*~*~*2012 Low Income Support Group*~*~* - Page 10

[Mom31]

That is awesome you are having your families help!  I am so happy for you!

[Apples12]

Originally Posted by Rosarium 

One more thng: poverty does not cause criminal behavior. My kids grew up poor, and none of them is a crook. Instead, all three are employed, pay taxes, and vote. My son just enlisted in the Army.

While not everyone that grows up poor or in poverty turns to crime, there are many that do. When people have nothing or almost nothing then they feel that they have nothing to lose by turning to crime to survive. Being poor can cause such mental anguish and stress that can lead people to do things that they would possibly never do if they were not struggling financially.

[Mom31]

This is a low income support thread... thanks for saying our kids will be criminals.

I think my kids will grow up to appreciate what they do have- at least that's my hope.

[Apples12]

Originally Posted by Mom31 

This is a low income support thread... thanks for saying our kids will be criminals.

I think my kids will grow up to appreciate what they do have- at least that's my hope.

I didn't say anything about your children or specifically anyone's children being criminals. I responded to someone that said that poverty doesn't cause crime. I said that sometimes, not always, but sometimes it does. I grew up in some poor areas so I know it can. That is a fact.

I'm glad to hear that your children are doing well so there is no need for you to take it personal.

[Mom31]

Are you living in Poverty Apples?  Just curious.

[Apples12]

Originally Posted by Mom31 

Are you living in Poverty Apples?  Just curious.

What is your definition of poverty?
 

[Heather7650]

My husband and I both have a skilled trade that helps us in times of struggle. We rely heavily on bartering. My husband is a mechanic and I am a beautician, both have allowed us to earn money in a pinch and get things we need. We needed repair to our basement, repairs my work-himself-to-death-to-feed-us hubby doesn't have the time to research how to do the job himself. We bartered with a mason who also needed car repairs he couldn't afford. My husband didn't sell him parts he didn't need, he simply fixed the broken part already in place.

As for me, occasionally I have to do a haircut or two with (5)naked, screaming kids in the room, but everyone's hair grows and needs cutting.

We couldn't believe that our two skills were struggling beccause those professions should never be unneeded, even though we pinched, they did in fact see us through. Long story short, my advice is to get yourself educated in a profession that doesn't expire, doesn't take money to do, and doesn't need a boss or anyone else to depend on to execute. Most cases women can go back to school very cheaply, and maybe even free.

Good luck and God bless.

[Paigekitten]

Well this thread has certainly been supportive lately...

 

I think that if there is a connection between poverty and crime it's probably only coincidence.  As in parents are so busy trying to get by that they don't have time to parent.  JMO.

 

Anyway, we had a really stressful year in 2011 and through the whole year money has been such a problem that I was feeling really down on myself, turns out we only made $14,000.  The year before we made $24,000.  I now feel incredibly validated and extremely pleased with our ability to make do.

 

The other day one of my facebook friends was complaining because her smart phone has bad service at her (really really nice, in a nice area) house and about how she would just go back to a flip phone but it would be like trading her car for a horse and buggy.  I about wanted to scream.  I have Skype.  My reception sucks and people can't hear me, so it's almost like not having a phone in the first place.

[thatgirliknew]

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness. DH and I have been planning to move with taxes. We would adore having a house, but figured something in our price range would be in a worse end of town than where we live now.

I just found an ad for a home for rent with the option to buy. $500 down and $460 a month. AMAZING deal for a house. Drove by it, wasn't scared away, called about it and hope to get more info Monday. It has 3 BR, a finished attic, and an unfinished basement. It's within the city limits, so we wouldn't pay garbage, the only 'new' bill would be water. So, all in all, it's about $100 more expensive than where we are now, 5 minutes away, in a better neighborhood and with two more bedrooms! IF we get this it will be an epic success. Come on taxes. (ETA: 5 days)

[kfillmore]

I want to apply to some preschool for DD in the fall. I think a part time high quality school would be good for her. I keep hearing how we might be able to get enough financial aid to send her. The problem is that it cost $50 to apply. I would need to apply to a few to see where we get the most aid. BUT we can't afford $200 for application fees. Anyone have/had this issue?

[Mom31]

No- but could you see if they could reduce or waive the fee?  Does not hurt to ask.

[gabbyraja]

Thatgirliknew ~ Excellent and GL!

I submitted Dh's USDA Direct mortgage app on Fri. We have completed the requirements for our IDA, so we will now have $3,000 free ($4,000 total) for a down payment. We went out with the realtor for the first time yesterday and looked at 8 houses. 1 is just about perfect. 2400 sq ft, 4 bedroom, 1.5 acres (so we could have 2 sheep!), rural and private on a dead-end street with a big cow farm at the end. It's SO great! There's even an in-ground pool with a diving board and a 4 season's room!!! I'm trying hard not to get emotionally attached, just in case there's some road-block to the mortgage. I NEVER, EVER thought we could have a house this nice. YAY USDA and a 1% interest rate! Our payments will be $600, $200 lower than our current rent!!! Plus, well water, so another $100/month savings.

I need fingers crossed from everyone. And I will do the same for you all, as always.

[averysmomma05]

I know right.Haven't really even wanted to write lately. We made about 10k less this year then last too and we both were working.
 

