done remotely. I also don't anticipate any kind of loss of income. Though our daughter's daycare is still open, we decided last week to start keeping her home. We have decided to continue to pay tuition though because we want to support them. If our daycare went out of business, it would be devastating. Starting this week, they will be providing weekly activity packs to all of the kids that are home but still having tuition paid. I am grateful for some fun activities to keep DD entertained.

In order to make all of this work while still working full time, we have begun to stager our work schedules. I work from 6 am-noon and then DH works from noon-6 pm. I am also able to sneak in an hour or so while DD naps after her lunch, so I am basically working a full schedule still. Our university employer has also set up an 80 hour paid leave time bank for every employee to use if they are sick, need to quarantine, or for family care responsibilities. If I can't hit 40 hours per week, then I will just dip into some of the 80-hour bank each week to make up the time.

We have definitely gone over our regular grocery budget for the month. I don't think we have been excessive, but we have bought more than we would normally. We stocked up on meats, soups, rice, lentils, veggies to freeze, and other staples. I just want to minimize the number of times that we have to leave the house for anything.

The worst thing that has happened this week is that my boss's husband tested positive for COVID-19 and my boss had developed a low-grade fever. I haven't physically seen my boss in almost a month because we stopped in-person meetings at the end of February given the increase in domestic cases. So I am not personally concerned about contracting it via her. I am very concerned about them both though. My boss is in her mid-60s and her husband is a bit older. He has some pre-existing health conditions. Our temple has been holding services via live stream for the past two weeks. We watched the children's service with DD and she really likes seeing the Rabbi and hearing the familiar songs. Then after DD went to bed, DH and I watched the regular service and I had my boss and her husband's names added to the prayer for healing. We have a staff meeting tomorrow morning, so it will be interesting to see her on video cam if she is feeling up to it.
I can relate to your post. Our son had pnemonia a couple times this winter and I want to limit times we go out for groceries. I pretty much spent our month budget on groceries for food for a few weeks. It’s actually nice not having to go out now for my weekly grocery shopping. When this is over I may try to go shopping biweekly since I like it. Most of my food is crock pot freezer meals I made ahead of time. We’re lucky DH’s job isn’t affected by this whole thing.

Our range did die so we had to buy a new one but we were prepared for it since it was on borrowed time lol
 
Checking in from Ohio. The company I work for has us on mandatory work from home as of Wed last week. DD School is beginning on-line school starting today. She is a sophmore in HS and takes college level courses so I just need to make sure she doesn't slip and not do her work. DH job is considered essential so he takes his clothes off in laundry room and puts them right in washing machine before coming further into house. He is taking every precaution as possible. On a positive note our house and yard is getting much needed attention since we have nothing else to do. Also it easy for us to stay on budget! Only $200 away from having fully funded emergency fund. We are supposed to go on cruise in June but thinking we are going to have to move it until next year. I guess time to come up with plan B vacation plan for this year.
 
DH got to work this morning to clean up and get everything set up for home and his bosses changed his schedule to work 5 hours a day for now! Woot!!! We talked about budgeting and looking out at if it lasts much longer (@Nettlelondon 's post now has me grateful we did). We aren't thinking that the ceiling is falling on our head but trying to look ahead and plan accordingly. Thinking of suspending CC payoffs to have more cash on hand in case either of our jobs are terminated or cut down. Thoughts?
 
DH got to work this morning to clean up and get everything set up for home and his bosses changed his schedule to work 5 hours a day for now! Woot!!! We talked about budgeting and looking out at if it lasts much longer (@Nettlelondon 's post now has me grateful we did). We aren't thinking that the ceiling is falling on our head but trying to look ahead and plan accordingly. Thinking of suspending CC payoffs to have more cash on hand in case either of our jobs are terminated or cut down. Thoughts?
I would personally do that if you don’t have much of an emergency fund, but that’s just me.
 


DH and I are both working from home, Thank God! I'm posted up in my study and he's in the kitchen nook when he's not in his man cave doing whatever men do in there. LOL!! Last week was our first week. He's a field auditor but supposedly last week was his last week going out to visit his territory. Another, Thank God.

Last car payment was this month! Yeah ME!! One car down and one SUV to go. So I'll start rolling my payments into his SUV note.

We've been saving money to celebrate my 50th in Maui in June 2020 but looks like we might cancel and reschedule only God knows when. Super bummed! We're big Woman's college basketball fans and had tickets for all 3 rounds and hotel accommodations but that got put to a screeching halt! So we haven't had a vacation this year and we're both feeling it. We're trying to take everything in stride.

