poverty - Page 3

[jess in hawaii]

justmama- yep, you know it too. ((((hugs)))) back to you.

[worthy]

Can I ask a question here?  I am afraid that if I put this in the main forum it will get bumped to the food forums where people will miss the point of the question, but I know those in this thread will understand.

What are your best ways of using up leftover cooked oatmeal so none goes to waste?  Is there any cheap solution more palatable than just heating it up over and over?

I make oatmeal but it's hard to predict how much my kids will eat and I'm trying not to overeat from always cleaning up the scraps.  Would love ideas because I just hate wasting any leftovers and the leftover oatmeal seems to always end up in the compost.  I am so good at using up other leftovers and scraps, but oatmeal stumps me, and I'm not sure why.  I would be grateful for ideas.

[MamaLeslie]

I use leftover oatmeal in bread or pancakes. Let me see if I can find my recipe...

(I'm in this "more desperate" boat, too, but haven't posted yet)

[Mom31]

So boyfriend cooked a big ham for me on Sunday and now we have lots of ham- can I just throw it in a bag and freeze some of it?  He really bailed me out.  The kids love it- he has done it for us before... so sweet. Any recipes for cooked sliced ham?

[macheetah]

Ham - You can freeze it in portions and if you have the bone, keep it and freeze it too.  You can make white beans and ham (navy or other type beans, onions, just a little ham and salt and pepper simmered until beans are soft.  This is one of my favorite comfort foods!) The bone can flavor bean soup or any other soup too, thrown in to simmer. 

You can dice the ham and add it to eggs.  You can use just little of it to flavor greens (collards, mustard.) 

[Mom31]

I know you mamas will understand- I just bought a big bottle of laundry soap- for like 8 dollars- and i just went in laundry room and it had fallen off dryer and spilled all over.!!!  I am wiping it up with towels then going to throw them in the wash with the dirty clothes to not waste the soap do you think this will work????  OMG. I am so pist. I never get the big container but I splurged cause I had a little extra and I hate running out. DAMN IT.

[MrsSlocombe]

Mom31, I think if you do a reasonable job estimating how much detergent is on the towels, it will work.  If the entire contents of the big bottle go in the wash, the load will need some extra rinses, at the very least.  That must have been so frustrating!  :-(

I am wondering what you guys do for socializing and fun.  My budget has been cut to near-poverty levels recently, due to income loss and medical expenses incurred.  (Our income was never actually high, but it was once lower-middle class.)  This does not mean that I am in the exact same position as each of you, but I am currently thinking below an ordinary "frugal" level.  I am genuinely worried about how the next couple of years will go, with reduced income, mortgage payments, and the baby (coming in June).  One thing I would like to do is network with parents who share our lifestyle (happens to be vegan) so that we can share information and our babies can be friends, but while in the old days, I might try to find other vegan Moms to meet at a coffee shop, that is no longer within my budget.  We sometimes entertain close friends at home, and that will continue to be an option, though we are not really set up for large groups, and our dining room furniture is uncomfortable even for us, just because it is old, unpadded, and comes from a time when people were smaller.  Replacing this furniture was once a thought;  it no longer is.  I'm a little embarrassed about it, and it keeps me from having larger groups or newer, less close friends over.

Do you have any fun ideas for socializing with either good friends or new people, on a poverty budget?

[Mom31]

well... i have found since I have been poor for awhile- most of my friends are poor to so we have coffee at home, hang out at each others houses, go to the park, in the summer we go to the pool if we have the funds- but maybe once a week or every other week on the dollar fifty day.  We also go to this extreme sports place for kids that is $7 dollars a kid- every couple a months- I only have two kids so it can be do able for me if I budget correctly.

[Mom31]

Ds burnt his hand on some ramen noodle steaming liquid... ugh. So I had to spend 6.00 on guaze and while there bought him a toy- cause well he had burnt his hand pretty bad... luckily we have burn cream from a burn this summer... but ugh. fifteen dollars gone- that I was counting on having.

