Blogging Away Debt Our Journeys to a Debt-Free Life

by Hope

Is your city going to allow trick or treaters this year? I’m not sure what our community’s plans are. I’ve been watching the paper and Facebook pages but haven’t seen any announcements. But either way it goes, we are not going to my Grandmother’s house as we have for the past 9 years. With her gone and COVID, I decided to opt out of the family gathering and stay home.

I invited all the kids to the house for food and possibly handing out candy. And I’ve been stock piling candy for the last several weeks. The money for the candy came out of our regular grocery budget. While Gymnast keeps telling me that I am buying too much, I figure if we don’t need it for Halloween, we can use it for events over the next couple of months – movie nights, junk food day, etc.

We’ve definitely enjoyed a few new things around here that I believe will become new traditions. While my parents were here, we had Pizza and Pumpkins night. The twins’ friends came down for this past weekend from Virginia to help celebrate the twins’ birthday. I’m having a great time finding fun Halloween snacks to try out. And I think the kids are excited about having some friends over for the evening.

Before you jump down my throat about having kids over…these are kids they are going to school with every day. I’m not really sure who will come, but I’ve extended the invitation. In addition, Sea Cadet’s girlfriend will be down from Virginia. So it should be a fun, memorable time.

What all this has made me realize is that it’s time to adjust my grocery budget. I haven’t adjusted it since the twins’ moved out. But in looking at my records from the last couple of months, I am not anywhere close to that number anymore. Even Gymnast has noticed the difference as I’m not counting every penny when we go shopping.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.

Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.

Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.