We're not big at home eaters, I might cook Sunday and a time or two during the week. DH umpires on the side and is never home so no need in cooking because he gets home too late to eat and he doesn't eat leftovers. Now that we're home I've been cooking every other day or so. We always have food. My DH can't stand an empty fridge, freezer or pantry. So he stocks up on whatever he wants to eat and I just cook it. LOL! Yesterday turkey meatloaf, asparagus and mash potatoes. Today is YOYO. I'll rummage thru the freezer for something to cook on Tuesday.

So now I'm taking a mental break from these spreadsheets and reports. I'm doing what any other good Dis'er does during these rough times. Planning our 2021 Big Family Trip to Disney World. We're looking at end of May 2021 or June 2021. We love WBC but I'm toying with onsite via purchasing points. We have nine going this time. 6 adults and 3 kids, 14, 12, 5. We take them when they turn 5. It's a rite of passage in our family. The 5 yr old has been ready to go since she turned 5 in November. She wasn't ready because we have to use a stroller with her when we go to 6 flags. So her cousin has been on her about walking and being a big girl. We don't do strollers or pampers. Family rule!!!:rotfl2: We all like to be in one condo - 4 sisters, DH and kids. We rented the 4 bdrm at WBC when the 12 yr old turned 5 and we've been going there every since. Plus we had the grand parents so they enjoyed the resort when they didn't feel like going to the parks. It was a WIN WIN for everyone. We also want to go to Universal for a day or two. We think the 14 and 12 year old will enjoy it. They have no clue about US. We know once we introduce them to US we will have to incorporate that into our future visits. So we're wondering if we should pull the trigger.

Everyone stay safe.
 
If I was concerned about my DH facing a cut in income I would be inclined to only make required payments on CC debt etc, for now and keep the money in a savings account for now just in case. It may just provide a little more flexibility and reassurance in the middle future.
 
I agree with @Nettlelondon. I'd make the minimum (or whatever your usual payment is without extra) on your CCs and set aside the extra money that you would have paid toward them. If when all this is over and you havent touched that money, you can then pay it all towards your debt.

On a personal note, I finally found the elusive toilet paper at Costco! I hadn't planned on going to the store anytime soon, but we ended up needing things so I went. But I had ended up ordering TP at Sam's club when I finally found it online, but now it wont let me cancel it despite the fact it hasn't even shipped yet. So if that pack actually gets delivered, I'll see if any of our family/ friends needs any.
 


We moved our originally March, then moved to April WDW trip to now be mid-October. Doubt WDW will be open by the end of April anyway, but even if it is we wouldn't want to go. This trip is with my parents, 62 and 57, my sister who is disabled and on meds that make her more susceptible to illness and my 13 almost 14 yo cousin, along with DH and I. Didn't want to risk COVID-19 exposure with any of us, but especially not any of them! Bummed we now have another 7 months to wait for vacation, but would much rather wait than risk anyone's health/life.

DH and I both do Door Dash, which is a double-edged sword right now. Maryland governor closed restuarants except for delivery/carry-out last Monday, and today closed all non-essentials though we aren't in a shelter-in-place, yet. The good part is that food delivery drivers are considered essential so we can still work and make money. Bad part is that we are more at risk because we are out interacting with a lot of people. We are using hand sanitizer, hand washing as much as possible (harder to do when many restaurants are just drive-thru) and doing no-contact deliveries so our risk is being minimized.

Grocery stores are still crazy around here. Haven't been able to find chicken for almost 2 weeks now, and things like toilet paper, eggs, milk and bread are very difficult though over a few trips I was able to get enough of all. Been making due with what I could find as I don't want to have to keep going out to the grocery store and in that we have found a few things we like that I bought more as fillers but we prefer to some regulars.

On the debt dumping side, no real progress this month as we are saving instead in case we no longer can work due to illness or a lockdown that eliminates us as essential. Once this has passed any extra we will put toward debt.

Hope everyone stays safe, healthy and happy through this trying time!
 
Essential CA worker checking in this morning! It's supposed to be a gorgeous day, weather-wise, in northern CA. I've taken my multi-vitamins, chased them down with a gigantic cup of coffee, and have a hand sanitizer stationed just outside of my window in the lobby. It's strange to think that someday, kids will read about this as history. And I'll get to say: "There was that time, in '20, when we were all ordered to shelter in place. And we walked around barefoot, uphill, wherever we went..."
"...uphill both ways."
:rotfl: :hug:
 
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I am not handy with tools at all. I'm of the "Can of WD-40 and roll of Duck Tape" tool box. If it moves and it's not supposed to, duck tape it. If it doesn't move and it's supposed to, WD-40 it. Past that, call a repairman.
:rotfl:
Do you have a Target near you? Along with many stores, they are offering special hours for high-risk groups to be able to shop. With Target it's the first hour the store is open on Wednesdays.
 