[jess in hawaii]

Em- Sorry you are having an extra difficult moment... I know how those are, always something new when you just wrapped your mind around the last emergency. (((hug))))

Socializing- Home or the park, also we are lucky to have a free zoo (but it takes gas $ to get there)

[MrsSlocombe]

Thanks, Mom31.  When the weather warms up, I'm eager to explore outdoor/park options, myself.

I'm sorry for your son!  :-(  Hmmm, perhaps the next thing needed is some tips on free sympathy/reward treats for kids.  Staying up late to watch a movie that you already have or can get for free (e.g., at the library)?  A homemade "Bravest Kid" award from Mom?  (I have found that preschool age kids respond well to hand-drawn awards, especially if it's a surprise.)

[MrsSlocombe]

Originally Posted by jess in hawaii 

Em- Sorry you are having an extra difficult moment... I know how those are, always something new when you just wrapped your mind around the last emergency. (((hug))))

Socializing- Home or the park, also we are lucky to have a free zoo (but it takes gas $ to get there)

Thanks!  Wow, I've never heard of a zoo being free.  I don't really do zoos, but I wonder what free things we might have around here that I wouldn't imagine...hmm!  (I hope it's cocktails!  j/k)

[jess in hawaii]

Originally Posted by MrsSlocombe 

Thanks!  Wow, I've never heard of a zoo being free.  I don't really do zoos, but I wonder what free things we might have around here that I wouldn't imagine...hmm!  (I hope it's cocktails!  j/k)

Sounds like you could use a gallery crawl ;)

[zebra15]

Well I had a 'pre screening' phone interview yesterday. I passed  LOL cuz I have the real phone interview tomorrow.  I hope I pass so I can get on to the 'real interview' and the background check and job offer.  Potential start dates are 2/20 and 3/12.  2/20 has better times (this is a call center) but 3/12 has potential shift diff pay.  I hope I can remain pleasant and polite on the phone tomorrow.  I know I will pass the background and pee tests.

Oh you do NOT know how badly I need a steady paycheck and gasp.. benefits.  Even the minimal $12/hr pay range seems like millions right now.

In other news I did a rough run of my taxes last night, about 1/2 as much back as 2010 but I didn't take classes (stopped that bleeding) so I'm happy with the figures.  Going to double check the numbers and submit them tomorrow.

For the oatmeal problem check here  http://allrecipes.com/

[zebra15]

For those of you looking for 'free' things to do.  Many  museums have a 'free' day  that day may only be 1x a month or a special day during the fiscal quarter.  Also if you homeschool there are deeply discounted memberships to things (like 1/2 price and more).  You just need to look around.

The library has tons of kids activities, FREE.   Michaels craft store usually has kids crafts 1-2x a month,  'make and take'  FREE,   Call your parks and rec department about 'scholarship' programs. You gotta be BOLD about asking for stuff, but many activities do have a hidden scholarship fund, you just gotta ask for it.

[jess in hawaii]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

For those of you looking for 'free' things to do.  Many  museums have a 'free' day  that day may only be 1x a month or a special day during the fiscal quarter.  Also if you homeschool there are deeply discounted memberships to things (like 1/2 price and more).  You just need to look around.

The library has tons of kids activities, FREE.   Michaels craft store usually has kids crafts 1-2x a month,  'make and take'  FREE,   Call your parks and rec department about 'scholarship' programs. You gotta be BOLD about asking for stuff, but many activities do have a hidden scholarship fund, you just gotta ask for it.

Yes, all good points. Reminded me that National Parks are often free on Federal holidays, too. And Home Depot has kids' projects, I'm not sure how often, maybe once a month? I'm pretty sure those are free. Oh, and in some places, if you can manage to get a yearlong pass for, let's say, a children's museum, it can also be used at, oh, a nature center. If you can find one of those partnership programs, shop around and find which place charges the least for the pass, even if it's the one you hardly ever go to. I did this once where the closest children's museum charged twice as much as one in another town we visited less frequently. We bought the cheap pass, and went to the expensive museum several times.

[Bekka]

Hugs to all you mamas.  I have been where you are, wondering where the rent is going to come from and food.  Your stories have touched me.  You are very brave.  There is no shame in providing for your children.

