I need some help!!!

[Mabuisakura]

I posted this right out of my blog because I wasn't sure how to word it!

Lets start off with the fact that I work from home. I do Rcodes for a telemarkting group. Rcodes are getting a lot less and I am now working on my own access database just to make sure I can get 30 hours in a week. But I think they want to not pay for someone to do that now so I might be out of a job. I was bringing in 300 a week. Now My Hubby brings home 874.74 biweekly.


Here are all our bills
Rent 730
Electric 120-150
Water 50
Cable 100
Car payment 300
Car Ins. 395
Groceries 300
Storage 40
Tim's smokes 40

Thank god I breastfeed. That would be another 60+ a month. Now my parents who live with us pay half of all the household bills which help out alot. I just don't know what to do if I lose my job. I try to be frugal and not spend alot of money on extras. I just need some help and ideas! Please? I am going crazy thinking about it.

[humandraydel]

Re: I need some help!!!

I assume those are monthly bills?

$40 for storage? What are you storing and why? Is it really worth $40 per month to store it?

Your car is costing you WAY too much money - $700 a month x 12 months = $8400 a year....not including registration, gas, and repairs. Speaking of, you don't have gas expenses listed...why not? Can you change to a higher deductible?

Can you cut grocery budget any? Even $50 a month would help. Do you turn off all lights, TVs, computers, etc when not using them?

If you can't trim anything there, cable might have to go.

[Mabuisakura]

Re: I need some help!!!

I assume those are monthly bills?

$40 for storage? What are you storing and why? Is it really worth $40 per month to store it?

Your car is costing you WAY too much money - $700 a month x 12 months = $8400 a year....not including registration, gas, and repairs. Speaking of, you don't have gas expenses listed...why not? Can you change to a higher deductible?

Can you cut grocery budget any? Even $50 a month would help. Do you turn off all lights, TVs, computers, etc when not using them?

If you can't trim anything there, cable might have to go.

the storage has a bunch of my parents stuff and my stuff from when they got kicked out of thier old place. It is 700 for 2 cars. The Car ins is the lowest we could find my DH has some tickets. I didn't list gas b/c i am not the one who buys it so that would be 80 a month for both cars. I don't know what to do about the grocery bill. We only buy what we need. I go to food banks and I am on WIC. Plus I am feeding 5 people. But thank you for your suggestions

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: I need some help!!!

Lets see now is the rent just your share or the total for your apt/house? So did you list the "half" amount of the bills or the total amount between you & your parents?

I agree there's something that can be done about that electric bill. I used to go by a rule of 3, there can't be anymore than 3 nonessential things running in the room. So if you are on your pc that's 2 & have the tv that's 3, so if you want the fan on you either turn off the tv or turn off the pc KWIM?

Can you go thru you items in storage & decide whats worth keeping & sell or doneate the rest. OR do you have any friends w/ space in their basement or garage they'd be willing to let you use?

CANCEL THE CABLE!!! I know we all love our cable & satalite BUT it costs way too much.

Depending on what your car interest rate is @ & the year of the vehicle check you local credit unions for rates & see if you can get that refinanced @ a lower rate & maybe even smaller payments.

Smokes - QUIT (I know easier said than done as I've been pestering my dh for 8 yrs now) or buy the most generic cigs he'd be willing to smoke & use coupons if you can.

Groceries - I think you are doing well. I would guess you shop @ Aldi's or Save-a-lot wich is a great money saver.

Baby - Actually you said you get WIC, WIC will pay for your formula so that's not really an issue if you decide to stop nursing. What about diapers do you use brand name or store brand? I use Parents Choice from Wal-mart... $11 vs up to $20 for national brands a pkg.

hth

[PrincessPerky]

Re: I need some help!!!

cable..not a need, thogh fun I am sure..also if your parents want it, let them pay, or ask to reduce the package.

car...do you need two? if you work form home and have parents in house do they have a car? could you share thiers? even if you pay part of their bill for it it would be less than insuring your two, and payments of such.

Storage, are your parents getting thier own place anytime soon? cause if not it will prolly be cheaper to replace later than store now (though family photos are worth keeping)

you can prolly find ingenious storage space if you declutter your own stuff, then try to help them do the same.

[Mabuisakura]

Re: I need some help!!!

Lets see now is the rent just your share or the total for your apt/house? So did you list the "half" amount of the bills or the total amount between you & your parents?


Depending on what your car interest rate is @ & the year of the vehicle check you local credit unions for rates & see if you can get that refinanced @ a lower rate & maybe even smaller payments..


