Jenny & Terry: The Beginning...

Hi!

My name is Jenny, this is me:

This is Terry, she is my amazing new trailer:

The picture used in the advertisment for Terry

Terry parked on my parent's property

Peak-a-boo, I see Terry!

And this folks--- is my blog: Trailer Trash Jenny. For due to a series of events, the girl who was once too proud to live in an apartment in Washougal---has moved into a trailer.

• A trailer that is parked on my parent’s yard.
• A trailer that is parked on the backend of the property because my Mom is ashamed of it's existence.
• A trailer with a classy blue tarp pulled over the side to protect her from the rain.
• A trailer that’s been painted completely gray on the inside, has a camping “odor”, and was built 6 years before I was even born.

But Terry is not simply just a trailer or just my new apartment; Terry is both my savior and solution…. “why?” you might ask yourself. Well let me explain:

I’ve always felt like I was different from the norm, a rebel at heart---I’ve never been one to follow the crowd. I like to think of myself as an uncommon girl in a common world and that my attitude and experiences set me apart. I’m a strong independent woman---I just couldn’t possibly be “typical”!!!

(insert: dramatic gasp here)

Alas, I am.

(and now the long sigh...)

Like most Americans, I have debt. For what my income is, I feel that I’m pretty accurate in saying: I have mounds and mounds of debt.

I’m not ashamed of my debt though. I’m not going to cower in the corner and not speak of it in embarrassment. I acknowledge what I've racked up and recognize that it's helped make me who I am today. I’m proud that $8k in debt was all that I had to assume when I left my ex-husband ($8k in exchange for freedom---what a small price to pay). I’m proud that I cared more about experiencing life than being financially responsible and tacked on another $4k while backpacking in Italy. I’m happy that I enjoyed splurging during my trip, even though forced me to borrow another $2,500 against my checking account when I returned.

So yes, I sit here today, with over fourteen thousands dollars in debt (oh, that’s not including what I owe on my beautiful car…but we'll save that topic for another time...). I’m debt---but it’s going to be OK. Money is simply a value we assign to a piece of paper, it's not everything.

I’m not naïve though, as idealistic as I’d like to be-- I do recognize that this value on paper is so high--- that people will do just about anything to get it. I realize that to at least some degree, that everyone spends their life built around earning it, spending it, and stressing over it (myself included). Yes, money is important---I will give you that.

Now my father is the type of man who believes your finances should be kept to yourself. In fact, he reminds me of this all of the time (Yes...I KNOW Dad!!!). He’d prefer I keep my personal life to myself and thinks I’m foolish for blogging about it---but again, I’m just not the kind of person to go with the norm. On top of that, it is almost physically impossible for me not to discuss my life with the world.

Jenny, being quiet?!?!? HAHAHAAAAAA

(loud laughs here, for isn’t that a really funny thought!)

I returned from Europe last month with an expiring lease, a negative bank account, and no where to live. I might not be ashamed of my debt, but that doesn’t mean I want to hang on to it. I’m not trying to play the“highest number wins” game. Debt limits our ability to pursue our dreams and I want to get out from under mine. I might be with okay with the choices that got me $14k under, but I'm not okay with staying here or even worse---getting into more in debt. So with the amazing support and understanding from my parents, I decided to return home 6 years after graduating from high school. I made the decision to move home in order to both significantly lower my debt and to figure out where I want to go next. BUT---moving home wasn't quite so simple, there was a major problem...

“Problem shown below”, Kudos and Harley (aka: the boys):

I've got two beautiful tabby cats that I would never give up... but also have parents that do not want cats in their home. As there is no end of the earth that I would not go to in order to provide for my cats, I spent a couple weeks trying to figure out how I could both keep them safe on five wooded acres and out of my parents house.

My solution: Find something I can live with them in.....

(drum roll please....)

A trailer! It's GENIUS!

So now we're back to the beginning...

Indeed this is the beginning a new chapter of my life. A new chapter where I will be spending the next several months residing in a trailer that I've named Terry, a few months pinching every penny, nickle, and dime, a few months trying to get my head out of the water and out of debt--so I can move forward in my life. I plan on fully embracing this new life and all that comes with it. Becoming trailer trash has bound to have some adventures and good stories, I hope to use this blog to capture the amazing journey ahead!

Ciao!

(Oh wait, I can't be sophiscated here...what would be a trashy sign off?!!?)

Probably none... so I'll end by slaming my duct taped trailer door for the night...

:P