You can't find them anymore... we looked. We're on the road so much lately that I've started looking for treats I ate as a child on the road... Bit-o-Honey just doesn't exist anymore. Sadness.
Anyway, a bit of good news: Out of the blue we learned that we had a potential buyer for our land. He was planning on coming to see it Saturday to make sure he liked it in person. And he did. So we will be closing on the sale of our land within the next couple of weeks. That brings us one step closer to getting a house, which is what we need to get us back on track.
We've realized that not having a home has not been working for us. Living in the RV is not the issue, but pulling it around and paying for a place to park it has. And not having access to our belongings means we've wasted money replacing things we already have. We also eat out a lot more than we would if we have adequate pantry space. Part of it stems from having to find a grocery store and/or not knowing how long we'll be in one spot... by the time we arrive we're usually tired and eating out is easiest. Then lunch has to be eaten out because you don't go grocery shopping... and the cycle may repeat itself every few days because the refrigerator is small and not as cold as a home fridge so things spoil more quickly.
So... we need this to happen. The seller is willing to do owner finance, but in a strange fashion, he's willing to co-sign. So we have to figure out how to make that work without us having jobs. Mike has one coming, he just has to pass the background check and physical and then we'll have an income. But it's a fine line between waiting until then, and risking that they will think we're flighty because we don't respond. I don't know what to do at this point other than call the bank and see what they say, try to negotiate something.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
134 - Sheltering in Place
So... we're still here in Houston. I guess it's been about two months now and I've given up trying to nail down a departure date. We've been going out to eat a lot lately because I didn't want to commit to another week of groceries, but I give up and I am cooking again. It's cheaper, and my gut doesn't react as much. I'm honestly tired of dealing with my gut and feet that hurt every time I stand up, but that's a story for another day.
As for the rest of the saga, we have come up with a plan... another iteration of a similar plan, but one that is feasible for us. And this is one we're going to stick to if everything falls into place.
Us starting a business is on hold until such time as our finances have improved. When we started researching and writing the business plan it seemed feasible, but the last four months have undone all that. Now we have some catching up to do, and while I'm hopeful about that, the liquid capital we would have had is no longer there... the land deal fell through, the tax refund is being used to keep us afloat, and the proceeds from the sale of my house are not going to be enough to get us anywhere businesswise. We had a tidy sum, and now we don't. That's life as far as I can tell.
What the proceeds from the sale of my house will do, however, is make a nice downpayment on another house.
We spend $625 in storage fees every month. It's wasted money, and it costs us even more because we keep reinventing the wheel... buying things we already have but can't get to. Those bills were going on the credit card, *but* I was paying a percentage of the balance *plus* $625 each month... so in that respect it is in the budget as long as we have enough money coming in.
There is a house we looked at several months ago, but I felt it was overpriced at the time. It is smaller than my previous home, but it has an unfinished basement that could add to the square footage if we feel the need to expand someday. What it has that my other house didn't have, is a country setting and 24 acres. And it is nicely appointed. Yes there are things I want to change, but I can do simple upgrades and actually look forward to that kind of thing. My favorite aspect of the house is that it, like my other home, is filled with light. I cannot stand a dark house. Some houses are dark because people close all the doors or put up curtains... I don't like closed doors and drawn curtains except at night... but some houses, by their very nature, are dark. You know what I mean? Even with plenty of windows, something manages to suck the light out.
Anyway, they have come off the price quite a bit, and I am now interested in buying it. We will have 20% down, and it looks like Mike is going to have a job soon, so I feel good about moving forward with an offer. The only hitch is that there is no way a bank is going to lend us money. We still have the same issues we've always had... all the debt is in my name because Mike's credit is bad, so I'm maxed out - and I don't have a job. So the whole thing hinges on the owners being willing to do a rent to own or owner finance. With a rent to own we can keep my money in the bank until we refinance, or if they can owner finance we put the money down and pay them for a couple of years before we refinance. I'd rather do owner finance, but I don't know if they own the house outright to be able to do that. Plus the deed goes into our name right then.
