Okay extra points if you can guess what movie my title is quoted from? 🙂
Nobody puts me in a corner or makes me feel like I am worthless, but that’s what I felt like when I was forced to sell my house. I felt broken, incomplete, and foolish. How did one lose their house?
How did one recover?
And more importantly, would I learn the right lessons from this financial calamity?
The short answer is yes. The longer answer would be, yes but it took some time.
Being forced to short-sell my house was definitely an a-ha! moment and not one that I would recommend. But it did force me to confront some awful truths:
- Banks are not your friend.
- We shouldn’t have purchased a house that in hindsight, was really out of our price range.
- We should have saved more. And then saved even more after that.
- Recessions suck. So do paychecks where your commission has significantly dropped.
But joy comes in the morning, right?
Going through this tumultuous time, opened my eyes to the world of personal finance. Who were these people talking about money online? Isn’t talking about money a taboo subject? People are actually writing about their money mistakes and using their real names and everything?
*Pretend you hear angels singing right now*
I found a community where I felt accepted for my faults and where I learned to save more than I spend. It is where I realized that people actually have grocery budgets and we all commiserate about how we go over them more often than not. 😉
My biggest money a-ha! moment was losing my house. I can stand proudly and say that.
I know that it changed how my husband and I view money. We try to live simply and try to figure out how to best utilize our dollars.
Do we still mistakes? Yup, no one is perfect.
But we dust ourselves off, and learn from yet another mistake. That is life.
I am so thankful to the personal finance community. They saved me even when I didn’t realize I was drowning, didn’t realize I was disheartened, and didn’t realize that I was… in need.
Linking up to The Financial Literacy Awareness Carnival. Thanks for allowing me to participate, Shannon!
That’s a really tough situation to go through. Can’t imagine the feelings in losing a house. But as you said, it’s simply a matter of learning from mistakes and moving forward. I always try to take the positives away from an event, even if it was painful.
It was a difficult situation, very tough, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
We’ve definitely learned from this event in our lives, and are using that to move forward.
Dirty Dancing. As a dude, I’m almost embarrassed that I know that. Negative man points for me. 🙂 Sometimes the best lessons are born from mistakes – I can certainly identify with that as I’d say having to pay off $109,000 was one of the best things that ever happened to me. 🙂
Ha, ha, ha 🙂 Dirty Dancing, it is!
I love what you said about “sometimes the best lessons are born from mistakes”. Ain’t that the truth!!
Back in the 1980’s when the interest rates shot up in the recession I can remember my parents preparing themselves for the worst. We managed to scrape through and live another day. I’m a little more cautious because of it, I like to know things are paid off and we have plenty put by just in case.
I want to be in a position where we have enough saved as well; we are getting better, but we are still a work in progress!
Wow. Reading about some of the lesson you’ve learned really jog me back to those ugly days. So glad that you took rough times as an opportunity to learn lessons that it sounds like are making you stronger
Thank you so much; it is definitely a lesson that has made me stronger, but wow what a lesson to learn! Sigh…
I’m really glad you’re in this community and sharing your story! It’s such an enlightening one.
P.S. I rarely stay on my grocery budget and I’m only shopping for one!
Ugh, why is it so hard to stay on a grocery budget? 🙂
So if there’s an award for best title in this carnival, you take Gold! 😉 Plus that “Time of My Life” song popped in my head as soon as I read it. haha I love this post, Mackenzie, not because you lost your house of course, but from all that you’ve learned through the process. I can totally relate with feeling accepted for your faults, but instead of being shameful about it, just working towards being better about it. I am definitely glad I came across your blog and your friendship, it has meant so much to me. 🙂
LOL, thanks Anna! If it’s any consolation, I’ve had that song “Time of My Life” in my head all day! 😉 I am so, so glad to have found your blog as well. Your friendship has been invaluable! XO
Dirty Dancing! I laughed right away when I saw your title! You and Brian had the best titles. 🙂 And nobody puts Mackenzie in a corner either. I am sorry that your money a-ha had to originate from such a painful experience. But I am glad that you were able to learn some valuable lessons, including how strong you are. Even when tough things happen, you can still emerge stronger and thrive – which you are doing! It takes real courage to admit mistakes and even more courage to learn from them. Thank you for sharing your money a-ha and helping others find the courage to face their own money woes. I appreciate your support and participation in The Financial Literacy Awareness Carnival!
