*~*~*2012 Low Income Support Group*~*~* - Page 11

[Rosarium]

I sure hope you can solve this problem! I've been near it myself.

What I did was to take my veh8icle to an auto parts store that offered a free analysis of the problem. You can then compare that analysis to the list of services on your reciept from the repair shop. If it comes up that the things the computer say don't work properly are the same things they said they fixed for you, you can then go to the better business bureau and the local attorney general and go after the shop for fraud.

In future, get this checked BEFORE you put your vehicle in the shop, so you can be sure to get ther right stuff fixed. Some shops will fraudulently "repair" things the never did need repaired. Another way you can pretect yourself from big bills is to call several shops and ask what they charge for the repairs recommended in the free analysis.

If you are curious, I had an analysis say that I needed to replace three oxygen sensors. Hubby shopped around for them, and he replaced them himself. He unplugged a whatzit that forced the onboard computer to reset, with the repairs already done. But I had an extra little benefit, a promise from the little used-car dealership where I bought my van, that they would do a free check and possibly make a minor repair. So, I took my vehicle back and got their check-up, too. Then I got it inspected and passed. Sounds great, right? Alas, about a month later, the van was totaled. Frustrating!!! Fortunately, my son had a second car he was going to have to sell anyway.

[averysmomma05]

It was hooked up at auto zone 4 times in august, was at 4 mechanics before this and this was our last mechanic we took it to and fixed for about the 10th time.The receipt matches and we took it to the place we bought from and they say they can't find anything else wrong as did my regular mechanic,the shop who fixed it, and another shop.It is a common problem in year/type  car we have since I met a few more people with same cars and years and mileage with same problems.We still owe around 3200 on this car so we have to pay for it either way hoping the tag man can override it. Been a great car for 6 years until now.

Originally Posted by Rosarium 

I sure hope you can solve this problem! I've been near it myself.

What I did was to take my veh8icle to an auto parts store that offered a free analysis of the problem. You can then compare that analysis to the list of services on your reciept from the repair shop. If it comes up that the things the computer say don't work properly are the same things they said they fixed for you, you can then go to the better business bureau and the local attorney general and go after the shop for fraud.

In future, get this checked BEFORE you put your vehicle in the shop, so you can be sure to get ther right stuff fixed. Some shops will fraudulently "repair" things the never did need repaired. Another way you can pretect yourself from big bills is to call several shops and ask what they charge for the repairs recommended in the free analysis.

If you are curious, I had an analysis say that I needed to replace three oxygen sensors. Hubby shopped around for them, and he replaced them himself. He unplugged a whatzit that forced the onboard computer to reset, with the repairs already done. But I had an extra little benefit, a promise from the little used-car dealership where I bought my van, that they would do a free check and possibly make a minor repair. So, I took my vehicle back and got their check-up, too. Then I got it inspected and passed. Sounds great, right? Alas, about a month later, the van was totaled. Frustrating!!! Fortunately, my son had a second car he was going to have to sell anyway.

[Nature]

Hello mamas its been awhile since i've been here. I hope I can join in.

[averysmomma05]

Welcome!!!
 

Originally Posted by Nature 

Hello mamas its been awhile since i've been here. I hope I can join in.

**********************************************************

good news for me. The state inspection gave us a waiver and our car is legal for another year.thank goodness.

[Nature]

Originally Posted by averysmomma05 

Welcome!!!
 

**********************************************************

good news for me. The state inspection gave us a waiver and our car is legal for another year.thank goodness.

thanks! And congrats! I know how stressful that can be.

[maciascl]

I haven't really posted an update in a while. Finally got the FS stuff situated...at least for another couple months. I did feel guilty when she double checked to make sure the amount she released was on my card and saw that we already had a large balance. I use my fs, I don't pay for my food cash, I just spend frugally and have built up a balance. I am hopeing that someday we will be off fs and that balance will help us while we adjust.

