*~*~*2012 Low Income Support Group*~*~* - Page 5

[zebra15]

Subbing tomorrow... wish  me luck!

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by frugalmama 

How did it go with getting FS for your mom - I'm about to do the same for my mom now that her income has dropped. Did you have to add her to your case since she is living with your or is she her own case? I've been going round and round with the local food bank {who also processes FS apps} because they don't know if I need to add her to my case or put her on her own. 

Easy peasy. She had to fill out her own app, but we were all members of her household on the app, and she put on the form that she shops and fixes meals separately. This way they give her more than if she were just to be added to ours (Our caseworker told us this and told us to do it, so it's not like it's underhanded or anything). She is assigned to the same caseworker we have because she is a member of our household. 

[gabbyraja]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

Subbing tomorrow... wish  me luck!

GL!

[MiShelly505]

When I did homeschooling with my DD, my local public school district had a warehouse or teacher and text books.  Homeschooling parents could have stuff the district previously used, chose not to use, or samples for free.  I didn't have the money to purchase her a full curriculum any other way, and it was a lifesaver.  It also helped that I could get more than one year's worth of material in some subjects that she'd go through more quickly.  I don't know if this is an option for you, but it was great for me.  You could also check out your local freecycle and post a wanted request to see if anyone has some they're no longer using.

[MiShelly505]

Originally Posted by frugalmama 

This is only semi-related, but I didn't really feel comfy asking it in the homeschooling section as it pertains more to low-income. Hoping someone else here will have some tips or places to look online. 

I home school, and right now online schools like k-12 aren't an option. Neither is public school for a whole load of reasons. DD advanced through 1st grade faster than I expected by far, and now we need 2nd grade materials now instead of in July when I planned. Normally I buy everything through Amazon using swagbucks GC's, but I'm out due to the holidays so that isn't an option right now. We're also switching programs to try to lower her ASD distractions while doing school, so I need just specific materials. We're planning on going with Pathway readers & rod & Staff for most things that we need as they are low cost but it's still way out of my budget of $25. 

Where & how do you find free / low cost materials? I was considering putting in a request to The Book Samaritan - has anyone done that and what was your experience?

When I did homeschooling with my DD, my local public school district had a warehouse or teacher and text books.  Homeschooling parents could have stuff the district previously used, chose not to use, or samples for free.  I didn't have the money to purchase her a full curriculum any other way, and it was a lifesaver.  It also helped that I could get more than one year's worth of material in some subjects that she'd go through more quickly.  I don't know if this is an option for you, but it was great for me.  You could also check out your local freecycle and post a wanted request to see if anyone has some they're no longer using.

[averysmomma05]

Not much has changed here. Had a u/s yesterday and the baby is doing wonderful. finally got food stamps stuff straightened our worker didn't turn in any of our pay stubs and changes since November. Really pisses me off considering we have barely been making it. Everything is fixed now hopefully and we should have a increase on the 19th. Hope everyone is doing well.

[thatgirliknew]

I am super-annoyed. I applied for FS in December and received $526 for December a few days later. I received a letter from FS last week stating: "we have approved your SNAP application. You will get $526.00 a month from January 2012 until the end of November 2012."
Yesterday I should have received food stamps. I didn't bother calling because I have never had aproblem with benefits not being on the card on the right date. I went with a family friend and got $200 worth of food, we literally had no food at our house. They run my card, it has a $0 balance. My friend knew I had no food so she purchased the food with cash. I called my worker and of course, didn't get through. Lft a message though. I cannot understand WHY I have no FS when I just got a approval notice! Now I am indebted $200 to my friend. Oy.

[amberskyfire]

Aloha! New here, but not to being poor. My name is Amber and I live in Hawaii which is notorious for being an expensive place to live, but it's actually INCREDIBLY cheap to live here, which is why we moved here in the first place. Being in Hawaii instead of Texas has cut our living costs down to about 1/5 of what we used to have to spend on the mainland just to get by. So glad we moved when we did.

Anyway, hubby had to leave his last job because his boss was super abusive (my husband has Asperger Syndrome and cannot handle any kind of stress) and his new job pays about half what the old one did, so we are no longer even getting by. Just applied for food stamps a few days ago and baby #2 is due in March/April.

