OK so we are getting to a point where we have had it!!

Let me give you some background so you can see how we got where we are today.... My hubby has been building swimming pools for the last 16 yrs. This last year..(2007) he was hurt at work... it took until Jun 2008 before workmans comp would admit he needed surgery on his shoulder and ok it.... then he was out of work for another 4 months. During that time... we lost our house in foreclosure... we were barely making it before the surgery and then after it just killed our income. I work from home providing virtual book keeping and office admin services... but its not enough to pay all the bills on....

So we lost our house and moved in July. we found a big brand new house just built.. all new appliances and such to rent for $875 a month. Sweet!! Double the house, less than half the payment!! So he returns to work.. and guess what... in AZ... there is no work.. so he starts looking to find a new job. Took about a month of looking... but he found it... 40 hours a week.. at a loacl gofl course... doing maintenance... for $8.50 an hour.. but hey its better than nothing... So he works everyday. But between the two of us.. it STILL isnt enough to pay all the bills!

So we pay our truck payment and our rent payment,... and our church helps us with our utilities and phone... and then we get gov. assistance for food. So this last month...when we paid rent... its due on the 1st and we paid it on the 3rd.. PLUS the late fee... the property manager tols us.. well maybe you should start looking for somehwere to move to...

I told him.."what?? We signed a 2 yr lease with you... its only the 3rd.. AND we paid the late fee... so whats the problem here??" Anyways...So we paid our Nov. rent.. and we were 125 short...(50 of that being the late fee...) and we get an email from the prop. manager again... "the owner is not understanding at all.. I covered the shortage.. you need to pay me back asap please.. and you need to be on time with Dec. rent.."

Now usually we are on top of everything and on time... but we are in a position where we dont have the finances to move the bills around to suit a better schedule... we have to pay the way we can right now... does that make sense??....It stinks!

So I told my hubby yesterday... after the last few months of really planting seeds about moving into an RV.... I said.. guess what hun... I found a smoking deal on a rv that would fit us all.. it would be a little tight until we adjusted.. but we could make it work... and it would cut our expenses each month down by over $500!! You ready??..=)

So guess what.. last night.. we went and looked at the RV I found... and we are getting it!! WooHoo!!!

Its a 1987 Honey 24 ft RV.. it sleeps 5-6 comfortably...there was a family of 7 living in it for about 4 months.... We are soo stoked!! They wanted $3000 for it... but we have household items to use to trade.. and so it took it down to $2000!!

Out here in our area.. is a local farm... its where we went for the American Heritage Festival... and they have a campground!! 45 days with full hook up for $400! They also have an onsight bathroom/shower, laundromat facility... PLUS they offer the work camping!! SO the kids and I could help out on the farm with the animals and whatnot... in exchange for the hook up costs!!! Yea!!!!

So I  so know its not going to be peaches and cream all the time... I know we are going to have to adjust and that everything will be different... But I know my family can do it!! We will make it work!!

You know what the most exciting part is for me?? That we will have a roof overhead.. and a warm bed for the kids to sleep in... that we dont have to worry about anyone comeing and taking away.. or tellling us to move out of or anything... WHen times get worse... which they will... there will be LOTS of people who will wish they had something like this to call thier own...

So anyways.... Im really stoked and wanted to share it with you all.. especially as I know everyone here.. would totally understand!! =)

Right now we are just going to park it... I think that after tax time... and after the farms season is over and they no longer need help... that at that point we might be ready to get on the road and go... One step at a time!!

What an exciting update for your family!  I'm so excited for you. It sounds like it fell into place for you, just as it did for us.  Have you joined FOTR?

the Show Family

Thanks!! =)  I figured if it was even an option for us it would work out to be that way...

I havent joined FOTR yet as I just havent gotten that far yet.. lol.... =)

Im really excited tho!!! The owners of the RV we are buying arew bringing it over on Monday to drop it off and to pick up furniture.... we are bartering the cost of the RV down with household items... =) Im REALLY excited about that!

Congrats! I"m so glad u got ur rv! We had issues kinda like that! we graduated school. then moved into our rv to build a house! well 2 months living into the rv i bumped into some great pll at the local laundry mat and they invited my husband and i over for dinner and he got a travlein job with them! So cool.. Well to make a long story short! After 9 yrs on the road i got pregnant so my family & his talked us outta of moving home and buying a house! Sad thing was i never worked since high school! so that was no real job record! plus i had to pay for day care! And wow daycare is so high!

Anyway we lived home for about a yr and hated it! cuase we were so used to our lifestyle on the raod.. plus we had to file bankruplty!

About 3 yrs ago we decided to take a chance and go back on the road again! Well here we are.. We couldn't get a thing so we lived in motels or rented houses for about a yr then saved all money we could then bought a 37ft travel trailer and a used truck... Just 4 month ago we just bought a bigger unit! We upgraded to a 40' 5th wheel with 2 slides! i also have a washer/dryer hookup plus a hookup for a dish washer! We also paid cash for our truck! Both are 1995s!  our truck is a ford f350 crew cab dually! But like i said its all paid for!

It took us some time but we did it! And now we're trying for another little one! Wish me luck! We love traveling! i found when i need extra money i can put things on ebay that i don't use or want!  Or just owrk camp! that is a great way to make money!

I noticed you asked about joining something? i didn't noticed what it was could you explain! i think its somthing i 'm not aware off!

Thanks

best of luck to everyone!