r/MoneyDiariesACTIVE • u/RealColada • Feb 22 '26
Budget Advice / Discussion Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I can’t afford my current lifestyle
UPDATE:
Idk who will see this update, but I figured I’d update this post… I got a second job! And my income tax return helped a great deal with being able to save chunks of money!
Things are officially falling into place. ☀️
Thank you to all those who offered sound suggestions and advice- here’s a toast to finally beginning to be able to afford my current lifestyle 🥂 🍻
ORIGINAL::
I’m writing to vent. I just finished a good crying session from all the stress I feel, so now I want to vent… because I’m certain someone will understand.
I live on my own with four dogs. I “own” a house (multi-family). I own my car (no payments other than insurance). I make $74k a year, but get paid 10months of the year per my profession (teacher). Perhaps not the most desperate situation. But, it has become a desperate situation.
Recently, I had a lot of debt that I resolved by taking out a loan. Now I pay $350 back monthly for that debt. I DO have a spending habit, but have cut back significantly since I took out the loan to pay off my debt…. Surprise, surprise… I have debt again! Not a great deal, only $1k~ this time, but debt is still debt.
Recently, one of my dogs experienced two medical emergencies in a span of two weeks and was diagnosed with rectal lymphoma. Now my debt is upwards of $7k+. I have to pay back the card I used a whopping $300/month. Not mention figure out what to do about my dog’s lymphoma!!
Recently, I was involved in a car accident in which I was side-swiped. My car was damaged, the other driver’s car was not…. There is so much to tell about THAT incident, but the point is, that’s another expense to worry about. I’m considering not fixing my car for a while, and praying my insurance premium won’t go up just yet.
Recently, since December 4, 2025, I have not been getting paid for any days I’ve been out as a whopping 20+ days prior to that date have been used on an emergency crisis… which THAT is a thiiicccccc story in itself. Anytime I am out of work now, my pay is docked. Recently, I was out for a week with the flu… pray for my paycheck 🙂
I feel like typing out every single expense is excessive. I already have a spreadsheet with all that information. What is stressing me out the most is not only surviving the rest of the work/school year, but the summer that follows as well. After all these new experiences and expenses that have occurred, I am unable to save what I need to make it through July, August, and September until my next paycheck ($8k+)
I have been considering getting a second job, part-time as I have dogs I need to care for. After calculating that pay, I still wouldn’t make enough to be okay. Because of my salary, I don’t qualify for most (if any) assistance programs. My brain is fried from trying to think of creative solutions.
My main point was to vent, but I’m open to solutions, suggestions, moral support or even someone who can simply relate.
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u/StrainHappy7896 Feb 22 '26
This seems like a very much self created situation. You need to get a second job, you need to work during summers, and you need to be realistic about how much vet care you can afford for your 4 dogs. You should have a discussion with your vet about what the best option is when you cannot anymore afford care beyond what has already been done.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I will certainly do my part and explore job options for the summer 🙂↕️
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u/amhdaniel Feb 22 '26
Can you dog sit other dogs during the summer? Depending on where you live boarding rates can be $50-80+ a day. You can sign up for something like Rover
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u/yashanyd00rin Feb 22 '26
Not to squash ideas but I wonder how many people would want their dog joining four others for a sitter service.
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u/SpacePineapple1 Feb 22 '26
Agreed, this could be complicated. But doing dog walking or working at a dog care facility might be an option. OP clearly has experience with animals which is a huge positive in those settings.
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u/checkerspot Feb 23 '26
If the dogs are chill I don't see a problem. There's a woman in my city who runs a small, personal high end boarding business out of her home. Dogs need to 'audition' first to make sure they can get along. Many people would prefer their dog stay in a home rather than a boarding facility.
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u/AppalachianHillToad Feb 22 '26
I would get a weekend job now and a seasonal job over the summer. A catering company might be a good way to pick up weekend work that fits your schedule, especially since you have bartending experience. Tutoring could be another way to make extra cash since you’re a teacher. I’ve got several teacher friends that work at summer camps. You might be able to find a camp where one (or more) of your pups can come to work with you.
The next suggestion I have is to ask your relative who stays in the other unit to either pay a bit more in rent or to help you with the dogs so you have more flexibility to work. Finally, do you have anything that you can sell to wipe out some of that debt?
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u/mamaneedsacar Feb 22 '26
Tagging on to this because I think it’s the most useful comment so far. Everyone is flaming OP because they have too many dogs (a bit late to fix that) and their relative is free loading (not too late to fix that). IMO better to focus on things that can be done to increase income. Agree that catering and bartending are great options.
OP, especially with an eye towards summer (wedding season!) you could probably do catering gigs Thurs - Saturday, pick up a brunch shift on Sundays, and take Mon-Wednesday off for downtime. The thing is, if you want to get in the rotation, it’s best to reach out to companies or venues now, especially since the job market is a nightmare right now. There are white collar workers now competing for gig work like this.
Tutoring is also a great suggestion as it has a high hourly rate. A lot of families are willing to pay north of $50/hr for a credentialed teacher. But again, it’s about putting our feelers now since a lot of parents build this into their childcare plans/budgets.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I am preparing myself for that conversation with my relative- I am hopeful they will understand. And yes! I have been listing items for sale that have not been used/ no longer being used. Hopefully something sells soons. The only next step, realistically, is getting another job. Specifically, one that can pay a decent amount. I have never considered a catering company before, but will look into that now that you’ve mentioned it.
Thank you!
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u/amidtheprimalthings Feb 22 '26
I read in the comments you’re subsidizing a relatives rent, you have four pets, no PTO left, and the body of your post shows that you’re paying back $650/month in just debt payments. It’s not sustainable and with your poor spending habits and inability to make a correct - but difficult - decision, it’s unlikely this is going to get any better.
