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October Low-Income Thread - Page 18

post #341 of 385
10/27/09 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunanthem View Post
I live in a city with horrible parking space downtown. We got too many unpaid parking tickets. The city put the boot on, and if you remove it, you'll be arrested. Then they impounded it b/c I couldn't pay them the full amount within a week, so that's a wrecker towing it and storing it.
ah, gotta love the city. I don't even think they give parking tickets here unless your parked in a red zone and you won't find a single parking meter I don't think for at least 100 miles. I always get caught totally off guard when I go out of town and find out I have to pay parking, its really irritating and usually ends up eating any food money we had on us. Couple weeks ago I had to pay $15 for about 3 hours of parking which was more then I had expected and I had to skip lunch that day. (had been told parking was $12)
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post #342 of 385
10/27/09 at 11:25am
Sunanthem - have you tried taking the ticket and going to traffic court?

Our car got booted a few years ago, and when I went to traffic court and explained that there was no way I could pay the ticket since I couldn't get to work without said car, they waived both the ticket and the boot fee for me. I did have to show proof of being low-income {Think I used medicaid card or food stamp letter}.
post #343 of 385
10/27/09 at 7:36pm
Just checking in 'cause it's been a while... *HUGS* to all of you going through tough times right now.

No, I don't have a savings account, and yes, I feel like I am on shaky ground without one. I once opened a savings account but couldn't put enough money in it to avoid it being charged $2.50 per month for "insufficient funds," ha. I tried to close the account, but there would have been a cancellation fee higher than what was even in the account unless I waited a month... the whole thing was stupid.

Right now I am feeling so grateful that my state gives health insurance to low-income people like me, because I had to have a lump in my breast biopsied this morning. (Everyone's 99% sure it's benign, but the procedure itself was quite traumatic emotionally).

And I am super grateful that I just received my first food stamps card!! I bought yogurt, vegetables, etc...but also a little thing of pumpkin spice pudding as a treat and it's so nice.

Right now I'm worrying about 3 family members' birthdays in the next 30 days... don't know how to afford presents... my dad is turning 60 and that's big, but he's also so well-off that there is nothing he NEEDS, nor can I afford to buy him anything of the quality he's used to. And I know that he's my dad and he loves me regardless, and isn't expecting anything big and fancy... but I just feel bad that with all that he does for ME, I can't even figure out a present for his birthday. I will keep thinking...
post #344 of 385
10/27/09 at 11:35pm
Quote:
Do you have a current prescription? Check out Zenni Optical at http://go.mothering.com/?id=848X1562...optical.com%2F a lot of mama's here use them and recommend them Hopefully that will brighten your day
Satori!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much! That's awesome! I do have a current prescription, I just have to call my eye doc and have him mail me a copy. This is so great! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have literally brightened my day. A million hugs to you.
post #345 of 385
10/27/09 at 11:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inci View Post
J
Right now I am feeling so grateful that my state gives health insurance to low-income people like me, because I had to have a lump in my breast biopsied this morning. (Everyone's 99% sure it's benign, but the procedure itself was quite traumatic emotionally).

And I am super grateful that I just received my first food stamps card!! I bought yogurt, vegetables, etc...but also a little thing of pumpkin spice pudding as a treat and it's so nice.

Right now I'm worrying about 3 family members' birthdays in the next 30 days... don't know how to afford presents... my dad is turning 60 and that's big, but he's also so well-off that there is nothing he NEEDS, nor can I afford to buy him anything of the quality he's used to. And I know that he's my dad and he loves me regardless, and isn't expecting anything big and fancy... but I just feel bad that with all that he does for ME, I can't even figure out a present for his birthday. I will keep thinking...
Sometime I buy food gifts with my FS's... maybe your dad would like some gourmet coffee or some homemade cookies?

hope your biospy comes back OK.
post #346 of 385
10/28/09 at 2:06am
Inci--yay about foodstamps! I finally got to use mine just this evening--omg, it was so nice to let the kids pick whatever cereal they felt like, and i bought myself a coffee creamer in "tiramisu" flavor

I second the food gift idea--bake some cookies, or whatever your specialty is Candied pecans in a mason jar with a pretty scrap of fabric round the top? Gingerbread? Just throwin' out ideas

So yeah. I just now had the money to pay my car inspection on my van the other day, and was feeling good about that. Well, DH's pizza delivery job had to check out our other car, and wouldn't ya know it, the registration's been expired on that since August! They never mailed me anything, and I'm really grateful I haven't gotten a ticket in that car yet--but gahhh. There's another $50 I wasn't counting on having to spend.

