We knew it was coming...

[momof42003]

The semiconductor plant DH works for is closing its doors... My DH, his brother and his wife, and about 1150 other employees will be jobless within the next two months, the fab will close on Sept 30th... YIKES!!!!!

We had already talked about it, and were kind of preparing ourselves, but this is still just a blow..

No stockpile, no real savings (although there is rumor that the severance package will be above "average"), and one teenager, and two preteen boys, as well as a growing 5 year old. How preytell will I do it?? UGGG!!!

So far this is what I have come up with:

Cable will be shut off. (any where from 50-150 a month savings depending how much we actually shut off- this includes internet)
Cell phone plan will be redone. (will be about a 80.00 a month savings)
Electric will be overhauled. (trying for 40.00 a month savings)
Trying to get DH to sell Corvette (343.00 payment and 50.00 insurance-I seriously doubt he will sell.)
Stop paying his mom 300.00 a month. (This will hurt me more than him, she is single and is living on SSI and retirement. I was always brought up to take care of your parents when they are in need. Just me though.)

Right there we will save from 470.00-650.00 give or take.

I am already figuring on making EVERYTHING possible from scratch. Clipping and USING coupons, stockpiling using sales, try to make my garden produce all that it can and preserve it, getting on assistance if we qualify, and getting the kids on health care. I hate using "welfare", but if we qualify, I guess we can use it for a time. Need to let the schools know that we now qualify for free lunches and anything else I can think of...

Luckily my youngest DD has pretty much all she will need to start kindergarten in clothes. She just needs couple pair of shoes, winter jacket and underthings. The other three on the other hand have pretty much nothing. HOLY MOLEY!!! I am already looking at the ads for school supplies..

Just thought I would share. Sorry this is so long, and if any one has any more suggestions PLEASE let me know.. TIA....

[qtkitty]

Check local thrift stores and consignment stores for clothes and school supplies as well. We have a thrift store in town that has a bag sale you get a foodlion bag and can stuff it with clothes for $10 for the first and $5 for consecutive bags. Our neighbor takes his teens there to get clothes often ( expecially since his boy is growing in leaps and bounds and daughter is fashion concious)

Look for discount and/or salvage or bulk stores.. all of these can help save you money... at salvage stores it isn't always a bnt and dented store.. but if you find one ask their return policy incase something you open happens to be bad. AKA opening a can of green beans and they are white and milky. If you live anywhere near an almish community check for a almish store often times its a bulk food store and they have awsome prices.

Check craigs list and freecycle in your area for school supplies as well as fruit and veggies people are trying to get rid of .

[jamie79]

First off I am sorry your are dealing with this.
Secondly I would have a very hard talk with dh about his corvette. That is a toy and if you are cutting his mother off then the toy needs to go!!!! Thats alot of money for a toy each month especially when unemployed.
I think you have a good plan.

[prftstrngr]

Sounds like you are better prepared than you think! Fortunately you did have some idea it was coming. When my husband got downsized it was like a slap in the face we had no idea at all! But...we have managed and so will you. You have a great plan so stick to it and you will work it out!

[suebeehoney]

Wow....

I'm so sorry this is happening at such a bad time for you. But is there ever a good time for it to happen? It just seems that things like this always come when you're least prepared for it.

Regarding the Corvette, I have to second the opinion of giving it up. It's a toy. If he's not driving it to work, it can make some money for you guys to get through on. I think I'd have a serious discussion with him about sacrifice - the family is sacrificing cable, internet, etc. - and his mom is going to have to sacrifice if you stop paying her that $300 a month. Hopefully he will understand and realize the Corvette is not worth anything sitting in the garage/driveway. A pretty looking car in the garage doesn't put food on your table - or his mom's.

Regarding school supplies and clothes - definitely check the thrift stores for clothes, and put out a plea on Craigslist and Freecycle. See if you can get in touch with someone on there that is willing to donate good used clothes for the kids for school. Heck, the way teens wear their jeans now, the best place to get them is a thrift store anyway - or have them donated by someone. Even 'new' jeans look old these days! Check Wal Mart, K-Mart, Target, etc. for school supplies - they are all running huge sales on them right now - paper, pencils, folders - all are cheap right now. (I'm making my run to town this week to get those things.) Ask the kids if they can re-use their lunchboxes and backpacks from last year, or hit the thrift stores for those, too. Backpacks are usually easy to find at thrift stores.

