January 2011 Low Income Support Thread - Page 2

[averysmomma05]

This week we are down to the bare in food because we had to spend a fortune on plumbing issues this past week. Hubby is gone to sell cans we had, and I have some money on my debit card just need to get a few more dinner things since I get paid tomorrow from work and can get grocery. That is about all happening over here. Hugs everyone! oh, and I learned I need to have $400 by Feb 15th to pay for my class at school to get my GPA up so I can get FA again. Sigh.

[frugalmama]

Just got great news from our local food bank - Texas is testing a program to let you use food stamps at Farmer's Markets! http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/stakeholder/Jan_Feb11/5.html . I"m thrilled - we have a farmers market once a week close to the house and I love getting beets and fruit, but using cash was a problem.

Passing on the news in case anyone else can benefit from it!

[GirlBoyGirl]

FrugalMama, that's great! I would love to shop at the farmers market with my fs!!!

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by frugalmama 

Just got great news from our local food bank - Texas is testing a program to let you use food stamps at Farmer's Markets! http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/stakeholder/Jan_Feb11/5.html . I"m thrilled - we have a farmers market once a week close to the house and I love getting beets and fruit, but using cash was a problem.

Passing on the news in case anyone else can benefit from it!

In MI we can use FS anywhere that will take them (for fresh food, of course) and our farmer's market does. They use a token system, so you buy tokens at the office with your FS card and then use the tokens at the individual stands. LOVE it. I get fresh fruits and veggies, of course, but also raw honey and maple syrup, etc. You can also get pastured meat and eggs. Unfortunately you cannot buy raw milk in MI... I have to ration, because we don't get enough FS to buy everything I'd like there, but I love that I am able to if I want to.
 

[zebra15]

Just checking in.  I had 1/2 day of work on Tues and the class was so horrible I refused to go back on Weds when they offered it to me.  The teacher was snottty to me, greeted me with ' Your'e not my usual sub' and when I asked her for the lesson plans her response was 'well its just the Civil War, don't you know about that'.  The whole fiasco was horrid.  Usually 1/2 days are awesome.

No work for tomorrow, hopefully something will surface for Thursday.  I have an interview for Friday. Its not a job I want and I dont think I will pass the firms credit/background check but I need to start interviewing for a normal income type job.

[MamitaM]

zebra15 I hope it goes well and that you either get the job or an interview with a place you really want to work at.

Today I got a nice surprise check int he mail! yay!!!! I love surprise checks, especially nice big ones from the government! The only "problem" is that I never know what to spend them on. Technically it's for my son, it's the child tax benefit, but he really doesn't need much right now. So I'll put it all on on bills and debt so I can get caught up a little. It's $744!!!!! So I have to sit down and decide what bills and debt it should go to and I'll probably get a few groceries as well and of course set aside $30 for his RESP. He really doesn't need anything since he has the crib (that we don't use at the moment) clothes, cloth diapers and mama milk.

[Motivated Mama]

I'd like to join. Our financial situation has been rocky mountainous over the last few years. Before children (5 years ago), I worked part-time for the same place that I do now, making $4 less an hour. Post DD1, I got a new job making $30k a year which isn't bad for Maine. DH delivered pizza. Then we bought a house and I had DS. Meanwhile we racked up thousands of dollars in credit cards and school loans (and I mean thousands). A lot of the credit card debt was spent on education, home furnishing, etc. We were making decent money (DH started working for the post office, part-time) and able to avoid childcare by rotating our schedule. I made way more than minimum payments on everything. We even bought a $20k vehicle for my long commute and growing family with dog.

Fast forward to Oct 2009. I was extremely depressed. DD2 was 9 months and a very sick (misdiagnosed) baby. DS was high-needs. I felt like I needed to be home. I quit on the 1st, applied for Maine Care and FS on the 5th, then had DD2 admitted to Barbara Bush Children's Hospital for failure-to-thrive. She had open-heart surgery on the 9th.

We're in a much better place now, one year later, but have huge financial (mostly debt) stress. I know work PT on the weekends. DH delivers minimally and works for the post office. The carrier that he works for is retiring so he will be working full-time for the next 3 months. This means we definitely lose our FS and maybe even our Medicaid. This is horrible because both my youngest children have ongoing medical appointments (occupational therapy for DS and cardiac monitoring for DD2).

