The center of this guy's problems is his refusal to accept responsibility for anything. I see a LOT of blame going around, but nothing on him.
Ex-wife racked up a lot of debt (check)
cheated by an ex-girlfriend (check)
guy who is responsible for calculating taxes messed up (check)
Appliances failed (check)
camshaft issues, which Toyota refuses to acknowledge (check)
$25,000 in personal debt ($6k left from my ex-wife's $12k that she left for me, plus the loan on the car, I got stuck with both) (check - note how nothing he lists here is "his fault"?)
We had a nice emergency fund, but flooding of the basement and plumbing issues ate that up fast (check)
I am trying to be optimistic, but a bout of bad luck always seems to be just waiting to hit us (check)
So what DOES he have to say about himself?
I have invested wisely (check)
This whole post just drips with "me vs. the world" whereas OP is perfect, and the world is screwing him over. I have found, the best financial improvements in my life come at the expense of my ego. I see the problems in my finances, and for the most part, I accept them as MY problems. If you can't take ownership over your own life, what use is buying a car or a house? You shouldn't own things if you can't first own your mistakes as well as your triumphs.