Baby - Actually you said you get WIC, WIC will pay for your formula so that's not really an issue if you decide to stop nursing. What about diapers do you use brand name or store brand? I use Parents Choice from Wal-mart... $11 vs up to $20 for national brands a pkg.

hth

That is the full amount for all bills. That would be crazy if that was just half the bills. The car we got denied by our credit union. Also my dad has a work truck so he can't take us anywhere. I only use store brand diapers and wipes. Unless I get them for free!

But thanks for you help! I am going to talk to DH when he gets home!

[I'm going to win]

Re: I need some help!!!

I'm not sure of DH work schedule but if he has any day off other than Sunday to get to the food banks and food store you might think of getting away from one of the cars. You said you father has a truck maybe work out something with the food bank to have your father pick up what you need also the food stores.
Just trying to help.

Re: I need some help!!!

Everyone has given great advice! I would also see if maybe you have some unwanted things you could sell online or in a garage sale to raise some fast cash to get a grocery stockpile going also. It's amazing how many people you can feed for very little money, if you are careful. Good luck!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: I need some help!!!

Personally I think 300 a month for 5 is impressive, I pay more than that for my five.

I also think if you did decide to ditch the cable don't think of it as only 100 less spent a month, it will be more, because the TV will not be using electricity either..and your electric is highish. try outlet stripping everything but the fridge and one clock (err ok and stove.) That makes you both think before you use electricity and makes it spend less 'waiting for you to need it'

[Cheetahwoman7]

Re: I need some help!!!

Well, everyone's given such good suggestions, I only have a couple. Since so many people feel they need cable, why don't you switch to the basic cable that usually costs under $20 a month. If it's satellite you have, switch to another lower costing plan. If there's a certain program you just HAVE to watch, let someone you know record it for you and watch it when you have time.

I would also check with your work, you husband's work, your parents' work and see if they have a car insurance program that would cost you less. I teach and there's an insurance company that deals strictly with teachers, giving them a better rate. I would also check to see when those tickets will be off your husband's record so that you can have your rates lowered. I also agree with the raising of the deductable. That can save you some real $$.

Oh, and see if the insurance you carry is truly what you need. If you're driving an older car, you may not need collision as it wouldn't cost much to replace the car.

The last thing I would say is check out the grocery/coupon threads that we have here. You can find some great deals that will let you stockpile items you use often.

Hope that helps,
CJ

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: I need some help!!!

Can I just say if that is the full amount of the bills! & you pay only half you aren't doing too shabby @ all really.... Compared to my budget

But what else do you spend your money on? Fast food? Movies? ect?

[PrincessPerky]

Re: I need some help!!!

Heh in spite of the numbers right there, I didn't do the math till shelby pointed it out....

1748 in a month
1052 out (2105/2)

leaves 696 descrecionary each month!

Wish I had that much! I assume there are some bills not listed...oh and I bet the parents don't split the smokes....which btw is a key area to quit if bills are tight....

[Mabuisakura]

Re: I need some help!!!

Can I just say if that is the full amount of the bills! & you pay only half you aren't doing too shabby @ all really.... Compared to my budget

But what else do you spend your money on? Fast food? Movies? ect?

You know what? I really don't know! I thought I had a good grip on my bills. But I am thinking it is how the bills are due and when we get paid. Like I get paid every friday. Tim get paid every other thursday and my dad gets paid on the 15 and 30th.

Well I sat down with DH today to figure some stuff out so it looks like all our bills will be covered. So my new years res. is going to set up a new budget and stick to it. I think wifes and mothers have too much on thier plates! My DH wants me to figure all this out on top of my housework, work and watching a baby!

Thanks for all of your help! Ya'll are going to make my new year better!

[disneysteve]

Re: I need some help!!!

I think you've gotten some good advice so far. But I also think to offer the most useful advice, we need more accurate numbers. Can you list just the bills that you and your husband are responsible for? From the calculation that shelby and perky mention, it looks like you are doing just fine, but the tone of your OP suggests otherwise.

Without knowing more, the first thing I'd cut would definitely be cable. We pay $10.53/month for limited basic cable here in NJ. I can't imagine spending $100/month (and is that $100, or $100 plus taxes and fees?).

I'm sure we can come up with some other suggestions once we know more details.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: I need some help!!!

leaves 696 descrecionary each month!

Wish I had that much! I assume there are some bills not listed...oh and I bet the parents don't split the smokes....which btw is a key area to quit if bills are tight....

DITO! DITO DITO! Princess Perky!!

I'd save that descrecionary income as much as possible & maybe track where you are spending it. Perhaps even have dh or yourself do a payroll deduction into a money market acct or savings acct. so you don't splurge on things that you don't think about (like the coffee @ Starbucks, a trip to the hair dresser (not a walk in place) ect) that those on tighter budgets have to think about hard before even contimplaiting spending one red cent on it.

GL