My Journey to Eliminate Debt

My new address: Just Seeking Simplicity

2009-10-04T08:11:00.004+11:00

This is just a short note to let you know I've started a new blog and to invite you to call in and visit me at Just Seeking Simplicity

hope to see you there,

Louise

(comments are in the top left instead of underneath)

Time to say goodbye

2009-09-15T08:14:00.003+10:00

So much has happened since I started blogging. Life was very different then and I firmly believed I could reach my goal of paying off the mortgage in five years and getting rid of the credit card.

However the last few years has thrown us some huge challenges and once again we found ourselves coping with job loss, Alzheimer's, sickness, losing my business not once, but now twice due to sickness. My time is taken up now with just trying to get through each day physically, emotionally and financially.

One thing I know is that we can make all the plans we want, be responsible, work hard and take good care of our families, and bad things still happen that are just out of our control.

It's time to call this blog quits.

But I want to say thanks to my readers over the last 2 years for your support and friendship. I enjoyed 'meeting' you and sharing your stories. I had a great time here and blogging has been very satisfying for me. But my life has changed so much in the last few months that I am ready to say goodbye as I move on to face other challenges, mainly my health.

All the best to each of you. I won't be writing again but please know how much I have appreciated your support. :)

Louise

Progress Report #24

2009-09-04T07:17:00.003+10:00

The Good

I have been earning money online doing writing projects since I still can't work. I have decided that this is the quickest way for me to get cash in the bank so I write for a couple of hours each day. I earned $642 writing in August and paid it off the credit card.

It's spring here and it's beautiful to see the garden starting to flower. I know it's not financial but since I spend all my time at home it's really nice to have such a lovely view after months of winter.

I have been paid my allowances for employing DH and training her which came to several thousand dollars. I also got paid for two big accounts I worked on. My business emergency fund is now sitting at $4200 and the business account has got a decent amount of money in it again which is a relief.

I have been able to pay all this months bills on time and without using the credit card. DH has worked some overtime which has really helped. We are throwing every cent at the card.

I made over $400 in passive income in August and I am about to start work on creating my own audio product to sell online.

The Bad

I am still very limited physically. I work (at home) for about 2 -3 hours a day maximum and then I sleep and rest on the lounge for the rest of the day.

The Ugly

My dad is deteriorating and I can't travel to see him. It's not a crisis, but I really want to be there with him and I can't. When I talk to him on the phone, he does not know who I am any more.

The Balances

Credit Card: $13,864

Mortgage: $147,914

Business EF: $4200

Sickness and gratitude

2009-08-30T19:12:00.003+10:00

Being sick for so long is a strange thing. It's been interesting to say the least! Being dependent on others for simple things that I used to take for granted is not always easy. But it certainly makes me grateful for my family and close friends.

My days are very simple and as I start improving I have more time for contemplation and reflection about where I'm headed as I am forced to accept the fact that my ability to work will be limited. As someone who loves what I do, it is not easy to accept that I have to slow down. I was working in my dream job, the thing I would do for nothing. I am not someone who ever wants to stop working.

But I'm practicing being grateful for what I still have and for the possibility of a limited return in the future if my health continues to improve.

In the meantime I'm hoping to be well enough to catch up on some reading soon. Once I stop sleeping most of the day away! I'm also planning a makeover of Dad's old room to turn it back into my study again. Mind you DH will be doing all the actual work!

My first big goal is be well enough to pay Dad a visit in a months time. I am missing him a lot and he is getting more and more frail. When I call he is not really sure who I am any more, but he is happy.

I have started to make short trips to the shop some days and I can do a bit of light housework for about an hour each morning before I need to lie down and rest again so that is progress.

I just have to take things slowly. I don't have a choice about that. But I am trying to give up what I have to give up gracefully and make plans for a simpler future.

I found this lovely article worth reading on Counting the Hidden Blessings in Illness.

