WTF?

I'm baffled. Completely befuddled.

How do people do it?

No matter what my DH and I do, no matter how hard we work (and man, do we work hard), we just never seem to be able to get ahead.

We're no better off now than we were 10 years ago.

Ok, well, that's not totally true, but it sure feels like it!

When we bought our first home in '96, it was with the intent to fix it up, live there for a few years, then sell it and move to the country; keeping the original house and turning it in to an office for his business.

Well, we're on the right track being in the midst of renovations that, when completed, will modernize a 60+ year old house to today's standards in terms of "smart wiring" for electricity, cable, internet & telephone.

However, even with that in mind, without selling the current house, there is no way we can afford to move, so we're stuck still.

Don't get me wrong. I love my house...I just abhor the location. If I could pick that house up and move it just about anywhere, I would (with a few minor changes!).

We have friends who are in their second or third home since we've been married. Each one progressively bigger and better than the last. Are they in debt up to their eyeballs and just really good at hiding it? I don't know...

I just don't get it. If someone knows the secret, please, enlighten me!