December Low Income Thread - Page 3

[frugalmama]

Originally Posted by cwat

Hi everyone, just checking in.
Welcome to all the new members
Things here are about the same, still looking for a job (no luck yet)
Thank goodness, we have Food Stamps or we'd be in deep trouble.
(too bad I can't pay the rent with them )
One good thing that happened Friday, I found $20 on the ground and was able to put half a tank of gas in my car
Anyways, hope everyone has a good week.

It wouldn't help right away, but if you have excess FS you can buy food items that have rebates or try me free's and send off for those. Perfectly legal and it does convert FS to cash - just takes a while.

You can also use your FS to buy items at Target that trigger gift cards - like this week they have keebler crackers $2 each, and buy 5 you get a $5 gift card. That helps sometimes to cover things like paper goods.

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Lillitu

CA just eliminated insurance for new kids under 5 so i have to get insurance for the new baby through grad school (which will take away money we would use for rent while i am not working). right now we pay for rent through student loans and everything else through my job, which ends at the end of the month. i get WIC, but was not eligible for foodstamps last time we tried. perhaps after i am on disability...

Are you sure about that? I haven't heard anything nor is it on the medi-cal website.

[frugalmama]

thought this might help those needing Christmas gifts or clothes for the family.

JCPenny is mailing out coupons for $10 off of a $10 purchase instore. There is also an online code, NICE4U, but online you will need to pay shipping.

Santa is going to bring my DD some PJ's I think or maybe some socks, thanks to JCPenny.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by frugalmama

thought this might help those needing Christmas gifts or clothes for the family.

JCPenny is mailing out coupons for $10 off of a $10 purchase instore. There is also an online code, NICE4U, but online you will need to pay shipping.

Santa is going to bring my DD some PJ's I think or maybe some socks, thanks to JCPenny.

They did this last year too. I scored several of them and DS got some great finds....

Last weekend I got the $10 kohls coupon (they send them out on a regular basis around here) plus 15% off purchase and ended up with an IPOD alarm clock thingy for about $25.00 Im excited.

[ExOfficia]

I have to say, as hard as things have been around here both emotionally (stbx announced he is leaving me 2 weeks ago, there is another woman) and financially, I had a pretty good day. My uncle overseas sent me a Christmas card with $50, plus stbx got a birthday card from my mother with $20 in it. He felt so guilty he just handed it over to be.

I also had an hour to hit the thrift store...I found a brand new Chia pet kitten to give to dd as one of her Christmas presents...she has been begging for one of these for YEARS. I got it for the princely sum of $2.

[Lillitu]

Originally Posted by EarthyMamaofDaisy

Do you mean they got rid of Medicaid for kids under the age of 5? If so then that is truly horrible.

Originally Posted by Satori

Are you sure about that? I haven't heard anything nor is it on the medi-cal website.

no, i am not sure, i am new to the poor mama thing. but i don't think it is about medi-cal. there was a wellness program for kids under 5 that no longer accepts new enrollees and has cut back some of their programs. i think it is called "first 5".

will have to look into it more, heard about the cutbacks here on MDC.

Originally Posted by ExOfficia

While it looks like we will have a "good" (if there is even such a thing) divorce, the complicating factor is our debt. We have a mortgage of 140k plus about 40k in other debt. It's hard to explain, but a lot of this debt is about his life-long tendency to look to the next thing for his happiness. I can't tell you all how many expensive hobbies he's had in his neurotic quest to find himself. I have no doubt I was enabling him as I always just wanted him to be happy. Stupid, stupid, stupid on my part, I know. ...

as someone who went through a very amicable divorce last year, i would still advise you to get EVERYTHING in writing (and notarized!), period. esp. if your DP has been flighty of fickle about intent or hobbies in the past.

as someone who is having the kids mainly stay with you, you should get the house and he should pay for that. there should also be child support and possibly alimony, since you have been a SAHM for so long...

[ExOfficia]

Originally Posted by Lillitu

as someone who went through a very amicable divorce last year, i would still advise you to get EVERYTHING in writing (and notarized!), period. esp. if your DP has been flighty of fickle about intent or hobbies in the past.

as someone who is having the kids mainly stay with you, you should get the house and he should pay for that. there should also be child support and possibly alimony, since you have been a SAHM for so long...

