We Are SUNK - Any Advice?

[minnie1928]

Well, it was a LONG weekend. CCCS appointment has been made and we put together all our financial information...... I should have taken a more active role in the finances in the house. Too little, too late I'm afraid. All we can do is go to them for help and see what they can do. If that doesn't work out then we will move on to another solution.

Oldest son has applied for a job at McDs, which is ten miles from the house. Manager said weekend are when he need the help most and when he can offer him a full shift. Supposed to be getting back to us.

DH is applying for work with the local gas industry. Means five days away from home each week, but we have to do what will keep us afloat. Long hours and hard work, but the pay is fantastic. Keep your fingers crossed!

DH is also at the bank today seeing if they will allow us to skip our December mortgage payment. It will allow us to pay for the fuel oil we had delivered and will leave a little bit left to buy something for the kids for Christmas.

I'm looking into selling on Craigslist. My sister is helping me figure it all out. Hopefully will have some stuff ready to post by mid to end of week.

We have looked at the monthly budget and have whittled it down to bare bones (with the exception of the cell phones). The organization that the kids belong to has offered other families assistance with the costs when the going got tough. Will be talking with them and seeing if they can help out so the kids can stay active.

Clipped coupons yesterday and checked with the neighbors who will be saving their coupons for us. Also making up a menu at the beginning of the week and sticking with items only on the list when doing my shopping. Does anyone here check the sales ads to see what is on sale and then make up their meals accordingly? That's the plan, at least for now. Will see how the monthly total goes and adjust from there.

We are taking the van to a friend to be fixed. He works at a garage and they are allowing him to take home the tools needed to repair our vehicle. He has told us not to worry about it until we get back on our feet, but we will try to barter some type of trade.

Well....this is it. It's the plan we have come up with for now. Two weeks until our appointment with CCCS, so we will wait and see what else to do from there.

You've made a LOT of progress in one short weekend, I'm sure you feel like you are heading in the right direction!

When you have some time, do a search for the thread on here to painlessly stretch your budget (search "painless"). It's a massive thread and includes ways to cut your costs.

 

[ldo]

I just have to say--WOW! That is great progress that you can be proud of. If the bank will not let you skip a payment (and GET IT IN WRITING that they do not consider it a default, if they do allow you to skip), what about asking for a payment plan from the fuel oil company? Or seeing if there is heating oil assistance in the community? Lastly, what about asking a family member for a loan to get your fuel oil? Can you fill 1/2 the tank for 1/2 the price? Good luck--you are making great strides! Elaine

 

[DisMN]

I'm glad you have a plan now. That has to be some sort of relief.

Often when I didn't have a lot of money I would make the grocery list right from the ad. We wouldn't eat anything if it wasn't on sale. I could do a week for a family of 3+1 infant for around $60. I know it would be higher now since that was about 5 years ago, but still. You can make it work that way

I also would suggest to just give Care One a call and see what they could offer. I went thru them and it was super fast and easy. It really saved me a lot of money and get thru a difficult time. It doesn't hurt to have options.

Kind of a bummer when people pooh pooh good advice isnt it? Careone is a fantastic program and the OP could be on her way today and not have to wait two more weeks.
Oh well, personally I'm very greatful to the person who posted about it here some time last yr. If not for the C1 suggestion we'd be in full blown bankruptcy mode due to cccs unwillingness to help us.

OP keep forging ahead. If nothing else you're learning where every single penny is going!! Nothing wrong with that knowledge!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Kind of a bummer when people pooh pooh good advice isnt it? Careone is a fantastic program and the OP could be on her way today and not have to wait two more weeks.
Oh well, personally I'm very greatful to the person who posted about it here some time last yr. If not for the C1 suggestion we'd be in full blown bankruptcy mode due to cccs unwillingness to help us.

It is kind of a bummer, but it doesn't work for everyone. I think that in some states they can be for profit, but in states like mine with tighter regulations, companies like that are not allowed to be for profit. Which I could see how that could skew some people's perception. My monthly fee for using CareOne was $40. The other thing people don't understand with CareOne is that you may have to call your creditors and have them change your due dates so that you aren't paying late fees depending on when your CareOne payment comes out.

 

[aggielawyer]

Were you able to get a copy of Dave Ramsey's book? He deals with people on a daily basis who are in your shoes. If you will read it and pass it on when you are finished with it, I will mail you a copy. PM me your address if you are interested.

 

[Princesca]

Everyone's probably given you this advice already, but...

First off, take a deep breath. It's when we're upset, in panic mode, that we tend to make bad decisions. Not only that, but living under so much stress robs you of your health, too. I know it's easier said than done, but try to be calm.

Secondly, your priorities should be utilities, food, and shelter first and foremost. Frankly, if you can't make the payments, I wouldn't even worry about your unsecured debt at this point. If you can make your house payment, and cover food and utilities, that's step number one. And transportation, if there's absolutely no other way you can get around. Unsecured debt will ding your credit if you don't pay it, but if you aren't planning any major financed purchases anytime soon, that shouldn't be too much of an issue for you.