So, I am kuutzy when pregnant. I break things pretty often, and it's so frustrating. I broke several of our gorgeous drinking glasses over the past few months, which i scored at 75% off from a department store (so of course i can never afford nice ones like these again). Just tonite I dropped a brand-new energy-saver lightbulb and had to spend an hour cleaning my bathroom to make sure we didn't have broken glass everywhere. Far and away the worst of my screw-ups happened the other day, however. My mattress comes apart--like, in pieces. I stupidly thought that the top came off *for washing*--and now I have to pay $600 to replace my mattress casing! No idea when that'll happen, and in the meantime, i'm scared we're ruining the innards by sleeping on them w/no casing

39 weeks tomorrow. I hope I don't ruin anything else before this baby comes
post #347 of 385
10/28/09 at 5:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by frugalmama View Post
Sunanthem - have you tried taking the ticket and going to traffic court?

Our car got booted a few years ago, and when I went to traffic court and explained that there was no way I could pay the ticket since I couldn't get to work without said car, they waived both the ticket and the boot fee for me. I did have to show proof of being low-income {Think I used medicaid card or food stamp letter}.
I don't know if we can go to traffic court for the tickets, I do know we can contest the tow and storage, they sent me a letter about that. However I think I've figured a way to pay it. I'm gonna cash in my kids' life insurance and I'll have enough to pay the tickets. I talked to the wrecker today and he said he'd stop collections on the $25 a day IF I bring him something in the next week and a half. So I just owe him $298. I think I can sell some stuff and hopefully make at least 150 or so to give him in the next week, plus some of my girlfriends may help spot me a few 20's, which would be awesome. It's times like this I wish I had parents or grandparents I could call to help me with a loan, or siblings... or just a job that paid a living wage.

I'm gonna pour all the $ I have into getting my car back, and hope and pray I get a job soon so I can pay our bills and keep the utilities etc. on.

Hugs to all you mamas! Hang in there!
post #348 of 385
10/28/09 at 5:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inci View Post
Just checking in 'cause it's been a while... *HUGS* to all of you going through tough times right now.

No, I don't have a savings account, and yes, I feel like I am on shaky ground without one. I once opened a savings account but couldn't put enough money in it to avoid it being charged $2.50 per month for "insufficient funds," ha. I tried to close the account, but there would have been a cancellation fee higher than what was even in the account unless I waited a month... the whole thing was stupid.

Right now I am feeling so grateful that my state gives health insurance to low-income people like me, because I had to have a lump in my breast biopsied this morning. (Everyone's 99% sure it's benign, but the procedure itself was quite traumatic emotionally).

And I am super grateful that I just received my first food stamps card!! I bought yogurt, vegetables, etc...but also a little thing of pumpkin spice pudding as a treat and it's so nice.

Right now I'm worrying about 3 family members' birthdays in the next 30 days... don't know how to afford presents... my dad is turning 60 and that's big, but he's also so well-off that there is nothing he NEEDS, nor can I afford to buy him anything of the quality he's used to. And I know that he's my dad and he loves me regardless, and isn't expecting anything big and fancy... but I just feel bad that with all that he does for ME, I can't even figure out a present for his birthday. I will keep thinking...
Yay for it being benign! Yay for food stamps, they are such a relief!

Sure, you could do the food route: chocolates, homemade jam, baked goods, etc...
Another thing that's classic is you could take a pic of your kids or your family, and just get one nice 8x10 print made at a cvs or walmart or something, then buy a nice looking frame at goodwill.. parents love that stuff. Another gift you could do, maybe for the other family members is buy some small potted herbs at the grocery store (covered with FS) and arrange them in a little basket or something so they can have a kitchen window herb garden.
post #349 of 385
10/28/09 at 10:32am
Thanks so much for the ideas, Lizzy, Krystal, sunanthem! This food stamps thing is so new to me, it didn't occur to me that I could buy food gifts... Wow! This may be a way I can actually get through Christmas shopping!
post #350 of 385
10/28/09 at 10:49am
We have been a month behind in our rent for the last several months, and we have been really lucky that our landlord has been so forgiving and understanding. well my husband let me know that his mom is helping us get caught up for the first-so we can start from scratch as it were...i am so relieved and thankful.

feels like a little bit of the weight has been lifted, whew.
post #351 of 385
10/28/09 at 12:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunanthem View Post
I don't know if we can go to traffic court for the tickets, I do know we can contest the tow and storage, they sent me a letter about that. However I think I've figured a way to pay it. I'm gonna cash in my kids' life insurance and I'll have enough to pay the tickets. I talked to the wrecker today and he said he'd stop collections on the $25 a day IF I bring him something in the next week and a half. So I just owe him $298. I think I can sell some stuff and hopefully make at least 150 or so to give him in the next week, plus some of my girlfriends may help spot me a few 20's, which would be awesome. It's times like this I wish I had parents or grandparents I could call to help me with a loan, or siblings... or just a job that paid a living wage.

I'm gonna pour all the $ I have into getting my car back, and hope and pray I get a job soon so I can pay our bills and keep the utilities etc. on.

