January 4, 2011

{ 2010 Retrospective }

Last year at this time MDH and I BOTH lost our jobs. He worked for a solar energy company. He made good money. I was Administrative Assistant to the Academic Director at a private girls school. I made good money. We both went on unemployment to the tune of 1/3 of our former wage. Things didn't look good. We had lived in our house for 13 years. Had great landlords, loved the place, so never got around to buying a home. Just stayed put. The next hammer fell. Just when we were at our lowest in a very long time, our landlords gave us 30 days to move. The economy hit them hard and they needed to dump their home and move into ours. I nearly lost it. But fortune smiled on us and we were able to find a sweet little house that was $200 per month LESS than what we had been paying. No first and last, just a modest cleaning deposit and NO PET DEPOSITS!!! Whew! No way I would give up my babies, but most wanted 200-250 PER PET.

So now MDH delivers newspapers and I work part-time at Rite-Aid. We make it, but it's not easy. There's a lot of month left and the end of the money!!! We have down-sized considerably, and make a little extra on Ebay, but we have realized that we don't need much, so we don't need much money. We buy everything at thrift stores and yard sales.

We are enjoying our little cottage, but there's still so much to do to make it 'ours'!!! I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions, but I did make a list of what I need to accomplish this year.


INSIDE
Paint master bedroom white and make new curtains and duvet
Paint guest room pale pink and make new curtains
Paint both bathrooms white
(guest bath is lavender and yellow..ugh, and master is dark, ugly pink..good grief!)
New coat of paint in laundry room
New coat of paint on baseboards of entire house
(yes, it pretty much ALL needs painted)

OUTSIDE
Stain the back deck
Put up lattice privacy wall on the street-facing side of deck
Lay sod in back yard
Build a small potting shed
Re-do planting beds in front yard
Re-seed entire front lawn

I'm sure this list will be added to as time goes on, but right now this is about all I can wrap my head around! LOL!
 
Hope you all are having happy times so far this year. This is my first day off since last Thursday. Worked straight through the holiday...9 hour days. I am beat. Don't go back til Friday afternoon. WOO HOO! Maybe I can, oh, I don't know.. maybe read a book??? I forgot what that's like! LOL!!!

Happy days to all!!!

8 comments:

  1. Lori Lynn - wow, talk about stressful! I'm so sorry to hear all that has happened, but am happy that things seem to be working out now. Here's to hoping 2011 will bring very good things for you.
    Staci

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Lori, :) Popping by to say hi. :) Sorry that that has happened to you. That really stinks. :( But i am sure in time, things will work out! :) There is always hope! And your doing great. :) Your project list sounds fun. I hope you will post pics of it all! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. enjoyed reading...you're going to be fine with your good attitude...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lori Lynn, What a rough time for you both. So glad you found a place you love and what fun to work on your “to do” list to make it yours. You all are not goign to be defeated--that is for sure. I know things will be better this year :) Enjoy your time off and a good book.

    ReplyDelete
  5. gosh!
    You are both such an inspiration!
    If only more people can get the "joy" in not being beholden to lots of money.....I like my life, pretty much as you love yours.....its a simply life but its a good life!

    Melxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Lori

    I'm new to your blog and just reading your last post. I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune, sounds like you've had a rough year, lets hope that 2011 turns your fortune around. Good luck with the 'to do' list. I have a similar one that is never ending!
    Tracy
    x

    ReplyDelete
  7. I`M WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST FOR 2011!
    2010 WASN`T A PARTICULARLLY GOOD ONE FOR US, EITHER!
    BUT I`M HOPING THAT THIS ONE... WILL BE BETTER!
    FINGERS CROSSED!
    SENDING MY LOVE TO YOU... HAS IT GOT THERE YET?LOL

    DEBBIE MOSS

    ReplyDelete
  8. I knew you had moved but didn't know the whole story. I'm so glad to hear you were able to find another house and keep your pets. Good luck with all your projects! I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your progress.

    ReplyDelete

I'm so happy that you visited my little blog! Thank you for the lovely comment and have a superb day!!