Here is an excerpt:

"In her book, "Have a Little Faith!" author Sherri Connell reminds those who have their health to be grateful for their abilities.

"When was the last time you took the time to thank God for being able to sleep six hours straight or for giving you the strength to wash your hair?

Have you ever praised Him for being able to scrub your toilet or being able to refill your soap dispensers? . . .

Have you ever been elated to be able to dust a few pieces of furniture or for making a simple meal?"

Forced Simplicty

2009-08-19T13:02:00.003+10:00

It's beautiful spring weather here at the moment. I spend most of my day on the lounge and the view is fantastic! I can't wait till I'm up to getting out in the sunshine. I had a bit of relapse since my last post but am feeling a bit better the last few days. The collapsed part of my lung is almost fully recovered so breathing is a lot better. I sleep a lot but am able to get up and do bit around the house in the mornings which is nice.

I still am very behind financially as there is just a lot of paperwork to be done and I still can't concentrate for long period so I'm just prioritizing. I am starting to get some income now as I start catching up on the billing so that is helping. Money is still very tight but I do feel much more optimistic now than I have in the past.

DD now has another job. It was not possible to keep her on any longer. I expect that she will be moving out into her own place in the next 6-8 weeks.

DS has told us he wants to take next year off university, get a job for 12 months and then complete the last year of his studies later. Financially this would be great for us. He also is planning on moving out of home after Christmas.

So it seems the empty nest might be a reality for 2010. In some ways the timing is good. DH and I are having to reconsider our plans as my working capacity is much reduced and will be for a long time. So only having to think of ourselves does take away a lot of the financial pressure. I had been working at simplifying my life and this long illness has simply forced us to do it sooner. I miss my work so much, thats the hardest part of this. I hope to be able to work 4 hours a week by the end of the month. Fingers crossed!

Down, but not out!

2009-08-06T08:19:00.004+10:00

Thanks to those people that commented and sent me emails. It really was appreciated :)

The last few months have been very trying in many ways. I can honestly say it has been a frightening experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I am still a long way from recovered but slowly getting a little better each week. I am not able to work yet and when I do it will be for short periods only.

My major achievement of the day now is getting showered and some days even dressed! Once I've done that in the morning, it's back to bed after lunch. I have ventured out to the shop a few times and when I return I feel like I've run a marathon!

I am still waiting on the results of tests but, without going into the details, I am going to have some permanent problems as a result of being so sick. I guess once the bodies immune system is down you are just vulnerable to everything, but we will manage.

Financially, well I've paid everything on time and we are paying some extra on the mortgage to stay in advance.

I made a decision to use the credit card for big major bills and for DS's university fees. My main reason for doing that is that I have tax and other payments to be made that can only be made with cash. I also have to pay them on time or get fined. So I've paid all those with cash and I have another tax bill to pay next week. While it's not ideal I have to prioritise payments at the moment, and the Government comes first.

So, I guess life has taken another one of those twists and turns that makes the journey interesting. No point fighting it, I just have to go with the flow. I'm not giving up on my journey to eliminate debt. I may be down, but I'm not out!

De Je Vue: Here we go again...

2009-07-13T18:07:00.004+10:00

I have seriously thought about stopping writing my blog over the last few days. It seems that I am just reliving financial problems again due to sickness, and I really wonder if I have anything much of value to write about anymore.

Today I cancelled over $2,500 of work for this week. A couple of months ago I was doing $4000 a week.

I've finally accepted that the really great online consulting job I've been negotiating for a while (approx $5000) won't be mine, just due to the fact I'm sick and I can't guarantee when I can get the work done, he can't put it off any longer. I was very excited about that work. It was for an author of a book that I actually use in my business. He wanted a writer for his site. He liked my work and would have loved to have written for him.

Here we go again...

