Hi, Amanda. This is Matthew and Boulder, Colorado.

From death, sex, and money, this is financial therapy. I'm Amanda Clayman.

Matthew is 40. Also, that's not his real name.

In two years ago, I left a job really because of money and how it was being used against

others that I just didn't agree with and didn't want to stand for.

So he quit, on principle, and he struck out on his own to start an independent consulting

business.

So for about a year and a half, I was under employed and brought in about 90% less into

the family than what I had in the years prior to that.

But there were bright spots. Matthew's wife was still employed and they decided to leave

the Midwest and move with their three kids to Colorado. They bought a house and eventually

toward the end of last year, Matthew's consulting work picked up.

And it was a great six months and then COVID hit and everything stopped.

So people that I had worked for were slow paying, going six, eight weeks between invoices.

And I was back to the point of not knowing how I was contributing to the family.

While at the same time, we were undergoing a major renovation that had spiraled out

of control.

So now without the serenines, we're dipping further into savings. I've had to take out

additional loans. I've tried to get unemployment and successfully finally was approved yesterday

for a PPP loan, which feels great. But it's a point of real insecurity and not just today,

but really like what does it look like to recover? How do I get that control back that I felt

like ahead, but also feel like has just dissipated so quickly. And I think all of that is all

...