Ha, glad you liked the title Shannon!
It was definitely a painful experience, and honestly quite heartbreaking. But it made me realize that I am a fighter, and I am stronger than any piece of paper saying that I had to sell my house. Mistakes were made, but I have learned from them.
Thank you as always, for your support Shannon! XO
Love this! “People are actually writing about their money mistakes and using their real names and everything?” This reminds me so much of when I was still in the PF blogging closet. 🙂 I had at one point had a public blog but was no longer writing there, and would be absolutely mortified if someone IRL, even my supportive guy best friend, found out. Well cut to almost two years later and I’m *mostly* shouting it from the rooftops. And now I have friends THANKING me for my blog and say they enjoy it. Whu whu? I think everyone can relate to something in our posts whether they are financially struggling or not, but everyone deals with money and issues that sometimes come along with it. Losing your house would be a very tough thing. But I’m glad you and the family landed on your feet and it’s made you a stronger person! And go Red Wings! 🙂 heh heh
I know, right? I love that personal finance bloggers are so brave with their stories and letting it all out there for everyone to see.
Yes, losing my house was tough…still makes me sad to think about sometimes. But it’s made me a stronger woman. And for the record, GO DUCKS!!!!! 🙂
The unfortunate thing about life is that sometimes the most powerful lessons are learned in the most painful ways. I’m sorry to hear about you losing your house. But the lessons you’ve learned and the place it’s brought you to are important. I have also drawn strength from the PF community, it’s a good one to belong to! Thanks for sharing your story and inspiring us.
I love what you said about “the most powerful lessons are learned in the most painful ways”. That is so, so true!
Thanks for stopping by!
LOVE that movie, Mackenzie! 🙂 I think it’s awesome that you used a potentially traumatic experience like short-selling your house and turned it into a catalyst for success and education. As always, you inspire me. 🙂
I love that movie too! 🙂
YOU inspire me, Laurie! XO
First of all, I LOVE that movie and quote that particular line all the time. Or “I carried a watermelon” well I feel uncomfortable. It’s true, though, no one can make you feel bad about yourself, and you have control over your future. I am sure it was awful to lose your home, but more important that the experience led to a positive learning experience for you after that point.
I love that movie and have seen it a billion times! I love “I carried a watermelon?” and also “Go back to your playpen…Baby”. Okay, I’ll stop 🙂
Losing our house was a terrible experience, but I’ve learned so much since then. That’s all one can do…
What a great post, Mackenzie. I got the reference 😉 I can’t imagine losing a house– what a dream dasher! But you are awake now, and you are part of this community. I’m so glad you are here! Your enlightening words and wisdom help us all.
Thank you Melanie 🙂
Yes, it was definitely a dream dasher to lose our house. I mean, while we lived in that house, we got married, found out I was pregnant, and brought my baby girl home from the hospital. It was definitely difficult to sell that house.
I’m glad you are part of this community, too!
[…] and Beautiful Life: Formative Money Moments The Frugal Farmer: A-Ha Money Moment The Random Path: Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner Thrifty Dad: When I Realized that My Financial Future Was in My Hands Young Adult Money: When I […]
[…] at The Random Path writes, Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner. In addition to have the most awesome blog post title that I’ve read this week, Mackenzie […]
[…] course I have to include Mackenzie from The Random Path when the blog title is “Nobody puts baby in a corner,” but seriously, she shared a […]