We'll be okay, though. I have become the queen of thrifty living and it's getting easier with each year that goes by. I have a blog I keep with tips and tricks on how to get by with nothing or practically nothing, so if anyone needs some ideas: http://doingwithout.livejournal.com/

We have managed to make it so far by moving into an abandoned house which isn't bad like it sounds. The house belongs to friends of mine that lost everything and left it to the bank years ago and moved to the mainland to live with their parents. They don't want it. The bank doesn't want it. We figure we'll just stay here until either the bank finds the paperwork (doesn't seem like it'll happen) or it just rots around us. It's a lovely house, far more than we could ever afford to rent, and we take good care of it so we have high hopes for at least a few more years here. There was a homeless guy living in here before with chickens and about a million dogs, so the bank is thrilled that we've moved in and cleaned up the place.

I work from home doing whatever I can while being a SAHM. I write and do graphic design as well as make toys from old recycled clothing and other materials. I feel really lucky to be able to stay home with my children and homeschool them.

It's even harder right now because my husband pays child support, but that will only be for another year or so. Glad to have this support thread!

[Attila the Honey]

Originally Posted by frugalmama 

This is only semi-related, but I didn't really feel comfy asking it in the homeschooling section as it pertains more to low-income. Hoping someone else here will have some tips or places to look online. 

I home school, and right now online schools like k-12 aren't an option. Neither is public school for a whole load of reasons. DD advanced through 1st grade faster than I expected by far, and now we need 2nd grade materials now instead of in July when I planned. Normally I buy everything through Amazon using swagbucks GC's, but I'm out due to the holidays so that isn't an option right now. We're also switching programs to try to lower her ASD distractions while doing school, so I need just specific materials. We're planning on going with Pathway readers & rod & Staff for most things that we need as they are low cost but it's still way out of my budget of $25. 

Where & how do you find free / low cost materials? I was considering putting in a request to The Book Samaritan - has anyone done that and what was your experience?

Absolutely use Book Samaritan - that's what it's there for!  I haven't used them but would not hesitate if the need arose.  

Like the other poster, our school district also provides materials to homeschoolers.  I believe it's a state law.  I've never actually taken advantage of it, but I know many that have. I know you have a specific request, but it might be worth trying the school district materials (if it's available in your area) and seeing if they are an OK fit - at least until you save up the money to get what you prefer?  Good luck!

[Rosarium]

I think the idea is to buy only necessities, so replacing ragged undies would be acceptable, Prolly want to buy only a week's worth, more is prolly a splurge, unless you don't have aaccess to a convenient washing machine.

Among the things that can be counted not necessary are nearly all the products that are used once and then trown away. Why buy garbage? I only used disposable diapers for church, and I instructed the nursery workers taht changing on the first sign of wetness is wasteful. An adoptive granny taught me to wait a few minutes, let Baby finish the job, saves work and money.

I use only half a roll of paper towels per year, for really nasty messes (like a broken egg, really hard to wash out) and used rags for everything else. I went to the thrift store and bought cloth napkins, ten cents each, and now no need for paper napkins. I don't buy disposable plates, flatware, cups, bowls, etc.

I learned to mend things, so I can buy fewer new clothes, and those I buy either second hand or marked down. I borrow books from the library, rather than buying. I cook from scratch, which in not only cheaper than convenience food, but healthier, because I don't salt when I cook. I shop seasonally, and I keep on the lookout for free food, like from gardeners with surplus. I want to grow my own food! I make a lot of stove-top cassseroles, because hubby does not know how to eat just one portion of meat. (A portion is pretty small; a quarter-pounder with cheese is multiple servings!)

Pretty things for the house are optional, so not in the no-buying plan. Instead, learn to make them from stuff on hand. Ever use spare bed sheets as curtains? Some are very pretty. The top part works much like a rod pocket.

[kfillmore]

good thread. Posting so I can find it again. thanks

[jess in hawaii]

Hi ladies! I don't really frequent this forum even though I certainly qualify, but I wanted to pop in because I keep seeing the link on the homepage and all I can think when I look at the picture is "If that's what "low income" looks like, I'm missing out on something!"  Does anyone else see it that way? I mean, not to be judgmental of people who are used to a higher standard of living and going through hard times, I get that, but that picture does not look like anyone I know of living in the kind of poverty I see around me.

Thoughts?

[3xMama]

Good Gods, its really coming down to the line. We didn't pay rent last month and probably won't pay more than half this month. Thank the Gods we rent from my FIL so he's fine with us not paying on time. We have until the end of March to have him paid in full. But with the holidays, all the time DH had off (mandatory, unpaid) for the holidays, and our food stamps not coming through in December, we are down to pennies. I don't know how we are going to pay the necessities this month and we are already a month behind with electric and utilities. Ok, its still early in the month so I know that I'm freaking out a little too much. I'm just really starting to worry about the essentials and I don't want to go asking for hand outs. I will if I have to, I'm not going to let my family go without heat as its finally turning to winter or anything. 