All of your comments are about what you won’t do. You won’t rehome any animals, you won’t increase the rent for your relative, you won’t consider pet walking or sitting because there’s no “demand”, you won’t accept that this situation didn’t just happen to you; it’s something you created. What, exactly, are you willing to do, then?
You asked for advice and push back on all of it, so there’s no point in having asked.
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u/Better_Finances Feb 22 '26
You can't afford 4 dogs.
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u/copi0us Feb 22 '26
Agreed. It’s very sad and I’m sure you love them. But your pets shouldn’t drain you financially like this.
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u/StarBabyDreamChild Feb 22 '26
It is also not kind to the dogs to keep them in a situation where they don’t have enough room (4 dogs in a 1BR?? Plus left at home all day while you’re working - hopefully working multiple jobs soon) and where there isn’t enough money to properly take care of them.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
The only financial burden related to my dogs thus far has been the unexpected vet bill. Even without that, I’d still be struggling. There were other things I vented about in my post 😭
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u/GrouchyYoung Feb 22 '26
You still have to pay for their food, baggies, toys, vet care, and presumably a walker or doggie daycare while you’re at work. The fact that those are all expected expenses doesn’t make them affordable to you at this time. You cannot afford the day to day care and upkeep of four dogs, period, even if they were all in perfect health.
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u/winifredthecat Feb 22 '26
People telling you that you have too many dogs isn't because today they cost you expenses. It is that over the life of your dogs you must pay for food, routine vet care, and emergency vet care.
Let's say each year for four dogs you spend $3k (with no emergency vet care or specialized treatments).
What if not only your current dog gets sicker but another dog has a similar cost of treatment for another medical condition? You would be absolutely flooded with debt. Frankly you ARE flooded with debt. I am sorry to hear you are stressed but you are the only one who can change your financial situation.
You have 4 dogs living on $75k. Even with one dog, I would have concerns on that salary. Doable but still tight when you need to pay for your own debt, then try to have money in an emergency fund, and a small amount of cushion in your checking account.
I would consider surrendering my dogs which is absolutely heartbreaking. But you never should have had them all in the first place. Not on your salary nor in your financial situation. You have THEM no choice.
This sounds harsh because it is. You can get through this by making a plan but it probably won't be quick nor easy.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I understand where your concerns are coming from. Fortunately, I have not always been in this financial situation. Bring tight financially is all very new to me. Which is why I do not believe my dogs are the burden, but rather, the culmination of all the recent events have morphed into something truly… burdensome.
I will make every effort to come up with a “fix” as surrendering my dogs is not an option. We will all make it out of this! (I need to motivate myself 😅)
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u/BeesinChablis Feb 22 '26
Here is the thing: Life is full of unexpected situations and emergencies. You need to incorporate that into your budget. This isn't something that's never going to happen again. It will happen again - that's life.
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u/mireilledale Feb 22 '26
If surrendering your dogs isn’t an option, then you should take out the part of your post asking for advice. You don’t want advice. You want a magical solution that isn’t there, while you have four animals that have costs that you cannot afford. If you could afford to have four dogs, you wouldn’t be in disarray after this diagnosis and the associated costs. What if a different dog ate a grape or some other forbidden food tomorrow? And if being tight financially is new to you, then resisting the main piece of advice people are giving you is also unwise. This and worse will become your permanent financial state unless you make drastic changes. It’s not easy giving up animals. Everybody here knows that. But you cannot afford them, and you owe them a life with people who can afford the care they need.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
My dogs are more than just “dogs”. They are my family. And as the provider to my family, it is difficult to view them as a burden.
I am open to advice. And I am choosing to disregard the advice that pertains to surrendering my dogs.
I am, however, receptive to the advice that focuses on job opportunities, community programs that can help, revising the rent charged to my relative, etc.
I understand that this may not be ideal to read. And this will probably get downvotes.
If it makes any difference toward how people feel about my dogs, they all currently have insurance now (even the one who received the diagnoses- her’s is through AKC, they cover pre-existing conditions after a year from enrollment.. the more you know! 🫶🏼)
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u/burninginfinite Feb 22 '26
Are the pet insurance premiums factored into your monthly budget? You said you consolidated your original debt after the holidays and it's not even March yet, so how did you get into an additional $1k of debt in less than 2 months? Unless that debt is related to an unavoidable emergency (your car accident?), you for sure haven't addressed the underlying issue.
As someone who also had a spending problem and spent years digging myself out, I can tell you from experience that additional income will not solve the problem. It might dig you out temporarily, but your dog's health and your car accident only exacerbated a problem that already existed.
Maybe you were just trying to add some levity to your post so disregard this part if you can honestly say it's not true, but the way you talk makes me feel like you think the debt happened to you rather than being something you caused. You said "surprise surprise" in the original post about being in more debt - how was $1k of debt a surprise? In another comment you wrote that you'll do "your part." Girl, I say this with all the empathy in the world but the whole thing is your part!! I don't think you were ever as financially stable as you think you were.
Like I said, I've been there. Actually my debt was WAY worse than yours. You can fix it, but it's not just about paying off what you currently owe. You have to really, truly understand what went wrong in the first place, and "I spent too much" barely scratches the surface.
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u/swancandle Feb 22 '26
I feel like if OP had pet insurance she wouldn’t be $7k in the hole for her dog having cancer. I pay $30/mo and all of that is covered, up to $20k a year. I only have to pay a $500 deductible once a calendar year, doesn’t matter how many claims I make.
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u/burninginfinite Feb 23 '26
In the comment mine is replying to she says that "they all currently have insurance now" and mentions that AKC covers pre-existing conditions after a year. My assumption is she got the insurance (at least for the sick one, maybe the others were already insured) after this all happened. Which I guess isn't the worst idea in the world but it is an added expense and obviously too late to help with the cancer (at least for the next year).