If public transportation is an option, use that and tell your insurance company to adjust your rates because you will not be using your cars for commuting anymore. They can usually adjust your rates downward, and you won't be paying for gas/maintenance on your own vehicles.

Another thing I recommend is eMealz (mealtimemakeover.com). Yes, you do have to pay $15 every three months for the service, but we saved a -ton- of money when we used it, even without coupons, just buying store brand. Their menu plans are designed to take advantage of sales and items that are in season (and therefore cheaper). The only reason we went off it is that we eat more vegetarian, and I'm not a fan of their "non-regular" menu plans. The regular ones are awesome, frugal, and delicious, though! (Not to mention fast!)

I, too, recommend Dave Ramsey. We've never been in debt that badly, but he is a great source of inspiration. I love to listen to his podcasts.

 

[manning]

Work at Starbucks
OK, so it's more of a commitment than hawking old books on eBay, but Starbucks actually offers an impressive range of benefits to its employees. Most of those benefits kick in once you work an average of 20 hours per week. Employees can qualify for comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Starbucks also allows half-time employees (or partners) paid vacation. They can also buy stock for a discounted price and participate in the company's 401(k) program. Other competitive benefits include partial tuition reimbursements for employees attending classes and assistance grants for employees who want to adopt children. To top it all off, you can even take a free pound of coffee each week [source: Starbucks]. The company has also been consistently rated as one of the top 100 places to work by Fortune magazine [source: Fortune].

Starbucks' benefit plan is notable because it's one of the few that offers insurance to employees who work only part time. But some of those benefits are slow to take effect. Insurance benefits kick in after three months of working at least 20 hours a week, and vacation days for hourly retail workers don't kick in until after a year. So, in terms of ways to make extra money, it requires a long -term commitment to really pay off. And the base salary of $7.50 to $10 per hour may not be enough of an incentive for some people [source: Starbucks].

 

[MrsPete]

Will not consider compromising my children's education so they can work. Their education is priority one and its just not an option as far as I'm concerned. Part-time job....yes. Dropping classes at school....no.

Remember that education doesn't come exclusively from the classroom. Learning to live in the real world and learning to work together as a family are important lessons too.

You must look at this from multiple sides, and sometimes you won't find a good choice -- just the most acceptable choice for your circumstances.

Clipped coupons yesterday and checked with the neighbors who will be saving their coupons for us. Also making up a menu at the beginning of the week and sticking with items only on the list when doing my shopping. Does anyone here check the sales ads to see what is on sale and then make up their meals accordingly? That's the plan, at least for now. Will see how the monthly total goes and adjust from there.

Don't forget to compare the cost of coupon-purchased foods against other options. I tend to find store brand and basic staples for less than coupon-purchased foods. For example, tonight we had twice-baked potatoes. I had four baking potatoes, which I baked, scooped out, and mashed together with all the left-overs in the refrigerator. Since I already had the left-overs, this meal cost about $3 for the family. Today at the grocery store I purchased .35/lb pinto beans; add a .75 cornmeal mix, and we'll have a whole meal for little over a dollar. I'm freezing a couple turkeys while they're .45/lb. I can't match those prices with coupon-purchased food.

Look for non-grocery store options for purchasing food. We shop at a salvage food store (usually the packages are damaged) that sells food very, very cheaply. In the summer we shop at the farmer's market. We recently started buying from a co-op. I buy spices at a health food store. We buy loss-leaders only from several expensive venues. Look around. I shop at a wide variety of places, and I tend to stock-up on items when they're on sale; I don't shop every one of those places every week. The supermarket is convenient, but you pay for the convenience of having everything in the same place.

 

[Princesca]

Yes - no matter how many times I try, store brands almost always end up being cheaper than name brands with a coupon. I think you can make it work, but you will spend so much time dealing with coupons that you could probably have taken on a paying, part-time job. LOL.

I second working at Starbucks. I never have, but everyone I know who's worked there has really liked it, and they seem to have a great deal of upward mobility.

I also don't think working has to compromise your kids' education. Honestly, I think there is far more value to lessons learned on the job than to what I learned in high school. I took a job after school after I turned 16 working at a local daycare, and it was a great experience, and didn't impact my grades at all. In fact, I took a lot of pride in being able to buy my own gas, etc. Working is a lot more fun when you're a kid and aren't doing it to pay a mountain of bills

 

[AlwaysMoving]

I took a job after school after I turned 16 working at a local daycare, and it was a great experience, and didn't impact my grades at all. In fact, I took a lot of pride in being able to buy my own gas, etc. Working is a lot more fun when you're a kid and aren't doing it to pay a mountain of bills

I agree. I got a job when I was 16 because my parents could not afford to buy me the things I wanted/needed, like new clothes, graduation supplies, etc. Working took the burden off my parents and allowed me to purchase what I wanted. I much preferred to work than do without those things. A job will only interfere with education if you try to work too many hours on school nights.