I feel like one of those people on Oprah years ago - you know, the ones with $20k in credit card debt, $20k in school debt, $20k in vehicles, and $130k mortgage?? The only thing is, is that those people made $100k a year. We barely made $50k last year.

I think in consideration of our debt, I belong here. I can't sell the home or the cars, because we owe more than they're worth. So, I'm holding on tight and just trying not to lose anything. I have a 5 year plan. It includes a lot of no-spending and every. single. penny going toward our debt and now, food. I need the support to continue living frugally

[averysmomma05]

I so understand what you are going though. We lost our medicaid,FS,and wic when I got a job so now we will have to pay out of pocket for our kids medical which we can't pay for. We are still trying to get medicaid back and forget the rest since we can semi afford those things for now. I have 20k in debt for hospital bills and it's like a end never in sight. I hope it gets better for you!
 

Originally Posted by Motivated Mama 

I'd like to join. Our financial situation has been rocky mountainous over the last few years. Before children (5 years ago), I worked part-time for the same place that I do now, making $4 less an hour. Post DD1, I got a new job making $30k a year which isn't bad for Maine. DH delivered pizza. Then we bought a house and I had DS. Meanwhile we racked up thousands of dollars in credit cards and school loans (and I mean thousands). A lot of the credit card debt was spent on education, home furnishing, etc. We were making decent money (DH started working for the post office, part-time) and able to avoid childcare by rotating our schedule. I made way more than minimum payments on everything. We even bought a $20k vehicle for my long commute and growing family with dog.

Fast forward to Oct 2009. I was extremely depressed. DD2 was 9 months and a very sick (misdiagnosed) baby. DS was high-needs. I felt like I needed to be home. I quit on the 1st, applied for Maine Care and FS on the 5th, then had DD2 admitted to Barbara Bush Children's Hospital for failure-to-thrive. She had open-heart surgery on the 9th.

We're in a much better place now, one year later, but have huge financial (mostly debt) stress. I know work PT on the weekends. DH delivers minimally and works for the post office. The carrier that he works for is retiring so he will be working full-time for the next 3 months. This means we definitely lose our FS and maybe even our Medicaid. This is horrible because both my youngest children have ongoing medical appointments (occupational therapy for DS and cardiac monitoring for DD2).

I feel like one of those people on Oprah years ago - you know, the ones with $20k in credit card debt, $20k in school debt, $20k in vehicles, and $130k mortgage?? The only thing is, is that those people made $100k a year. We barely made $50k last year.

I think in consideration of our debt, I belong here. I can't sell the home or the cars, because we owe more than they're worth. So, I'm holding on tight and just trying not to lose anything. I have a 5 year plan. It includes a lot of no-spending and every. single. penny going toward our debt and now, food. I need the support to continue living frugally

[zebra15]

Ya know I just want one thing to go right.  I need to cancel the interview because I need a dr's appt.  I call the dr's office for an appt and I get stuck w/ the PA.  I always get stuck w the PA cuz I have crappy insurance.  If I wanted to see the PA I would've asked for the PA, I asked for the DR... ya know Im gonna go see the PA and nothing is going to get resolved and next week Im going to call back and have to see the DR.  This just wastes everyones times and doesn't save the insurance any money.  Gotta love the budget cuts to AHCCCS.

Oh and my sons father is being a major fool these days.

[mama to B]

I haven't been on in a while but I'm back, its just me and my daughter and I am doing okay lately but at the end of Feb I am losing 2 of the kids I was and in the next few weeks one is going down to part time. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do but I'll need to figure something out so I can hopefully still make my bills! Right now I am cutting back and saving like a crazy person.

 

Originally Posted by zebra15 

Ya know I just want one thing to go right.  I need to cancel the interview because I need a dr's appt.  I call the dr's office for an appt and I get stuck w/ the PA.  I always get stuck w the PA cuz I have crappy insurance.  If I wanted to see the PA I would've asked for the PA, I asked for the DR... ya know Im gonna go see the PA and nothing is going to get resolved and next week Im going to call back and have to see the DR.  This just wastes everyones times and doesn't save the insurance any money.  Gotta love the budget cuts to AHCCCS.

Oh and my sons father is being a major fool these days.

So is my daughters dad, like beyond... I might have to go to court about it and don't think I qualify for legal aid and there is no way I can afford a lawyer, I feel like I'm in a bad bad position and not sure what I'm going to do about it. The really sucky thing is, he qualifies for legal aid....... ugh
 

[averysmomma05]

Well my day has been shit. It just got shitter. Apparently I was audited and owe the IRS 697.00 from last year but these crazy fools add a 105 fee on top of it to pay by check,money order, etc. WTF? Anyways, fk it. The audit was totally my fault I get that I owe them but I highly doubt my 2k dollars I made and forgot I even worked the year before cost $697.

