Our budget - Page 2

[Steady101]

Are you sure you don't qualify for food stamps or WIC? I would try and get those if you can. They will help you out with the food.

That was very nive of MIL to allow you to pay on our debt instead of the mortgage.

[RiverSky]

Originally Posted by tie-dyed

For us, buying water is truly the cheaper way. While pg/nursing it's an important health issue, since the water grosses me out so much I can't stand to drink enough to stay hydrated. Cosco sells 1/2 litre bottle for about $4.50. Sometimes we buy gallons and refill the little bottles, sometimes if we're up North or going to visit a relative, we'll fill up a bunch of bottles from their tap.

You know, for about $200 (perhaps $250) you can get an under-sink reverse osmosis machine that will completely take care of your water issues and it won't take long to start making money on the deal. Then you won't have plastic leaching into your water from the bottles. Might be something to think about.

[CerridwenLorelei]

Well...

"Sadly all the other guys in his group with but one exception fall into either the "girls are icky" group or the "wives or steady dp's are impossible dreams" group"

Sounds like the perfect opportunity for them to learn how to cook -Just my .02

But I have to ask what age bracket is this that "girls are icky??" I about spit on my monitor laughing so hard!

I have this one -get the ultimate not the advance
http://purwater.com/products/pitchers_ultimate.shtml

This one sits in the fridge
http://purwater.com/products/dispensers.shtml

They no longer make the faucet mount I have just the filters

I am on an aquifier and we have high iron and sulfer
The Ultimate but not the advance also filters out benzene and lead and other crud

that would save you quite a bit in the long run too
The pitcher filters last a long time..

Have you looked into pet insurance? I think there is an option that you can pay a one time fee..I may be wrong..

[Snowdrift]

Originally Posted by CerridwenLorelei

But I have to ask what age bracket is this that "girls are icky??" I about spit on my monitor laughing so hard!

The group has a couple proteges who are high school age. They are the geekier ones of course, and are utterly weirded out by the thought of *actually* talking or like having anything to do with a girl. I'm sure they don't acutally think girls are icky, but they havent' quite matured to the point where they aren't weirded out by the thought of women. This is one of the annoying reasons why the game is never at our house where less money could be spent.

[lenore80]

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[CaliMommie]

You've gotten a lot of good advice, I don't have much to add except for that in most (if not all) states selling breastmilk is illegal b/c it is a bodily fluid. I have donated my extra breastmilk, but would never sell it. I would have loved to get milk from the milk bank for DS2 (had to wean for medical reasons) but couldn't afford it. I was very lucky to have breastmilk donated to me by mamas. Even if you charged $1/oz it would be very pricey for the mamas.

[Snowdrift]

Originally Posted by CaliMommie

You've gotten a lot of good advice, I don't have much to add except for that in most (if not all) states selling breastmilk is illegal b/c it is a bodily fluid. I have donated my extra breastmilk, but would never sell it. I would have loved to get milk from the milk bank for DS2 (had to wean for medical reasons) but couldn't afford it. I was very lucky to have breastmilk donated to me by mamas. Even if you charged $1/oz it would be very pricey for the mamas.

I'm sure I won't need to do that. It was just a thought, and one that I'm not at all comfortable with although I believe it's actually onyl illegal in a few states.

[eminer]

Originally Posted by tie-dyed

Also, any ideas on if/how all of this will change when the baby comes?

I love that you're freezing a lot of food! You are a wise woman. What I would recommend doing before the baby is getting your housekeeping (which also = expense-limiting) routines down so that you have a feeling of surplus. Like, you can throw together a meal of lentils almost without noticing, and the dishes practically do themselves. This is because even if you don't have to pay for formula OR diapers, a new baby "costs" plenty of time. What with that and the emotional euphoria (or instability), it's easy to end up spending a ton on takeout, late fees (forgetting your bills, library books, etc.), and other random expenditures. Of course, ymmv. (I tend to start spending extra money as soon as the first trimester, when I need to eat constantly and can't handle cooking. ) Imagine the biggest celebration-cum-crisis event of your life, with constant chaos (and celebration) continuing for weeks, and rehearse how you will handle that cheaply.