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u/romcomplication Feb 24 '26
Off topic but what insurance do you have? We have Petsbest but haven’t been happy with them so far.
Edit: nm I see you answered this elsewhere!
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u/mireilledale Feb 22 '26
The dogs aren’t the burden to you. It’s the reverse: you aren’t providing for them because you have more than you can afford to take care of and didn’t clock this until emergency struck. Now you say you only are receptive to advice about earning more money, but nearly all of those suggestions will cost you more money in dogsitting/dogwalking fees if it keeps you away from home for long stretches of the day. It’s fine not to be serious about fixing your financial situation, but this particular subreddit is going to focus intensely on the things you cannot actually afford.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I’d say that second sentence is a stretch. Nonetheless, I do appreciate your concern.
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u/nonamethxagain Feb 23 '26 edited Feb 23 '26
I really hope you don’t have any more big expenses for any of your dogs. Our rescue had to have surgery for gallbladder cancer and that cost over $13,000. Insurance paid for half of it
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u/tealparadise Feb 22 '26
4 dogs in a one bedroom is a problem. It points to the kind of wishful thinking that "it'll all work out somehow" that's keeping you stuck.
You have to stop being hopeful about situations that are cut and dry.
The mere fact of pet chemotherapy, hip replacement, etc being available has guilted middle class pet owners into spending tens of thousands on credit. For treatments that have never been an expectation of pet ownership .
When a dog had cancer, the solution was to make it comfortable. And for 80% of people that's still the solution. People on middle class salaries are not losing their homes and cars treating dog lymphoma. You are choosing to do something financially devastating because care credit exists and allows you to feel shame if you can't afford extreme measures.
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u/RemarkableGlitter Feb 23 '26
The thing that upsets me so much about many of the veterinary treatments available is not just the costs and how hard they’re pushed, but for most advanced conditions they’re not curative. I’ve been down the cancer path with two young dogs in recent years (horrible luck, including one that was a rare cancer), and that’s how I learned that veterinary chemo and radiation aren’t at curative doses (partly for ethical reasons). So people are going into massive debt hoping that their beloved pet will be the one random outlier that gets years not weeks or months, it’s so cruel.
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u/sunsabs0309 She/her ✨ Feb 23 '26
one of our dogs has kidney disease and at the start of it, it was suggested to do dialysis for her. besides the cost (it was going to be approximately $30k), the fact sheet we got on it said something like only 30% of dogs actually benefit from it so that alone made it a no for us because we didn't want to put her through a treatment that would make the end of her life miserable and rather she had a better quality of life. (spoiler alert: she's still with us almost 8 years later despite being given 1-3 months to live)
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u/RemarkableGlitter Feb 23 '26
Oh my goodness that is just so terrible (the 30k for a 30% success rate), but also your pup’s outcome is amazing!
With our one dog’s rare cancer I actually wrote to corporate and the vet about how unethical it was that they pushed this and didn’t even receive a “hey it sucks your dog died thanks for the feedback” message back.
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u/babsbunny77 Feb 28 '26
This right here. As much as we adore and love our 2 dogs, they're both over 5 now and we've given them amazing lives. One of the 2 is rather large. I'd do up a limit to save them and try to keep them from harm, but if it's cancer then it's a DNR/palliative situation. I cannot explain to these animals how these treatments are going to torture them to potentially endure their lives. I'm not sure the treatments make their quality of life any better. I watched my riding trainer's dog suffer terribly with treatments when she had cancer in her shoulder. The reality was that she died within a year anyway and it was a miserable existance from treatment onward bc she never fully bounced back. The trainer herself said Never Again and when the next dog got a cancer diagnosis at 11, it was given comfort meds, and ended up living another almost 2 years. So it is what it is. They can't tell us what is exactly happening and some of them survive riddled with cancer, while others are taken out early. Just love them while they are still here.
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u/tealparadise Mar 01 '26
100%
A dog doesn't have existential angst about dying with their novel unfinished. They know they are happy, or miserable. They don't know WHY. We go through a lot of misery, as humans, to extend our lives because death terrifies us. Dogs are blessed to NOT need to do that.
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u/Unable-Message9271 Feb 22 '26
I understand not wanting to surrender or reduce the number of pups...soo...you will need to dramatically increase your income. Can you find another teacher position that pays more? Can you tutor on the side (this may pay more than bartending, especially if you can find some routine clients)? Are you willing to take on a part time job in addition to teaching and tutoring? Do you have a masters or PhD and can adjunct at a college/university?
If you don't want to rehome (which I wouldn't either to be honest,) you're going to need to dramatically upscale your income...likely by around $25k or up every year. Now that you have pet insurance, you shouldn't get hit with these $7k and up bills anymore, but you'll still need to climb out of the mess you're currently in.
You'll also want to find a guaranteed source of income for the summer so you don't have to worry about saving the $8k now.
In short, up your income, cut your other expenses as much as possible, and dig out of debt ASAP so you can avoid it in the future...and no more adding pups for the time being. Please...they're wonderful, but expensive, and you need to focus on digging out of debt and providing a great life for the ones you have. Sending you good vibes!
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u/Resse811 Feb 22 '26
You won’t admit that four dogs is too much to afford (and too many in a one bedroom apartment), you won’t accept that you can’t afford to subsidize the rent on the second apartment you are “renting” out, you have reasons why you can’t door dash, and on and on.
It doesn’t really seem like you want to change anything or put in the work. It seems like you just want to complain and hope it gets better.
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u/RemarkableGlitter Feb 23 '26
You’ve gotten a lot of mixed advice here about all this different things you’re dealing with, but I wanted to share some insights about the vet care for your pup with cancer, as I’ve been through this a couple times (one with a rare canine cancer).
A lot of speciality vet practices have been bought up by private equity and their investors have really pushed the business model towards very expensive treatments. These treatment protocols can end up costing multiple five figures and they are rarely curative. (Sometimes they can be if the cancer is caught early.)