Oh yes, I so agree with you! I have already hired a lawyer (literally within a couple of days of d-day). He is a lawyer himself (though not in anything even remotely close to family law) and he does get the importance of getting it down in writing. He is taking a month's leave in January specifically so we can do as much of the paperwork-ish stuff as possible (including an agreement), including signing over the house to me.

I see this as part and parcel of me doing what I need to do to feel safe- and a big part of safety for me is financial. It's also in my nature to dot all my i's and cross all my t's. And we all have heard the stories about the best of intentions going awry sometimes, so it's critical to not slack on anything, I so agree!

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Lillitu

no, i am not sure, i am new to the poor mama thing. but i don't think it is about medi-cal. there was a wellness program for kids under 5 that no longer accepts new enrollees and has cut back some of their programs. i think it is called "first 5".

will have to look into it more, heard about the cutbacks here on MDC.

ohhh, that was CHDP which was back in June. Full Medi-cal is still available and if baby qualifies then so does mama

[GreenGranolaMama]

Hey Mamas, so things have been looking pretty good for us. Last month we had our FS review and to make a long story short, they were taken away because DH did not get letters from his last 2 jobs saying he was no longer working there. We moved an hour away and he has since gotten a teaching job, so he works 60+ hours a week, so there is no way he could still be working these jobs anyways...so I went into to the DHHS and talked with a case worker and got things straightened out...I had been trying to call and called everyday for a WEEK and no one ever called me back, so it was nice to go in and talk with a real person... We were able to get FS again which is so helpful! It seemed like an easy fix, but I am nervous that 6mo down the road I am going to get a letter in the mail saying we shouldn't have been getting them and be charged with fraud... the DHHS in this town is pretty messed up, I'll get letters in the mail saying "Yes you do have Mainecare" and "No, we cancled your Mainecare" in the same day...

I love staying home with DS, but part of me can't wait until he is in preschool so I can get a job (I have my degree in public health) and (hopefully) be done with this... we have recently started paying on my student loans, which is pretty painful. I was able to defer one, and am going to try and defer the other...

I was supposed to have a fuel assistance appointment this morning but it is snowing like crazy here and I didn't want to take DS out in it. I called to cancel and reschedule and the soonest they could get me in was in March...bummer. DHs school was canceled but he is working respite care today, so when he called me at lunch I told him what was up and he told me that one of his co workers was talking about needing to cancel his appointment tomorrow...so he called and canceled and gave us his appointment time!! so lovely

[s_kristina]

I have clippers that I use on ds1 and dh's hair. So far I have only done trims on ds2 and I also cut mine and dd's hair so I certainly think it can be done.

I finally got word that the money came through from the county for last month's rent Things are still tight obviously, but that was a huge relief. We also got a call yesterday from a place dh had applied to for a CSR job that would be working from home after training about 20 miles away. At the moment his temp job is slated to end at the end of the month so having another job lined up then would be great!

[springbride]

Originally Posted by Lillitu

CA just eliminated insurance for new kids under 5 so i have to get insurance for the new baby through grad school (which will take away money we would use for rent while i am not working). right now we pay for rent through student loans and everything else through my job, which ends at the end of the month. i get WIC, but was not eligible for foodstamps last time we tried. perhaps after i am on disability...

Do check into medical as PP mentioned. If you get on the program while you're still pregnant, you won't have any delivery costs and baby will automatically be covered for the first year. Then you have to re-certify after that.

[zebra15]

We are getting spoiled. I have been creative with cooking and the sales have been great lately. For example for dinner tonight I made pancakes (honey wheat) with blackberries, the pancake mix was almost free and a box lasts several meals, the blackberries were 77c, I had some left over sausage links from yesterday and one bagel hanging around. DS was in heaven. Yesterday we had breakfast for dinner, eggs were 99c a dozen, the sausage links, bagels and cream cheese.

Anyone else love the holidays for great grocery sales?

Oranges are 3lbs/$1 this week. YUMMY

DS is 9 and eats like a horse...and I have to make food stamps last.

[Leta]

Thank God for food stamps. Really.

Also, thanks for the rebate/gift card trigger idea to help put some actual cash money in the pocket. I wish they'd allow you to buy some really basic toiletries with food stamps- I'm thinking dental floss, toothbrushes, maybe soap, and, for mamas who don't have washers/dryers (or for that matter, cars to get to the laundromat or $$$ to spend there) sposie dipes and baby wipes, that sort of thing.