Originally Posted by Paigekitten 
 

[Rosarium]

kfilmore ... I suggest the you go to your library and borrow something about Maria Montessori. Her schools are great, but she herself thought that being at home with a mother is the ultimate education for a young child. She also had tips on how to turn that ordinary environment into an education theme park where children thrive.

I've read heaps and heaps of unsubstantiated claims taht children who are not put into a group environment will not develope socially. I have seen over and over that the opposite is true, so long as the parents care enough to socialize their own childern. To the sceptics I say, does a child learm math from a teacher (or parent or older sib) who knows math, or from a group of peers who don't know math? The same is true of social skills. If mom and dad model socially acceptable behavior, if they instruct the child(ren) to say things like please and thankyou, to share, etc, that will do more good than any preschool at any price.

If you are still worried your child will be too shy or something, put him/her in a Sunday school, Sabbath school (at a synagogue), or whatever goes along with your house of worship. Be sure to choose one where the group is small, and the teachers are genuinely concerned about children. And do not leave your child until s/he is so involved in the activity that you will not be immediately missed. Alternately, get together with relatives or even a group of your friends. Expose your child to social situations with other children while you are there to supervise! Allow your child to leave you in comfort, rather than pushing him away or abandoning (in the child's view) him or her to strangers.

[Rosarium]

Apples makes a common mistake of reversing cause and effect. Poverty does not cause criminality. Criminals come from every social stratus, not only from the poor. There are many poor who do not grow up criminal, but we seldom hear about them -- ordinary people don't usually get noticed.

Often, the cause of poverty is the same as the cause of children who grow up criminal --negligent or even abusive parents, who do not care what happens to their children. There are parents who do not think it important to provide for their children, and so they won't work any harder than to suit themselves. The same people do not care if their children recieve moral instruction, education, love, a sense of belonging-ness, etc. Those children have a much harder time learning skills like respecting the other person. (Even those children are not hopelessly condemned to become criminals.)

Without much money, we can raise our children in a kind of wealth that does not depend on dollars. We can raise them to be rich in family, rich in books, rich in music, art or sports, etc. To be rich in music does not necessarily mean skilled in music, but can mean able to enjoy music. Experiment, try many things, and discover your child's potential, then nurture that. Or pass along a family heritage which might be drawing, playing touch football, writing limerics, or the like.  Better yet, share traditions AND make new ones. These distinctives give children identity, aspirations, self-esteem.

There was a sport-loving boy whose piano lessons culminated in being able to play a reasonable rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. It did only this for him -- he and his buddies were able to begin their backyard baseball games liek the pros do -- with the national anthem. His mother wisely accepted that -- his own idea -- as acchievement enough. but I doubt it was the end of the story.

By the way, new research says that the millionaires of the next generation are more likely to be kids who have part-time jobs than kids who go to all the best schools. Which of your little darlings will make it big?

[branditopolis]

got my income tax check and it's $3,000!! I don't think I've ever even had that much money in my account before.  So now I have all this money for a security deposit on an apartment, but I'm hit with this 2.5 rule.  For every apartment I find they state in their terms that my income must equal 2.5 times the rental rate... and it does not.  And, that would be for a studio... if i could rent one, having DS.  I have two weeks to move out and my mother's alcoholic boyfriend has already moved in.  He makes me so nervous and tense I'm getting headaches in the back of my head again.  Sometimes the muscles in my neck go completely rigid when I know he's close.  Since he's there and he'll be paying my half of the rent.  I've made a few calls and am going to try offering them extensive security deposits.  I don't know what else to do.

[zebra15]

Brandi- do you have any rental location agencies in your area.  Around here we do and basically you give them your info, and THEY find you an apt.  THEY pre-screen you, you tell them what you want, what area you want to be in, what ammenties you want in an apt and they do all the leg work.

Person A could say : 2br, 2bath, in suite full size washer/dryer, min 900 sq ft, ground floor, covered parking, on the bus line, must be in abc123 middle school.

Person B could say 1br 1bath, laundry room, 600 sq ft min, min 2nd floor, no parking, must have a pool, must be in 1 of 3 zip codes, preferred employer discount for 'xyz321'

The rental agency would put that info in their data base, pull up some apts that match your criteria and your rent and see what's available when you want to move in.  Since the 'agency' has screened you, the apartment does not need to.  The apartment is contracted with the rental agency, the rental agency gets paid from the apts when you move in.

[branditopolis]

how do i find one of these rental agencies??

[averysmomma05]

We took our older car to get fixed (check engine light) won't go off and it won't pass emissions so we can't get tags and drive it legally.We paid $975 to get it fixed got home and light came right back on.I am just sick about it we have a meeting with the tag place tomorrow who might be able to override it and give us tags since we have been trying since last August. I could use you guys good thoughts that we get good news tomorrow morning otherwise we are out a car and need to bum rides.

[maciascl]

Positive thoughts to you mama!

 

Originally Posted by averysmomma05 

We took our older car to get fixed (check engine light) won't go off and it won't pass emissions so we can't get tags and drive it legally.We paid $975 to get it fixed got home and light came right back on.I am just sick about it we have a meeting with the tag place tomorrow who might be able to override it and give us tags since we have been trying since last August. I could use you guys good thoughts that we get good news tomorrow morning otherwise we are out a car and need to bum rides.