[MamitaM]

Emi I'm sorry you had such a shitty day. I hope tomorrow is better. 

So the other day I got a big check for my child tax benefit and then today I got my GST back and it was much more then I expected. I paid a whole BIG huge amount on my big HUGE credit card debt, so it should be around $888! LOL Yeah, around there! I know it's a funny number, but that's what I estimated it to be based on my last bill! So I cut it down by about 1/2 of what I owed in just 1 day! It feels pretty good to have so much of it paid off.

I went shopping after I went to the bank at a rummage sale and bought a new carpet for my son, it's one of those fun "city" carpets that you can play cars on. It was $2!!! I was silly and left the bag at the church though where I bought it, but luckily I noticed before getting home and ran back in and got it. Brand new they are about $30! We really needed something for him to play on so I was happy to find it today.

[Motivated Mama]

I got an awesome paycheck today! I worked christmas eve, christmas day, and new year day which were all time and a half, plus 13 hours on the day after christmas. I'm scheduled only 2 days a week, so the half added up to an extra 1.5 days (18 hours). So cool! It all went toward the mortgage which was due the 1st, but the new mortgage company has a 14 day grace period. The money from DH's 2 checks should make us current on the vehicles - we didn't have money for it last month.

Emi - sorry about the audit. That sucks.

[_Demeter_]

I'd like to join in as well! I'm a 25 year old mama-at-heart who is trying mightily to thrive on very little income at the moment. I work at a hotel and as a doula while studying to be a midwife. If I was willing to give up attending births, I could likely find a job paying me more money, but without the birth experience it would be difficult for me to meet my long-term career goals. So for right now, this is where I'm at. For the most part I'm pretty positive, but this is actually my first winter ever "out on my own" and learning how to budget and manage my limited money has been a challenge. I'm learning though!

[zebra15]

I have a sub job for Monday... keep your fingers crossed that it wont get cancelled

[inkedmamajama]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna 

Happy New Year everyone!  I have some great news...we have a house and will move soon.  I'm planning to care for two babies to help increase my income (and I love babies and toddlers)!

I think this year is looking better all ready.  I'll have a warm bedroom!  I'm so happy.  Anyway, wanted to share the news.  Where do you go to get good washer and dryer's, beds and tables?  I've been watching Craigslist for a while, both Free and For Sale, and haven't found anything yet.  Hoping January brings these things I need. 

How are all of you doing?

do you live near a large(ish) city? We buy used appliances very cheap at small mom and pop shops in the city (st. louis, Mo) It is by far the best way to go for someone that is not going to drop thousands of dollars on brand new with warranties, etc...

[cwat]

Hi, I don't know if you guys remember me, I haven't been on this forum since around November(ish)

Things here are still all F*cked up, plus work is cutting EVERYONE'S hours (from approximately 33 down to approximately 21) with no end in site till at least the end of February.

[Motivated Mama]

We're going to make decent money over the next few months since DH will be working 6 days a week while a new person is trained to take-over the mail route he subs for (his boss is retiring). We're losing FS, but will continue to receive Medicaid for 6 months. At the end of that 6 months, we might be able to get back coverage because DH will be shifting back to his regular hours. I'm finding it difficult to figure out how to keep healthcare and work more hours. Aaargh! It's not like we can actually afford health insurance since neither one of our jobs offers it at a price we can afford.

[mamaofprincesses]

Hi, I'm thread crashing (although I probably should post here on a regular basis. . .) Anyway, MotivatedMama, you should see if your state has a program like this one: http://health.utah.gov/upp/index.htm

Maybe that would help your family afford coverage through one of your employers.

The FAQs says Californnia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana. Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have similar programs.

[Motivated Mama]

Originally Posted by mamaofprincesses 

Hi, I'm thread crashing (although I probably should post here on a regular basis. . .) Anyway, MotivatedMama, you should see if your state has a program like this one: http://health.utah.gov/upp/index.htm

Maybe that would help your family afford coverage through one of your employers.

The FAQs says Californnia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana. Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have similar programs.

I'm in Maine. Thanks though, for caring
ETA: Cobra also costs more than my mortgage.