August 2010 low-income support thread - Page 7

[CherryBomb]

You can also get out student loans, even if you're only taking 1 or 2 classes. Of course you have to pay them back some day, but the government offers income based repayment now. I applied and my payments are $0. After 25 years (I think) any remaining balance is forgiven.

[crazyeight]

Originally Posted by CherryBomb

You can also get out student loans, even if you're only taking 1 or 2 classes. Of course you have to pay them back some day, but the government offers income based repayment now. I applied and my payments are $0. After 25 years (I think) any remaining balance is forgiven.

really?! links, info etc? how does it affect fs and stuff if you have a loan? not sure i want to get a loan yet as i haven't even taken a full load to get my full pell yet but its nice to have options!

[surrogate]

I asked long ago and was told that you don't have to report school pmts and tax returns...so at least where I live, it won't affect you...but you may want to check with your state.

I go to WGU online and get $4500 back every 6 mos in excess. My loan lender (citi) also has the 25 yr no repayment thing...i have been either in school or in economic conditions deferment (if you get any GA you get your loan deferred 1yr at a time) for the last 10 years

[damona]

how sad is it that i'm thinking about going back to school, not because i want to, but because i'm so darn broke that the grants sound like a fabulous idea

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by damona

how sad is it that i'm thinking about going back to school, not because i want to, but because i'm so darn broke that the grants sound like a fabulous idea

How many classes do you need to take? I don't think I could do more than may be 2 at a time.

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by damona

how sad is it that i'm thinking about going back to school, not because i want to, but because i'm so darn broke that the grants sound like a fabulous idea

That is the only reason I went back. I'm happy being a SAHM the rest of my life, I already have a bachelor's degree, and still I'm on a new "career path" because it means I'll get student loan money for the next 5 years or so . Sigh...

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebA...lish/index.jsp
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

[happyhats]

found a good deal for any of you ladies with a tiny bit of extra cash. Go to babylegs.com and order two pairs of babylegs. Then you enter the code FANtasticFAN for bogo on them! There were some that were only six bucks a piece so you could get two pairs of baby legs for your lo for only six bucks, since shipping is also free. I got two of the twelve dollar pairs but they will take the place of the few tights I was considering getting. Same/similar price for cheapo walmart tights, less fighting to get them on, and they have more shelf life. Win, win for me.

[CherryBomb]

Here's some info on the income based repayment- IBR

They've got a handy calculator, so you can get an idea of what you would need to make before you'd start having payments. For us, since our family size will be 6 soon, we'd have to make 45K a year before I'd have a payment on my student loans (and then it would be $9 a month!) Dh is in school right now, taking 2 classes a semester while he works, and with student loans and pell grant, we get around 5K every semester after tuition and books. Even after he's done with school and gets a better job, I don't think we'll back enough in relation to our family size to have much of a payment.

Once it's time to pay back, you basically just fill out a form and send your lender a copy of your tax return once a year.

[damona]

i have to get my GED before i can actually go back to school, though. i was planning to do that once the kids started back to school this year, but now that DH has to have surgery, it's complicated.

pumpkin_pie, DH works for the giant, famously low-priced, big-box, take-over-your-town corporation that most people dislike. he didn't sign up for the short term disability when he first got hired, so now he gets absolutely nothing except 1 week vacation pay and 10 days sick pay. but if he takes all his sick days, then he's out of luck if he actually gets sick when he gets back. basically, he'll have a job when he's healed, but only because of the FMLA. which is entirely unpaid. he tried to sign up for disability now, but then he'd have to wait a year for it to take effect. that is not helpful.

there is pretty much nothing around here with a 3rd shift except that store and a couple of factories, and since he won't be able to do much of anything with the kids, i can't really get a daytime job. also, i'm homeschooling my 9 yr old this year, and i don't see DH taking over that particular job!

so, basically, we're out of luck. unless someone's got a miracle up their sleeve for us, i have no idea what's going to happen next. i'm so tired of winging it.

[zebra15]

I wish this most expensive month of the freaking year would be over....

I am waiting for the repair shop to call with my car... today its the battery and since I live in wonderful AZ I get a 'good' battery... $120.00. With my car running AC full speed 8 mos of the year a cheap-o battery wont cut it... and batteries only last about 2 years anyway - yes i just missed the warranty by about 3 months... ugh..

So far the month of August has cost me:
DS glasses $200.00 AFTER insurance - gotta love state insurance
DS shoes $75 .00 for 3 pairs since none of his fit anymore
DS pants $100.00 again a growth spurt and none fit
DS birthday $150.00 LEGO's
Car battery $150.00 after tax and fee's

Im glad I have an emergency fund and cash on hand for stuff like this but really... does it all have to hit in the same darn month??

Anyone else want to join in the money pity party??