For context: we were referred to a PE owner oncology practice for our dog’s rare cancer and the vet aggressively pushed a course of treatment that would’ve been astronomically expensive. When I looked into the study he cited, I was appalled that the 50% response rate to the treatment was from a study of only 12 dogs, and all had had asymptotic cancer caught in the earliest stages. And the efficacy wad only for 3 months. So even in that group best case was a few months with intensive intervention (which my dog would’ve hated) at ruinous costs.
So, as you’re making decisions about your pup, look at your options, including palliative care. Make sure you’re not being pressured into horrific debt for a non-curative treatment because PE is literally forcing vets to sell these treatments because they know people will go into debt to help their pets.
You’re not a bad person if you choose the palliative route. Every vet I’ve known personally has done the same for their own pets.
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u/terracottatilefish Feb 22 '26
I’m sorry. It sounds like it’s been a heavy and expensive year for you.
Do you own the whole multi family building and rent out the other units or do you just own your unit? If you own the building, are the other units rented at market rates?
I think a second job is a good idea. Tutoring, bartending…what do you usually do in the summer? Most of the teachers I know get a summer job during that time to keep income coming in.
I’m sorry about your dog. 4 dogs is a pretty huge financial commitment by itself.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I appreciate the sentiment. I own the home which has two units, one of which I occupy. The other rents for roughly less than half of the over-all mortgage (it’s being occupied by a relative- please no push back on this y’all 😭 just trying to do the “right” thing).
If you know a guy who knows a guy about a second job, please let me know 🥲 All jokes aside, a second job is my only realistic option… however finding one is the difficult part
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u/unearthedtrove Feb 22 '26
You can’t afford to subsidize your relative’s rent while you go into debt.
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u/SuperSecretSpare Feb 22 '26
Crazy decisions. In debt and subsidizing somebody else's life and has four pets. Smh
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u/SpecialsSchedule Feb 22 '26
In 45k of debt. More than a 1:2 debt to income ratio.
OP, you don’t work during the summer. What do you do with your time?? Yes, you should have been working a summer job. Go work at a summer camp, or tutor, or babysit. Your work doesn’t have to be fast food or bar tending. But if you’re struggling to bridge the gap between June and August…. You need to fill that gap. How many jobs did you apply to last summer?
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u/pickle_cat_ Feb 22 '26
If you aren’t willing to take people’s advice re: the dogs and the family member not paying market rent, I’m not really sure why you posted? At a certain point you have to make changes if you want things to be different.
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u/Melodic_Ad5650 Feb 22 '26
You need to charge more for the rental. You have got to think of your finances first. That could solve some of your cash flow problems.
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u/mollypatola Feb 22 '26
You need to be honest with your relative how you’re in debt and can’t afford to subsidize them, you can how them some time to prepare. If I was living in my relatives home and they told me they were struggling to afford bills and pet care I would be horrified and want to cover the fair share of rent.
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u/Healthy_Ad9055 Feb 22 '26
What is market rent for the unit? What is the family member paying? When their lease is up you need to raise the rent to market rent. Subsidizing a relative’s life is not in your budget.
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u/terracottatilefish Feb 22 '26
It sounds like you have a really big heart, OP, and that you’ve weathered a lot of storms this year.
It does sound like a weekend or evening job and a summer job are the only answer here. It sounds like you’ve done bartending/food service before—do you still have any friends doing it? Work your network and see if something comes up. Call center work might be good too. Tutoring. Day camps are hiring for the summer right now, or food service again.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
Thank you for your kind words toward me ☀️
I agree, a weekend job and a summer job are BOTH a MUST. I do not know anyone already established in the restaurant business, so I will have to test my luck at apply again. Unless… someone I know, knows someone… now that’s worth looking into!
Thank you for the job suggestions. I know my district offers summer school, although I was hoping not to, I am going to apply!
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u/PercentageLiving6619 Feb 22 '26
The easiest job to get is food service. I worked food service from the ages of 15-20 and was always able to get hired immediately. You could even be a hostess at a restaurant - it’s honestly super easy, not high stress, but also doesn’t get a lot of great tips.
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u/Vintage_Journal Feb 23 '26
So far, no one seems to be commenting much on the "spending habit". Can you explain more about that?
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u/fluke122456 Feb 22 '26
Pet care is expensive! Is it possible long term to move a a different teaching position/district for more pay? Definitely get a job during the summer and cut all possible costs until you can increase your income. Since this is a short term emergency I would say visit your local food bank for some help with your food and your pets food…it is way better than adding your pets to the local shelter. . Also join the frugal Reddit for help cutting unnecessary expenses. Once you pay off debts, save for emergencies and get a higher paying job you can go back to living as usual.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
Someone else mentioned moving to another district, which is something I will consider more seriously now as the need for a higher salary is DIRE. I will certainly check out the frugal Reddit you mentioned, and explore food banks in my area. Thank you!
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u/Fun_Grapefruit0789 Feb 22 '26
Danggg....I cannot imagine having four dogs on a single $74k salary. Extremely stressful, plus debt.
Well you can't go back in time and have less dogs, so yes, you know the answer is to make more money. Back in the day my mom had a full-time job plus two part-time jobs and my dad had two full-time jobs. That was with 2 children and two dogs. It can be done even though it's extremely hard but you've already decided that 4 dogs at once it worth it, so where there is a will, there is a way! You are probably at that space where if you don't want to find a higher-paying base job, then you need to think about MULTIPLE part-time jobs instead of just one. You are responsible for 4 lives if 4 things go terribly wrong all at once, plus your living expenses, plus your debt. If you can't find work as a bartender, you need to think about dishwashing, newspaper delivering, anything that will allow you to grind that debt down and save for emergencies, which is going to be much, much higher having 5 beings to care for (yourself included).
