Low Income Single Mom. Need ideas for places like the YMCA that give discounts.

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Yeah, and when are we going to learn that our societies are ones that take from the rich to give to the poor??? (and no, I am sooooooo not rich. )

 

[KEVIN M]

Yeah, and when are we going to learn that our societies are ones that take from the rich to give to the poor??? (and no, I am sooooooo not rich. )

Robin Hood didn't steal from the rich in order for the poor townsfolk to take luxury cruises and $3000.00 vacations.

 

[HelenePA]

Maybe they're saving more for their retirement and their children's educations?

I don't begrudge anyone summer camps, lunches/breakfasts at their public school, etc., but I do think multiple luxury vacations when you are not also saving is not being financially responsible. I do think saving for a luxury vacation, while also saving for the future and meeting all of your current financial obligations, is being responsible. YMMV And that's where some of us get irritated.

What I really want to know is.....Where in the world can I find relatives to love us so much that they give us free trips to Disney??????

who say's I'm not saving for retirement and my kids educations? Family A people might be putting more away each check but who's to say I'm not putting away too??

God know none of my family is paying for my trips... I can only wish!

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

When Family B goes to the Poly while Family A spends a weekend at the shore, something is wrong.

Okay, true; but honestly, what did Family B have that Family A doesn't???

They both have Families. They both have memories. They both have vacations.

...playing Devil's Advocate, I suppose.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Robin Hood didn't steal from the rich in order for the poor townsfolk to take luxury cruises and $3000.00 vacations.

Same thing....different time....

 

[HelenePA]

Actually a beach vacation on the east coast is WAYYYY more expensive than a week trip to disney. Unless I want go to in April or May when the water is about 40*

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I could go to the beach for much less money than I spend at WDW. Also, if I pay money for taxes, and someone gets back more than they pay, where do you think the money comes from? The money comes from the people who pay.

Therefore, if I pay X amt of dollars for taxes, and the next person gets free money, then I might be a little surprised that the next person chooses to spend $3000 on vacations that I never would have taken when I had very little money and a family to support.

 

[KariC]

who say's I'm not saving for retirement and my kids educations? Family A people might be putting more away each check but who's to say I'm not putting away too??

God know none of my family is paying for my trips... I can only wish!

Read my post again. I said MORE....maybe they're putting away MORE. I don't know. I put maybe and more in because I don't know what you're doing....and I would not want to presume that you are not doing so (and please, you don't need to tell us. Seriously. Some info is okay to NOT share with everyone on the DIS.). However, it would seem that someone making more would logically put away more. Maybe.

 

[HelenePA]

Read my post again. I said MORE....maybe they're putting away MORE. I don't know. I put maybe and more in because I don't know what you're doing....and I would not want to presume that you are not doing so (and please, you don't need to tell us. Seriously. Some info is okay to NOT share with everyone on the DIS.). However, it would seem that someone making more would logically put away more. Maybe.

Okay calm down I'm sorry I missed a word Geesh.

 

[KEVIN M]

Okay, true; but honestly, what did Family B have that Family A doesn't???

They both have Families. They both have memories. They both have vacations.

...playing Devil's Advocate, I suppose.

You know what I meant.

And for the record, I don't believe for 1 minute that a lower income family deserves a vacation any less than a higher income family. In a perfect world, everyone would get to go wherever they want.

Maybe it's because I have lived both. I rented a room at a YMCA (no private bathroom!) while I was in college and rented a bedroom from a family through Law School. For 7 years after I passed the Bar we never went anywhere while I found a job and paid back my loans.

Off my soapbox....going to bed!

I just get aggravated when I see these signatures with multiple trips to Disney, and then read the posts looking for financial assistance. I get aggravated when people brag about paying no tax and getting $6K from the Government, with the defiant "Spend your money wherever you want" posts. And I get aggravated when people get attacked for daring to question the fiscal responsibility of these decisions.

 

[KEVIN M]

Actually a beach vacation on the east coast is WAYYYY more expensive than a week trip to disney. Unless I want go to in April or May when the water is about 40*

Semantics, semantics, semantics. You know the point I was making.

 

[HelenePA]

Of course! I'm just saying there is always another side to the point I'll admit last year was the first year we could afford a 3k$ vacation. Until then it was only weekend trip to places we could drive, ie sesame place, baltimore, dc. Now we are finally in a place where we can budget for these kinds of trips. I just hate when people bash the EIC. there are people like me who qualify and aren't in the poor house so to speak.

 

[Aisling]

What I really want to know is.....Where in the world can I find relatives to love us so much that they give us free trips to Disney??????

A few years ago, we were able to afford to pay for my sister's family of 4 to join us on a WDW trip, as they didn't have the money.

A year later, I did the same with my brother's wife, their two kids, and SILs mother.

For this year's cruise, I'm paying for my nephew, my 22 year old son, his girlfriend, as well as my DH and other son.

In 2001, my mother paid for all of us to go on a road trip to Mount Rushmore from NYC.

I could have given my sister that money to help her pay her bills, but I didn't want to. I wanted to treat her and her kids to a Disney vacation that they wouldn't have been able to take without help. She can figure out how to pay her bills; that's not my business. My business is that I wanted them to be with us on the vacation.

Some people find it hard to believe that vacations can be gifts. I hope someday you're lucky enough to be the recipient of that gift.

 

[HelenePA]

A few years ago, we were able to afford to pay for my sister's family of 4 to join us on a WDW trip, as they didn't have the money.