Today I had three new referrals for work. I had to turn them all away. Tomorrow I start ringing people again to cancel, reschedule, and lose more work. It's not exactly restful. I work at what I am passionate about, I get up every day am excited about what I do and through no fault of my own I can't do it. That stinks, and it's screwing up our finances... again.

I'm just getting worn out of watching it go down in flames again.

It's Pneumonia!

2009-07-10T13:10:00.004+10:00

At the start of the week I conked out after just a couple of hours at work and so had to cancel this weeks (already lowered) work week. I was diagnosed with a chest infection which soon worsened.

After a few trips to the Dr's, the respiratory physician, blood, tests, X- Rays CT scans and various lung function tests I've been now diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and severe asthma. So it's two weeks off at least, lots of different medications and I have to REST, which is not my strong point!

It seems I'm one of the people who go on to develop complications after whooping cough.I also have some permanent damage to my vocal cords from the whooping cough. I often lose my voice after just a couple of hours. So I have to 'ration' it out.

I have had to cancel another two weeks of work and reneg on some online work that I was going to do. I have enough in the business accounts to pay all my expenses. At home, well DH's income will cover our basics, and if I have to use the credit card I will.

Income protection insurance doesn't cover this as I have to be off work for four consecutive weeks before it starts. The hardest thing for me to do is rest, but I don't have any choice right now, so I guess I'll be watching a lot of movies!

*and please, if your kids are not immunized, get informed information about the disease, for everyones sake.

This may sound strange but as sick as I am I'm relieved to have had it all checked out and to have a new diagnosis. I recently watched Michael Moores show, Sicko, on the US health system and was horrified! So my frustration at being sick is tempered with gratitude that I've had all the care I need available for very little cost. I feel a little improved today, after two days on the new medication regime so I'm really hoping I can halt this pneumonia in it's tracks.

Working Smarter, Not Harder!

2009-07-06T05:00:00.004+10:00

Well, I 've been pretty slack in terms of keeping up with this blog lately. I guess it comes down to two things.

1. I have been quite sick again. We are into the really cold weather here and it really is not helping me improve so what work I can do is limited. I have closed my books till October and I have a waiting list.

2. It's end of year tax time, and thats just a lot of paperwork that I am still wading through.

3. I have been working pretty hard on some writing projects, thats one thing I can do when I'm home sick and I don't even have to get out of my pyjamas! :) It's going very well and am currently negotiating with someone about a big project, (>$5,000) so I am quiet confident that I can reach my full time income from home in 12 months goal.

4. The time I used to spend blogging and surfing online is now spent either sleeping (can't get enough) or working on #3. I have really realised just how much I need to streamline and increase my efficiency.

So I am not even going to take the time to update the progress report this month. We did use the credit card last month but it will be gone soon enough.

DH has started his new job and the income from that goes straight into our mortgage. It means that we will pay approximately $300 extra each month so who knows I might even resurrect my original goal for this blog down the track!

So at the moment I sleep, I rest, I be crook and then in between I work when I can. Online income is building, over $600 last month and about to increase considerably. My focus is on doing the work instead of blogging about doing the work, but as I improve I hope to blog more.

I won't just disappear off the blogosphere, but I might just get rid of these bloody debts and ELIMINATE the debts if I work smarter, not harder for a while. ;)

Tax Time Downunder!

2009-06-26T03:58:00.002+10:00

The financial year in Australia end on the 30th June. So this week I've been busy buying a few things I need for my business and paying up any business expenses I can so they are included in this financial year. I'm trying to reduce my tax bill as much as possible.

I've also paid for a conference later in the year which will be our (tax deductible) holiday. It's the first real holiday for three years so I'm really looking forward to it! We will be traveling to the Northern Territory for the first time.

Small businesses are eligible for some very generous tax breaks this year of up to 50% deduction on eligible assets. I am able to claim my laptop and I'm going to talk to the accountant to see if I qualify to purchase a car using this tax break. If I do I'll go ahead and purchase one before the end of 2009.

