I got married this past April.  We got surprised with a Honeymoon Baby---yikes.  Own a home.  Mid-twenties, no debt other than a mortgage...but no college degree, either.

Challenges: being pregnant: it's weird!  Also trying to discern what's important---education?  More money?  More time?  More experiences?  More organized religion?  More stuff? Still unsure, I suppose.  Luckily, I cannot say marriage is challenging....someday, maybe   Other challenges: retirement planning, being "underwater" with the mortgage, finding affordable health insurnace, affordable child care.....

MissySuntide:

  Mid-twenties, no debt other than a mortgage...but no college degree, either.

I think not having other debts is a great place to be in. Paying for a home outright in cash is difficult with prices today but you are in a better position to actually make it, I think.

Pregnancy- It's a new experience for you and not one who had planned for yet. Life has a way of happening to us though so we make the best of what we have.

Education- That really depends on what you both do and what you want out of life. Is a a degree necessary for the fields you are in or the field you would ultimately like to be in? Are you finding yourselves stuck where you are without one?

Money- Sometimes, it is easier to spend less than to make more. If you are not already frugal, read some of the other discussions we have in the community for tips on things you can try to cut expenses. If you are frugal, you may well find some new ideas or some support in remaining on the frugal path.

Time- That's a hard one. I'd like more of that myself. Sometimes I have to evaluate my activities to see if I really need to be doing all that I am.

Experience- Those come by living each day.  :)

The other financial challenges you mentioned- Many of us are facing the same challenges. Some like the mortgage just means keep at it and find a way to add a little extra to the payments for an early pay off but others like affordable health insurance and childcare can be huge obstacles. I really do sympathise.

Thanks for posting your thoughts, Brandy; 99% of the time, I am sure everything will work okay somehow or another---I just need to beef up my sense of Faith.  Things just sound a bit more daunting when I create a list of challenges (haha).  Anywho: I appreciate your support.  If millions of other people survive this stuff, I can, too!

MissySuntide:

I just need to beef up my sense of Faith

When life wears you down, it does become harder to have it. Keep at it though and I am sure you will find a way to make it through.

I'm unemployed right now, not really looking for work very hard. Youngest DD just left the nest. After raising kids for 30 years I'm ready. DH & I are not only husband & wife, but best friends also. I have a ton of things to complete, but most of it isn't critical.

Wow, I wish I'd seen this earlier.  I feel like I've gotten to know everyone so much better after reading all these posts.

I'm 45 and DH is 50.  We have been married 27 years and have two sons.  The oldest is 22, self sufficient with his own family and lives 40 minutes away, they have two young daughters that mean the world to us. Our youngest son is 16 and keeps us on the go since he's on his high school baseball team.  My parents and two brothers live in Kansas City and MIL lives in the same city we do. She has some major health issues and I foresee a future with her living with us. DH has a great job and works the night shift.  He chose this position 17 years ago so that we didn't have to worry about after school care for our boys.  I have a great job as an accountant for a wonderful company that stresses family first and backs it up.

Debt wise, we aren't where we'd like to be which I think puts us in the majority but we are working on it.  We have a nice home that we purchased 16 years ago, made double payments, refinanced and now the payments are extremely low with only a couple years left.  As for retirement, we both enjoy our jobs and have said that neither one of us will retire for a very long time even though we've both been at our jobs long enough to retire in the next 8 - 10 years.  Our biggest issue is our cc debt and we are hammering away at it a little at a time. 

I've so enjoyed this forum and getting to know everyone.

Way to go lee at least your stage of life is getting to be good Im getting a divorce but me and the x became good friends and married 21 years for us Im 47 and the soon to be x is 58 he is forced rectired medical me Im paying credit and renting a room at least a roof over the head so life is real to me now then it was in the past oh well glad that you jumped to the fourm got to know you abit I have been on alittle bit on the fourm here and there sometimes I have a habbit just to be a clown I was told so if letters in my direction talk to much thats me hay take care have a great week.

I've missed this thread! It's so great to get to know everyone a bit better!

DH and I are in kind of a holding pattern of life, I guess. I am 37, he's almost 29, we've been together for yearsand consider ourselves married; however, due to financial aid for his schooling, we can't be legally married (well, we could, but we'd never be able to afford for him to finish school). He has 4-5 years to graduate, having lost some credits because of time off school due to a tenure in Iraq and lack of finances for him to attend for a while when he got back. No children (and don't wish to have any). I own my own business as a Personal Chef, he works full time and goes to school. We rent, since we'll be moving every few years until he graduates (residency and internships).

I care for my aging parents (legal parents, biological grandparents--my biological mom has passed on) from afar, and have three siblings left. My brother died a few years ago. I have several neices and nephews I am very close with, and DH has 3 brothers.

We aren't in any real debt, aside from one small car payment and a small school loan payment. Neither of us will have health insurance starting next week (DH hasn't had it in 2 years, I am losing mine). 

Hello Im 40 my sister above you falcon is 47 her husband 59 or 57 I know they are 10 years apart like my husband and I ..

He is a teacher at a high school me own a kosher type deli dbut some bad non kosher stuff like some of the fat pills I serve I chose not to have children husband gone alot and all the stuff I saw in life for get it, yes selfish but no I tried didn't work out so I spoil children her in my area and hand them back to parents..

hubby and I work in 10 years I want to retire and hubby still wants to work that is ok our time in our life we can afford to do this and he can do what he wants and I finally get to go camping and go to temple with him now that m children my beagel  is spoiled and maybe husband to I think you are doing just fine as you are;;

Yo!!?? cheapchic saw the post tell your husband to get well and get out of the hospitial soon...