MAY Lower Income Moms thread

[sandygirl]

Come and join us!

We're just a bunch of free loving hippie moms dealing with the challenges of raising a family on a less than stellar income level.

[vannienicole]

*

[Thystle]

:

[sonrisaa29]

I'm visiting my mom in Austin and can I just say how amazed I am at how cheap groceries are here! Avocados are 2 for 88 cents (sale price of course) usually they're 2 for 1.00. Cilantro is 44 cents.

I guess I am just used to what I pay for things up North, so its a bit of a sticker shock.

[~Jenna~]

Happy May. I hope this month is better somehow even though I quit my job last month.

I'm bitter about the stimulus check because we won't be getting it. I had originally heard that it wouldn't be garnished but then I checked with the IRS and it will be. I was planning on using that to pay for our home birth and now I don't know what to do. I have a horrible phone phobia and I'm too afraid to call the midwife and tell her that we can't afford it anymore. She's traveling this week so I at least have a little reprieve before I have to call her.

[Nursingnaturalmom]

:

[KnockedUpButtercup]

Good morning, ladies!

:

[sunanthem]

Good morning! Hugs to all!

[EarthyMamaofDaisy]

Hugs to Jenna...
I have phone phobia too and it sucks! Can you get Medicaid? Medicaid in my state will cover a home birth.

For the mamas who have families that get paid on Thursdays - this is a 5 paycheck month!

[mommykood]

Anyone "lower income" by "choice?"

Just wondering if anyone here is "lower income" by "choice?" We had read about it a few months back in the Mother Earth News, and we basically fit the form as in the story. Here is a link: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Moder...e-on-Less.aspx

My husband works on our 12 acre, soon to be cert. organic farm / homestead. He has no outside work. He stays busy by taking down old farms and barns, and by selling "ice houses," mini-barns, etc, that he makes. He also sells "spent" Organic Valley laying hens, and we also grow produce and meat for a cert. organic "grower's group" and farmer's markets.

Of course, I stay at home with our 5 children, and am a keeper at home, with all that entails.

I budget our food so that we can eat organically for an average of $100/week (http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=874670). We plant a garden about half an acre to feed our family, and I can the food. (Our other 2 acres of garden are for selling.)

We built our home we live in now, and paid for our 12 acres, with cash, so we have no mortgage, just taxes on the homestead/farm. We have lots of Amish in our area, so we get ideas and pointers on living simply from them, and lots of friends, too! We don't "mart" shop, just rummage around sales, "donation" shops, etc.

We keep our expenses down, our income very diverse, and make it work! Such a blessing to not have my husband leave every day for a "lunch box" job!

Anyone else live "on less" by "choice?"

[thewaggonerfamily]

Originally Posted by sonrisaa29

I'm visiting my mom in Austin and can I just say how amazed I am at how cheap groceries are here! Avocados are 2 for 88 cents (sale price of course) usually they're 2 for 1.00. Cilantro is 44 cents.

I guess I am just used to what I pay for things up North, so its a bit of a sticker shock.

I was just at the store yesterday. Avocados are $1.25 e here in MI.

[~Jenna~]

Originally Posted by EarthyMamaofDaisy

Hugs to Jenna...
I have phone phobia too and it sucks! Can you get Medicaid? Medicaid in my state will cover a home birth.

I just got Medicaid but home birth is illegal in my state so I'm not sure if I could get it to cover it or not. I guess it wouldn't hurt to call and ask, but that means *calling* :.

Originally Posted by mommykood

Just wondering if anyone here is "lower income" by "choice?" We had read about it a few months back in the Mother Earth News, and we basically fit the form as in the story. Here is a link: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Moder...e-on-Less.aspx

That sounds really cool! I think it would be neat to be self sufficient as much as possible.

[abomgardner417]

New here and I'm pretty good at the frugality thing but it's getting really old having to budget when you know your budget doesn't cover everthing every month, so I'm glad to have the support!
I was so looking forward to a stimulus check and a tax return. My dh filed bankrupcty and the lawyer told him that back taxes were discharged. I've read over and over that they can't be but I decided to trust him. Well, it looks like they're keeping the tax return and we probably won't get a stimulus check either. Rightly so, my dh does owe the taxes, but I was so looking forward to being done w/ the rest of our debt.

Originally Posted by mommykood

Just wondering if anyone here is "lower income" by "choice?" We had read about it a few months back in the Mother Earth News, and we basically fit the form as in the story. Here is a link: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Moder...e-on-Less.aspx

My husband works on our 12 acre, soon to be cert. organic farm / homestead. He has no outside work. He stays busy by taking down old farms and barns, and by selling "ice houses," mini-barns, etc, that he makes. He also sells "spent" Organic Valley laying hens, and we also grow produce and meat for a cert. organic "grower's group" and farmer's markets.

Of course, I stay at home with our 5 children, and am a keeper at home, with all that entails.

I budget our food so that we can eat organically for an average of $100/week (http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=874670). We plant a garden about half an acre to feed our family, and I can the food. (Our other 2 acres of garden are for selling.)