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by zebra15

DS glasses $200.00 AFTER insurance - gotta love state insurance

Get the exam on insurance, then the glasses at zennioptical.com. Pretty much every pair, frame and lenses, is under $30. I would never go back to buying from a store.

ETA: just make sure you ask for the glasses RX to take with you when you leave the Dr's office. You'll need specifics, and even the measurement between the eyes is best to have had done by them (though I did just fine on my own). I've loved every pair of glasses I've ever received from them, and I love being able to have 2 or 3 pair (my toddler loves to break them > ) and switch them depending on my outfit, etc.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by gabbyraja

Get the exam on insurance, then the glasses at zennioptical.com. Pretty much every pair, frame and lenses, is under $30. I would never go back to buying from a store.

ETA: just make sure you ask for the glasses RX to take with you when you leave the Dr's office. You'll need specifics, and even the measurement between the eyes is best to have had done by them (though I did just fine on my own). I've loved every pair of glasses I've ever received from them, and I love being able to have 2 or 3 pair (my toddler loves to break them > ) and switch them depending on my outfit, etc.

Yes I've looked at online options and for DS going with the actual brick and mortar store was the best option.

[vannienicole]

I used them for my glasses too. I got two pairs shipped for $60. The glasses are awesome and I even have astigmatism.

[confustication]

Well- DH got the contracts he'd put in for which will mean we certainly won't be low-income anymore, but for a few months we will be supporting two households on that income.

I'm thrilled for him, of course. For me though, I'm not so thrilled. We will be moving away from family (we live a few blocks from my parents) and I am struggling a bit with that. We're also moving to DH's country (I am from the US, he is from Canada) and I'm overwhelmed realizing how much stuff we can't take with us- it just isn't worth the expense for most of our furniture.

DH will probably leave within the week, and I'll be here alone with the kids for a few months hile he gets everything set up.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by confustication

Well- DH got the contracts he'd put in for which will mean we certainly won't be low-income anymore, but for a few months we will be supporting two households on that income.

I'm thrilled for him, of course. For me though, I'm not so thrilled. We will be moving away from family (we live a few blocks from my parents) and I am struggling a bit with that. We're also moving to DH's country (I am from the US, he is from Canada) and I'm overwhelmed realizing how much stuff we can't take with us- it just isn't worth the expense for most of our furniture.

DH will probably leave within the week, and I'll be here alone with the kids for a few months hile he gets everything set up.

Congrats on the job! That is exciting and scary! Where in Canada will you be moving?

[confustication]

We'll be living near Vancouver. I'm excited and terrified. lol

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by confustication

We'll be living near Vancouver. I'm excited and terrified. lol

I've only been to Vancouver and Victoria, and I soooo loved it there!

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by confustication

We'll be living near Vancouver. I'm excited and terrified. lol

Congratulations...

[confustication]

I long to be near Victoria- it just seems like such an amazing area on many levels, but we'll be east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley which is also supposed to be quite lovely. I've only been there in passing, but DH lived there most of his life.

[Pumpkin_Pie]

Woo Hoo! Just found out that my EBT benefits just increased by quite a bit, and there was another economic stimulus funding amount that was just released as a summer "bonus" amount for Vermont families. So crazy, freaking excited! We were really scraping the bottom of the barrel on groceries lately. (So thankful for my little stockpile!)

I also received a phone call today that my son has a spot at a local preschool that is one of the best in our area. It is such a gorgeous school, and although it isn't the Waldorf preschool that I was trying to get him into (and paid $21 to apply for scholarship ), it is really great, a good friend works there and can pick him up if I need her to, two other friends have children attending there, and they are completely income based. So, it really doesn't matter that I am currently unemployed. I won't have to pay a crazy co-payment no matter what. Not that I plan to remain unemployed, but I am so excited to have him there at a school that I can feel good about and I know I can afford. The only catch is that school starts TOMORROW! I am bringing him in for two hours tomorrow and going with him and then on Thursday, he starts for real. Crazy!

I also potentially have a nanny job in the works that will pay quite well, although it isn't a permanent position. It sounds like it could really work out perfectly, but at this point I am putting the good energy out there and crossing my fingers. I feel like so much has happened lately that just feels so crappy that the good has to be coming soon.

Just called to check the balance on my food stamp card and it is $0. I called earlier, as there was supposed to be a rather large deposit into the account on 8/26 and when I spoke to a CSR, she said that it had gone in already. I am soooooo frustrated. The CSR hotline is now closed for the evening, the account is at $0, and I am hungry, exhausted, have a cranky three year old, and just want to go to bed. I can call back tomorrow, but it takes over 20 minutes of waiting on hold every time I call. I am also waiting to hear about cash assistance and unemployment $$ and neither seems to be coming through. I have living on such a minimal amount of $$ for three weeks now. I had one check arrive from my very part time job for $66, and that is all that will be coming in for the next couple of weeks unless something goes through.

Just feeling so stressed out right now.