In any case, I'm tired of not having an answer when people ask where we live, trying to figure out which address I gave to whom. I'm tired of living out of a big suitcase (RV), I'm tired of not being able to get to my stuff. And I want a garden something fierce. And a pantry. And the Samsung refrigerator I found online last night. And an upright freezer. I want to be able to purchase in bulk, and "shop" out of my own supplies for a month or so... what do I want for dinner tonight? Pasta. And just go grab a package of hamburger meat from the freezer, make some noodles with my hand crank pasta roller from the eggs I froze and the flour I bought in bulk, pick some tomatoes and basil from the garden, and get an onion from the pantry. And if I make enough sauce, I want to be able to can it in my pressure canner for another day when I'm feeling less frisky. I want to be able to build some of those neat food storage boxes I saw online with the potatoes under the apples to keep the potatoes from sprouting and the apples fresh. I have a million and one things to do and I am ready to get started.
Also, once we are settled, I can begin to look for a job in the area instead of trying to guess where we might be or go somewhere that we don't have any interest in. I think I have a decent chance of finding something. I may not get something I want immediately, but even something part-time would be good until I can find something. Or I may get lucky and find the perfect job right out of the gate... although, as a condition of receiving unemployment, I have been looking... and there ain't much out there that I can tell.
Anyway, having a plan makes us both feel better, and we are both excited about the possibility of the house... brimming with ideas... immediate things and eventual things. And I'm sure Gracie will also like settling down. She actually let Christi pet her a couple of days ago and no longer runs when people come into the room. She is still easily spooked but she has come a long way.
Well... that's all for tonight. Tomorrow is another day... and your guess is as good as mine.
As for the rest of the saga, we have come up with a plan... another iteration of a similar plan, but one that is feasible for us. And this is one we're going to stick to if everything falls into place.
Us starting a business is on hold until such time as our finances have improved. When we started researching and writing the business plan it seemed feasible, but the last four months have undone all that. Now we have some catching up to do, and while I'm hopeful about that, the liquid capital we would have had is no longer there... the land deal fell through, the tax refund is being used to keep us afloat, and the proceeds from the sale of my house are not going to be enough to get us anywhere businesswise. We had a tidy sum, and now we don't. That's life as far as I can tell.
What the proceeds from the sale of my house will do, however, is make a nice downpayment on another house.
We spend $625 in storage fees every month. It's wasted money, and it costs us even more because we keep reinventing the wheel... buying things we already have but can't get to. Those bills were going on the credit card, *but* I was paying a percentage of the balance *plus* $625 each month... so in that respect it is in the budget as long as we have enough money coming in.
There is a house we looked at several months ago, but I felt it was overpriced at the time. It is smaller than my previous home, but it has an unfinished basement that could add to the square footage if we feel the need to expand someday. What it has that my other house didn't have, is a country setting and 24 acres. And it is nicely appointed. Yes there are things I want to change, but I can do simple upgrades and actually look forward to that kind of thing. My favorite aspect of the house is that it, like my other home, is filled with light. I cannot stand a dark house. Some houses are dark because people close all the doors or put up curtains... I don't like closed doors and drawn curtains except at night... but some houses, by their very nature, are dark. You know what I mean? Even with plenty of windows, something manages to suck the light out.
Anyway, they have come off the price quite a bit, and I am now interested in buying it. We will have 20% down, and it looks like Mike is going to have a job soon, so I feel good about moving forward with an offer. The only hitch is that there is no way a bank is going to lend us money. We still have the same issues we've always had... all the debt is in my name because Mike's credit is bad, so I'm maxed out - and I don't have a job. So the whole thing hinges on the owners being willing to do a rent to own or owner finance. With a rent to own we can keep my money in the bank until we refinance, or if they can owner finance we put the money down and pay them for a couple of years before we refinance. I'd rather do owner finance, but I don't know if they own the house outright to be able to do that. Plus the deed goes into our name right then.
