Poor Family Support Tribe- NO DEBATE - Page 2

[daekini]

Originally Posted by Dar

Have you created a budget to try to figure out where your money is going? From what I can see, a brand new teacher in NC with just a B.A. would be making $28,510, or $2,851 a month for 10 months.

Is it okay for me to post? (well I guess I am already!) We're not in poverty, DH is a teacher in NC and actually that is the base salary, they add a bit onto that as a percentage increase depending on what district you are in.

You can't get 12-month payment here even if you have a permanent, full time contract - we have to save up for the summer. So you have to figure out what you need for the summer and save up for that during the 10 months you're being paid.

Insurance is quite expensive - even the "basic" plan is around $525/month.

PD, have you made sure you are having the right amount deducted from your taxes? There are 4 in my family, so I used to claim "4", but when I did the math on the back of the W-4 it turned out that we should have claimed 7. It means less of a refund later on, but I prefer to get my $$ on the front end.

I agree that budgeting must be an issue for you, I'm surprised at your situation because it seems doable to me. If you have considerable debt, maybe something can be done to help reduce that.

Good luck!

[Potty Diva]

Originally Posted by Dar

Have you created a budget to try to figure out where your money is going? From what I can see, a brand new teacher in NC with just a B.A. would be making $28,510, or $2,851 a month for 10 months. Even after taxes, that's quite a bit, because he should be claiming a lot of dependants, because you'll be eligible for lots of tax credits (child care, education, etc.). If he takes home, say, $2300 a month, and your rent is $300, gas is $600, that leaves $1400 for food, utilities and after school childcare. That seems doable... what am I missing? I'm assuming you're taking out loans and/or getting grants or scholarships to cover school tuition.

That's an awful lot for gas. Even with gas at $3 a gallon, that's 200 gallons of gas - and gas actually seems a bit lower than that were you are. If your cars get 20 mpg, then you're driving 4000 miles a month, between the two of you, or 1000 miles a week. That's a daily 100 mile round-trip commute for each of you, in different directions. If you're really driving that much, you need to have a fuel efficient vehicle. I love Ford escorts - you can get an older one in decent shape for $1200 or so, and they get around 35 mpg.

This board is pretty good at helping people with their budgets, if you wanted to try that...

Dar

Hi Dar,

We bring how 1800 a month, not 28. We are paying on his loans as well.

For vehicles we have a Cadillac and a Chevy caprice. We don't have 1200 dollars for a car, although we would love to get smaller cars with better gas mileage. We live in richmond county and he works in scotland, I go to school in robeson. It's in the same direction, I'm just 20 minutes farther out than he is.

We do qualify for tax breaks and the like. He just started working as a teacher in January. Supposedly he is supposed to get his stipend this month (1500 dollars).

I would ove to cut back on food, and other expenses. We realize now that cell phones are almost a must (for if our cars break down we can call each other to help out, if the school or daycare needs us for issues concerning Kailey, etc) but it's something we will do without until we can afford it again. The cool thing with my plan is that I can go three months without putting minutes on my phone and I can still text message. He just gets a phone card for his.
I need to finish this paper but will write more later. Thanks again.

[kijip]

Put the student loans in deferment. You are eligible to do that with a student in the home.

Look into getting help paying for childcare. Many states have childcare grants for low income working families.

If you are driving 20 minutes past him, can you drop him off and pick him up?

If you are only bringing home 1800/month, you are having too much in taxes deducted from his income. He should re-do his w-4 form. Also have any medical insurance cost deducted pretax rather than after tax if he is not already.

You are lucky that your rent is so low- $300 is great.

[kijip]

Originally Posted by daekini

Insurance is quite expensive - even the "basic" plan is around $525/month.

That sucks! I am sorry. One of the reasons people teach around here is that state employees have awesome insurance coverage.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by daekini

You can't get 12-month payment here even if you have a permanent, full time contract - we have to save up for the summer. So you have to figure out what you need for the summer and save up for that during the 10 months you're being paid.

We have to do the same thing. Dh is professor, but gets a 10-month salary, too. I feel for you. This can be a difficult thing to do... saving for summer.

