How was your 2015? Rate it 1-10.

In My Humble Opinion
61

I can’t really rate it, so I didn’t vote.

Bad: My Mom died in March. She was 80 and extremely frail, both physically and mentally due to a stroke a few years ago. But losing her still leaves a hole in my heart. I am an only daughter (three brothers), so we were very close growing up. It still saddens me when I remember I have no parents. My dad passed away five years ago this month. Punch to the gut grief.

Bad: My son got hit by a car on New Year’s Eve. He was doing the right thing and walking home after drinking and still got hit. He is embarrassed about it so I don’t know the exact circumstances. But, just a few staples in his head.

Good: I feel weird saying this but due to Mom’s passing, I came into a significant sum of money. I was able to trade in my old S-10 for an almost new Toyota Tacoma. Paid cash. Yay me. Also for the first time I feel financially secure as I inherited Mom’s IRAs, so now I can say I will actually be able to retire. Not anytime soon though.

62

My father died suddenly in March, and I had to move my mother into a nursing home. These big changes made her dementia worse, and she is becoming more and more withdrawn. So I’m kind of losing her as well. So this made for a pretty rotten year.

The fact that I can also count many blessings raised the year up to a 3. My wife, kids and I are all relatively healthy, have just enough money to be comfortable, and our son and daughter are doing well in school.

Here’s hoping 2016 will be much better!

63

Ugh, I know exactly what you mean. :heart: Thanks to my mom’s money I’ve recently been able to pay off my car and credit card, get a bunch of things I’ve been needing, put aside the equivalent of three months of salary (I’m not worried about my job but you never know), etc. I can’t buy a house or retire or anything, but it’s more financial security than I’ve ever had before. It’s been such a relief, but at the same time I’m painfully aware of the source with every penny I spend.