I've rearranged my hours to work four days a week but doing a shorter day. I closed up my second office yesterday and the good thing all but two of my clients there are quite happy to travel to my main office and be a bit flexible with deadlines etc until I get caught up on the backlog of work.

Overall I'm feeling much more optimistic than I was a few weeks ago :)

Guide to small business tax breaks Australia.

Revamping the business

2009-06-23T06:26:00.004+10:00

I went back to work yesterday, managed to do four hours and I was really stuffed by the end of it. I really enjoyed myself and it was so good to be busy again. My phone rang all morning and feel really frustrated that I'm having to turn away work. I am just someone who is happiest when I'm busy and productive in my work. While I'm trying to accept slowing down with good grace, the truth is I just wish I didn't have to.

I'm going to focus on doing more of the work I enjoy most and passing on the high paying, but more stressful jobs. I can make twice the money with them, but I find those higher priced jobs really worry me more than I need right now. Even last night I found myself waking up thinking about all the things I'm behind with and that's not good.

I am also letting a couple of companies go. I am sticking with one that is just a dream to work for. They are so professional, they pay on time, every time, the work is consistent and the type of clients I enjoy. Also my base of private, smaller business, returning clients is growing so I don't need to rely so much on those big companies.

Bottom line is I am revamping the business, setting strict working hours and streamlining my expenses. This week I have a very late BAS to submit !!! I just overlooked it while I was sick. And I am going over all the financials. I am probably not going to show a huge income this year but that's because I get a lot of tax deductions. I am also looking at spending a bit of money on some equipment before tax time to reduce my tax bill.

The bad news is that I have used the credit card to pay some bills. My cash flow is shot with so much time off so hopefully it's just a stopgap measure and I can get things sorted fast.

Over in the blink of an eye....

2009-06-20T13:02:00.004+10:00

Well my plans to update you on my holiday each day didn't eventuate as planned. Firstly the promised Internet access didn't work out and then I ended up quite sick and I spent the first three days mostly asleep!

On the second day there I slept for 17 hours straight!! Apart from Dads trips to the doctors I didn't do much at all. All that sleep has done wonders and I do feel much better for the break. Yesterday I treated myself to to a new haircut, a sleek long bob, so I look a lot better than I have for a while too.

Dad is actually doing really well. His dementia is much worse in terms of his forgetfulness and recognition, but he is much calmer and less upset in the dementia ward. So that was really reassuring to see.

His visits to the specialists went well. In view of his health they want to avoid any more operations if possible so we are taking a watch and see approach and will review him again in three months. I'm so glad that this surgeon has the same approach as me, that we want a quality of life for Dad, that's the main thing now.

So my holiday was over in the blink of an eye, mainly because I slept through it :) but I will post some pics tomorrow of the beaches. I certainly feel better and ready to start reorganising my life and work now that I'm back.

PS: DH got the part time job!!!!!!!! it's a 12 month contract, 20 hours a week so we are both really pleased about the added income.

I'm on Holidays!!... wanna come?

2009-06-15T05:17:00.004+10:00

Well we are heading off to our holiday house now and I can't wait to get there! I'd love to share it with you so I'm going to blog my holiday, post photos and some videos each day of where we go and what we do.

So if you want to come along with me to the beach you're welcome!

I feel like I'm heading into another change in my life. With having to downsize my business, and slow down due to my health I'm having to accept my limitations and reinvent myself again. So in view of it being a fresh start and a new direction for me, I've given the site a 'makever'!

Expect another post tonight so you can check out where we are staying.

Paperwork, credit cards and job interviews

2009-06-12T14:04:00.004+10:00

So, here I am at the office finishing up the paperwork so I can just forget about work for a week. I have not been able to do much work at all this week. I did try, but just couldn't do it, so I have officially closed one office, told everyone I can't take on new work until September and I'm just going to focus on clearing the backlog, trying to get myself healthy, and doing my online stuff.