[amj'smommy]

to you mamas In addition to the other ideas posted if you have a child under 1yr old chk w/ your electric company.... here in massachusetts if you send a copy of dc's birth certificate they will put you on file as having a baby under 1 and will not shut off your electricity for lack of payment. You just pay what you can when you can (the balance will be due after the child turns one but then you might be able to roll that into a payment plan with the current monthly bill)

[Herausgeber]

Yes, definitely check to make sure the right amounts are being withheld. For people on the margin of making it, getting that money in their paychecks instead of as a lump sum at tax time can be a lifesaver. You especially want to do this if you find yourself paying off high-interest debt with your tax return each year. If you are eligible for the earned income tax credit, then you can even get that in your paychecks. Same for the child tax credit. The latter is $1,000 a year by itself.

Paycheckcity.com has some useful calculators to help you figure out how much you should be bringing home.

[Dar]

Originally Posted by kijip

Put the student loans in deferment. You are eligible to do that with a student in the home.

I second this!

If you are driving 20 minutes past him, can you drop him off and pick him up?

This, too - even if it's only a couple of days a week it would help out...

If you are only bringing home 1800/month, you are having too much in taxes deducted from his income. He should re-do his w-4 form. Also have any medical insurance cost deducted pretax rather than after tax if he is not already.

Yes... unless a big chunk of that is going towards health insurance, like $500...

Kailey may qualify for state-funded health care - in our state they cover children in families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level, and your husband's annual salary would be just under this, although if either of you makes money this summer it would probably put you over... but some states cover up to 250%. As a student, you can probably get cheaper health care through your school, too. Here's it's $600 for a semester.

Dar

[Ruthla]

I'd like to know how I'm supposed to make and stick to a budget when I don't have any reliable income!

I have fibromyalgia and cannot work- not without getting myself sicker and my entire family falling apart. I've applied for SSI but it's been denied twice and I need to appeal it again. I'm also afraid that a part-time job will screw up the SSI claim and hurt me more financially in the long-term, plus I'm not sure how extra income will affect Food Stamps and Medicaid and I can't afford to risk either of those!

My ex is supposed to pay me $690 a month, but he was out of work for a year, then when he had a steady job and was ALMOST back on track (paying me every month, plus some back pay each month) he had a heart attack and can no longer do that particular job. So the child support coming in is completely erratic. He gave me $10 at the beginning of the month. Then he put $200 in my account around the 16th or so, but it's still negative because I had bills taken from my account automatically so it's the bills plus the overdraft fees.

My mom gave me $100 in cash last week. I really, really, hate when I have to rely on her like that- I'm 34 years old and I shouldn't be supported by my parents anymore!

[Potty Diva]

I'm not sure what Mark is claiming. He does have he and Kailey on his insurance.

I cannot take him and drop him off because I take Kailey to school at 8 and he leaves here at 6:30. Kailey goes to a school out of our district and cannot ride the bus.

We are responsible for paying on the loans each month, we have consolidated but cannot defer. We cannot defer his loan.

We have reapplied for the NC health check health insurance and do not qualify. We makes too much This is what we were told.

We have no income coming in for the summer. Both of us will find jobs. No biggy there. We won't do jobs where one is day and one is night. Mark would end up working the night shift since he is a nightowl, but he would sleep all day, ignoring Kailey. I cannot physically stay up all night- impossible. I have tried to work night shift before and after 5 months still was unable to cope and nearly caused a wreck.

It will all work out in the end. I just need to get through 2 summers and 3 semesters.

[Ravin]

Potty Diva, I can relate. A while back (several years now) we had our car stolen and let the insurance lapse because we had no car and couldn't afford insurance for a car we didn't have. A couple months later DH lost his job due to lack of car.

We now squeeze full coverage out of our insurance for his car and DO NOT let it lapse, because without a car he would be without a job. Rent's had to be paid late to keep him driving a few times.

Right now I'm working as a full time nanny for $200/week plus food while on the job, and DD goes with me. If something permanent happens to my car it is possible for me to get there by bike/bus, so we just have liability on it.

