In a big crunch

[Newsnerd68]

First, hello to all.
I've just joined the boards and am enjoying the tips and advice here.

Now for my problem/question-

My husband recently left his job of five years to take one we thought would bring more money. He's a truck driver and began driving over the road rather than locally. Well, what the recruiter promised an what actually happened are two very different things. He has another job lined up, but the weeks without a paycheck or with a very small paycheck have left us flat broke and behind on our bills.

This might have done us a favor in the long-run as we have realized paring down and trying to live frugally will get us to our goals quicker than working longer hours.

Does anyone have advice for a newbie on budgeting, grocery shopping, any way to cut expenses for someone who has "run things off in the ditch?"

Has this happened to anybody else here? How did you get through it?

Thanks in advance, and I'll keep reading.

[nodmicks]

I sure understand about the trucking thing! DH TRIED OVER THE ROAD, BIG LYE, WENT BROKE TOO!
The best advice I can give you is to spend absolutely nothing not necessary. Aldis is great for cheap grocerys. Casserole, soups etc are cheap from scratch. Oatmeal is cheap too.
Bread out lets are very cheap compared to the grocery store.
Do you have expensive internet? Netzeo is 9.95 unlimit usage a month.
I can't think of much at the moment sorry!
You've taken the 1st step though by seeing a problem.
Best of luck!

[homesteadmamma]

See if you can get a copy of the Twightwad Gazette at your local library if you haven't already read it.

Read as many threads here has you can on ways to save. You'll find a lot of them in Homespun Frugal tips and challenges.

Spend the least amount of money that you can. Begin cooking from scratch if you don't already. Hang clothes both inside and outside if you don't already. Stop eating out as this can really cost $$.

When grocery shopping use coupons but only on items you would normally purchase. Buy loss leaders (those are the sales on the front and back of flyers). Start a pantry with those loss leaders. You can't do it all at once but it does help to start now and get a good build up so that you can begin to eat from your pantry rather than always buying groceries, especially when they aren't on sale.

Learn to use the thrift stores and shop yard sales.

HTH just a bit. Ask any questions you want and will all try to help. Welcome to the village.

[forestdale]

Hi newsnerd and welcome to the village.

My advice is to stop spending immediately and do an inventory of your groceries. Write out a list of what's in your pantry and try to cook from scratch from your pantry for as long as possible, or until you get a regular paycheck back again.

Do you have kids? If they are old enough you should tell them what's happened and how you're all going to pitch in to deal with it, them included.

If there are no kids that's easier. Are you working? Is there a way of you earning money by babysitting or going back to work at your regular job?

Don't let the situation control you, you control the situation. If you know how long you're going to be without money coming in, you should contact everyone you should be making payments to and tell them what's happened. Let them know your husband has another job but until he starts it, you can't make your normal payments. This works much better than ignoring them and hoping they won't contact you.

If you get your payments squared away, the only other problem you'll have is for money for food and gas. Hopefully you have enough in your pantry to cover your food, there are lots of low cost pantry cooking recipes in the threads here.

Try to not use your credit cards. That's a short term solution that will only make the problem more complicated than it is.

And you hit the nail on the head when you said this might have done you a favour. It did. You'll learn lots of new skills here that will last you a life time.

Good luck and let us know how it all pans out.

[Darlene]

Welcome! I agree with the other ladies but would like to add that I think a positive upbeat attitude will make this change actually fun. Yep fun. It'll bring a smile to your face when you see the bills getting paid off and you didn't suffer to do it. You will eat well, find entertainment and enjoy finding new ways to save money.
When the bills are under control, then you can start saving $$ towards another goal. Make a game of it, challenge yourself & know that all these changes are going to make you more content & sleep better at night.
Wishing you well & looking forward to getting to know you better.

[Ellise]

Wonderful advise ladies. I think things like this happen more often than not. I've been out of work since April, and sometimes I wonder how we will make ends meet, they always come together somehow. I did what all of these ladies told you to do, I stopped spending, started taking inventory, shopped at thrift stores, etc... I know it looks Bleak right now, but let go and let God, You'll pull through.