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In the UK we have just upped our isolation level. I am really fortunate in that my DH works remotely much of the time anyway for a number of clients who are now also working remotely. In fact he has probably doubled his billable hours this week! Now the only concern is will they all be in business in time to pay him. Fortunately many of his clients clients are government or quasi-government bodies so they will probably be fine.

We are also fortunate that we have minimal debt, really just our mortgage that we are paying down pretty rapidly, but the whole situation is just a bit scary. How many of the small businesses that we love will be able to weather this storm?

But we can't do much about it, so we just have to look forward to better times and find imaginative ways to stay mentally strong during this situation.

Good luck everyone - I may not comment often but I follow this page constantly and feel I know something of most of you, and want the best for you all - financially and physically.
:grouphug:
 
Checking in from South Jersey. :flower3:
Dh and I are both essential but they were sending him home mid day last week and then one of his coworkers got sick and was tested last Thursday. Still no results but they have kept dh & others home since then to be safe but now saying come back in tomorrow. Makes no sense to me; if dh is a silent spreader then he could be infecting people unknowingly right up until he starts to show symptoms. :rolleyes: So much for the 2 week rule, or at least hold off until results are back.

Even though I work in radiology and normally would be considered essential, so much has changed in our main xray dept in the hospital since I moved to breast imaging almost 21 yrs ago. Technology has changed and I don't even know my way around there.
We have cancelled all non-urgent patients. Really, unless someone has a new mass or is mid-treatment for breast cancer, they're being rescheduled. Many no show. We're caught up on our backlog of biopsies and soon there won't be any more of those to do. We went from around 140-150 exams/procedures per day to less than 30. North Jersey is having a heck of a time but SJ isn't nearly as bad. Numbers still growing though and I know this is just the tip of the iceberg. When the shiitake hits the fan, I have a strong feeling our breast center will have to close. Higher ups took inventory of our PPE and let's face it, what the world needs now is not mammograms. The hospital floors will definitely need that PPE more than we do.
Our days are numbered. So they have asked us to take turns being off for now. We can either use vac time or take it no pay. I'd rather take no pay because when this is all done with, we'll be working some long days to catch up, probably with OT coming, and I know I'll be happy to have some paid days off then. Also some coworkers with younger kids really living check to check, some have husbands laid off now, so I offered to take their forced days off if they wanted. Anything to lessen my odds of getting sick. Not that I can visit my dad now anyway but still don't want to infect my whole house. Ugh the stress...

By coincidence, we've been getting offers for 0% x12 months for our Discover card. I might just take them up on it instead of depleting our $ earmarked for other things or having to cash out investments at their all time low. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Nice to know it's there. The city of Philadelphia closed all non-essential businesses less than 2 hrs before I was to get the laser hair removal on my legs. (They wear gloves and mask anyway.) Oh well, it was not meant to be. :sad2:

One stupid thing I have definitely learned my lesson from, and that is to keep your emergency fund as cash, in a high-earning bank account, or some safe place. We put $17k into a Vanguard over the past few years and have been watching it grow for so long, reaching $20k at one point. Then shoooooooooop!!! Like air rushing from a popped balloon, it is pathetic now. Also if we had to cash out at this low price we would be losing $ for real.
You never really think you're going to need something like that but it's during emergency times like this when you COULD need it. It's also times like this when everything crashes that its value drops way down.
Once this crisis is over, and it gets back up at least to its original $17 value, I'm cashing it out and putting in something safer. Why add more stress to a stressful time?

Take care everyone! Be safe! :grouphug:
 
We have cancelled all non-urgent patients. Really, unless someone has a new mass or is mid-treatment for breast cancer, they're being rescheduled. Many no show. We're caught up on our backlog of biopsies and soon there won't be any more of those to do. We went from around 140-150 exams/procedures per day to less than 30.

My dad is a radiologist and works regularly at the mams center at his hospital. They have canceled all non-essential mammographies. He is pretty upset over it because he feels that once this has all passed, we will see a rise in what could have been preventable breast cancer deaths. I totally understand his feelings, but as someone that works in public health, the immediate needs around the current pandemic need to take precedence in order to save lives in the here and now. This is the kind of situation that our government could have helped prevent by being more proactive in addressing the looming crisis, but sadly public health and preparedness funding has been severely slashed in recent years.
 