We're keeping our heads above water right now, but thanks to several years of under and un employment, DH is WAY behind on child support so they're garnishing half his paycheck. THat puts us below the poverty line for actual income and too high on paper for things like qualifying for state insurance for DD. It sucks. They also offered insurance at his work, but the premiums are way too high so we can't afford it.

I graduated in December and my student loans are coming due soon, and of course I work for a school teacher so I'll be off for the summer. I'm going to stay with my family in TX for June (saves A/C here that seriously cuts our electric bill, as well as at least Mom will feed us), and have some part-time babysitting lined up for July...it's going to be a long summer.

[2Sweeties1Angel]

This is definitely where I belong!

We have 3 kids (6, 2, & 3 mos), I'm a FT student (online classes for now), and DH only makes less than $12,000 year. The only reason we're able to get by is because we're both still getting unemployment (legally--they know DH works), I get financial aid (student loans), we get food stamps, and the kids get Medicaid. DH and I can't get Medicaid because our UA violation of a governer changed the Medicaid laws in this state a couple of years ago and screwed a lot of people over in the process.

I can't get a job because we can't afford daycare and we'd lose our food stamps. It's not that I enjoy getting food stamps (Ok, I do, but who wouldn't like free food?)--it's that we can't afford food and still wouldn't be able to if I worked because all of my check would be going to daycare. If I get a job, we won't qualify for daycare assistance because our income will be over the limit : I'm supposed to start going to classes in January, but I may have to put it off until next fall because we might not be able to afford the gas. I'd rather hurry up and finish school, so I'll probably do whatever I can to afford that gas.

When my unemployment runs out in a couple of months, I may look into working in the evenings when DH is home so he can watch the kids. The problem with that is, I'll never see DS because he's in school all day. It's a long story, but I didn't see DS very much at all the first 3 years of his life because he didn't live with me so we're kind of trying to make up for that now. Maybe I can work PT. I don't know. This sucks.

[iamama]

I saw somewhere one the gpt (ger paid to) thread that you can get a voicemail phone number for free. Meaning you can check messages and return calls from any phone without having to pay for a land line or cell. So if you are needing to put a number down on a job application you can use that number and retrieve your message.

[sarah_bella1050]

My dh makes about $1050 a month and our rent is $675. We also get $1950 in financial aid for dh a semester which I pay the car insurance out of and to pay ourselves a set monthly amount supplement our income. We also get book vouchers through EOPS. We get medical and FS. We have a very strict budget and we manage to survive by the grace of God every month. We just put in the paperwork to get EIC throughout the year so we will see how that works. This is our budget:

Rent $675
Phone & Internet $45
Cable $15
Gym $28
PG&E $80
Gas $180
Household $50
Extra Groceries $100

Total $1173

Dh is going to have to go to summer school though and I'm not sure how we will make that happen, but we will. We owe his parents $1600 for paying of our car that I need to pay off, but I could always take out our first student loan if worse came to worse. My dh also works 32 hours a week 2 4-12pm shifts and one back to back 4pm friday to 8am saturday. He does the majority of his homework at work too.

It would be pretty pointless for me to go to work seeing as I would only make a couple hundred dollars more then my daycare costs would be and that would get us kicked off of FS and MediCal. I know this won't last forever though, dh is going to Nursing School and he will have a good job once he gets out.

PottyDiva- How much do you pay for dc? If you subtract your dc costs from your salary how much you make what would be left over? If it's only $300-500 then that's the same amount you would make at a part time job. Your dh would work fulltime and you could work pt on the weekends. Also,how much is going to school costing you? Maybe you could take next year off until you get back on your feet. If you don't have to commute and can save money by cooking from scratch, making your own cleaning products, and do other money savings tasks your life may be a lot more enjoyable and WAY less stressed. Most people don't realize how mcuh they actually spend working outside the home, try checking out The Tightwad Gazette or Miserly Moms from your library the information is PRICELESS. If you sell both cars then you would be able to afford the $1200 for an escort. Then you would use the $1500 stripend for either moving expenses to move to the town your dh is working in or to buy another car. It may be more in rent where he works but is it $600 more??? I hope you don't feel like I'm picking on you, I'm just trying to help out P.S. Look at your dh's W4, there is something WAY off there IMHO

[Potty Diva]

This will all work out in the end.