Other than that things are still really crummy and I am starting to freak out again. DH was told 2 weeks ago that he would start his new job next week, which was last week. But they never called back. I asked him to call them yesterday to follow up and he forgot. That really made me mad. I understand that he is still working on real estate stuff too, but to forgot to follow up on the job you are supposed to be working is unacceptable to me. I wish I could forget that we are going to be completely out of money and looking for someone to let us live with them in a couple months if he doesn't start this job, but i can't. MIL is living with SIL already and my sister is living with my parents. I have no idea where we could go at this point. My Aunt and Uncle offered their place when we lost our house, but they live about 45 min away from DH's real estate office and all of our homeschool activites/classes, and over an hour from Dh's supposed new job.

I am so tired of feeling like this. I just don't know what to do anymore. I have this overwhelming guilt that I should get a job too but that would mean putting the kids in school and paying for child care. I haven't worked in over 8 years and have no degree or real skills so I am not real hireable beyond fast food or retail which would barely cover the cost of child care.My kids have never been in those kind of situations. They have never even been babysat by someone that wasn't friends or family and even that is rare. It would be a huge adjustment for them. I just don't know...

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by maciascl 

I haven't really posted an update in a while. Finally got the FS stuff situated...at least for another couple months. I did feel guilty when she double checked to make sure the amount she released was on my card and saw that we already had a large balance. I use my fs, I don't pay for my food cash, I just spend frugally and have built up a balance. I am hopeing that someday we will be off fs and that balance will help us while we adjust.

Other than that things are still really crummy and I am starting to freak out again. DH was told 2 weeks ago that he would start his new job next week, which was last week. But they never called back. I asked him to call them yesterday to follow up and he forgot. That really made me mad. I understand that he is still working on real estate stuff too, but to forgot to follow up on the job you are supposed to be working is unacceptable to me. I wish I could forget that we are going to be completely out of money and looking for someone to let us live with them in a couple months if he doesn't start this job, but i can't. MIL is living with SIL already and my sister is living with my parents. I have no idea where we could go at this point. My Aunt and Uncle offered their place when we lost our house, but they live about 45 min away from DH's real estate office and all of our homeschool activites/classes, and over an hour from Dh's supposed new job.

I am so tired of feeling like this. I just don't know what to do anymore. I have this overwhelming guilt that I should get a job too but that would mean putting the kids in school and paying for child care. I haven't worked in over 8 years and have no degree or real skills so I am not real hireable beyond fast food or retail which would barely cover the cost of child care.My kids have never been in those kind of situations. They have never even been babysat by someone that wasn't friends or family and even that is rare. It would be a huge adjustment for them. I just don't know...

Why don't you take college classes online? You can do them at night. Maybe you don't have a college near you. I live in a city w/4-5 colleges, so I forget that some people don't. But there are colleges that do the entire degree online. Maybe beauty school, if you've got one. As a previous poster mentioned, everyone needs a haircut, and most prefer to not have a home haircut (meaning themselves or someone that doesn't know what they're doing). Night classes and financial aid. Grants cover our entire tuition, plus. Then if you have scholarships... And loans they help a LOT. Yes, you have to pay them back someday, but the premise is that you will be making enough to do so. AND, if you're not, they give you the payment you can afford (including zero). After you pay that amount for 20 years, you're done. I feel it's well worth it. Especially to better myself and my family with a skill that's at the very least barterable.
 

[maciascl]

DH got the offical start date, FIANLLY! He starts Friday 3/2. They will spend the 1st week setting up the new store so he was warned that he'd have alot of hours while they get it going. YAY! So relieved, but now I am worring about the long term since his income will be a little more than half of what we need each month. Plus gas prices are going crazy and he will be driving 20 miles each way.

I am trying to just be in the moment and be thankful. They told him that after 2 months he's be eligable for full time with benefits. I am hoping that will happen and come with a bit of a raise too. In June our rent is likely to go up but we've seen places that are similar and less than what we pay now so we'd like to move. However FIL is on our lease now since we don't qualify on our own. With a little raise we might qualify on our own (even though the actaul income still won't be enough) and it would be wonderful to lower our rent a bit.

