Perspective

THEN:

House payment: $900 (on a {BAD} negative ARM)

2nd mortgage: $200

Hummer: $450

F350 work truck $600

Ford Ranger truck: $175

Car insurance: $320

Business insurance: $37

High cost of gas/fuel at that time (I think we were paying close to $90-over $100 to fill the H2!)

Being able to spend on average about $150-$200/week on misc CRAP a.k.a Walmart trips

Groceries @ $500/month

Other "normal" bills like Utilities, phone, etc

Total = @$3600/month

We were making around $5K, sometimes $7K/month. Yep. We DID have a good savings at one point.

NOW:

House payment: $0

Ford Ranger: $175

Phone: @$140 (includes internet)

Insurance: $120

Business insurance: $34

Storage units (all 3 together) @ $200

@ $400 or so in GAS/fuel for Benji to travel/work when he has a lot of work, but around $100 when he has local work or not very much work

Heat: @$500 average in winter, @$90 average in summer, so about $250 average

Total on average: @$1100/month

We now make around $1000- maybe $2000/month if lucky.

*It *IS* a very small amount to have to come up with each month, but we are still scraping by!

It's just hard some days when I think back on what we were able to do "back then", and what we can't do (even though it's nothing!) today. It's just amazing the effect the economy has had on construction jobs, as well as MOST jobs. I don't think we'll ever make what we did, because of the much-stricter (is that a word?) guidelines banks have on loans, which ultimately carry out to the tile setters. Gone are the days when people would call us up to do major tile work, because hardly anyone is able to get loans anymore. We now have everyone doing their own tile, plumbing, electrical, etc just to save money. Heck, we're there, too! We know how it is. Still, it's disheartening knowing how HARD Benji has worked in this particular profession and how GOOD/EXCELLENT he is at what he does. He takes pride in what he does, and is very honest with his work. He will put his heart into the work he does, making sure the customer is blown away. People tend to think that tile is a no-brainer. Whatever. Don't call us when your shower leaks all over your brand new house and floods the downstairs basement. (Which has happend too many times to count to people who decided to do it themselves or call the MUCH-CHEAPER guy, who, HELLO... is "cheap" for a REASON!) Don't call us when your grout crumbles and your tiles pop up all over the floors. Don't call us when your tile breaks to pieces because you didn't know how to "prep" the floors first.

Now Benji will be the first to tell you that there *IS* a lot you CAN do by yourself. HOWEVER. When it comes right down to it, he recommends calling first so that you can get educated. Lol. Sorry- went off on a rant there. And I really DON'T hold it against friends and neighbors who decide against hiring Benji. We really don't. (It's just sad to see and feel cold shoulders from ppl/neighbors here who went with someone else, and probably feel guity about it so they totally ignore us and don't make eye contact- it's pretty ridiculous! We're totally not revengeful like that!) But it does wear on us when we just don't have the work. Thankfully, right now Benji is very busy helping on the Parade of Homes homes at Entrada in St. George. He loves working on the "fancy" stuff. But there again, economy is still bad, and his "boss" friend can't keep him working too much longer because he has his own guys to try and keep busy. Also, we can advertise all we want about how great Benji is and show pictures of all the fancy stuff Benji knows how to do- but it won't mean anything to these small-towners, since they don't have the MONEY to do that kind of thing. Heck, they're lucky to have enough for a "patch" or "remodel" job or two. And for them we are extrememly grateful. I guess after 18 months I'm just disheartened about the future of tile work. I truly hope the economy DOES pick up. At LEAST 50% better than what it is NOW. I truly DO hope St.George starts calling again. That would mean we could move back "home" (to some extent).

Both Benji and I have talked about this often, and we both know that we probably won't make what we used to, and heaven knows we DON'T want to incrue the type of debts we had then!! One thing the economy has done is made us more aware of money and much smarter about it. We would rather live frugal as far as house and vehicle, and then be able to take our kids on fun trips instead. Family time and memories made that they will always remember. We also have 4 kids' weddings to fork out $ for, lol! We have to get saving sometime soon!

The most important thing in life *IS* family, not fancy houses or all the fancy name-brand items that goes into it. Not the fancy name-brand vehicles. LOVE. FAMILY. MEMORIES. Things you CAN actually {take with you} when you die. All the rest is pointless and a waste of time and money. The most important things in life AREN'T "things"!

As not many people read this blog, what I post is mainly for my own benefit. I hope to publish this blog into a book down the road. I want my kids to read it and remember what we went through and then what we LEARNED in the process. Anyway. I just hope we can pick up with work to someday have a somewhat "steady" flow of work so we CAN save up for the future... weddings.. missions... college... anything that may pop up. I hope we will have the chance to prove to ourselves that we HAVE learned how to use money wisely.

Here's praying for an economic turn-around. :) Soon! :)