Sad realization

Today I have come to the sad realisation that I will need to sell my house. My budget is way too tight for me to stay here. I could keep it but then I would not be able to enjoy my life or I would have to dip into my savings and I’m not sure I want to do that. It’s not that this house is too expensive, it’s just the cost of operating it makes things too tight. My mortgage is only $720 a month but then you have to add taxes and heating and other crap. I could get a house that’s about $100 000 cheaper and about half its size. That would bring my mortgage down about $150, if not more, and it would give me the wiggle room I need to live a more comfortable life. Not to mention other things that would cost less like taxes and utilities. I don’t want to go into debt or liquidate my savings just for a house.

Originally I was hoping to stay in the house a few months or so before having to make this decision. I know it’s my choice to leave but I still need to get used to the idea and work through it. My husband actually made a budget for me (he’s a budget guy) and told me that I could afford the house for the time being. So today, I actually took the time to look at it and evaluate it. Sure I could afford it but then I would not afford to do anything else with my life and that’s not what I want. At the moment, with 2 salaries, we enjoy financial freedom. I can go out and buy $500 worth of stuff in one day and I wouldn’t even feel a pinch. Those days are over for me and tonight I am realizing this. My financial world is crashing down on me. Ok, that might be a bit much but it’s a freedom I will have to mourn until I get used to it. I always knew I would have to sell the house and I am looking forward to a new change but not this very minute.

Now comes the hard part of getting this house ready to sell. We need to paint, get rid of some clutter and stage it. I want to sell it privately and my husband wants a realtor. We’ll have to see who wins that battle.

We also need to start telling my child about the changes that are coming. Hubby has an apartment and he is moving in less than 3 weeks. I’m not sure how he will take it. He has no idea this is coming and I’m pretty sure he will not understand why we are doing this. He finishes school tomorrow so I guess we will tell him soon after.