Gabbyraja: I've thought about school many times but I just missed the spring semester this time around. I'd have to wait until Fall again.  Plus I worry about my being able to concentrate. I have alot of concentration and focus issues due to thyroid and CFS.

[zebra15]

I had an interview today and have a 2nd interview on Monday.  Crossing everything for an offer on Monday.  I need this job (potential start date of 3/26). I don't care what the hours are, pay range is almost livable and its 2 miles from my house.  There is career advancement and monthly bonus checks!  I know I swore I would NEVER go back to call centers but honestly, I need the money.

Please wish me luck and good vibes for Monday's interview.  I know I can pass the background check.

[averysmomma05]

My FS still wasn't fixed so I contacted the Ombudsman and she fixed everything that day and I got a $436 backpay on my card for all the months i've been waiting. My worker is pissed with me now so I am going to switch workers.

[averysmomma05]

Good Luck!
 

Originally Posted by zebra15 

I had an interview today and have a 2nd interview on Monday.  Crossing everything for an offer on Monday.  I need this job (potential start date of 3/26). I don't care what the hours are, pay range is almost livable and its 2 miles from my house.  There is career advancement and monthly bonus checks!  I know I swore I would NEVER go back to call centers but honestly, I need the money.

Please wish me luck and good vibes for Monday's interview.  I know I can pass the background check.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by averysmomma05 

My FS still wasn't fixed so I contacted the Ombudsman and she fixed everything that day and I got a $436 backpay on my card for all the months i've been waiting. My worker is pissed with me now so I am going to switch workers.

Im so glad you not only got things fixed but you got back 'pay' as well.  You definately need to get a new worker now.

[averysmomma05]

Yeah, my worker called me a liar on the phone and was extra mad and screaming that I turned them in with the state.Oh well.I never can get her on the phone and she never fixes anything and apparently I wasn't lieing since  the state found everything I said.
 

Originally Posted by zebra15 

Im so glad you not only got things fixed but you got back 'pay' as well.  You definately need to get a new worker now.

[Paigekitten]

That's good you were able to get it fixed Averysmommy.  I hope you get a new worker.  

I just found out yesterday I got financial aid for my hospital bills from the birth in November and now I only owe $30, instead of $3,000.  

[frugalmama]

Our house is in foreclosure. I'm selling everything I can to try to hang on to the house. 

I don't know what we'll do otherwise - low rent isn't open here unless you're homeless, we make to little for a regular rental. 

[branditopolis]

i used my tax return to put a security deposit down on an apartment.  the rent is more than half what i make a month but I have to make this work... my mother kicked DS and I out two days ago so her alcoholic boyfriend can move in.  Well, not DS so much... she actually thought I would leave him with her and stay with friends.  We're staying with my dad and his girlfriend in his tiny 1bedroom apt until the 1st.  I hope I can pay the rent on this place.  It's considerably closer to work than the house I rented with my mother... The commute then was 40mi.  Now it's only 14mi, but takes the same length of time since it's all street driving in the city.    

[Mom31]

Hope the apt works out for you- glad it happened around tax time!!!

[branditopolis]

Originally Posted by Mom31 

Hope the apt works out for you- glad it happened around tax time!!!

oh man, I know!

I went to the dollar store today and got necessities for super duper cheap.  spatulas and spoons, a broom, spray bottles for cleaning and storage containers for leftovers... thank the universe for the dollar store! 

[zebra15]

Did NOT get the job. I sure am getting sick and tired of decline emails.  If I can not get jobs that I have 10 years experience doing... what can I get.  This is very depressing and honestly my lease is up in 2 months and I have NO IDEA what I am going to do.  I do not want to go back home but maybe I should?  That interview was the best lead in over 2 years.

I have just enough money to make it 2 months until the lease runs out and a probably enough to move back home. (I might be able to borrow some money from my parents to get 'home') This stinks.    I'm going to be 38 years old and I can not get a damn job.

[maciascl]

Zebra: Huge hugs to you! I am so sorry it didn't work out. I really hope something works out for you, even if it means going home to your parents, remember it is only temporary.