I would never give upschool- EVER. I am tree semesters sh of graduating and I will be close to 39 when I do. I will not delay this goal any longer. SAHM is great for some but NOT for me.

We will not sell our cars until we are in a position where one is not needed.

We will both get summer jobs since he is not being paid this summer.

He claims only himself on his w4.

We will not move, it is not cost efficient to move from a 300 dollars rent to something more expensive in a district where dh will most likely not be working next year- he hates it. the students are abusive to him and the admin are not supportive. he is applying for a job in this district.

[ollineeba]

If he is only claiming himself on the W4, could he go in and change it so that you will be getting back more per pay period? HR might be able to help him decide what he should be claiming.
DH is going to do that this week. I know we will still get money back at tax time, it just won't be as much.
Other than that, no advice, but lots of

I know what you're going through. I'm in nursing school right now and DH is working full-time and money is tight. My student loan is deferred right now (thank goodness!) but all other expenses seem to add up quickly, don't they?

[secondseconds]

I would be careful about using the word "poverty". Having to stretch sometimes beyond our means to pay our bills isn't the same as living in poverty.

If you really wanted to, you could adjust your schedules to get down to one car. If it means some of you have to get up much earlier, so be it, if the money is really needed. I would also cut off the mobile phones. Believe it or not, people did get by before we had mobile phones, even with vehicles that didn't always run. I would also either cut off the net connection (and cable, if you have it) and if needed, sign up for one of those cheapie dial up connections, which these days are less than $10 per month.

You also have 3 cats--food, litter, and vet bills aren't cheap. Maybe this time in your lives is not the best to have 3 extra mouths to feed.

[katheek77]

If you have Perkins or Stafford Loans, your husband's might be able to be cancelled or deferred while he teaches.

https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tc...hoolSearch.jsp

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebA...p?tab=repaying

[Potty Diva]

Originally Posted by secondseconds

I would be careful about using the word "poverty". Having to stretch sometimes beyond our means to pay our bills isn't the same as living in poverty.

If you really wanted to, you could adjust your schedules to get down to one car. If it means some of you have to get up much earlier, so be it, if the money is really needed. I would also cut off the mobile phones. Believe it or not, people did get by before we had mobile phones, even with vehicles that didn't always run. I would also either cut off the net connection (and cable, if you have it) and if needed, sign up for one of those cheapie dial up connections, which these days are less than $10 per month.

You also have 3 cats--food, litter, and vet bills aren't cheap. Maybe this time in your lives is not the best to have 3 extra mouths to feed.

Most definitely we are living in poverty. Though with his new teaching position we should be doing fine. Perhaps we will get out of our rough spots soon.

We aren't using our cell phones. And being without familiy or friends who could help if the car broke down, like he's did two weeks ago, means a cell phone gets us in contact with each other- the only people we have to rely on EACH other.

Cats are for life, sorry, but they aren't disposable when things get tough.

We have internet because we need it for planning and studies. I am not on campus at times I can use it.

The program I am in has certain classes for certain semesters, it's not a pick and choose curriculum.

Are cupboards are not bare, we have gas in our cars, and a roof over our heads. I guess I should just shut up then

This is why I had this in FYT and not on a general board. I should have to justify my fears or income or expenses. I know we are not going over the top in spending.

I am afraid about the coming months. What if I can't find a job? What if Mark gets to depressed to find a job? What if he doesn't get a good refernece from the high school?

This is our life here not some game that you can tweak the dice on and get a good roll.

We are doing what we can, right now.

And I am so very tired of the high and mightiness of some of the responses here. Good grief. We can't all live in luxurious houses now can we?

I understand our situation will not be forever, but right now while we are trying to make it better, it sucks.

[Potty Diva]

Originally Posted by katheek77

If you have Perkins or Stafford Loans, your husband's might be able to be cancelled or deferred while he teaches.

https://www.tcli.ed.gov/CBSWebApp/tc...hoolSearch.jsp

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebA...p?tab=repaying

Thank you, but he has already consolidated and cannot be deferred.

Know that I appreciate your efforts and they have actually motivated me to find resources for teachers in NC. That has been a great help!