And now the pain

[vicarz]

The reno change order came in - 60k, and that's not all of it. I hope to nudge it a bit lower as the guy seems to be billing me $5100 for the parking pad that he previously said he would do for free to make up a bit for the delays in the permitting. The bill for the flooring came up as the billing was only to refinish the floor - and we gave up and bought a new-used one which required subfloor and lots more labor. Also, I was not billed for installing the master bath...we agreed to it, but it wasn't in the original bid of 178k. So the bill shows at about 240k now. This doesn't include 2 kitchens' granite counters (maybe it's formica time) or all the appliances.

Going over my private non-retirement stocks? I'm largely broke. I have to keep reminding myself that when this is done I'll be getting 4-7k income monthly from the 2 places - more if there is rent in the main place, but I a) am out of room for add-ons, and b) going to be broke for a while.

For the first time in years I won't have the freedom to fuckoff my job - I can't get fired and survive until I recover from this. Suppose something goes wrong? Suppose flood/fire/fuckers destroy my place? I could lose my life savings outside retirement.

Comments

[djpsyche.livejournal.com]

And you know what, my initial reaction upon reading this was that part of me hopes that happens, to show you that you can work hard and do things right and STILL have financial difficulties, which is not something you've shown much understanding of.

But I like you, so I hope that you'll learn that without having to lose everything you've worked for.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Not really - if this is what is tripping me up then it was my own lack of planning adequately for insufficient research.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

On reflection, that's a kind of fucked up thing to say. I mean I see the feel one way, reflect, and share - and I appreciate the share, but really? I do get flack from people who refer to me as always having it easy - which is great as I was picked on in part for being poor in my area when I grew up. I've slaved and worked harder than all our poor friends - and you've seen it, for DECADES. I've lived on man-made-beans at home while our friends went out for dinner. While our friends got high I pregamed liquor outside the club and went in early so I could get no or reduced cover.

I went to college 4 fucking times. I have gone to law school and drive the 15 year old car I bought before it.

Yeah, I also blow the money on insurance, including LTC insurance, so that I'm not one cancer treatment away from poverty.

I'm not saying it never happens, but most people I see go from meh to rags do it for fairly predictable reasons. Most people I know who work hard consistently and plan are doing ok to well. Most people I know who are poor chose paths in which they knew that would be the result, from lack of education, to party party party, to choosing laudable but low paid vocations such as social work. I don't think it should suck to be poor but I also don't think we should act as though choices over years of time have nothing to do with it.

Yeesh.

[djpsyche.livejournal.com]

Apologies. I am still in shock at the election result and what it's going to do to disabled friends of mine. I shouldn't have taken it out on you.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I have a very good friend who is...horribly disabled, but unable to get benefits because her problems don't fit a regular diagnosis. However, in my line of work, I'm aware of dozens of people engaged in fraud to get disability and workers comp benefits - and that abuse is rampant nationwide, so bad the system is bankrupt.

I wouldn't panic about the election's direct effect on your disabled friend until you have more direct legislative action. I don't know about the status in the UK of such issues, but here...the rampant fraud and abuse of the system has led to a crackdown on the same, but of course in the wake of the attempts to fix the problems are new problems such as denying or delaying acceptance to people who qualify. It's a really tough issue.