When I started this blog in September 2007, our lives were quite a bit different than it is now. Mr. A was “working for the man” making a steady $15 an hour, forty hours a week. We had around $10,000 in debt, which had been accumulated within one year due to circumstances beyond our control. From what I could see on paper, we should have money to throw at the debt, but we weren't making much progress. I was inspired by Mr. Debtbeater and started this blog. For a while, we were making fairly good progress with our debt. But then Mr. A started getting strong feelings to get going with his business, which he'd been running on his days off. He worked four 10-hour days and was working at his own business Friday, Saturday and often Sunday. He decided to make the leap in February, 2008. He already had many of the tools necessary since he used his own tools while working for his employer. So basically the start up costs were zero.

From March to December, Mr. A's business grossed over $30,000. I haven't exactly figured out the net, but there were hundreds of dollars, if not thousands for gasoline, and materials for the jobs has to be deducted. I am pleased at the amount of money he generated in his first year of business. Even the IRS allows that you'll lose money in the first few years of business. In September 2008, Mr. A decided to start another business, work which could be manufactured at home. Between slow business and the startup machinery for this second business, our debt has more than doubled.

This is why I've been shying away from the financial update posts. For one thing, it takes enough time for me to track our personal finances, and since I'm the money manager in our family, Mr. A's bookkeeping has fallen into my lap. As well as checking his email, promoting his business online, paying bills, depositing the money and so on and so forth.

Mr. A's business has picked up since the beginning of the year. I heard on the news the other morning that two businesses that will survive our nation's economic difficulties are auto mechanics and handyman type businesses.

And as always, it seems just when I think we'll be able to really sock it to the debt, something else comes up, like Mr. A's medical procedure, which has ended up costing over $1000 in co-pays. He is beside himself, he feels ripped off. He hasn't had medical insurance for most of his life, and when he gave his notice at his job last year in February, I insisted that we pay for the COBRA insurance. It was very reasonable – just over $200 to cover Mr. A and AJ, and after AJ turned 19 it dropped down to $145/month. Mr. A says I may as well drop the insurance right now, because he'll NEVER use it again. My insurance is pretty good – my co-pays are stated right on my insurance card and hospital visits are $125 maximum.

I'm going to try to talk more about our financial situation, since that was the main purpose of starting this blog, and I want to remain dedicated to getting us out of debt. If it's only $25 a month, that's better than nothing!

Speaking of $25, I am going to run a contest soon for a $25 gift certificate from Amazon. One day this week I will post the details, and the contest will run for ten days. Stay tuned.

Yours Truly,

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