[Guest1]

I agree with what the ladies have already said & definitely second Darlene's tip! If you go through this with a positive attitude, it really helps to keep what you're learning as your own! Too often, we've hit financial crunches, drudged our way through it, and as soon as the money started rolling in again, we'd spend - spend - spend! After all, we deserved it, becuase we'd been so good about not spending, or we'd suffered so long, or we'd done without *whatever*....

My best to you & welcome to the Village!!

[dz_blonde_girl]

I've been looking at energy efficiency lately. I think it costs less to use the microwave or a crockpot than it does the electric oven. I got a "George Forman" type grill thing at a yard sale for $2 and use it to cook hamburgers, pork chops and chicken rather than using the stove.

I've also invested less that $10 on some caulk and plastic for my windows in an attempt to hold in some of the warmth of the day. I'll also be making some "draft dodgers" to put under my doors and a couple windows.

A couple of the ladies here say it's cheaper (and therapeutic) to bake your own bread. I'm thinking if I bake it in the evening after supper it would add warmth to the house to help us get through the night as well.

Do definately call your creditors. I called GMAC about my car payment and they gave me a 60 day extention for 25% of my regular payment. It's not so bad since I have a super low interst rate to start with.

You can do it! Everyone here is super friendly and would love to help!

[guest2]

to the Village! I think you have gotten some great advice here. The one thing I would really consider if I were in your position is if the Long Haul Trucking is going to work for your family. With the increase in fuel costs, you may end up loosing quite a bit of money. We know several truckers and the long haul ones are just barely making it.

[Newsnerd68]

Thanks to everybody for the advice and encouragement.
I started putting into practice some of the things I've read about here already.
I had always shopped at Wal-Mart for groceries, ,thinking I was getting a good deal. And sometimes you can. On occasion I would shop at Aldi, but hadn't seriously shopped at at actual grocery store in years.
Well, I checked the weekly circulars (until yesterday, I had always tossed them straight in the trash), made a list and went to Food Lion.
With their MVP card, I was able to buy $76 of groceries for only $40.32! YEAH!!
It was like an epiphany. I came away with :
* 12 cans of Green Giant veggies (name brand, what a luxury!) at .25 per can
* 8 cans of Campbells soup, also .25 per can
* 12 frrozen burritos- .25 ea
* 2 bricks Maxwell House coffee at $1 each
* 2 heinz ketchup .78 ea
* 2 gallons milk $2.50 ea
* 6 Swanson potpies 2/1.00
* 6 boxes cereal $1.43 ea
* 5lbs sugar $1.50
* 2lbs deli ham $6.20
* 2 2liter coke for $1.39
* 5lbs long grain rice $1.09
Wooo HOO!

[pip]

Good job!

[i.m.cheap]

When you get really good at the grocery "game" it is very empowering. I love having a pantry stocked with loss leaders. I shop at Aldi for many things too. I get some fantastic free or almost free deals with sales and double coupons. Welcome to the village!

[Goodwin17]

Welcome to the village first of all. Sounds like you are coming right along. My fiance and I are in a crunch right now too, because my job has not been giving me any work. Good luck and I know you will do well with your awesome attitude. You've gotten some great tips. I totally second reading the Tightwad Gazette. It's really wonderful! If you can find the Complete Tightwad Gazette, it has all three books in one. I bought mine off of half.com.

[kimmee]

whenever I was in a crunch I would make lists - the things we had to cover, things that could wait , things we would put off til there was a steady check. And I used cash in envelopes for everything- seeing the cash in an envelope will surely inspire you to budget and put things back cuz the envelope gets thin so quickly. In the long run the tips here are awesome - lifelong adaptations and lifestyle changes - in the immediate you need to focus on the barest minimums any one will take - including you and your family - what can we do without for a little while - do we have to have green Giant when shur fresh will work - can we put on sweaters and keep the heater off for just a while longer til the checks get regular. what has to be kept in place - can we dump cable for a few months or will that cost additional... and don't be afraid to get help from govt agencies - I know of so many who live off aid when they don't have to - but it is there for those who really need - even if its only for a month - good luck to you - I have actually survived for two whole months with absolutely no money but the house payment and I have three kids so I know you will make it!!!

[Michele Annette]

Hi and Welcome! You have come to the right place for advise and guidance. This village is wonderful! It sounds like you are off to a great start! Keep it up!!