December Lower Income and/or Struggling Mama's Support Thread - Page 5

[mrskennedy]

Sandygirl (at least I think it was you--sorry...) don't even give a thought to your profs getting wind of your asking for help! It's none of their D** business! Go get the help you need with paper goods and dipes and whatever else you need.
People concern themselves WAAAY too much with what others think... And they're always the people who cant afford to, literally. Not just the ones who are "looking for a handout." : It just ticks me off to see people who are truly struggling not ask for help just to save face.
We all need to swallow our pride at some point. It will not kill any of you to ask for help.

[captain crunchy]

Think positively mamas, maybe it will be like etsy and they will only charge like 20 cents to list or maybe free to list but a tiny percentage of sales ...

Hope everyone is doing well ... tomorrow is dh's birthday and of course, no money for presents --- I will bake a cake and an awesome meal and well.. luckily with partners you can pay in kind if you get my drift Good enough for Marilyn Monroe, good enough for me

[2Sweeties1Angel]

Amy, barring medical conditions, babies are only as expensive as you make them. If you're AP, you can get by with a helluva lot less than most. We do and we're glad. We spend less money, have more space, and get to hold DS more.

Babies may be cheap, but they get much more expensive as they get older

[justmama]

Originally Posted by Thystle

All you mama's remember this:


You are NOT your surroundings.

You are NOT your clothes.

You are NOT your home.

You are NOT your current situation.

You are NOT your bank account.

And you are NOT the sum of what one single person (stranger, friend, or family) thinks or says of you.



YOU are what YOU make of yourself and ONLY YOU can give that power away to others.


You are worthy. Don't "allow" others to "take" that from you!

I just printed this off and put it on my fridge!

[justmama]

Originally Posted by Thystle

So MDC is going to start charging to sell things on the Trading Post? :

Have you tried DiaperSwappers??? I just sold a bunch of stuff there today and there's no fees.

[Nature]

Originally Posted by justmama

I just printed this off and put it on my fridge!

That is such a good idea! I wish I had a printer!

.... off to find my Sharpie!

[captivatedlife]

ok. I'm hopping on board...

. My name is Kim and DH and I have a little E. He works full time and I work 20 hours a week on an opposite schedule.

It's not working. I could be making more plus insurance if I went to work at a local nf store (the one dh works) plus when dh needed to cut back hours for school, I'd be able to pick up the slack for insurance.

We're planning on having another dc.... sometime.... but the whole job situation and fmla is freaking me out. I took 4 months off with this little one - I don't know how I'd do it on 6 weeks.

Ok. starting to freak out again.

I hate this:

[amydidit]

Originally Posted by mrskennedy

Amy, barring medical conditions, babies are only as expensive as you make them. If you're AP, you can get by with a helluva lot less than most. We do and we're glad. We spend less money, have more space, and get to hold DS more.

This is true, but then there is the cost of clothes, diapers, etc. Because of my thyroid condition I would likely need to supplement again (despite supplements, meds, pumping around the clock, and feeding on demand, I didn't produce more than 3oz per day when breastfeeding). Then there is time lost from work (I could get maternity leave for 6 weeks I believe but it's at a reduced rate, and 6 weeks isn't enough time... anything after that isn't paid), etc. I know, I know... I'm just making excuses :

[cwat]

thank goodness Nov is over!

Hello, again. Boy am I happy November is over!!!

Anyways, to reintroduce myself, I'm Cassie a single mama with 4 great kids(most of the time, anyway) I just had my minivan die on me recently, thank goodness kid's dad know's someone who can lend HIM a car so he's been letting me use his(I'm sure there's an ulterior motive in there somewhere, but I'm not one to look a gift a$$ in the mouth-or was that gift horse?) I still don't know what's wrong with it, but whatever it is, it's going to have to wait a little while because I don't have money to fix it and be "santa" KWIM?
Just wanted to pop in and say hi.