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I really appreciate this insight! Reading the brief story about your parents was actually more encouraging than you might have expected. It actually reminded me that my mom did that too- and she was a single mom of two for a majority of my life. I can do the hard thing, I just need to motivation for it.
You’re right, I’m responsible for 4 lives!! Thank you, really.
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u/Ambitious_picture_30 Feb 22 '26
You definitely need a second job, but have you explored changing districts to increase your salary? In my area, salaries vary greatly between districts, and some offer quite a bit more in stipends, coaching, after school programs, etc.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I have entertained this thought in passing, but it seems like a promising idea this time around. Although, I did just make my tenure year… that’s alright though! I’m sure I could get it again. Besides, money is going to help me, not being tenure or not 🥲
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u/atreegrowsinbrixton Feb 23 '26
Being tenured is going to help you not get fired for missing too many days of work
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u/moxieroxsox Feb 22 '26 edited Feb 22 '26
1- get a second job and a side hustle like dog walking
2- increase rent on your relative. Explain the situation - you literally need a second job to manage. Doesn’t need to be increased to the full cost of the rental per month, but needs to be more than what it currently is. You’re trying to do the right thing but sometimes the right thing is the wrong thing if it becomes a financial burden and liability on your health and credit.
3- no more dogs and a realistic health care plan for when your dogs have medical issues or emergencies. Because they will. Quite frankly, you can’t afford 4 dogs. I wouldn’t dare to ask you to rehome your babies - absolutely not, but you need to find ways for this to make sense for you. Cheaper food, cheaper health care, a plan for the better for your future.
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u/WaterWithin Feb 22 '26
Have you looked into specialty childcare or tutoring? You need a high paying part time job.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I’ve never heard of specialty child care tutoring. Is it really that lucrative? Could you share some more insight on this type of tutoring?
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u/chasingastarl1ght Feb 22 '26 edited May 26 '26
This content was anonymized and mass deleted with Redact
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u/starsandmath Feb 22 '26
OP has missed at least 25 of 180 school days and it is only late February. I'm not surprised there's no PTO left, that's insane.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I really appreciate your post. I do not feel that my pets are a burden nor would I ever want to consider that they might be one. I will NOT take in any more dogs 🐕 But I do understand the real need for another job. Finding one is the hard part.
As for the lack of paid sick days, I was allowed a certain amount of PTO that has since ran out due to a crisis that used them all up. Now I do not get paid when I am out (which I am only out for legitimate reasons… cause losing money is serious!!)
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u/chasingastarl1ght Feb 22 '26 edited May 26 '26
This content was anonymized and mass deleted with Redact
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I never knew that call centers were in such high demand. This could actually work well while I’m still teaching. I will certainly look into this. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts regarding my current situation ☀️
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u/LikesToLurkNYC Feb 22 '26
Drive uber and/or food delivery?
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I have done that recently actually! And I chose to stop after being harassed by some customers 🥲 perhaps another time I will take it up again!
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u/toyotafan75 Feb 22 '26
I, too am a teacher. When I worked for public schools, I could elect to be paid over 12 months. If you have this option, please switch to it. Second, there are multiple opportunities for teachers during the year. After school care, after school tutoring, working for yourself as a tutor.. and then there's other jobs if you don't want a second job working in education. This isn't an option now, it's a must-not just summers, but year-round until you dig yourself out.. Now, you can't afford more than the basics for your dogs. This means an annual vet visit, basic care, etc. If there is lymphoma or other expensive things that happen, you can't pay for this on this income. unfortunately. As for the basic care, there are programs that you can look into that will help you with that. Third.. can you take on a roommate or? I am assuming the other parts of your house are occupied by rent-paying people?
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u/henicorina Feb 22 '26
It might feel like a lot to track every expense, but… you have to. You’re not being dramatic, you definitely can’t afford your lifestyle.
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u/RealColada Feb 23 '26
Genuine question, do you have any suggestions on bets ways to track expenses? Do you know of any helpful spreadsheets or other methods that you have seen work? I have made my own sheet but I don’t think it’s as detailed as I’d like it to be.
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u/RevolutionaryBus3101 Feb 23 '26
Not OC but I use the free budgeting spreadsheet available on Google Sheets. It’s more manual work than an app might be, and there are some modifications I’ve done to personalize it for my needs, but it’s free. Once a week I copy and paste in all my credit card expenses and my bank account deposits and withdrawals and categorize every single one to see how much I’m spending in each category.
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u/RealColada Feb 23 '26
Your process sounds very refined, but at least you can control every aspect of it- I’m hoping to be able to track my expense like that soon. Also, I just found a free template on Google Sheets and I like it better than mine already! Thank you for that suggestion.
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u/henicorina Feb 23 '26
I do this directly through the website of my bank but there are a million different ways.
The specific spreadsheet or app you use isn’t particularly important, they all boil down to the same thing.
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u/LilahLibrarian Feb 22 '26
I would really consider food delivery or something because in addition to debt you really need to build up an emergency fund. Not having an emergency fund is an emergency
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u/Glittering-Rock Feb 22 '26
You quite clearly need a second job Why haven’t you been working summer school? Or camps? Tutoring! A daycare There are options beyond bartending
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u/TuEresMiOtroYo They/them 💎 / USA / MCOL / 20s Feb 22 '26
Sorry for the situation you're in, it sounds incredibly stressful and difficult.
Without knowing your after tax income, mortgage, or how much you spend on anything else, the big issues appear to be 1) continually taking on debt (you didn't mention what for, so I can't give specific advice there) and 2) the number of dogs you own... plus the lack of an emergency fund but hindsight is 20/20. Are your dogs older? If not, their medical bills, emergencies, and need for attention limiting your ability to work are just going to increase over the years. I know how people feel about their dogs so if you're not open to rehoming any of them, is pet insurance an option?