I finally read the fine print on my balance transfer this morning. I've been approved for $32,000 credit!!! Isn't that crazy? Well I think it is...

DH had a job interview next week!!! It's part-time, which means he could still keep the other one, so fingers crossed he get it.

The weather here is cold. A few days ago we had snow and do think the cold is making it harder to get well. But the good news is that I'm heading off to the beach in a couple of days. I really can't wait to get there. The house I have rented is lovely and overlooks the beach. This time I' going to do some blogging while I'm there so keep an eye out for updates.

Anyway just at the moment this pile of paperwork needs my attention...

What really matters?

2009-06-09T06:44:00.006+10:00

I wanted to share these snippets from the prologue of Gill Hicks book, One Unknown, which I re-read again last week for a bit of inspiration. Gill was the last person to be pulled out alive from the tube train bombing in London in the 2005 terrorist attack.

Initially there were doubts she would survive. She had both legs amputated and was determined to walk down the aisle for wedding day, five months later.

Here's some excerpts taken from the prologue:

"It didn't matter...

... that the
phone bill was overdue, that I was getting married in five months and
the preparations were not coming together, that Joe and I were arguing - we were
both very dedicated to our work, perhaps not dedicated enough to each other. We
had made a commitment though....

it just
didn't matter...

... that I was trying to
make ends meet, spending way to much on my credit card - fashion, shoes, make
up, shoes, fashion - convincing myself that I needed yet another black,
'creatively cut' top, oh and more shoes. I was agonising over the decision,
whether to grow my hair or cut it short - two very different look, very
different statements.

it just didn't
matter...

I didn't matter to anyone on that first carriage that day. They didn't know me, they probably didn't even see me, wouldn't be able to identify me if they saw me again. No one knew that I was significant, that my life counted, that I was valued and loved and cherished. They didn't know that I had a family, a brother, a fiance, dear friends. I was funny, I loved to laugh, and make other people laugh... I had hopes and dreams. I wasn't different I was just like them...

.... None of this mattered
... when I was faced with my own death on a Thursday morning in July 2005"

Her book is just an incredible story to read! I don't usually cry reading a book but I did when I read her story. If you need a bit of inspiration that the world is still filled with good people then read it. It's just a wonderful story and I want to share with some excerpts from the epilogue.

"What matters...
.... is what you do. Someone, somewhere is feeling the effects of something you have done or said.

Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, it all matters.

Making your life count, making a difference - big or small - it matters.
Creating wonderful and happy memories - things to keep you alive.

Finding a positive in everything and everywhere that you can.
... Believing in humanity, in the pure love of strangers....

Letting it go matters...
...not getting absorbed by life's rubbish, not sweating the little things...

Telling the people you love that you love them matters.

Not leaving the house angry - it matters.

Never giving up matters.

Being alive; living a full and rich life - that matters."
Gill Hicks. One Unknown. 2007

If all this doom and gloom is getting you down, or your having a bit of rough patch, and need a bit of reminder about keeping things in perspective and just how wonderful people are, then add this to your reading list.

The Road Ahead...

2009-06-05T17:19:00.007+10:00

I've had to face the fact that recovering fully is going to take me some time. It's three months today that I got sick. before that I was working hard, had heaps of energy and was exercising every day. I was feeling excited about the possibilities of being able to increase my productivity by taking on DD as a part time employee. Business prosperity beckoned!

At present I can manage about 2o hours work a week. It really wipes me out and there are still nights where I have to sleep upright on the lounge (last night was one of them) to be able to breathe easily. I have put on a few pounds of the weight I lost and I get puffed walking around town. So I've lost any fitness I had built up. I am very easily fatigued.

I look terrible, (I know that because people keep telling me!).

My health has to be the first priority here. I've had too many tests, scares and health problems since Dad got sick to ignore the signs I need to slow down and get well., and it can't wait!

