Sometimes it’s NOT bad decision making...sometimes it is just life.
We had crushing medical bills after my husband spent 9 days in CICU and two weeks total in the hospital after a 100% blockage of his LAD and emergency stent surgery. He came home w/a laundry list of name brand meds (Plavix and Lipitor weren’t genetics back then—plus other meds for diabetes, blood thinners etc). We had two out of college, 1 in college, our daughter getting married, and boys still at home. A mortgage and older cars (that need more maintenance).
We were “savers” and THATS how we got (sort of) thru THAT life crisis; wedding was cut back (and the kids and his parents paid for most—we couldn’t at that point); and additional loan was taken out for college son (and one of the younger boys is now in college w/unavoidable loans).
I could go on and on...but sometimes a life crisis can occur and recovering (financially) is near impossible. You tread water pay to pay... And it’s remarkable what you learn to do with out. And once you find yourself there...you recognize how and why OTHERS can be in the same situation.
We had crushing medical bills...
Agreed. My wonderful wife has 2 chronic medical conditions and it's all we can do to keep up with that. Our only "extravagance" is sending our youngest to a parochial school. No vacations, no cable TV, etc. We could come up with $400 but it would put a dent into our budget.
“two weeks total in the hospital after a 100% blockage of his LAD “
Well. I know you might not feel this way, but you might want to count your blessings. That lesion is referred to in the ER and Cardiology as “ the Widow Maker”.....