Waving goodbye to my american dream

[CarrieLynne]

I suppose the time is finally here. Time to let go of my American Dream. I turned 43 yesterday and was served with credit debt summons papers. Last week I got word from the IRS that they want more money from 2009.

For 15 years my husband and I busted our asses, each bringing in 40-50 grand a year for most of that time...we had no kids so we were doing ok. We bought a house, vehicles, a fishing boat and generally still had some money left when each payday rolled around....

until 2008. We were both in the housing industry....He worked for a home builder and me for a flooring company and also became a realtor, but in 2008 it all came to an end...I was laid off...then he was laid off...I had to quit real estate because it was an expense and not an income...by late 2009 our marriage was in serious trouble but we did manage to get on the mortgage modification programs and with unemployment, loans from his dad and renting out two of our bedrooms, we were squeaking by...barely...

By Feb 2010 we were separated....he stayed in the house because he was the only one who could pay the mortgage. I rented a small room from a nice family and have managed to get by on craigslisting and ebaying my stuff and temp work. A gracious landlord and a nice new man in my life have tipped the survival scales in my favor fortunately.

So after getting my text about the IRS and the Summons, my husband calls me and says hes just discovered a severe mildew issue in the master bedroom (plus it needs a roof and garage door). We discuss how it was probably a mistake that we refi's in 2006 to remodel the bathroom (YAY equity! right?) We talk about what the repairs on the house will take, we talk about the remaining credit card debt, the fact that were upside down in the house and both so strapped that we couldnt help each other out in the least no matter how bad we wanted to....

We are faced with the reality that bankruptcy is probably our only option....we cant hold onto the house long enough to wait out the economy....the garnishments are going to start hitting me and the repairs hitting him.....

once bankruptcy is done, then we'll do the cheapest divorce the world has ever seen....

American dream gone, credit ruined, heart broken and marriage over....same as everyone else i guess....

so thats it....