Hugs to all you mamas! Hang in there!
Do you have a plasma bank nearby? You can easily pick up an extra $200 or so a month just by donating twice a week. I haven't done it since the nearest one is almost an hour away and the idea really skeeved me out but then I realized, that plasma goes directly into the product that saves my dd's life and I give it to her every week. It takes 50,000 donors to make a single dose so every donor does count (they mix it all together to get a higher more varied functional antibody count). I'm going to have to start donating to cover the bills and I just look at it as I'm helping to keep the supply up on Ig products to help my dd and others like her

Quote:
Originally Posted by sunanthem View Post
Sure, you could do the food route: chocolates, homemade jam, baked goods, etc...
Another thing that's classic is you could take a pic of your kids or your family, and just get one nice 8x10 print made at a cvs or walmart or something, then buy a nice looking frame at goodwill.. parents love that stuff. Another gift you could do, maybe for the other family members is buy some small potted herbs at the grocery store (covered with FS) and arrange them in a little basket or something so they can have a kitchen window herb garden.
I agree, I often buy food stuff I know they usually wont spring for that they really like, like year before last I got my mom a pound of these huge prawns that are like $12lb. Are you sure about being able to buy potted herbs? I know you can buy seeds but I was told plants are a no no.
post #352 of 385
10/28/09 at 1:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Inci View Post
Thanks so much for the ideas, Lizzy, Krystal, sunanthem! This food stamps thing is so new to me, it didn't occur to me that I could buy food gifts... Wow! This may be a way I can actually get through Christmas shopping!
We had a huge amount of fs last year and everyone got food baskets
post #353 of 385
10/28/09 at 1:46pm
Yes, you can buy herbs and veggie plants as long as they are food.. like you can't buy lavender or something. I've bought some at walmart and the grocery store before using FS.
post #354 of 385
10/28/09 at 4:56pm
I haven't been here for a while. But I want to share a tip with everyone who can't get on healthcare through their Ahcces or medicaid. Check with your County Hospital. They put us on this discount plan where we don't have monthly payments, just $20 co-pay when we need the dr, a little more when there is an exam. So you only pay as you go in.
We make too much to get free healthcare through the state.
We can go to the dr's that are through them. They have clinics all over the city and a Urgent Care etc.
Just figured I'd share. Its worth asking your County Hospital if they have such a plan.
post #355 of 385
10/28/09 at 5:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunanthem View Post
Yes, you can buy herbs and veggie plants as long as they are food.. like you can't buy lavender or something. I've bought some at walmart and the grocery store before using FS.
That may be unique to your state them because I know I tried it in CA and they wouldn't allow it. Said seeds only
post #356 of 385
10/28/09 at 5:19pm
We got our first food stamps this month and I've been so happy to go to the store, buy basic groceries, and not get to the front worrying if I'll have enough to cover them. We get $395 a month for the four of us, which is double my current budget! I'm looking at food gifts for Christmas since I will be able to afford that, but not much else. We've been ending every month in overdraft and this is the first month that we're ending the month with a little money in our bank account. I am so grateful that food stamps are there to give us some breathing room! Not only does it save us the amount of the food, but it is helping me from overdrafting, which costs an arm and a leg.

On my way to picking up my son from preschool, I got a ticket for missing a stop sign. I honestly didn't see it and I'm a very safe driver. This is my first ticket in more than 10 years. I'm not looking forward to seeing the bill; DH got a red light ticket recently and it cost us almost $500. He, too, has a very clean driving record, and I'm afraid that this will kill our low insurance rates.



For my friend who had a new baby, I found a nice, new lotion and lip balm in my bathroom extras box. They're locally made and soooo yummy! My mom bought me a whole big set for Mother's Day and I hadn't used them all, so I'm sending that. I am also making her a diaper changing pad for on the go and a snuggly flannel blanket. I pulled a big-kid book out of the to-grow-into closet (very gently used from the thrift store!) for the older sister. I think I'll also send a quick and easy meal, like pasta and sauce, so she can have a night without cooking. It should be a nice, and reallllly low budget gift.
post #357 of 385
10/28/09 at 5:39pm
A few other money saving tips for Christmas pressies to give to family and fun to make with the kids. Making your own christmas ornaments. We did that last year. If you google there are some really cheap ways to make little ornaments. You could make them out of flower miced with water, get some cookie cutters from the dollar store, bake them, paint them, add glitter to them etc.
post #358 of 385
10/28/09 at 9:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Satori View Post
That may be unique to your state them because I know I tried it in CA and they wouldn't allow it. Said seeds only
Says it right here, seeds and plants;
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/Retailers/ELIGIBLE.HTM
post #359 of 385
10/28/09 at 10:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunanthem View Post
Says it right here, seeds and plants;
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/Retailers/ELIGIBLE.HTM
hmmm.. I tried doing it before and it wasn't covered and I asked my worker about it and she said we could only get seeds not plants.
post #360 of 385
10/29/09 at 1:34am
Just wanted to drop in and share some good news. We thought my DH would be eligible for financial aid this semester but the school said he wasn't, but then we received a letter in the mail saying they changed his status and will give aid for this semester, and the next! Now we can pay the house payment until the end of the school year and have a small Christmas!