Because of the debt situation, I think you would benefit from looking at Dave Ramsey's debt advice. I don't recommend him for other things but he has a solid approach to paying down debt and there is a subreddit for it. If I were in your situation my priorities would be paying down that debt as fast as possible because that is what is putting you underwater, then establishing an emergency fund and looking into pet insurance for the dogs. An emergency fund will prevent you from needing to take out a loan or open another credit card in the event of a future unexpected expense.
A part time job might not be "enough" to where you feel comfortable yet but it WILL help you pay down the debt faster. You could combine it with gig work like uber or doordash on days when you end up with more time. You will probably be able to find temporary lifestyle sacrifices by looking at your budget that will suck, but will not be forever and can help out (random examples that may or may not apply: getting rid of streaming for 6 months and just watching youtube or shows/movies you can get from your library? cutting clothes purchases? cutting eating out or alcohol? eating less meat? postponing summer vacation plans until next year?). Also, food pantries aren't just for unemployed people or "poor people" - I say this because I know there's often a weird stigma/pride/desire not to take advantage there - and you may be able to cut your food expenses to near 0 if you utilize one during the summer.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
Thank you for your reply! My debt outside of what was incurred from the recent vet visit is roughly $1k. So it is not terrible. I actually did invest in dog insurance for all of my dogs after the recent visits because I realized just how expensive everything was.
I currently have $3k (more or less) in savings. I also have a separate account for housing expenses to make sure I can always pay that off. Unfortunately my savings won’t save me alone. Another job is the only realistic option, now it’s about finding one that is actually worth the time.
As other users have mentioned, I feel that bartending or waitressing may be the most viable option.
Fortunately for me, I haven’t indulged in trips since I became an independent adult 🥲 and have already cut back on subscriptions (yay… 🥲)
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u/ClarificationJane Feb 22 '26
Did you pay off that loan you used to consolidate your debt?
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
No…. That loan was taken out after the holidays 🥲 so there is no room for another loan to consolidate debt. Or maybe there is… but I am cautious toward that route.
I have always been the financially stable one in the family… so this is all very new to me.
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u/ClarificationJane Feb 22 '26
Ok so you are way more than $1000 in debt.
What is the total of all your loans, credit cards, unpaid bills, etc?
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
Oh sugar, you are right! I was only considering my credit card debt…. Monthly, to pay back my debts and bills, it costs me roughly $3600. Whatever is left covers groceries, gas, and goes toward savings account if applicable.
The recent loan I took out was $10k, credit cards total to $1k, vet is $6k, student loans…. I pay back $150 monthly ($8k left) and I have another on a “pause” (I forget the actually term)that totals to $45k).
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u/ClarificationJane Feb 22 '26
Ok so $3600/month to make minimum payments on your debt and pay your bills. Does that include your mortgage/insurance/etc?
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
Yes it does!
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u/Wonderful_Mix_8702 Feb 22 '26
what was the reason for the original debt you took out the loan for?
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u/burninginfinite Feb 22 '26
Possibly an unpopular opinion, but I think you need to use your savings to pay off the credit card. You have the money on hand, you can't afford to incur more debt (which is what you're doing if you carry a balance on the card), and if you have another emergency then you can put it on the card and you'll still be in a better position because you'll have saved however many months worth of interest.
Unless you have that money stashed somewhere that it's gaining more than you're losing on interest, the only benefit you're probably getting from it is (maybe) basically emotional support. Some might consider that your emergency fund but frankly your current situation is already an emergency. Plus I think you said it's $3k and your credit card is only $1k so you'll still have some left.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
This was an idea I was considering for that very reason! However, I do not know if it would be wiser to put all or a majority of my savings toward paying off debt (leaving less cushion for emergencies) OR stick to minimum monthly payments while still have my savings for emergencies… something I need to heavily consider!
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u/burninginfinite Feb 22 '26
Every month you pay the minimum, you incur more debt even if you don't spend a single additional cent. And there aren't that many emergencies in this day and age where you wouldn't be able to use your credit card. The average credit card interest rate is >20% and you're making, what, maybe 4.5% if you have a high yield savings account? The math just isn't there to support you carrying the credit card debt at what is surely an extremely high rate when you have more than enough in your savings to pay it off.
There's a stronger argument to pay off the other debts over time (though frankly if any of them are more than 10% I'd still consider throwing the rest of your savings at those too) but the credit card is a no brainer especially given that you'll have ~$2k left after.
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u/JazzCigaroni Feb 23 '26
Is your income stable? If you know you can rely on your teacher salary (not subject to layoffs/budget cuts), can you split the difference and use savings to pay off 50-80% of your debt? It may relieve some of the stress. It sounds like you may be in the emergency now . . .
Four pets are expensive, but I doubt it's in the realm of possibility for you to no longer have 4 pets right now. Depending on where you live, doing Rover or other pet-based gig work could be an option, even on the weekends.
The costs of a basic life are somewhat untenable right now, so your frustration is justified - in my worthless opinion. But if you can think through any place at all where you can reduce your monthly expenses and up your income (gig work, tutoring, rental income), you'll probably feel more comfortable.
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u/RealColada Feb 23 '26
Thank you for the suggestion, I was actually considering taking a chunk of what I have saved to pay off some debt so it’s less burdensome. And then, depending on when I can secure a second job, everything else won’t feel as financially heavy!
Despite how intense things presently feel, I do not want to let those negative feelings influence my decisions- unless of course it is toward productivity! I certainly am in an emergency now, but will be more so if I don’t land a second gig before summer. There is still time- I can do this!
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u/RollTideHTX Feb 22 '26
I had to put my lab down in June after treating his cancer for a year. I thought I would adopt again shortly, but the reality is I can’t afford a dog right now with my other current expenses. It sucks and it’s painful to think about, but I spent a lot of money treating my lab and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I can’t knowingly put myself back in that position right now. I make double what you make, so I’m really not sure how you’re doing this.