 

[perthgirl]

I only have one small suggestion that I use when things are a bit tough, see how many meals I can make from what is in the fridge and cupboards only. We don't have coupons here in Australia so the deals are not as great but basically I find no matter how hard I try to stick to a list I am still tempted. I have managed more than 2 weeks with what is in th ehouse (except milk) and had a good range of meals. And my cupboards are rarely full! check for recipes on the internet (no need to spend money for ideas).

You are in my prayers but look like you are getting it together. You go girl!

 

[disneyofcourse]

Work at Starbucks
OK, so it's more of a commitment than hawking old books on eBay, but Starbucks actually offers an impressive range of benefits to its employees. Most of those benefits kick in once you work an average of 20 hours per week. Employees can qualify for comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Starbucks also allows half-time employees (or partners) paid vacation. They can also buy stock for a discounted price and participate in the company's 401(k) program. Other competitive benefits include partial tuition reimbursements for employees attending classes and assistance grants for employees who want to adopt children. To top it all off, you can even take a free pound of coffee each week [source: Starbucks]. The company has also been consistently rated as one of the top 100 places to work by Fortune magazine [source: Fortune].

Starbucks' benefit plan is notable because it's one of the few that offers insurance to employees who work only part time. But some of those benefits are slow to take effect. Insurance benefits kick in after three months of working at least 20 hours a week, and vacation days for hourly retail workers don't kick in until after a year. So, in terms of ways to make extra money, it requires a long -term commitment to really pay off. And the base salary of $7.50 to $10 per hour may not be enough of an incentive for some people [source: Starbucks].

My best friend still works at Starbucks after 6 years and she loves it. She makes great tips, great benefits, and good pay. Some others I know went to college for 4 years and still don't even get her pay and benefits! She LOVES the work environment but that has to do a lot with your co-workers and bosses.

 

[MrsPete]

I second working at Starbucks. I never have, but everyone I know who's worked there has really liked it, and they seem to have a great deal of upward mobility.

I know a couple people who've worked at Starbuck's, and I've heard it's a good place to work. However, since the OP describes her location as very rural, I wonder if that's an option. I'm thinking about the place I grew up: We literally had no fast food, no typical teenaged-jobs -- unless you could drive 20 miles to the nearest town. It's very limiting.

 

[sweet maxine]

Remember that education doesn't come exclusively from the classroom. Learning to live in the real world and learning to work together as a family are important lessons too.

You must look at this from multiple sides, and sometimes you won't find a good choice -- just the most acceptable choice for your circumstances. Don't forget to compare the cost of coupon-purchased foods against other options. I tend to find store brand and basic staples for less than coupon-purchased foods. For example, tonight we had twice-baked potatoes. I had four baking potatoes, which I baked, scooped out, and mashed together with all the left-overs in the refrigerator. Since I already had the left-overs, this meal cost about $3 for the family. Today at the grocery store I purchased .35/lb pinto beans; add a .75 cornmeal mix, and we'll have a whole meal for little over a dollar. I'm freezing a couple turkeys while they're .45/lb. I can't match those prices with coupon-purchased food.

Look for non-grocery store options for purchasing food. We shop at a salvage food store (usually the packages are damaged) that sells food very, very cheaply. In the summer we shop at the farmer's market. We recently started buying from a co-op. I buy spices at a health food store. We buy loss-leaders only from several expensive venues. Look around. I shop at a wide variety of places, and I tend to stock-up on items when they're on sale; I don't shop every one of those places every week. The supermarket is convenient, but you pay for the convenience of having everything in the same place.

This is fantastic advice, and is very much in line with how I shop and feed my family. I am amazed at the deals I find at the salvage food store. Try to find out which days their trucks come in, and you may be able to find some great deals there.

I do a lot of cheap meals as you have described. With the goodies I find at the salvage store, plus a marked down package of meat from the grocery store, we eat like kings, but only for a fraction of the price! Soups and stews are great for making meals stretch, and are great for this time of year when the weather is cooler. I often find cake mixes on sale for 50 cents, and will make only half the box for one meal. This makes a one-layer cake, and gives everyone a moderate piece of cake to enjoy with dinner for pennies.

As another example, sweet potatoes are on sale for 28 cents a pound here. I stock up when they're this cheap. I buy large bags of rice, sometimes for ~$1 at the salvage store. You can make so much with just the rice and a few things stirred in. Half a pound of sausage, some celery, onion, garlic and a bit of seasonings stirred in with some cooked rice makes a great meal. You can do the same with dried beans, and I'm sure there are plenty of recipes online. We love a big pot of pinto beans and cornbread in the fall/winter.

Almost all of my clothes come from the thrift stores. I dress very well, and for a fraction of price. I will never set foot inside a mall or department store again to shop for clothes. I know clothing is not a priority right now, but for the future, it makes great sense, and really can become a mindset if you just decide to think that way.

I agree also that not all of the education necessary in life comes from a classroom. What they can learn from home, and especially in these circumstances, may hold them in good stead later in life.