Anyway, its nearly tax time and although our entire tax return is going to be eaten up one way or another almost immediately (repairs to both vehicles, catching up on bills, buying some necessary clothing etc), we will be caught up at that point and things will be good, right? Right....

Wishing everyone some peace of mind for the rest of the month! 

[frugalmama]

I just wanted to share because I know a lot of us on this thred walk places or use public transit - if you register at Nuride.com you can earn points for walking places, taking public transit, or other energy saving travel methods. I registered my daily bus rides and will get a free trip for me and DD to a local museum in a few weeks from it - they also had things like grocery coupons off your total order and other rewards. Maybe it will help someone else out. They ask are you affiliated with a local group, but I put the college I used to attend which is local and they didn't ask for proof if I confirmed membership via text message. 

in other news - still here, still broke. 

[thatgirliknew]

Frugalmama, NURIDE sounds awesome, but they don't have it it my area.

[Heather7650]

Rosarium, i'm with you. I went through my sewing sraps for cloth napkins. No paper towels for us. We cloth diaper, and cloth wipe here. We even use cloth maxi pads. I upcycle anything and everything I can. I cook from beans and rice, and try to make things with half the meat I used to. We homeschool, so I use these opprotunities to show my kids how to care for themselves in the future.

Also girls, the YWCA in my area has a clothing consignment store where you can purchase gently used clothing for yourself for just a few dollars. Even suits for church and interviews!

One thing I had to force myself to learn was, why me? Why is someone who works hard and deserving of better things, standing in the free food line? It hit me when I began to TALK to the people in line with me. I was there for a reason. To love on those who don't know true kindness. To uplift someone who doesn't have anyone in their lives who encourage them. To witness how I speak to my kids, and nurture them even in a bad situation.

Stay strong ladies!

[thatgirliknew]

Originally Posted by jess in hawaii 

Hi ladies! I don't really frequent this forum even though I certainly qualify, but I wanted to pop in because I keep seeing the link on the homepage and all I can think when I look at the picture is "If that's what "low income" looks like, I'm missing out on something!"  Does anyone else see it that way? I mean, not to be judgmental of people who are used to a higher standard of living and going through hard times, I get that, but that picture does not look like anyone I know of living in the kind of poverty I see around me.
Thoughts?

Its not what poverty looks like for me, BUT I am content. I live in a tiny 2 BR apartment with my two kids, dxh, and his roommate. It's in a very low-income area and out of 30-ish buildings maybe 10 of them are boarded up by the PD...
I would rather live in a horrible place that I can afford than a nicer place I can't. There are no extras here, maybe the occasional drive to a park or a toy/book from the DAV. Maybe it'll get better soon, but it's super hard since I have NO job experience and dxh is disabled.
Again though, everyone is different, I am most certainly not criticizing people who have more than me. I learn things from everyone on this board and wish bigger and better things for us all.

[orangemomma]

Hi, new here and new to MDC in general. We are lower income and struggling - I don't think we meet the federal poverty level - but we definitely don't have enough $$ to go around.

I am just so tired of juggling all of the bills - who won't get paid this month etc...

Last month, I couldn't pay the health insurance on time - now we are without and have to reapply.

This month the mortgage got paid but we are WAY behind on the electric and have been getting the nasty-grams.

Hoping to find suggestions here and support to stay positive.

Hope 2012 is better for us all.

[3xMama]

Originally Posted by jess in hawaii 

Hi ladies! I don't really frequent this forum even though I certainly qualify, but I wanted to pop in because I keep seeing the link on the homepage and all I can think when I look at the picture is "If that's what "low income" looks like, I'm missing out on something!"  Does anyone else see it that way? I mean, not to be judgmental of people who are used to a higher standard of living and going through hard times, I get that, but that picture does not look like anyone I know of living in the kind of poverty I see around me.

Thoughts?

*shrug* It looks like three women having a good time to me. I guess it doesn't scream poverty but what kind of picture would other than the slums/homeless? I guess to me we are here for support and to vent in a safe place and that's more of what the picture says and is probably meant to say. You can be low income and still look good and have fun. With some looking thrift stores have really nice clothes and some people (like my family) have been gifted almost their entire wardrobe. My kids have lovely brand new clothes thanks to their grandparents and my mom loves buying clothes for me. I have a great wardrobe of new in style clothing and I've bought nothing for myself for years. And just because you are poor doesn't mean you can't have friends or have fun. You can't judge someone's life by one pic and frankly I think you're over analyzing. Its really nothing more than a picture to try and get more people to read the thread. 

