How do I unload my house? - Page 2

[SleeplessMommy]

If you get the right daycare kid(s) they will play with your kids and everyone will be amused and out of your hair. Thats the theory anyway. You can also check craigslist for part time jobs.

You may be able to start college online - look at your state college and community college programs.

[PenelopeJune]

Believe me, I've considered daycare. I just truly know my own limits. I honestly just don't like kids that aren't mine. (Gee, now I've revealed what an awful person I am. )

The nearest community college is an hour and a half away. There is a private 2 year college a half hour away that I've considered, but it's very, very pricey. I'm sure I would qualify for grants, but I'm not sure how much it would cover. I guess if we do decide to just stick around, I will look into it. Oh! I just reread your post about doing it online. I guess I'm old school, but I'd really like to actually GO to college. I'm selfish and I just want the whole experience. I don't think I'd do well in online classes because I'm so easily distracted. (Message boards are my crack.)

You all have given me a lot to think about. I think if my husband does finally go out and get a second job, I will feel better. He has been promising for 3 years now. : I think he finally sees how dire the situation is. I'm still exclusively breastfeeding my daughter, but she's nearly one now and I feel like I can get away from her for a bit and work now.

Thank you to the pp who suggested freelance writing. I looked at the writer's board, and then I found out that Craigslist has writing postings. I never knew that! I think I might have to dust off the ol' resume. There was an editor's position advertised on there that sounds IDEAL for me. I would be absolutely perfect for it! Except it's an hour and a half away. Darn it! Maybe something else like that will come up soon closer to me.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by PenelopeJune

There was an editor's position advertised on there that sounds IDEAL for me. I would be absolutely perfect for it! Except it's an hour and a half away. Darn it! Maybe something else like that will come up soon closer to me.

I would try and apply even if it's far away.... If they want you, maybe you can work aout sometihng working form home.

[caedmyn]

There are places that will refinance without charging any fees...or at least, there were a couple of years ago. DH refinanced his house twice (it was always in his name only since he had it before we were married) and was never charged any fees.

[KnockedUpButtercup]

[QUOTE=PenelopeJune;11733099daycares are non-existant (except for 2 home daycares, all full) around here [/QUOTE]

Is this (home daycare) something you could do? Maybe you could do something flexible, like overnight for someone who works a couple of night shifts or before/after school care. That would give you some extra money without the commitment of kids in your house 5 days a week. And LOTS of people need childcare during non-traditional hours, or for just 1-2 days a week, and traditional daycares don't like that.

Good luck with your situation...it made me sigh with familiarity, b/c our house owns us, too.

Holly

[texmati]

I remember just a few years ago people were saying you should buy the largest house you could afford, because your income will increase. ... Our house owns us and we can make the house payments. It's the taxes, insurance, mantainace, utilities, and just general time sucking that makes it such a drain.

[SleeplessMommy]

Originally Posted by aquarian

I remember just a few years ago people were saying you should buy the largest house you could afford, because your income will increase. ... Our house owns us and we can make the house payments. It's the taxes, insurance, mantainace, utilities, and just general time sucking that makes it such a drain.

15+ years ago, a friend with real estate experience to me to buy the smallest house we could afford. Small houses can be afforded by many more people and are therefore much easier to sell in a down market.

In 1999 we bought an older cute small house in a near suburb of Philadelphia. (3br 1 ba) My colleagues at that time were buying larger, newer houses with longer commutes. When it came time to sell, we got an offer in just days. When that deal fell though, we got two offers (for more money). That house was very easy to sell!

Our new house is much larger than we need. (I fell in love with the yard) I would chop off about half the house if we could.

Some economists have been predicting a significant glut of larger suburban houses in the coming years. Many baby boomers are living in large houses, and when they pass away these will go on the market, creating additional surplus. Buying small is a good idea these days :, though this does not apply to condos.

[pumpkin]

We may be selling our house for slightly less than we owe - we desperately want to move to a new city so we are going to sell in this depressed market anyway. I hope we don't sell at a loss, but it could happen. We've just been working like crazy to save up some cash so we can make up the difference on our own.

If you can't afford the house, then I would sell. Even if in the short term you need extra jobs to pay off the extra you might not make on the sale, in the long run you can choose housing more in your budget.

[Aufilia]

How much could you realistically rent another house or apartment for? I'm guessing the difference between your mortgage now and your future rental wouldn't be more than a hundred or two at most, and that's just not much even in a LCOL area. I really don't see how giving up your house will help much, and chances are, selling now will set you back in buying another one in the future. Giving the keys back would really set you back.

IMO I think the problem isn't your mortgage, it's the low income. Your DH making what, maybe $10/hr? The only real solution is for one of you to work more hours doing whatever you can find. Even if you worked 30 hours a week for minimum wage, you could still probably bring in $600+ a month after taxes.