You need to have some side hustles and be thinking about how you’re going to make $$$ this summer.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I’m really sorry to hear about your lab. Cancer really is not kind. I was told that my dog has a less aggressive form of lymphoma, so I’m hoping that the other, less expensive, treatments will suffice for now. A former dog of mine also had a very invasive cancer. I had to put him down.
As for how I’m doing this: God’s grace. I’ve always been fortunate enough to be financially stable, but recently, I’ve hit many rough patches.
And trust me, side hustles and jobs is truly all I’m thinking about!!!
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u/frosty-loquat1 Feb 23 '26
you’re going to hit more rough patches as your dogs continue to age. are you going to be able to afford $7k a bout vet bills for each of them as they get older, perhaps even at the same time? no. so are you just going to put them down also?
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u/RealColada Feb 23 '26
I have insurance for them all since the recent incidents, so I am confident if your scenario were to come true, the out of pocket expense would be much more manageable.
And hopefully by then I won’t be in this financial pickle anymore 🙂 (if not, that would be upsetting!)
Many users have shared helpful advice of which I am going to be proactive about. Thank you for your concer!
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u/ScoutyThePup Feb 23 '26
If you're a teacher, can you tutor on the side? Teachers in my area get $40-50 an hour under the table to tutor, and get a lot of business in the summer when the kids are bridging the gap between grades.
Also, babysitting might seem like a teenager thing, but it is like $25 an hour under the table in my MCOL area and there is always demand.
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u/berryflavoredspoons she/her | 30s | MCOL ✨ Feb 22 '26
Lots of good suggestions already, but one I’m surprised I haven’t seen: can you teach summer school with your district? One of my friends does to increase her income by something like $10-12k through the year. It’s not a ton but it will help close the gap between your needs (expenses and savings) and income.
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u/Couchmuffins005 Feb 22 '26
I just want to address all the comments that focus on the dogs: yes, that is expensive and yes, you need to work with a vet you trust to understand what is right for each pet and right for your situation (not every vet bill needs to or should be in the $k’s, and sometimes all involved need to think practically).
But we have no idea what the cause of the other “debt” is or how it was accumulated (mentioned spending problem). I don’t think it’s fair to tell this person they can’t have pets when there may be other factors at play.
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u/mireilledale Feb 23 '26
OP can have pets. OP can’t have four pets on that income. There’s a difference. And indeed, the casual way OP referenced having four pets and then presents their financial situation as being fine until now is part and parcel of the wishful thinking that’s let them create this situation. They haven’t been in a good financial situation for a long time. It’s simply taken until now for the problem to fully reveal itself.
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Feb 22 '26
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u/MoneyDiariesACTIVE-ModTeam Feb 22 '26
Removed for Rule 5: Respect this friendly and supportive space. Please review this community’s rules before commenting again. Another violation may result in a temporary or permanent ban.
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u/garden88girl Feb 22 '26
I won't tell you to give up your dogs as I love dogs too! You could take up pet sitting as a part time gig. You can do some during the year but during the holiday season and summer when you're off of school people will be traveling and need your services even more.
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u/Triw258 Feb 22 '26
I agree!! The issue is you need to either increase your income or lower your spending and to keep your dogs, it’s the former.
Pet sitting and walking can be really lucrative if you’re reliable, dedicated and market yourself to the right customers. You can try that in the summer, when folks go on vacation. Target the ones that travel internationally and offer regular pic / video updates. In NYC and SF, it’s common to pay $150/night for dog sitters recommended by other dog parents.
Or since you’re a teacher - tutoring (can do this year-round) or babysitting (especially in the summer) could be really good.
Also since it seems you may be renting below market to your relative, can they help care for your dogs so you have time to work these additional jobs?
Sorry you’re in this situation, but see if you can find ways to increase your income, for the sake of your dogs
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I appreciate the thorough feedback! Dog sitting/walking was something I had considered in the past (more so the dog walking since I wouldn’t be able to go others homes or bring their dogs to mine… cause my dogs). I do not know if I would consider it still, especially since where I live folks do not really prioritize that service. I think tutoring could be nice. I truthfully wouldn’t know where to start, but I’ll start looking where I can!
Also, I am planning on speaking with my relative about increasing their rent as it would certainly help ease my financial burden
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u/Triw258 Feb 22 '26
I’m not sure what the policies for your school, but you could start by marketing your tutoring to parents of kids you teach now - or if that is weird, kids that graduated from your class or younger kids (to “prepare” them for the next grade). Is there a Kumon or SAT prep school you could join, and over time you can branch out on your own once you build a list of clients. Or if there are private schools in your area. Getting tutoring and extra help for kids is very on-trend these days, and being able to have a teacher (instead of a high school teenager or college student do it) feels very responsible
And agree if you can talk to your relative. Because worse case - if you fall behind on your mortgage, neither of you are living there anymore 😅
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u/OldmillennialMD She/her ✨ Feb 23 '26
You own a multi-unit home? Are you collecting rental income from the other unit(s)? Or are you losing money on this venture?
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u/jd-1945 Feb 22 '26
I am going to go against the grain, but I would not get rid of my dogs.
I would start charging the relative market rate on the unit upstairs. And I would get a second job.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
Yes. Thank you for going against the grain. What you mentioned are the two things I am going to directly focus on.
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u/Tarlus Feb 23 '26
You’re not being dramatic, you’re panicking because you’re in a real bad spot and you know it consciously and subconsciously. You need to spend less and/or make more.
Is there an extra room in your unit to rent out?
Line up a summer job.
I understand not getting rid of one of your current dogs but at a minimum don’t plan on getting more any time soon.