We built our home we live in now, and paid for our 12 acres, with cash, so we have no mortgage, just taxes on the homestead/farm. We have lots of Amish in our area, so we get ideas and pointers on living simply from them, and lots of friends, too! We don't "mart" shop, just rummage around sales, "donation" shops, etc.

We keep our expenses down, our income very diverse, and make it work! Such a blessing to not have my husband leave every day for a "lunch box" job!

Anyone else live "on less" by "choice?"

I'm so jealous! This is my dream life some day! Good for you guys!

[thewaggonerfamily]

Originally Posted by mommykood

Just wondering if anyone here is "lower income" by "choice?" We had read about it a few months back in the Mother Earth News, and we basically fit the form as in the story. Here is a link: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Moder...e-on-Less.aspx

My husband works on our 12 acre, soon to be cert. organic farm / homestead. He has no outside work. He stays busy by taking down old farms and barns, and by selling "ice houses," mini-barns, etc, that he makes. He also sells "spent" Organic Valley laying hens, and we also grow produce and meat for a cert. organic "grower's group" and farmer's markets.

Of course, I stay at home with our 5 children, and am a keeper at home, with all that entails.

I budget our food so that we can eat organically for an average of $100/week (http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=874670). We plant a garden about half an acre to feed our family, and I can the food. (Our other 2 acres of garden are for selling.)

We built our home we live in now, and paid for our 12 acres, with cash, so we have no mortgage, just taxes on the homestead/farm. We have lots of Amish in our area, so we get ideas and pointers on living simply from them, and lots of friends, too! We don't "mart" shop, just rummage around sales, "donation" shops, etc.

We keep our expenses down, our income very diverse, and make it work! Such a blessing to not have my husband leave every day for a "lunch box" job!

Anyone else live "on less" by "choice?"

Well, your life is what we aspire to. Its our long term plan. DH will retire in 14 years. I'm working on my Masters and will be a pastor. (Well, I do so on a volunteer basis now by choice because with family and school a job would be too much, but I mean as a FT pastor) When I get an appointment we will sell the house (since we will live in a parsonage) And take the proceeds to buy land debt free and then we will build our retirement home debt free and eco friendly. (We'll be 51 when dh retires)

But I suppose we are low income by choice since we have 6 kids! I was pleased to see that we already do most of the Mother Earth News ideas. Yeah, us!

[ediesmom]

hi mamas!

i am reluctant to post.......

but, i want to check in and say i hope this thread is tolerated better than last months......

a new home has been found where poverty and low income is accepted without prejudice. i like it there.

Originally Posted by mommykood

Just wondering if anyone here is "lower income" by "choice?" We had read about it a few months back in the Mother Earth News, and we basically fit the form as in the story. Here is a link: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Moder...e-on-Less.aspx

My husband works on our 12 acre, soon to be cert. organic farm / homestead. He has no outside work. He stays busy by taking down old farms and barns, and by selling "ice houses," mini-barns, etc, that he makes. He also sells "spent" Organic Valley laying hens, and we also grow produce and meat for a cert. organic "grower's group" and farmer's markets.

Of course, I stay at home with our 5 children, and am a keeper at home, with all that entails.

I budget our food so that we can eat organically for an average of $100/week (http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=874670). We plant a garden about half an acre to feed our family, and I can the food. (Our other 2 acres of garden are for selling.)

We built our home we live in now, and paid for our 12 acres, with cash, so we have no mortgage, just taxes on the homestead/farm. We have lots of Amish in our area, so we get ideas and pointers on living simply from them, and lots of friends, too! We don't "mart" shop, just rummage around sales, "donation" shops, etc.

We keep our expenses down, our income very diverse, and make it work! Such a blessing to not have my husband leave every day for a "lunch box" job!

Anyone else live "on less" by "choice?"

this sounds lovely......and thanks for the links really good reads

i won't be leaving mdc, just being mindful of how poverty is unacceptable here.

[justmama]

Originally Posted by ediesmom

hi mamas!

i am reluctant to post.......

but, i want to check in and say i hope this thread is tolerated better than last months......

a new home has been found where poverty and low income is accepted without prejudice. i like it there.

took the words right out of my mouth.

[Nursingnaturalmom]

i won't be leaving mdc, just being mindful of how poverty is unacceptable here.
***************

Good Gravy, Mamas what happened? I haven't been checking in becuase I haven't had much time on the computer. LIfe is busy with lots of kids. Pm me the new home again, I'm having a hard time getting on

Chandi

[jaceycat24]

we live on one income/one car household. we find it hard but we are not poor by any means. when i think how other countries live we really are rich in comparision.
this month we have big goals. first to pay off our midwife and put away for next 6 month car insurance that is due in july.

we have been paying our midwife $100 a month maybe yours could do a payment plan.

[~Jenna~]

Originally Posted by ediesmom

i won't be leaving mdc, just being mindful of how poverty is unacceptable here.

Are you serious? I had no idea that was the tone. Yikes.

[aihcalappa]

Hi everyone. I have been a lurker to this thread on and off, and decided to jump in and say hi. :