In any case, I'm tired of not having an answer when people ask where we live, trying to figure out which address I gave to whom. I'm tired of living out of a big suitcase (RV), I'm tired of not being able to get to my stuff. And I want a garden something fierce. And a pantry. And the Samsung refrigerator I found online last night. And an upright freezer. I want to be able to purchase in bulk, and "shop" out of my own supplies for a month or so... what do I want for dinner tonight? Pasta. And just go grab a package of hamburger meat from the freezer, make some noodles with my hand crank pasta roller from the eggs I froze and the flour I bought in bulk, pick some tomatoes and basil from the garden, and get an onion from the pantry. And if I make enough sauce, I want to be able to can it in my pressure canner for another day when I'm feeling less frisky. I want to be able to build some of those neat food storage boxes I saw online with the potatoes under the apples to keep the potatoes from sprouting and the apples fresh. I have a million and one things to do and I am ready to get started.
Also, once we are settled, I can begin to look for a job in the area instead of trying to guess where we might be or go somewhere that we don't have any interest in. I think I have a decent chance of finding something. I may not get something I want immediately, but even something part-time would be good until I can find something. Or I may get lucky and find the perfect job right out of the gate... although, as a condition of receiving unemployment, I have been looking... and there ain't much out there that I can tell.
Anyway, having a plan makes us both feel better, and we are both excited about the possibility of the house... brimming with ideas... immediate things and eventual things. And I'm sure Gracie will also like settling down. She actually let Christi pet her a couple of days ago and no longer runs when people come into the room. She is still easily spooked but she has come a long way.
Well... that's all for tonight. Tomorrow is another day... and your guess is as good as mine.
Monday, April 8, 2013
133 - Whammo
Much like an author tears their hero down, down, down to make their triumph more dramatic... our life seems to be preparing us for something great. Something spectacular. Because we keep getting torn down.
First off, our land deal fell through. Would have been nice to have the money in the bank, but it wouldn't appraise for the price we agreed on and we've reached our limit with losing money on it, so we will keep it for $65/year in taxes.
Also, after three months of no work and little communication from Tempest, last week Mike got a call to go back to work. I was feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks because we would finally have money coming in again, and we desperately need it. But instead of instructions on where to go, this morning he was laid off instead.
There are so many irons in the fire right now, we just need one of them to come through.
I can't deal with this for much longer. I've stepped out of my comfort zone a lot recently, and on the whole it hasn't been bad, but these last few months have tested me. I don't like having to ask people for things, and I appreciate everyone who has helped us out and taken us in, but it's no way to live and I need to feel independent again. I feel like us starting our business is the answer but then the money issue rears its head again. Creditors used to throw money at me, but not so anymore. We're overloaded and I'm afraid it will stop us from getting the loans we need. And there has to be money coming in in the meantime because even when everything falls into place, it would still be 6-8 months before we could open. You see my frustration? I feel like we have an out but the road is blocked. Once again... trapped.
I don't have anything good to say right now so I'm just going to shut up until the feeling passes.
First off, our land deal fell through. Would have been nice to have the money in the bank, but it wouldn't appraise for the price we agreed on and we've reached our limit with losing money on it, so we will keep it for $65/year in taxes.
Also, after three months of no work and little communication from Tempest, last week Mike got a call to go back to work. I was feeling hopeful for the first time in weeks because we would finally have money coming in again, and we desperately need it. But instead of instructions on where to go, this morning he was laid off instead.
There are so many irons in the fire right now, we just need one of them to come through.
I can't deal with this for much longer. I've stepped out of my comfort zone a lot recently, and on the whole it hasn't been bad, but these last few months have tested me. I don't like having to ask people for things, and I appreciate everyone who has helped us out and taken us in, but it's no way to live and I need to feel independent again. I feel like us starting our business is the answer but then the money issue rears its head again. Creditors used to throw money at me, but not so anymore. We're overloaded and I'm afraid it will stop us from getting the loans we need. And there has to be money coming in in the meantime because even when everything falls into place, it would still be 6-8 months before we could open. You see my frustration? I feel like we have an out but the road is blocked. Once again... trapped.
I don't have anything good to say right now so I'm just going to shut up until the feeling passes.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
132 - A post by any other name...