And I have a constant stream of new referrals, I'm booked up a month ahead and I'm turning away work. That's the hard part of this, my business is going great guns but I just can't keep up.

As a result I've made the decision to close my second office. That office brings in around $3,500 a month. So it has to be replaced and I can't even do a full workload at the other office yet. I'm determined to keep DD employed ( it is a huge help with the admin) and DS in college. DH continues to apply for full time jobs and his part time income is a help but realistically I can earn his weekly wage before lunch, so it's not the full answer.

So I'm now very serious about earning a full time online income. In fact I have set myself a goal to: Earn a Full Time Online Income in 12 months. My start date was the 1st June. I was going to just keep my blog to myself but I've changed my mind so if you want to find out what sort of things I'm doing online, or if making money online interests you pop over and visit and sign up for my mailing list when it goes up in a few days. You'll get some great freebies and discounts and I won't harass you trying to flog overpriced products!

I'll still be updating my financial information here and hope to get back to more regular writing. I have no intentions of giving up work, I would miss it too much! I'm just going to look at this as a semi-retirement and a chance to take on a new challenge!

If I've learned one thing in life it's that you just have to roll with the punches!!

Belated Progress Report #23

2009-06-04T17:03:00.003+10:00

OK lots of good news coming up and a surpise tomorrow!

The Good
This months progress report is an interesting one to me. While the number don't seem to have changed much, I'm really pleased with how I've gone.

I've only been able to work a a few hours each week for a while now as I have been quite sick. The fact that we have been able to pay for everything, home and business, college fees etc, not use the credit card, keep paying all the personal and business bills on time, including my 1 part time employee for the last three months is something I'm really proud of!

I am constantly booked four weeks ahead, gained two new contracts while I've been sick and have generated business from my online consulting site.

HealthwiseI am starting to feel a bit better the last few days, and doing a bit more work but I have made some decisions (that I'm excited about) which I'll share with you tomorrow ;)

The credit card balance transfer went through this morning so I have another 6 months interest free on the card.

The Bad

Yes both the home and business emergency funds are emptied, but that's what they are there for, and thank goodness we had them or I hate to think!

The Ugly
just being SO sick for so long was ugly!

So here are the numbers:

Credit Card: $15, 070

Mortgage: $147, 876

Home & Business Emergency Fund $0

Bits and pieces!

2009-06-02T07:30:00.001+10:00

I haven't got round to doing a progress report for the month.I'm just so backlogged with everything, and still not well. I'm working a bit more, but it's hard! I am still only doing about half my usual workload and I feel really worn out by the time I get home.

I am taking a week off and going down to see Dad soon. He has more specialists appointments to go to. I gues I am trying to make the very most of what time we have together while he knows who I am ( at least when I tell him). I have hired a different house right on the beach for a week. It is only costing me $570, and it's way more important than debt reduction right now.

It overlooks the water and has a nice flat concreted path down to the beach so with some help and if he's having a good day I can get Dad down closer to the water. every time I see him he has gone down just that bit further. He is now in the locked dementia unit and having mood swings and more health problems.

I guess it's hard to focus on finance at the moment. I'm working on my health, keeping my business afloat some interesting internet projects. The truth is I need a break, a good month off type of break, but I just can't take it at the moment, so the week with Dad coming up will have to do.

I have applied for a 0% balance transfer on the remaining credit card balance which should get approved today, then I'll update my tallies.

Some good news!

2009-05-22T09:25:00.002+10:00

I'm feeling half human today... since my last post I've just knocked myself out with codeine every day and dozed in between coughing bouts. But there has been a few very good things happen this week.

I have been negotiating another contract by email which came about as a result of my website set up to develop some online work. This company wants me to work for them offline. I told them I needed $10 an hour more then they offered and a clause in the contract removed that prevented me working for their major competitor. Less than an hour later I had a new contract in my inbox with the terms I'd requested. No discussion or argument, I asked and received! So thats a nice addition to my regular clientele once I'm back on my feet.