[mrskennedy]

Thankfuls:
Benefits aren't screwed up this month!
Mind-enhancing stuff (books, conversation etc)
Letters I'm writing to DS about his "firsts" and other things. These will be a gift someday and I'm enjoying writing them.
That I have a DS to write to!

[mrskennedy]

Originally Posted by 2Sweeties1Angel

Babies may be cheap, but they get much more expensive as they get older

So you give them what you can and *TRY* not to stress about the rest.
Yeah right... :

[mrskennedy]

CC I don't give DH presents, bake cakes, or even make meals. (I know, I suck.) I don't do anything else either. What I give him for his bday is not nagging him to shave. This is a huge deal b/c he's like a frickin cactus and he knows it! Happy bday to your DH!

[mum4boys]

Originally Posted by 2Sweeties1Angel

Babies may be cheap, but they get much more expensive as they get older

That is for sure!

[Thystle]

I have baby *girl* fever.

[chely7425]

Hey guys... just checking in... I can't believe how long our thread is already!! It is only the 1st!!!!

[Nature]

Good morning mamas!

[serenetabbie]

Just wanted to say HI before I tried to wade through the whole 5 page thread! Glad I started to read it on the second

[Iris' Mom]

This thread is making me realize that I really, really need to learn to mulitquote!

First, to all mamas joining in,

Second, thanks for all the support/welcomes.

mum4boys: That's very interesting re: the case law. UNUM is my disability insurer too. There is a case against MetLife in Mass. If you run across it again, could you possibly pm me the citation? Thanks.

As to the bipolar diagnosis: I actually was quite surprised by it myself (it's bipolar II, to be exact), as I've always considered myself severely depressed, with the so-called hypomanic episodes being welcome periods of being able to function. My anxiety is really my biggest problem in terms of the work I was doing. It wasn't so bad when I was researching and writing (my strengths), but when I had to go into court, . I hate to say it, though, I'm a bit invested in the bipolar diagnosis now, though. On a practical level, it entitles me to parity in medical treatment. My kids have mental health diagnoses, and they only have limited therapy visits each year (24, I think), except with a lot of paperwork and advocacy by their therapists. I can have as many as my psychiatrist recommends; sometimes, I go 2-3x/week. I have gotten 4 seperate opinions though, and everyone agrees. I'm not so concerned with the label as much as the treatment. The label helps a bit, because I've learned to recognize those compulsions to spend a lot of money as hypomanic periods, which helps me to resist them and is obviously really important now that I have to cash but haven't yet destroyed my credit.

[Iris' Mom]

I used food stamps for the first time yesterday. It was only moderately embarrassing. I've never, ever in my life turned down my nose at anyone using food stamps or needing a hand; why was it so hard for me?

[serenetabbie]

Ok, read quick through most of the thread... there are so many things I want to say to so many of you, but I don't know where to start and don't want to leave anyone out, so please just take this as it is meant and know you are all in my thoughts and prayers this morning.

As for us... I am freaking out a little bit. I have been applying for full time jobs to no avail (right now I work 20 hours a week while the kids are in school & Dh works full time). I could take a full time job for minimum wage, but then how on Earth would I pay for child care while DH and I are both at work? The after school program is $50 per kid per week! I was told twice in the last 6 weeks I had a job if I just applied just to find out that someone's (insert family member here... sister in law, niece, cousin...) got it instead . *sigh*

Then the stupid taxes, sewer and trash bills are due by the end of the year and I have no idea how we are going to pay them. I guess I will just play the "shuffle who gets paid" game again this month and hope we do not get any more shut off notices. I would put them on the credit card, but then I would not be able to make the minimum payment. I was going to apply for modest needs, but we don't have a scanner. Sorry to whine... I just feel a little overwhelemed this morning.

Blech.

post or keep to yourself *one* thing you will do to better yourself in some way this coming month.

For me only? Hmmm... I should eat better and take in more fruits & veggies.