For moms with kids in school, some schools can waive the activity fees (at least ours can) for families that qualify for assisted lunches.  It's a little suggestion, but investigate it if that matches your school program.  I hadn't heard about it until I heard a teacher tell a parent about it one day, so it wasn't really publicized.

[justmama]

Home Depot does free classes every Saturday for kids.  No registration required.  It's a little project that they do every week.  I've never done it but I want to!

We sign up for storytime at the local library and the kids love it.  I know Barnes & Noble also does storytime for little ones during the week.

We do classes at the Y.  My big non-necessary splurge every month is a YMCA membership.  I thought about dropping it and doing a cheaper gym but the classes there and having the daycare is pure gold to me.  My kids LOVE to go and play in the daycare while I work out.  And going just to play at the daycare is "free" since I already have the membership.

It's kinda far to get there(ugh, gas) but our local children's museum is free to people with state medicaid which we have.  Just present your medicaid card and get in for free and it's a wonderful place and my kids love to go.  I take them once a month or so.  It's not advertised on the museum's information but I saw a little ad for it on my medicaid booklet and called them up to verify.  Best.thing.ever.  They also do a free friday evening once a month which is wonderful(crowded though).

Playgrounds are surprisingly good places to meet other broke folks.  It's the po' folks like me that take their kids to the playground instead of the expensive activities like museums and aquariums because they have no other choice.  There's tons of playgrounds in our area and the winter has been so mild that we love to try out new ones frequently.

The zoo does discounts through the library for admission.  If you go to the children's section at the library they have passes that you can "check out" for cheap prices at the local zoo.  It's a coupon for a certain amt of money off admission.  I'm not sure the amt because my mom bought us a zoo membership last year for mother's day that we've enjoyed frequently since.  HUGE blessing.

Also, if you are okay with spending a little and have a school-age child, the rec department through your town probably offers some good programs for cheap.  I can't afford gymnastics at $25+ a class at a gym around here but I could afford 2 months of gymnastics at $30 total for my middle daughter this fall.  And she and my oldest did 2 months of cross country for $30 each through the rec dept as well.  We can't wait until spring starts the new cross country season again.

[justmama]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

Well I had a 'pre screening' phone interview yesterday. I passed  LOL cuz I have the real phone interview tomorrow.  I hope I pass so I can get on to the 'real interview' and the background check and job offer.  Potential start dates are 2/20 and 3/12.  2/20 has better times (this is a call center) but 3/12 has potential shift diff pay.  I hope I can remain pleasant and polite on the phone tomorrow.  I know I will pass the background and pee tests.

Oh you do NOT know how badly I need a steady paycheck and gasp.. benefits.  Even the minimal $12/hr pay range seems like millions right now.

In other news I did a rough run of my taxes last night, about 1/2 as much back as 2010 but I didn't take classes (stopped that bleeding) so I'm happy with the figures.  Going to double check the numbers and submit them tomorrow.

For the oatmeal problem check here  http://allrecipes.com/

I'll be keeping fingers crossed for you.  I worked in Metlife's call center here for a while.  The phone interview was incredibly easy.  You just have to maintain a pleasant demeanor and everything else will fall in place.  The call center basically looks for pleasant attitude and everything else is either scripted or taught to you straight off the bat in a training class where you learn to access the materials to answer customer questions.  It's not HARD at all.  Hardest thing in a call center is keeping your call times low while still hitting all the points you need to hit for when they audit you.  You never know when you are being audited and that's kinda irritating.

[MrsSlocombe]

Originally Posted by jess in hawaii 

Sounds like you could use a gallery crawl ;)

Ha, it's funny that I forgot that option, since that was my first date with my husband!  Drink offerings were few and far between, but I really enjoy walking around the nicer parts of the city during the summer.

It occurs to me that living in a warm state would be an automatic recreational freebie.  I have many ideas for things to do "when the weather warms up," but for more than half the year, the outdoors are an unpleasant place in my area.  Even just walking around multiple galleries would be too much time in the cold for me.  Of course, I know I made my own bed.  My husband has a decent job here (not enough to go without a second income indefinitely, which is why I'm scared, but still, decent), and that's why we decided to stay in his home state.  I sometimes wonder how much I would value being able to enjoy the outdoors for the entire year, vs. the salary and health insurance my husband gets here.