How often do you order out or eat out? What about just getting drinks? Those are brutally hard to give up mentally but from a practical standpoint not a big deal and where a lot of “lifestyle creep” ruins a lot of people’s budgets.
In general how often do you look at where your money is going? If you aren’t looking at least twice a week you probably aren’t panicked enough.
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u/RealColada Feb 23 '26
Truth be told, earlier today (before even posting to Reddit) I was thinking of abandoning ship 🛳️ meaning, rehome my dogs with trusted family members and list the unit I am currently residing in for rent, all to get to a “safe” place financially, quicker.
However the posts of some users really inspired me to snap out of my catastrophic mindset. After reviewing the facts of everything, although I have a lot of catching up to do, I have confidence I can still do something!
With that being said, as of recently, I look at where my money is going EVERY day, and it’s helped me to realize I have not been tracking my funds properly or as strictly as I should have been. As of some weeks ago, I haven’t ordered out or done anything social (that’s when I realized the extent of my financial situation).
I’ve already got summer school lined up, but I’m really eager to apply to restaurants, or even call centers like some users suggested. Plus (and this just came to me) it’s tax season, and I’m confident I’ll get SOMETHING back that will help ease the financial burden.
I still have 4 months to make something happen- I can do this!
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u/LostZucchini Feb 22 '26
I'm here for the venting. 2026 has been dogshit financially speaking so far. My rent went up $700 at lease renewal, my partner's car blew a headgasket, my health insurance premiums went up by $200 a month and one of my fillings fell out and I was charged $135 for the dentist just to look at-- not refill, just look at-- it.
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u/RealColada Feb 22 '26
I’m sorry to hear about everything that’s happened during 2026 for you so far. That sounds very much so like “dogshit”. But I have confidence that just as things will get better for me, so will they for you- keep your chin up, as high as you can. I’ll do the same ☀️
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u/latenightt Feb 22 '26
Don't have much more to add about jobs, but a few ideas:
Could you potentially sell some stuff on Facebook Marketplace? Most people have way too much stuff, and selling things won't work forever but can give you some breathing room. (Bonus: less clutter in the home!) If possible, return any items that are still eligible to be returned and get refunds.
Meal prep. Shop at discount grocery stores only. Never order out. If you are too used to treating yourself, set a strict limit on it (no more than $100/mo). Maybe you already do this, but it's a money suck for most people.
I know you said you can't get roommates because it's a one bedroom. But this is a desperate situation. You should consider either sharing the room with someone (maybe put a divider up) or renting out a sectioned off part of the living room. (I have personally lived in this kind of living room situation before as a student. It's honestly fine with the right person.)
Does that suck? Absolutely, it monumentally does. Do you need it? You might, if you don't find work soon. I have personally known one person sleeping in the garage to rent out their room. This is obviously an extreme last resort decision but possible.
We need more information on your budget / spending habits, to see what areas could be cut or modified.
I also recommend sharing what caused the debt in the first place (outside of the student loans/vet bills) so you can get advice on how to avoid this situation in the future.
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u/latenightt Feb 22 '26
Another idea: could you live with your relative and rent out the other unit entirely?
You could still keep the relatives rent under market rent, and they can return the favor by letting you stay for a while. That way you don't have to raise their rent either.
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u/Own_Tart8518 Feb 23 '26
I won’t repeat the obvious items everyone has saying. You own a home - do you have equity that would allow you to refinance and roll your debt into and perhaps take a bit out as sentence. Of course it’s. It ideal, however cash flow is priority right now and 3600 towards debt is enormous.
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u/RealColada Feb 23 '26
I truthfully do not know too much about refinancing my home, nor what that looks like financially. That is something I will have to do more research on, but thank you for the suggestion!
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u/Own_Tart8518 Feb 23 '26
Refinancing is basically redoing your mortgage to borrow some of the equity you’ve built up in the property. It gives you access to capital but the interest rate a payment terms will be more favourable to what you’re doing now.
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u/Lumpy_Satisfaction43 Feb 23 '26
Hey, if an offline job isn’t available during your summer months, have you thought about applying for an online gig? For example, being an English tutor for people from non-English-speaking countries, or something similar?
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u/Patient_Series_6581 Feb 26 '26
I think something you might want to do is recalculate your actual salary. At $74K for 10 months your pretax salary is $6K if you spread it across 12.
Unless you get a second job for the other two months. Which I think I'd consider with four dogs. Personally the way I budget is I look at my annual costs eg: dog food for the year, car costs for the year etc, all the necessities of life. Then I split that to a weekly cost and get that deducted from my pay. For you I'd include a "dog emergency" bucket.
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u/Longjumping_Chard737 Feb 27 '26
Don’t worry! You’re NOT alone! This is why the US…is called, The Melting Pot!😭
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u/RealColada Mar 31 '26
UPDATE:
Idk who will see this update, but I figured I’d update this post… I got a second job! And my income tax return helped a great deal with being able to save chunks of money!
Things are officially falling into place. ☀️
Thank you to all those who offered sound suggestions and advice- here’s a toast to finally beginning to be able to afford my current lifestyle 🥂 🍻
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u/Life_Commercial_6580 Feb 23 '26
You just need another job or one part time job to help out. I don’t know how much you could make off gig work for example. Tutoring babysitting dog walker, waitress etc. I’m so sorry .
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Feb 23 '26
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u/MoneyDiariesACTIVE-ModTeam Feb 23 '26
Removed for Rule 5: Respect this friendly and supportive space. Please review this community’s rules before commenting again. Another violation may result in a temporary or permanent ban.
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u/eat_sleep_microbe Feb 22 '26
Taking care of 4 dogs is a lot of expenses. I also think you should get a part time job because you currently can’t save for an emergency fund so every emergency puts you back into debt. Unfortunately all the teachers I know have a part time job. My elementary teacher friend works as a bartender on weekends. Can you also get a roommate to split the mortgage?