Bloganaury 2023

Daily writing prompt

What are your biggest challenges?

View all responses

The past few months my biggest challenge is not to stress or worry about finances. In 2023, my husband had a decent job. I started working again outside of the farm, and the sheep were doing well. If we stayed with the budget our little homestead would be paid in full in five years and my husband could retire from working. Things were going well.

Then November arrived and my husband was laid off. He has reached the age to get full benefits from Social Security Retirement. So, he registered for social security. The amount he is receiving is not near what his earning income was. Our budget is way short of getting our little homestead paid in full in the next five years. Our budget is short on just meeting the monthly requirements of electricity, food, fuel, mortgage, cell phone, and insurance. We do not have cable, have not for years. No extras such as eating out or going places on vacation. Money was not there before he was laid off and it definitely is not there now.

My first response is to stress knowing it does not help the situation. My biggest challenge at the beginning of the new year is to not stress. He is looking for work. We have a few ideas on how to bring additional income to the homestead and have started implementing those ideas. Currently, bills are being paid from the income we do receive and the little we are short comes from our small saving account.

In years past, we have never had the electricity turned off, gone without food, or missed a mortgage payment. The Creator always opens a door and leads us to a pathway to travel.

amtolle