Originally Posted by zebra15 

For those of you looking for 'free' things to do.  Many  museums have a 'free' day  that day may only be 1x a month or a special day during the fiscal quarter.  Also if you homeschool there are deeply discounted memberships to things (like 1/2 price and more).  You just need to look around.

The library has tons of kids activities, FREE.   Michaels craft store usually has kids crafts 1-2x a month,  'make and take'  FREE,   Call your parks and rec department about 'scholarship' programs. You gotta be BOLD about asking for stuff, but many activities do have a hidden scholarship fund, you just gotta ask for it.

Ah, yes, thanks!  Our art museum does have a "pay what you like" day every Sunday, or at least, it did last time I checked.  That's a good option.  That's good to know about Michaels and potential scholarships for kids classes, when the baby is out and old enough to do such things.  I've already noticed that the prices at the public rec department are quite reasonable compared to classes offered by private entities.

Originally Posted by jess in hawaii 

Yes, all good points. Reminded me that National Parks are often free on Federal holidays, too. And Home Depot has kids' projects, I'm not sure how often, maybe once a month? I'm pretty sure those are free. Oh, and in some places, if you can manage to get a yearlong pass for, let's say, a children's museum, it can also be used at, oh, a nature center. If you can find one of those partnership programs, shop around and find which place charges the least for the pass, even if it's the one you hardly ever go to. I did this once where the closest children's museum charged twice as much as one in another town we visited less frequently. We bought the cheap pass, and went to the expensive museum several times.

Great ideas!  There is a Home Depot not far from us, and I just looked it up, and found that we're not far from some national parks;  I had been blanking, thinking, "Okay, so that's Yellowstone and...," but it turns out that there are tons.  I'll have to look into passes that apply in multiple places, too.  A favorite trick of local nannies and families is for friends to get passes to different places, and bring the other along as a guest, sometimes every week.  A multipass is even better, and more flexible.
 

Originally Posted by justmama 

Home Depot does free classes every Saturday for kids.  No registration required.  It's a little project that they do every week.  I've never done it but I want to!

We sign up for storytime at the local library and the kids love it.  I know Barnes & Noble also does storytime for little ones during the week.

We do classes at the Y.  My big non-necessary splurge every month is a YMCA membership.  I thought about dropping it and doing a cheaper gym but the classes there and having the daycare is pure gold to me.  My kids LOVE to go and play in the daycare while I work out.  And going just to play at the daycare is "free" since I already have the membership.

It's kinda far to get there(ugh, gas) but our local children's museum is free to people with state medicaid which we have.  Just present your medicaid card and get in for free and it's a wonderful place and my kids love to go.  I take them once a month or so.  It's not advertised on the museum's information but I saw a little ad for it on my medicaid booklet and called them up to verify.  Best.thing.ever.  They also do a free friday evening once a month which is wonderful(crowded though).

Playgrounds are surprisingly good places to meet other broke folks.  It's the po' folks like me that take their kids to the playground instead of the expensive activities like museums and aquariums because they have no other choice.  There's tons of playgrounds in our area and the winter has been so mild that we love to try out new ones frequently.

The zoo does discounts through the library for admission.  If you go to the children's section at the library they have passes that you can "check out" for cheap prices at the local zoo.  It's a coupon for a certain amt of money off admission.  I'm not sure the amt because my mom bought us a zoo membership last year for mother's day that we've enjoyed frequently since.  HUGE blessing.

Also, if you are okay with spending a little and have a school-age child, the rec department through your town probably offers some good programs for cheap.  I can't afford gymnastics at $25+ a class at a gym around here but I could afford 2 months of gymnastics at $30 total for my middle daughter this fall.  And she and my oldest did 2 months of cross country for $30 each through the rec dept as well.  We can't wait until spring starts the new cross country season again.

Cool!  $30 is a shocking price for two months of classes!  Our rec department seems pretty good, averaging $10/class when private organizations would charge twice that, but wow, your town sounds awesome.