My husband is not really a "financial planner". He's not much of the "be prepared" type. He likes to keep things stocked up for work projects or to use to build something from for the kids, but he's not one to think of worst-case scenarios and prepare for it. I didn't realize I was that way, until we had children. I guess that's mother-hen or mama bear coming out, because it came out with a vengeance! We've been fortunate that we've never been in a position where we couldn't pay something since we've been married. But, much of that was because I was paranoid about not being able to pay something. I had a credit card bill being sent to the wrong address one time, on a card I had forgotten about, from a well-known department store, to get the discount. Well, that late fee made me realize I never wanted to feel that on a larger scale, ever. Again. It was a minor fee and was really not a big deal. I canceled the card after paying the fee
As we are all quarantining during a twilight zone pandemic, having to remain inside due to smoke haze darkening our skies and lungs, teaching our own children at home during virtual school (or not for some areas) and quarreling about how is the best way to move forward during this unique time, most of us are wondering how our financials will stand up to the immediate and next few years of economic and social recovery. Twilight zone times indeed! We are so relieved we made the "bad" decision to pay-off our house a couple of years ago. The process began about 7 and a half years ago, when I became pregnant. We set our annual goals, reached for the sky, and paid it off in almost exactly 6 years. And, we now sit in our dream home, knowing we will not have to pay another mortgage or rent payment, ever. The security and peace of mind this brings is priceless. Times like these are exactly why we did it. Since the Great Recession, after the recovery, it seemed we all became accustome