March 2010 Low Income Support Thread

[Thystle]

For old times sake I started the March thread.





Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.
Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,
vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved - Helen Keller




Often people attempt to live their lives backwards:
they try to have more things, or more money,
in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier.
The way it actually works is the reverse.
You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do,
in order to have what you want. - Margaret Young




Remove those 'I want you to like me' stickers from your forehead
and, instead, place them where they truly will do the most good --
on your mirror! - Susan Jeffers



Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa








{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Mamas}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} }}}}}}}}

[Thystle]

The old threads are still the most posted on and viewed threads in F&F history.

[Satori]

Originally Posted by Thystle

The old threads are still the most posted on and viewed threads in F&F history.

I don't know if I should be sad that there's so many of us in this position or proud that so many mama's have come together to support each other.

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by Satori

I don't know if I should be sad that there's so many of us in this position or proud that so many mama's have come together to support each other.

I know.



Ok the old threads hold the #1, #4, #11 and #15 position on the first page.


Man it feels like a million years ago and just yesterday at the same time. It's weird.

[Thystle]

I hope March and all of 2010 bring more luck and happiness for everyone. It seems that the last year has been much harder than normal for so many that I know.


{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[Ianthe]

Thanks for the new thread.... How's the college chosing going?

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

Thanks for the new thread.... How's the college chosing going?

Pretty well. Ofcourse if your old schools would send more than one "official" transcript at a time it would go alot faster when applying to more than one place!

[cwat]

Happy March, all
Please, please, please let March be better than February was (beg)

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by Thystle

Pretty well. Ofcourse if your old schools would send more than one "official" transcript at a time it would go alot faster when applying to more than one place!

haha.. well.. I rooting for you guys to go to the U Did you look more into Utah State? I noticed that the first round of scholarships has passed but you would still be considered until April.. it would be awesome to have some crunchy MDC mamas around!

[Ianthe]

I don't know if I mentioned this yet, but DH got a job! It's only PT, but it is perfect because he can still help me with the kids while I struggle through this semester.. I have to write 6-8 papers a WEEK, plus math!

I found an awesome preschool I am going to try to get DS1 into when I start school again in the Fall in our new town. It's an immersion Spanish/English school and it's only $220 a month, plus they say they have financial aid for those who qualify (I am sure we would qualify!). The teachers are also university teachers where we will be attending college. Cross your fingers for me that we can get him into it! Then I will just have to find childcare for DS2 who will be just over 1.

[MayLibertySprout]

hello mama's! wondering if i may join in?

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

I found an awesome preschool I am going to try to get DS1 into when I start school again in the Fall in our new town. It's an immersion Spanish/English school and it's only $220 a month, plus they say they have financial aid for those who qualify (I am sure we would qualify!). The teachers are also university teachers where we will be attending college. Cross your fingers for me that we can get him into it! Then I will just have to find childcare for DS2 who will be just over 1.

Wow! That sounds awesome!

MayLibertySprout: I always feel odd welcoming new people. I don't want to say glad your here, because I wish none of us were, but I am glad that if we do have to be here we are here together. So...glad you found us

[waiting2bemommy]

Well our fabulous luxury car (and I say that affectionately, really!) blew a tire this morning, no idea how or why. I ended up being two hours late for work and we spent $85 getting it fixed by someone who clearly is not an expert on cars, since the car is now visibly higher on one side than the other. You can either laugh or cry and I choose to laugh at the comedy of errors that is our life. I mean really. I'm just grateful, grateful grateful that we had the money in the bank to cover it, and that me having a second job means we'll have an extra paycheck next week to get us back on our feet.

Oh and can I just say it is WONDERFUL to have a terrific friend? My friend took off work 1/2 hr early last night to watch ds so dbf could pick up a last minute shift at work. She fed him, kept him happy and busy with her own three kids in tow, and then refused to let me pay her for her expenses. She left her own job early to care for my baby. Her whole family is so kind and warm and welcoming to us. I'm so thankful to have someone like that in my life.

[Sweetmama26]

Originally Posted by yeahwhat

Be careful with this.
1. Don't forget about city taxes. Between city and school taxes, we pay about $300 extra per month on top of our mortgage payment, which only has to be about $550.
2. Don't underestimate repairs and maintenance. No one's going to be coming to fix it for free when a pipe springs a leak or the hot water heater isn't hot anymore. A roof is not cheap. Landscaping and yard maintenance cost money and takes time.
3. Utilities for an apartment are cheaper than utilities on a house. Shared walls vastly reduce the amount it costs to heat an apartment compared to a house.

