Coping with Economic Stress

Economic stress and low wages has greatly impacted myself and my family.  I'm a full time student, a yoga teacher, and a mother.  My husband is the main "bread winner" in our family and situations like what has currently happened with my student loan being picked to be audited- thus either preventing me from going to school in the summer or having to pay out of pocket for my tuition, greatly impact our family wellbeing.  I ultimately decided to go to school, which meant we had to pay out of pocket and being a mainly one income family, has created a lot of financial stress.  All the while, this happened right as our family car's engine gave out-rendering the vehicle useless, and then a week later my husband was hit in a car wreck and our only car was totaled.  These events in such a short period might not have had as much impact as they did had my husbands and my wages been high enough to allow for a lot of saving to be more prepared for these events.  But thats just not the case.  It greatly impacted our wellbeing for a few weeks until things got sorted out, we were very stressed, having to be in "limbo" with not yet knowing what would happen to our now "totaled" vehicle, and needing to now purchase two new cars instead of one.  All the while, still worrying about paying regular bills and such while making large tuition payments.  I think though, having this class at as stressful as a time as it was, helped with reminding me of our resources, and being able to sit with the anxiety of "not knowing".  I can absolutely see how perception and resources can make all the difference with being able to still function as a parent and family optimally.

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