Just Another Update

I didn't think I'd have anything to put towards the goals this pay period, but somehow I do. Here's hoping I didn't forget something. Anyway, moving on--last time:

1. replace $2768.27 of my personal savings
2. save $20,000 for long-term emergency fund (we currently have $5149.20, so $14,850.80 left to go)
3. pay off mortgage (as of September 24, our balance is sitting at $97,177.03)

And now:

1. replace $2563.65 of my personal savings
2. save $20,000 for long-term emergency fund (we currently have $5157.66, so $14,842.34 left to go)
3. pay off mortgage (as of September 24, our balance is sitting at $97,177.03)

Aww, I didn't quite make a trifecta! But two out of three ain't bad. ;o)

I keep feeling guilty about paying my savings back, even though a big chunk of the amount that's missing came directly from my savings and got put in my husband's chequing. I think I really have to just get over it. Hopefully it will be paid back soon, and I can move on.

I'm also, all of a sudden, feeling a bit guilty about staying home, even though my husband is fine with it and we're doing all right, and even though my back was in so much pain for at least a year and a half that I couldn't have worked even if I wanted to (which I didn't), and even though I'm taking a course, doing all the financial stuff, cooking, (some) cleaning--I admit it's not my strong point, online surveys, errands, etc. to keep myself busy. And even though I have two other invisible health issues that make it difficult (but not impossible, I admit) to work.

Because of that comment that girl made, I started to wonder if it's a general view that society has of housewives, and it appears to be so. There is such a huge level of vitriol and contempt, that I find it absolutely bizarre! Why does anyone care? I don't care what other people do. I can't imagine why anyone would. But then again, I disagree with our society on the huge focus on work--if you don't have to, and you don't want to, why would you? Why should you? Because it makes you a better person? I doubt it. There seems to be this focus on work just for work's sake. Maybe it's that Protestant work ethic, still hanging on. It's not like that everywhere--European workers in general have a lot more vacation time than Canadians or Americans--around 6 weeks to our 2 weeks, in a lot of cases. That's just one example.

Not that women can win no matter what we do. According to general society, stay-at-home wives without kids are lazy and useless, stay-at-home moms are just making excuses and setting a bad example for their children, working moms are neglecting their kids, and working women without kids have it a bit easier except for all the people telling them they should have kids. I don't believe any of this, by the way, it just seems to be a general societal attitude towards women. The saddest part is that the ones who are the hardest on women are other women.

Anyway, all that said, I would like to find a job where I could work from home, simply because some extra money would be nice. Unfortunately, they're not too easy to come by, which is too bad because it has it's advantages (less carbon footprint, less overhead if the company doesn't need an office, etc.). Right now I just want to finish my course before anything else, though.