The other exciting thing that has happened is that, again as a result of the online consulting site, I am going to be working on a project with a very experienced internet marketer for the next few months. Instead of being paid for my services (writing articles/ e-books/ etc) in my field, I have offered to exchange services for being mentored, and a small share of the profits. I think the opportunity to learn from this person is worth way more than payment for any writing work I would do. It's invaluable! I am hoping that what I learn, and earn from this project will help me get rid of that damned debt ASAP! I'll keep you posted.

Whooping Cough Vaccination: It's everybody's business!

2009-05-18T03:39:00.011+10:00

Please read this post, give me just 5 minutes, for the sake of someone's child.

Regular readers know that I have been sick with whooping cough for almost two months now. I have actually been a lot sicker with the whooping cough since my last post. I won't belabour the point, but it's been pretty bad and I'm not very well at all.

The real danger of whooping cough is that we've become complacent. Maybe you don't think it's relevant to you because you don't have kids? Well we need to take a good hard look at what being complacent can do in spreading a very infectious, serious and sometimes deadly illness.

Thats why this bloody vaccination debate IS everybody's business! Sadly, children still die from this awful disease.

If you read nothing else here please read this open letter from Toni & David McCaffrey, the parents of Dana, who died from whooping cough on 9th March 2009.

or listen to them here as they share their story:

Then check out this short post:

ER Nurses blog post on a 9 month old baby who died after 'natural' treatment

Idaho baby dies 2009

NSW baby dies 2009.

The whooping cough is approaching epidemic proportions downunder as these posts show:

May 13 : Whooping cough 'epidemic' in states South.

May 1st: Whooping cough hits Coffs coast

May 15th Whooping Cough Epidemic. Greater Southern Health Area NSW

April 30th: Threat of whooping cough increase in New Zealand

I know of at least 9 people personally that have had it and 3 more waiting for test results. It is rampant in the schools here at the moment. And yet I still meet people who think it's not that serious, who don't believe it's dangerous for children, and is not serious is adults.

* There is no treatment for pertussis. All that can be done it to treat the symptoms and complications.*

We adults are the ones who need to take steps to prevent this. Our kids can't do it, they rely on us. Don't be complacent about your vaccinations, for the sake of someone else's child.

I am really tired of not being able to sleep for coughing.. coughing until I throw up and feeling like I'm choking when I get an attack. I cannot get air and I can't communicate to get help. I'm scared to fall asleep because every time I do, I wake up and I can't stop the coughing. It's frightening.

Don't believe the myth that adults don't whoop and don't get very sick with it. The whooping sounds I make can be heard from the other end of the house and they are uncontrollable. I have almost passed out on several occasions and had one trip to the emergency room.

In NSW and ACT there is free vaccination available at the moment for parents, grandparents and carers of young children. You can find out details from your GP.

How time flies!

2009-05-12T05:53:00.002+10:00

The last few weeks have flown by for me. I have been up and down to visit Dad several times as he is unwell and in need of more specialists appointments, possibly surgery. I just arrived back last night from four days with him. I also am still quite sick and have been able to work only a few hours a day, here and there. So my time for being online is limited at present, and just not the top of the priority list.

Naturally my income has plummeted with my time off and the expenses of traveling and visiting Dad.

There is no quick solution in sight. I expect this continue for another month at least. So far I've incurred no further debt, paid everything on time and I am only now about to dip into the emergency fund. On the business side of things it's frustrating! I've got so much work coming to me at the moment and I just can't take it on.

Realistically we will now not meet our goal of purchasing our own office space this year. Our financial goals are all up for review again as we try and cope with Dads deteriorating health and the demands of caring for him.