[Rosarium]

For help with heating costs, there is a program called something like LIEAP. Apply for it as early as you can, because the limited funds go first qualified, first served. Some years it runs out in November. However, I hear that a nieghbor was able to apply just last week, so ask about it anyway. If you get food stamps, and probably with some of the other kinds of Public Assistance, you will recieve a notice in the mail about the time you can first apply for it. (Some assistance recievers will be automatically qualified, and that notice comes by mail, too.)

Once I got way behind on utilities, and I had to seek help a varity of places. A couple from my church anonymously pledged $50 dollars, and I was able to get a match on that from a local charity, and the power company agreed to give me extra time to pay the remainder. (You can negotiate like this twice a year with my co-op.)

Educate yourself on the many,many ways to save on utilites. Borrow books from he library, search the internet, and ask people. Ask for the free energy audit from your power company, too.

One money-saving strategy I thought up myself was to buy the tri-fold cardboard thingies used for displays, like the displays in Science Fairs. I choose ones that aer white on the painted side, and I put them in the windows in summer, white side facing out. Notr only does this direact some hot sun away, but the darker interior LOOKS cooler. ?don't forget to insulate windows in cold weather. I found some great thick vinyl shower curtains that worked pretty well, (until the cats decided to pull them down). You can also change your decor a bit. "Yeah, like with what money?" However, it is possible. In hot weather, go with cooler colors, like blue, green, lavendar, and go with lighter colors. If you have to accomplish this with sheets form the thrift store, it is worth it. Also, rougher textures seem cooler, like burlap, canvas, towels. IN cold weather, reverse the process, going for warmer, darker colors and smoother or plusher textures. If all you can do is change around what you have out on display, do that much. But if you can do a lot of this, it will make you feel more prosperous, too.

I love my thrifty light bulbs. I has to start small, but I tried to make each replacement a new CFL spiral thingy. Now I not only save money on lighting, I have cooler lights in my hot climate, and I don't have to change most of the bulbs every other month like I used to. 

Two other of my own ideas were to put a kiddy pool on the patio, in front of the huge window/door I had to live with, and to take many of my houseplants out on that same patio, in summer. In winter, I kept the plants inside, gathered by that same window, and I put most of them on trays of pea gravel. I kept the gravel moist, because humid air feels warment than dry air. It also saved some miserble cold symptoms, because dried out nasal passages are more easily irritated and inflamed. (Now I live in a tiny tin can, AKA trailer, and there is no room for plants indoors.)

I have heard, over and over, that spices and herbs are too expensive for thrifty cooking. Don't you believe it. Yes, it is going to take time to accumulate a good collecton, but herbs and spices add wonderful flavor to ordinary ingredients. Be sure to keep some cider vinegar on hand for your dining pleasure, too. Often a dull tasting dish only needs a splash of cider vinegar to make the flavor wake up and be terrific. BTW, don't be fooled by the color-added vinegars that are super cheap. Only the real thing has the complex flavors, and the smoothness. If you can, also keep lemon juice, in the big generic bottle, for those dishes that can't bear even the moderate sharpness of cider vinegar. There are other benefits to using cider vinegar. It is a great medicine for many ailments, such as acid tummy (no, antacids are not going to solve the problem, you need to help you insides adapt to a healty acid content), arthritis, cold prevention, blood sugar control, and more. See old issues of Prevention magazine for some other uses.

While I'm at it, white vinegar is an essential for all kinds of household and personal care. Use it on your hair to cut grease, or as an alternative to conditioner. Use it in the dishwasher, (clothes) washer, and coffee maker to cut hard-water buildup and soap buildup. It will get your whites whiter, without the poisonous fumes of bleach, and definitely avoid bleach if you have a septic tank. Vinegar will help remove the ammonia odors of urine,.whether it is in the cloth diapers Iand other baby items) or where the pets miss the litterbox/pee pads.  A little white vinegar can help set the dye in new clothes or when you redye to cover stains. It can give you a good crisp hem line, or it can it can release the old one when you rehem to get more wear out of a cute skirt or favorite dress. It can get certains stains out better than many of the expensive commercial products. A shallow bowl or saucer of vinegar can make the air fresher. Wipe vinegar on surfaces prone to mildew, or those that smell badly of that or of cigarette smoke. Wash sheer curtains in either vinegar or epsom salts rather than bleaching them, and save on dry cleaning them. (Bleach turns most sheers yellow, yuck!) A vinegar and salt paste does marvels for some stained pots and pans. That's only the uses I can remember at the moment.

Have a happy and prosperous new year!