My dad is a radiologist and works regularly at the mams center at his hospital. They have canceled all non-essential mammographies. He is pretty upset over it because he feels that once this has all passed, we will see a rise in what could have been preventable breast cancer deaths. I totally understand his feelings, but as someone that works in public health, the immediate needs around the current pandemic need to take precedence in order to save lives in the here and now. This is the kind of situation that our government could have helped prevent by being more proactive in addressing the looming crisis, but sadly public health and preparedness funding has been severely slashed in recent years.
I agree with your dad. :thumbsup2 Then again, people have far more urgent needs right now than any kind of cancer screenings. For now, our schedule has been pushed out to late April. I'm curious how that will affect our numbers down the road. Non urgent surgeries are being delayed too which could add to someone's suffering in other ways. That staff is needed in the areas of the hospital hardest hit by the virus. The whole thing is sad, like a bad dream that never ends.

Americans are kind of smug sometimes when watching the news and have excuses why "That wouldn't happen here." "Our healthcare is better than Italy's." blah blah blah. Well now we're getting wacked with it too. I've yet to see any country prepared and properly handling it, even though it's been in world news for months.

I'm no expert but I still think we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. The next 2 weeks are going to be really rough for hospitals.
 
Checking in from the Philadelphia suburbs. I’ve been working from home for a week now and DH is working from home this week. He’s scheduled to go in one day next week but that could all change. Thankful that our jobs are both medium-term secure. DH works for a private college so I know there’s some anxiety over what the future holds if things don’t return to normal by the next academic year.

On the budget front, it seems like a lifetime ago but we made some good progress at the end of Feb by throwing a lot of our tax refund at CC debt and making an extra car payment. Will still keep chugging with the CC payments to try and have them paid off before the 0% interest period expires but not sure I’ll continue to pay extra towards the car at this point. Our trip to the shore in May certainly won’t happen so that will save some $$ but we’ve been ordering out a little more often to try and support the local businesses we care about.
 
Our budget has just had a bit of a boost. We had a 5 day trip to Malta booked for the end of April. It wasn't hugely expensive and we had already decided we wouldn't go but were waiting for the airline to cancel (we had booked the hotel with them too so had more protection as the law stands here).

Yesterday they airline contacted us and said they were looking forward to seeing us on board, but that due to the restrictions they wouldn't be able to serve any food or drinks. As Malta is not allowing anyone in we thought their optimism was a little misplaced, but thought we would wait a bit longer before cancelling. If we cancel we would have to fight with insurance companies, if they do it is between us and the airline.

Today the airline said "it's all off - we will be in touch to sort out what's next". Yippee. To be fair, the main saving will be in not spending lots of money in the selection of lovely restaurants we had planned to visit, rather than the airfare & hotel element.

And DH has done 11 hours of work to bill to various clients today thanks to no commuting time, so even better.
 
I was off work today so I stopped in the grocery store to pick up a few things. Wow! It was so civilized! It wasn't crowded at all and they had toilet paper, tissues, & napkins. All were limited to 1 package per person. I didn't look for hand gel or sanitizing wipes; we're good on those things.
Hopefully this is a sign that people's anxieties are improving and feeling less need to hoard.
Take care everyone & be safe.
 
South Dakota schools are now closed until May 1 and state employees are to work from home until May 1. I am a state employee but am with the Judicial Branch and considered essential so our office is doing 50% of in the office one week and 50% work from home and then switching. It is so far only approved for this week and next but with the announcement yesterday that everything else is extended till May 1 I am assuming our schedule will be as well. Yesterday we had our first confirmed case in our area. There is also an inmate at the jail that is being tested- she has escaped from a minimum security prison and when picked up was booked into our jail. My husband works at the jail so anxiously awaiting that result.
 
Hi, quick check in. I am not doing any extra on payoff for the auto loan at the moment, just going to let the regular payments come out. I saw some interesting deals on auto refinancing I had not seen since, well I don't know when. Navy Fed had one for 1.79% to refinance with a $200 bonus (not sure as of this writing if that $200 bonus is still an offer), I am passing on though since mine is at 1.9% anyway, don't really feel like messing with changing out the financial lender right now. Also saw PenFed had an interesting low one last week, now the rate looks like it went back up.

Our WDW is cancelled, and I'm waiting on the return back from WDW for the DAH. I will say, they were pleasant on the phone dealing with this, and the person that I chatted with said it's not even his normal department. Airlines, well that was crazy to go back and forth with and really on that note, I feel like not even mentioning the back and forth! I don't think I ended up making a good decision on my airfare, but anyway. Our schools are closed through the remainder of the academic year. Also will have some other refunds coming back now with schools closed as they can't use the buildings so the programs they had outside of the school day are also closed. Debating now on trying to get one of my kids' instruments returned that we rent. He was not going to sign up again in the fall anyway, but I'm just going to wait just another week or two for more guidance and information from the school on band/instruments. It was elementary school band for that one. My middle schooler, we are keeping him in and keeping his instrument rented, should be about paid off by now anyway having it a few years.
 

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