I'm not saying this to discourage you, I just wish I'd gone into home ownership with a better understanding of just how much it really costs.

Our city taxes have been factored into our mortgage, we have the option of paying for them on our own or including them in the monthly price of the mortgage, it is going to cost us $550 a month for that and we've chosen to pay weekly which makes it easier .

And I realize the utilities will be a bit more expensive, but my boyfriend has crunched the numbers and if we put enough aside we'll be able to swing it I think.

[MayLibertySprout]

Originally Posted by maciascl

Wow! That sounds awesome!

MayLibertySprout: I always feel odd welcoming new people. I don't want to say glad your here, because I wish none of us were, but I am glad that if we do have to be here we are here together. So...glad you found us

thanks--ya, i understand about the "welcoming" thing! lol
I'm definitely glad to have found you...even though it sucks ANY of us need to be here!
I skimmed through some post's in last months thread, I see I "know" a couple mama's here already-- Hi Lizzy & Danielle!

A little info about me-- Have been married to DH for 17yrs this month and we have 4 great kids, K-15yrs, D 12yrs, Z almost 3yrs, & L 3mo.
We've almost always been a "low-income" family, so that aspect of life isn't new to me, but right now I could really use some support I guess. My DH was laid off in jan. after taking a huge pay-cut a year ago. He found a job right away, but it pays significantly less. We were already struggling. Long story short, we are going to be loosing our house, and dh is looking for a better paying job ANYWHERE, all over the country. So were looking at a foreclosure, and possibly moving across country with 4 kids. I'm a bit overwhelmed.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by MayLibertySprout

thanks--ya, i understand about the "welcoming" thing! lol
I'm definitely glad to have found you...even though it sucks ANY of us need to be here!
I skimmed through some post's in last months thread, I see I "know" a couple mama's here already-- Hi Lizzy & Danielle!

A little info about me-- Have been married to DH for 17yrs this month and we have 4 great kids, K-15yrs, D 12yrs, Z almost 3yrs, & L 3mo.
We've almost always been a "low-income" family, so that aspect of life isn't new to me, but right now I could really use some support I guess. My DH was laid off in jan. after taking a huge pay-cut a year ago. He found a job right away, but it pays significantly less. We were already struggling. Long story short, we are going to be loosing our house, and dh is looking for a better paying job ANYWHERE, all over the country. So were looking at a foreclosure, and possibly moving across country with 4 kids. I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Welcome from me too... are you a May 07 DDC mama?

We had to short sale 2 properties due to housing crisis and DH losing his job.. we've been living off temp jobs and unemployment ever sense.. can you look into short sale instead of foreclosure too? It's a little better on your credit to do that. Where are you moving?

[Thystle]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

haha.. well.. I rooting for you guys to go to the U Did you look more into Utah State? I noticed that the first round of scholarships has passed but you would still be considered until April.. it would be awesome to have some crunchy MDC mamas around!

I just answered over on the student thread.





Wooohooo on the preschool find!

[MayLibertySprout]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

Welcome from me too... are you a May 07 DDC mama?

We had to short sale 2 properties due to housing crisis and DH losing his job.. we've been living off temp jobs and unemployment ever sense.. can you look into short sale instead of foreclosure too? It's a little better on your credit to do that. Where are you moving?

Thanks, and Yep- Z was born may 13th 07 - we ended up FB friends from there too- I'm Ayn there

we talked w/ a Realtor about a short sale about a year ago, but when we bought this place in 06 they set us up with a second mortg. and he said we would have to let the 2nd get foreclosed on because you cant give 1 house to 2 banks. cant do a deed to lender either for the same reason. no matter what we'd have to foreclose on the second. We're about 70-80k underwater too. We've been borrowing from family to get by, but that can't go on. this month will be the first mortg payment we've ever missed (14yrs).

[Sweetmama26]

Misslibertysprout - Your Preschool seems expensive. To me anyways, is that the normal going rate for Preschool where you are? Here I'll be paying $85 dollars a month for mine.

[MayLibertySprout]

Originally Posted by Sweetmama26

Misslibertysprout - Your Preschool seems expensive. To me anyways, is that the normal going rate for Preschool where you are? Here I'll be paying $85 dollars a month for mine.

that's LizzyQ not me