Does anyone have SafeLink? I have a backup, emergency use only cellphone, but realized that I qualify for this, so I went ahead and applied. It looks like I'm accepted. Pretty cool, since they give you 68 free minutes per month and if you don't use them, the minutes roll over. If you need more minutes, you buy TracFone cards. Only one person per household can get one, but the application is really easy. If you get Food Stamps, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, state weatherization, etc., you just check off that you do get that assistance and you don't have send in income forms. They say that they'll check your info against public records. I thought it was awesome, it took me about 90 seconds to apply.

Anyway, it looks like I'm going to be getting this SafeLink phone. I have a TracFone that has minutes on it that I'm going to give away, because I won't use them before the activation on the phone expires, and I certainly don't need two prepaid cells. So if anyone needs an extra phone, PM me. It's very basic, but works fine.

[frugalmama]

I wish we had safelink in our state - but it's not here yet.


Well, I'm in a pickle. We applied for weatherization to insulate and fix our house and windows, and we qualify BUT they won't do any work until we REPLACE the roof on our house. It's got a leak, and they are insisting on replacing the whole thing instead of a patch job - to the tune of somewhere around $6000.

I have no idea where this is going to come from - that's over a third of our annual budget and income for the year!


I'm so sick of being cold - it's only 45 out right now, heat is set to 71, and it's around 60 in here - and colder in my room yet {it has big windows and the seals are all bad}. DD has started wearing her thin pj's covered by her warmer fleece ones, and then her slippers and coat in the house because she's cold. Most of the year we're okay because we live in the south, but this winter it's just really really cold.

[Leta]

There's also Assurance Wireless- this is actually a much better program, since it gives you 200 minutes a month, vs. SafeLink's 68. However, Assurance is only in NY, TN, NC, and VA. You said you were in the south, so I thought I'd mention it.

It's the same thing- free if you qualify. Assurance and SafeLink are both funded thru Lifeline, which is a Federal Program.

[Jyotsna]

Assurance vs SAfelink

Can I apply for both? I have Safelink, and I'd really like the 200 minutes vs the 68mins. I have two months that have rolled over, and that is less than 200 mins. I'm keeping it as a back up phone, just in case, and I'd love to have more minutes.

What do you think?

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Leta

Anyway, it looks like I'm going to be getting this SafeLink phone. I have a TracFone that has minutes on it that I'm going to give away, because I won't use them before the activation on the phone expires, and I certainly don't need two prepaid cells. So if anyone needs an extra phone, PM me. It's very basic, but works fine.

I'd keep it, I switched carriers but kept my tracfone which has a few minutes on it. Charge it then turn it off and keep it in the car or your purse, something that's pretty much always with you so in case your forget your phone you will still have one in case of emergency.


Well mama's I'm about to enter freak out mode, the utilities won't get paid this month at this point so now there about to be 2 months late. My cell is basically off and I'm using the emergency cell phone but that won't get me though the month. The only good news is I got dd another 2 months of the vitamins that keeps her head on straight.

This morning was the 1st monthly inspection for our in home nurse and I wanted to UAV that woman! She showed up an hour early and didn't even tell me she was coming. I only found out because the nurse mentioned it but the agency should have contacted me to make sure it was a good time for me. Anyway she wrote that my house was "very cluttered but clean". She only saw the living room and I told her all these bags and boxes are going to the donation center today and she showed up early before we could load it all into the car (we were leaving right after her and were getting ready to load it when she showed up). She didn't care Even the nurse verified it that it was going out and that's why it was all in the living room which was the only room she saw (the weather was bad yesterday so I couldn't get it out to the car, I spent the other day going though like 15 boxes of stuff from storage and 90% of it went to trash and donations so it was a lot of stuff). She considered packed trash bags and boxes and the 2 baskets of folded laundry clutter and felt it needed to be documented She was also upset that the dining room table was not up, I took it apart so I could vacuum the entire area well (you can't with the way the table is) and thanks to her showing up an hour early that too hadn't been done yet and the nurse verified that too but she didn't care. This is my home and I am not going to put up with her crap, if she tries it next month I'm filing a complaint. I will vacuum when I want to and if that means taking down the table (takes like 30 seconds) I will. I could care less if she has to write on a binder (I did offer to re set up the table for her). Then she got pissy when she wanted to schedule next months appt and that day were going to be at the other end of the state for a Dr appt that's been scheduled for months and we will be gone at least 3 days and I will not schedule anything for that week until I talk to Angel Flights to find out when they can fly us out (its like an 8 hour drive from here) and it could be 1-2 days before and after the appt before they can do it. I told her if it has to be done by what ever date then she needs to do it early and she got pissy about that too but hey, you work for ME lady not the other way around and I'm not willing to reschedule this appt to make her happy!

On the upside I scored some tree trimmings someone threw away so I'm going to make some of these and someone threw away some new Disney princess castle toy too, now if I'd had any sense I would have set it aside for xmas but I didn't even think about it

[Jyotsna]

Hi mamas,

I'm exhausted. I wanted to take a nap today, and there wasn't a single moment in the day where I could relax. I am looking forward to sinking my sore body into the bed in a minute. We are coping with some stressfull things. We've attended two funerals in 1 month, one of my son's best friends is in the hospital after having a brain anurysm (sp?) and he is still in ICU, on life support. And lastly, closer to home, my dad is sick (cancer), and he doesn't want to live. I am caring for him on and off. Sometimes he needs all my help, and sometimes none of it. It's a little stressful, but I'm glad I can help him. I've made my peace with him, and should he die while I am not there, at least I have done that.

We are still with my parents, and I am so thankful that they have been good to us. I am looking for a place full time, and trying to get recertified (massage). Hoping I can meet all the requirements.

After nearly biting off the head of a good friend while telling her all about my stressors, I decided to pick up my knitting needles again and make something. I choose some yarn to make hats for my girls, and I'm following a free pattern. I'm almost finished, and look forward to seeing my dd2 wearing it. Then I will start on the hat for dd1.

I don't have enough time or energy to make any gifts right now, so I don't know what I am going to give my family. I'm thinking about making new blankets for the kids. Then a few little things. Someone I know is upgrading to a newer model PS2 (3?) and so I am buying their PS2 (or is it 1) for my son who is nervous all the time. I've heard it really helps kids with anxiety disorder relax. He also has bipolar disorder, and I haven't the slightest idea what to do with that! But I hear this particular game thing is good for kids who are anxious, which gives them something to focus on instead of all the bad things they could think of if we give them half the change. It will be a big chunk out of my money, but I hope it helps us all.

HOpe you all are doing well. Cheers!

Jyotsna

[Leta]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

Can I apply for both? I have Safelink, and I'd really like the 200 minutes vs the 68mins. I have two months that have rolled over, and that is less than 200 mins. I'm keeping it as a back up phone, just in case, and I'd love to have more minutes.

What do you think?

I would apply for Assurance, but, to be on the up and up, let SafeLink know that you are going with another mobile Lifeline carrier. I know that SafeLink re-evaluates once a year, so they might just stop giving you minutes at your reevalution.

I would keep the actual, physical phone from SafeLink, for sure, because the extra minutes that you buy for SafeLink from TracFone are half the price of the extra minutes that you buy for Assurance from Virgin.

[bandgeek]

Has anyone ever accepted holiday assistance before? There is an organization that is working with the Children's hospital here who wanted to "adopt" a hospice family. They asked me a couple of months ago and I declined. I always have christmas covered no matter how broke I am (I make a lot of stuff and manage to do so with very little money). Then they brought it up again because they still didn't find a family to adopt?! Seems weird to me, you'd think it wouldn't be that hard to find one! But I accepted this time. DS is growing at an amazing rate and I won't be able to shop for him again until the good spring yard sales hit (thrift stores and goodwills around here are too pricey). So I thought it would be nice to get some new clothes and underwear for him. DD still fits in all her clothes from last year so I asked for diapers for her (we're switching to sposies because I can't keep up with cloth right now).

I feel a little weird about it. I mean, my kids will be getting an awesome xmas anyway. I made a bunch of felt food for DS and I'm packing it all in a picnic basket with a blanket, cloth napkins, and plasticware. And they are both getting puppets and I'm making a "puppet theatre" for them out of one of those big science fair boards. And they'll both have new pajamas. And I made new ornaments for them. And DD is getting a playmat too. I've spent probably $40 over the last 4 months. So not a lot, but it's still going to be awesome.

I'm worried if they get him cool toys it'll take away from the stuff I made for him. Would it be awful to put aside some of the stuff for his b-day next month?

And thanks Leta for the safelink site! I'm definitely applying. My DBF pays for my cell, but it would be nice to have an emergency one at home for the nurse in case something happens and she forgot her phone or it goes dead or something.