We've been in Houston for about a week now, probably be here for another few days while our truck gets fixed. We took it in Monday afternoon and the guy said it would probably be 2-3 days before he got back to us, so on Thursday afternoon I called to get a status... he has one transmission guy and he hadn't been able to look at it, was taking the weekend off and the new estimated earliest time was now sometime on Monday. In the meantime we are paying for a rental. I don't understand people these days. Good customer service (to me) would be telling us - as soon as he found out - that it was going to be a week, and if we wanted to come get our truck and drive it in the meantime instead of paying $54/day for a rental, we could keep our place in line. But maybe that's just me.
Anyway, we can't drive 600 miles with it acting the way it does, so we're stuck. Mike spoke to his boss and they may have some work in the Houston area, if that's the case it will help us out. We are running on fumes at the moment.
Mike and my sister-in-law went to Austin this weekend. I decided to stay here. It's nice to have a little time to myself, but mostly I'm tired of traveling and just didn't want to make the trip or pack again. I know in a few days we have another 10-11 hour trip ahead of us and I hope that is the last for a few weeks.
Still working on the business plan. Got more input and am taking that into consideration. It's a catch-22... keep it in Gainesboro where we initially planned it, or move to a more densely populated area. One means a more affordable building, which keeps our already large loan amounts somewhat under control... or spending more money on a smaller building where more people are closer. I think the business itself is solid, it's just a matter of being able to pay for it all and make a large enough profit to be able to pay everything back and start earning income. So yeah... catch-22.
Anyway, we can't drive 600 miles with it acting the way it does, so we're stuck. Mike spoke to his boss and they may have some work in the Houston area, if that's the case it will help us out. We are running on fumes at the moment.
Mike and my sister-in-law went to Austin this weekend. I decided to stay here. It's nice to have a little time to myself, but mostly I'm tired of traveling and just didn't want to make the trip or pack again. I know in a few days we have another 10-11 hour trip ahead of us and I hope that is the last for a few weeks.
Still working on the business plan. Got more input and am taking that into consideration. It's a catch-22... keep it in Gainesboro where we initially planned it, or move to a more densely populated area. One means a more affordable building, which keeps our already large loan amounts somewhat under control... or spending more money on a smaller building where more people are closer. I think the business itself is solid, it's just a matter of being able to pay for it all and make a large enough profit to be able to pay everything back and start earning income. So yeah... catch-22.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
131 - Welpers
Business plan is, for the most part, complete. Still waiting on actual insurance quotes, and we need to start calling our target market and see what kind of interest we can drum up (hopefully in the form of letters of intent). Still very excited about the possibility, from the standpoint that it's something we can pour our hearts into, it would truly be a labor of love, and from the standpoint that it could be good for the community (community being our new hometown as well as our friends and family). It's also scary, because in order to proceed we need approval from the franchise and the bank. A lot of approval. A lot of money.
We've thought about the idea of investors, but it's a scary thought. What do they want out of it? When do they need to be repaid? What happens if they want to be bought out? We don't want to give up control of our business. We don't want all the money due at once. Still, we are cash poor, and on paper we don't seem like a good risk. It's the business that's a good risk, it's my job to convince a bank of that, and in today's financial climate I'm not sure they're as willing to take chances. I have to hope they want to revitalize the town, bring it back to life, make it interesting.
As promising as it seems, there is a chance we could fall on our ass. In some ways we can't be much worse off than we already are, and as an LLC our personal assets should be safe, but still - banks look at your assets, they call it collateral. They must know something we don't...
I've never actually owned a business before. None of us have. I believe we have the skills and the drive to do it though. And we have people rooting for us, people with influence, and people with knowledge. I have to keep thinking about the positives and believe that we can overcome everything else.
Well... it's time to start thinking about the pitch. If we can convince the bank that we have customers, I think we'll get the loan. At least I get a positive impression from the banker I spoke with. So now, it's time to convince some customers.