Food - if things look slim, don't be afraid to go to a local food pantry or church for help. See if there's a church in your area that does the Angel Food Ministries program. You can get a decent amount of food for $30 there. It's not enough for a large family for a month or anything, but it can be enough to supplement what you have.

Best wishes, and please keep us posted on how things go...let us know if we can help!

[TheRootedNomad]

I am so sorry! What a tough spot. It sounds like you have a good plan together for some cuts. I happen to agree with Jamie79 though. DH needs to realize that, that's a lot of money for a toy. SHow him how many other bills that would pay in a month. $393 + $50 = $443... For me that would pay

$80 Cable/internet
$50 Water
$25 Garbage
$200 Gas and Electric
$75 Car ins.
$10 Paper
$20 OPC

This is ALL my routine monthly bills besides my house payment and cell phone bill. It's amazing what a visual can do for someone. DH here happens to be very visually oriented and this works better for me to get my point across to him than anything else.

[FrugalMomof3]

I am so sorry you are going through this and it seems like you have a plan in action, I know it will hurt you to not be able to give his mom that $300 a month, but you just cant until DH get's another job.

Best wishes and prayers to you!

[champagnium]

((((((((HUG))))))))
Sorry this is going to happen. At least you have some notice and he didnt' go to work and find a sign on the door.
You seem to have a pretty good plan.
I hope that the Corvette/mom issue goes ok.
Things will get better, and until they do, you'll do it better :hug:

[Momto2Boyz]

It sounds like you have a pretty good plan in place for lots of savings, right off the bat.

As far as back to school goes...I am a firm believer that as long as kids have clothing that fits them, then there is no need for "back to school" shopping. As long as they have clothes to wear everyday to school, they'll be fine. And if they have one pair of gym shoes that fit, they're golden...that is all they need!

I would talk to DH about his corvette, too. One of the first things I had to sell off to make ends meet when I lost my job a few years ago was my Mustang. I had waited all my life to buy that car. I had it for a year before times got tough, and it had to go. And I realized, that having that car wasn't really all that important after all!

Good luck to you! DH and I found that if necessary, we can live off of about $25 a week for groceries. I think we only had meat in our meals 2-3 times a week, we rationed our milk to make a gallon last a whole week and we ate LOTS of pasta!

I think you'll surprise yourself at how little you really need to get by on, when you resolve yourself to do it!

[Texasgirl]

Looks like you have a good plan.

If it was us and we had a corvette that would be the first thing to go.
Good luck!

[Denvergirlie]

Cable will be shut off. (any where from 50-150 a month savings depending how much we actually shut off- this includes internet)
Cell phone plan will be redone. (will be about a 80.00 a month savings)
Electric will be overhauled. (trying for 40.00 a month savings)
Trying to get DH to sell Corvette (343.00 payment and 50.00 insurance-I seriously doubt he will sell.)
Stop paying his mom 300.00 a month. (This will hurt me more than him, she is single and is living on SSI and retirement. I was always brought up to take care of your parents when they are in need. Just me though.)

Right there we will save from 470.00-650.00 give or take.

You are going to do these things now correct? If not I urge you to do so now, not when the lay off occurs. You know you have these storm clouds on the horizon so get ready for the rain, the more you can cut now, the more money you will have.

You mention no savings, no stockpile. You make these above changes now and you have saved almost $1000, you need this savings going into the rest of the year.

Good luck

[Samigirl]

So sorry for your situation. It sounds like you have a good start on getting prepared. Good luck with the talk about the Corvette.

[shoiji]

So sorry to hear this is happening. Sounds as if you have a good game plan. Try to get your children to understand that everyone needs to do what they can. It may take a little while for your husband to give up the car. Hope this can be worked out. I have also found that thrift stores usually sell off season clothes a little cheaper. You might want to think about coats and sweaters now for the thrift store. If you belong to a church ask the minister or however where to go if you need food, clothes, utility assistance, etc. They may know people or places that you do not know about. Also check with your neighborhood center if you have one to see what is available. Don't forget libraries other than books have internet access, videos, and childrens activites for free. