Chatty, thanks for sharing this story. I feel exactly like you! Yes, I too could have handled the measley payment, even though I went to waitressing and lived on tips while going back to college. Heck, I took all of the bills because I knew he would let them lapse and it would ruin my credit. How I had the foresight to even think about credit, I don't know. So you married a man much older than you? It sounds like so-called security was a motivator for you. A quote of Maya Angelous is: "When you knew better, you did better." I hope I have learned from my mistakes. Land never depreciates. Thanks so much for jumping in here.