We've thought about the idea of investors, but it's a scary thought. What do they want out of it? When do they need to be repaid? What happens if they want to be bought out? We don't want to give up control of our business. We don't want all the money due at once. Still, we are cash poor, and on paper we don't seem like a good risk. It's the business that's a good risk, it's my job to convince a bank of that, and in today's financial climate I'm not sure they're as willing to take chances. I have to hope they want to revitalize the town, bring it back to life, make it interesting.
As promising as it seems, there is a chance we could fall on our ass. In some ways we can't be much worse off than we already are, and as an LLC our personal assets should be safe, but still - banks look at your assets, they call it collateral. They must know something we don't...
I've never actually owned a business before. None of us have. I believe we have the skills and the drive to do it though. And we have people rooting for us, people with influence, and people with knowledge. I have to keep thinking about the positives and believe that we can overcome everything else.
Well... it's time to start thinking about the pitch. If we can convince the bank that we have customers, I think we'll get the loan. At least I get a positive impression from the banker I spoke with. So now, it's time to convince some customers.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
130 - Dreams
Sometimes I look at other people's lives and they seem to have it all. I know they don't, well - most of them, but you know how it is... you have perceptions and misconceptions and they are probably based on things in your own subconscious. We all have our struggles.
All I really want is a life where I have a job that doesn't crush my soul, a home that I can share with my friends and family, and time to enjoy it. A lot of that centers around the kitchen because I love to cook - won't make a career of it, but certainly enjoy entertaining. I miss having a kitchen, although I've never really had a large one. I miss throwing dinner parties. I miss hanging out with people.
Worked more on the business plan today. Getting very close to have a first draft ready for a couple of proofreaders to review. Basically waiting on insurance quotes, and have a couple of sections left to tackle... I saved the ones I was least excited about for last. I probably shouldn't have, but I did.
Will get to see my parents, and my friend Stacy soon. Our friends Chris and Raquelle will also be in the area soon. Very excited to see them and discuss the business, they're cool people and we've all been trying to figure out where to go from here, searching for something that gets us out from under other people's thumbs. We seem to have similar hopes and dreams and I think we'll work well together. And even though I'm not happy about the reason, since it's because my grandmother had a stroke, I can't say I'm not happy that I'll get to spend a little more time with my family over the next couple of months.
So that's life in a nutshell. The wind never stops, the sunny days are rare, and in a couple of weeks the scenery will change.
P.S. Cranberry wine is good. I'm liking the fruity wines: muscadine, lemon, orange, cranberry. Strawberry and blueberry are pretty good too, but not my faves. I'll probably never be a wine snob at this rate, because I can't tell you what's what beyond pinot grigio tasting of limes. For some reason I remember that out of everything I learned on one wine tour.
All I really want is a life where I have a job that doesn't crush my soul, a home that I can share with my friends and family, and time to enjoy it. A lot of that centers around the kitchen because I love to cook - won't make a career of it, but certainly enjoy entertaining. I miss having a kitchen, although I've never really had a large one. I miss throwing dinner parties. I miss hanging out with people.
Worked more on the business plan today. Getting very close to have a first draft ready for a couple of proofreaders to review. Basically waiting on insurance quotes, and have a couple of sections left to tackle... I saved the ones I was least excited about for last. I probably shouldn't have, but I did.
Will get to see my parents, and my friend Stacy soon. Our friends Chris and Raquelle will also be in the area soon. Very excited to see them and discuss the business, they're cool people and we've all been trying to figure out where to go from here, searching for something that gets us out from under other people's thumbs. We seem to have similar hopes and dreams and I think we'll work well together. And even though I'm not happy about the reason, since it's because my grandmother had a stroke, I can't say I'm not happy that I'll get to spend a little more time with my family over the next couple of months.
So that's life in a nutshell. The wind never stops, the sunny days are rare, and in a couple of weeks the scenery will change.