A year later, I did the same with my brother's wife, their two kids, and SILs mother.

For this year's cruise, I'm paying for my nephew, my 22 year old son, his girlfriend, as well as my DH and other son.

In 2001, my mother paid for all of us to go on a road trip to Mount Rushmore from NYC.

I could have given my sister that money to help her pay her bills, but I didn't want to. I wanted to treat her and her kids to a Disney vacation that they wouldn't have been able to take without help. She can figure out how to pay her bills; that's not my business. My business is that I wanted them to be with us on the vacation.

Some people find it hard to believe that vacations can be gifts. I hope someday you're lucky enough to be the recipient of that gift.

Actually I dont want to be lucky, I'd like to be able to give that to my children (even when they are grown) and grandchildren.

 

[KariC]

A few years ago, we were able to afford to pay for my sister's family of 4 to join us on a WDW trip, as they didn't have the money.

A year later, I did the same with my brother's wife, their two kids, and SILs mother.

For this year's cruise, I'm paying for my nephew, my 22 year old son, his girlfriend, as well as my DH and other son.

In 2001, my mother paid for all of us to go on a road trip to Mount Rushmore from NYC.

I could have given my sister that money to help her pay her bills, but I didn't want to. I wanted to treat her and her kids to a Disney vacation that they wouldn't have been able to take without help. She can figure out how to pay her bills; that's not my business. My business is that I wanted them to be with us on the vacation.

Some people find it hard to believe that vacations can be gifts. I hope someday you're lucky enough to be the recipient of that gift.

Nah, don't worry about us. We're the treater....just think it would be nice to be the treat-ee sometime.

 

[MyTwoCrazyKids]

Have you looked into your local park district. I know many of them run summer camp programs. Most also offer b/4 and after school programs. Ours here cost only $73.00 a week for m-f 9-4pm with the option of b/4 camp and after camp programs that extends the day from 7a-5:30p.

Also contact your CCR&R- Child Care Resourse and Referral office. They are an assistance program that will help with child care fees. These agencies will assign you a co-pay that you pay to your provider. Co-payment is based on your income.

I wish you luck.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

You know what I meant.

And for the record, I don't believe for 1 minute that a lower income family deserves a vacation any less than a higher income family. In a perfect world, everyone would get to go wherever they want.

Maybe it's because I have lived both. I rented a room at a YMCA (no private bathroom!) while I was in college and rented a bedroom from a family through Law School. For 7 years after I passed the Bar we never went anywhere while I found a job and paid back my loans.

Off my soapbox....going to bed!

I just get aggravated when I see these signatures with multiple trips to Disney, and then read the posts looking for financial assistance. I get aggravated when people brag about paying no tax and getting $6K from the Government, with the defiant "Spend your money wherever you want" posts. And I get aggravated when people get attacked for daring to question the fiscal responsibility of these decisions.

Fair enough, but the OP didn't ask for financial assistance. She just asked for 'discounts/rate cuts/scholarships for low-income, single moms.'

That is quite different in my book.

 

[sunnyday123]

Thank you, I will look into this.



I thank you for your thoughts. Just so eveyone is aware, I do pay for food, and bills. That was not the kind of information I was asking about. What I was asking about were things specific to being a single low income mother of three. Things specific for my children. My YMCA offers a special Single parent family price, as well as offering scholarships. I think that is a wonderful thing. As far as WDW goes, my past two trips were not paid by me. My children have family who want them to have fun just like other kids. They are lucky. And I am very grateful. Giving a fellow single mother a -the way things are going here sounds like you need one!!



I think this is exactly why I didn't know about the EIC. But I will read more about it to see if I do qualify. I am around $10,000 above poverty level for a family of 4. I may be sitting on the fence of not qualifying. I don't know. But I will look into this.
I think you all would be suprised at what poverty level is. Many people hover around this. Somehow, a mother can make it work.

 

[tasha99]

I just get aggravated when I see these signatures with multiple trips to Disney, and then read the posts looking for financial assistance. I get aggravated when people brag about paying no tax and getting $6K from the Government, with the defiant "Spend your money wherever you want" posts. And I get aggravated when people get attacked for daring to question the fiscal responsibility of these decisions.

You're really just sorry that not everyone has the same values you do. My post wasn't intended as a brag, but more as an encouragement to a newly single mom who suddenly doesn't have the money she used to.

I choose to go on a decent vacation every couple of years, partly because my other needs are simple. My parents pay my youngest son's tuition (don't get mad--it's their choice to have their grandson in a private school.). Last year they helped me start an IRA. I have a little savings--my needs are met, so I'm putting what I have extra into going on vacation with the kids because they won't want to do that as a family forever. We're camping this year, but next year unless there's some catastrophe, we're going on a cruise. I'm putting money away from each pay check for it.

I'm poor, but not as poor as you'd think. I'm a legal secretary, so I have to wonder . . . does yoursecretary qualify for the earned income credit on her taxes? If she's single, has kids, and you aren't in a high cost of living area, she might.

 

[disalways]

Wow this thread has taken on a life of it's own. It really has been an interesting read. Goodness... what to say... I am honestly very surprised at the anger toward single moms. Who knew? Perhaps this has been a good eye opener for me. I never knew so many had such ugly thoughts.

For those who had suggestions, I thank you very much.

For those who said weird and angry things completely unrelated to what my OP was... I hope you all find peace and another way to vent your frustration.