One thing I am in the process of doing is automating and streamlining my life more. I am setting up a separate account at another bank that will only be used for bill paying. My goal is have all the regular bill payments automated. I have done this with my business account and it saves so much time! All my business payments are paid on time every month without my having to do anything!

So I'm pretty pre-occupied at the moment and coming and going a lot. I'm hoping things settle down and normal 'life' can resume soon!

Progress Report #22

2009-05-01T13:46:00.003+10:00

Another brief report for the month as I am still quiet unwell and just resting up as much as I can at the moment. I have earned very little this month, but I have been able to pay another $1000 off the credit card and add $1400 to the emergency fund. In addition I have approximately $200o in the business emergency fund. I am going to be heading off to see Dad again later in the week, he is not doing too well. So my focus at the moment is on just paying the bills, getting well and supporting Dad. All this isn't leaving a lot of time for blogging unfortunately :) But I will get back to more regular posts as soon as I can.

Here's the balances:

Credit Card $15,225 Paid off $1000

Emergency Fund $240o added $1400

Mortgage: $148,125

The good news is that my website consulting site is getting enquiries and has resulted in one new contract for me, as well as a few other irons in the fire that may pay off a bit later in the year when I can work on them. So the more passive income ideas of my business are slowly bearing fruit.

Budget Beater Recipes: Pasta!

2009-04-27T06:18:00.002+10:00

Pasta is one of our favourite foods here. It's cheap, quick and if I buy it on special I can get it for as low as .49 cents for 500 grams. When it's cheap I stock up on it. Adding pasta to meal is a great way to make a meal go further cheaply. You can add it to casseroles, soups, pies, stir fries and use instead of rice or potatos with a meal. It's also a great 'comfort' food in the colder weather.

One of my favourite fast pasta meals to cook the pasta and then add either tomato sauce out of a bottle, or a tin of chopped tomatos. Then grate some cheese over it. It's a cheap, filling meal that takes less than 10 minutes. Here's some yummy pasta recipes to try:

Pasta Cooking Basics for perfect pasta!

Creamy Spinach Tomato Pasta this is divine!

Leftover pasta recipes This is a from a great site dedicated to leftover food recipes: Love Food Hate Waste

Macaroni & Cheese Recipes

138 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes

Now I can't imagine pasta without cheese and if you buy your cheese in bulk and freeze it you will save a lot money. We buy our cheddar cheese and mozarella cheese in bulk, put it into zip lock bags and freeze it. I've had it last over 6 months with no problem. See Freezing Cheese for more information. But one of my luxuries is fresh parmesan cheese, I love it! I buy a block every two weeks and there really is no substitute.

We're back.

2009-04-24T10:28:00.003+10:00

We're back from visiting Dad and getting things organised for him. I'm still off work and pretty worn out at the moment, so I guess normal blogging will resume in a day or two when I've got a bit more energy :)

It has been an expensive time for us but I am really pleased that we've been able to pay everything, make a payment off the credit card and still not dip into our emergency fund. That tells me things (financially) are changing for the better over the long run.

I will get back to more financial posts soon, I just am really knackered at the minute and I'm heading back to my bed on the lounge for a bit more sleep.

On and entirely different note have you seen the video of 10o single girls in Piccadilly? I don't know what it is about this song but I just love it!

Quick update.

2009-04-18T08:48:00.005+10:00

I had a another call from the nursing home yesterday. So we came down to sort out things about Dad. Basically in the last month he has really deteriorated a lot. He now is wandering, confused, has terrible mood swings. He is to be moved into the locked ward for his own safety as he would wander off at the first chance now. He needs a lot more personal care than he did before and he can't find his own room.

His ability to go on outings is really limited as a result. I'm heading over to pick him up now and take him for a short drive. Then I'm coming back to motel and going to bed myself for the afternoon.

On the financial side of things we received our $900 stimulus payments yesterday. I'm just leaving it in the bank till I get back to work. So far I've been able to pay all my bills without dipping into savings or emergency funds so that feels good.