P.S. Cranberry wine is good. I'm liking the fruity wines: muscadine, lemon, orange, cranberry. Strawberry and blueberry are pretty good too, but not my faves. I'll probably never be a wine snob at this rate, because I can't tell you what's what beyond pinot grigio tasting of limes. For some reason I remember that out of everything I learned on one wine tour.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
129 - It's Windy Again
Here I sit, listening to the wind blow... feeling the RV shake... holy cow... this is worse than ever. I think I actually felt a little lift under the RV this time. One of my friends was grousing about 70 mph winds in Austin this afternoon... I think we're getting them here now. I won't miss this. Not one little bit. In fact, I'd like to sleep some time tonight, but I'm afraid to, I'm too nervous. No one warned us about this kind of thing with an RV... Yeah, I'm a little freaked out... and that's putting it mildly. It doesn't help that the power has cut out a couple of times, I admit I'm still a little scarred by my last experience.... I flipped the breakers off for a little while.
We're heading out in about three weeks, to Mississippi, for a couple of months. Don't know what is going to happen after that. Everything is up in the air. Literally almost everything. Before we go though, my friend and her kids are going to come for a visit, and I will get to see my parents as well. I know I just saw them all, but it's always nice to see them again, and I appreciate that they make the effort.
I feel like we're on the cusp of making a change for the better. We have finally identified a business that suits us and seems profitable. I'm in the midst of writing a business plan (daunting), we visited a potential business location, we are talking to banks and realtors and I feel like we are very close to having things figured out. It's something we love, something that seems suited to the current political climate, something that seems like a great venture. It's scary, I hate taking out loans, I don't know if we can qualify, there is a lot do before we even know if we will be able to do it. The business plan says we should be okay, but it's all smoke and mirrors, pure conjecture. Sorry to be so cryptic, not ready to put it out there just yet.
Anyway, in some ways I'm looking forward to being in a house again (MS). It's not my house, but it's space. With space I can make bread, I can make pasta, I will have a real oven. Yes, it's food that I'm most excited about.
We've fallen off our diet plan and haven't quite gotten back on. Tomorrow that changes. We're not going full tilt back on the The Plan, but we are going to eat healthier home-cooked meals. Really the only places we've eaten since we've been back are the Thai restaurant we love, and the onsite cafe. The woman who runs the Thai restaurant is so amazing. She gave us a different kind of sake this time, a special sake she said, and then talked to us for almost half an hour about starting a business. I don't know what makes us special, but I appreciate that she sees it in us. It's interesting to learn from people and I like hearing what they have to say.
Okay, this blog entry sucks, but dammit this wind is jarring... I'm going to try to watch tv and drink some wine and forget about it...
We're heading out in about three weeks, to Mississippi, for a couple of months. Don't know what is going to happen after that. Everything is up in the air. Literally almost everything. Before we go though, my friend and her kids are going to come for a visit, and I will get to see my parents as well. I know I just saw them all, but it's always nice to see them again, and I appreciate that they make the effort.
I feel like we're on the cusp of making a change for the better. We have finally identified a business that suits us and seems profitable. I'm in the midst of writing a business plan (daunting), we visited a potential business location, we are talking to banks and realtors and I feel like we are very close to having things figured out. It's something we love, something that seems suited to the current political climate, something that seems like a great venture. It's scary, I hate taking out loans, I don't know if we can qualify, there is a lot do before we even know if we will be able to do it. The business plan says we should be okay, but it's all smoke and mirrors, pure conjecture. Sorry to be so cryptic, not ready to put it out there just yet.
Anyway, in some ways I'm looking forward to being in a house again (MS). It's not my house, but it's space. With space I can make bread, I can make pasta, I will have a real oven. Yes, it's food that I'm most excited about.
We've fallen off our diet plan and haven't quite gotten back on. Tomorrow that changes. We're not going full tilt back on the The Plan, but we are going to eat healthier home-cooked meals. Really the only places we've eaten since we've been back are the Thai restaurant we love, and the onsite cafe. The woman who runs the Thai restaurant is so amazing. She gave us a different kind of sake this time, a special sake she said, and then talked to us for almost half an hour about starting a business. I don't know what makes us special, but I appreciate that she sees it in us. It's interesting to learn from people and I like hearing what they have to say.
Okay, this blog entry sucks, but dammit this wind is jarring... I'm going to try to watch tv and drink some wine and forget about it...
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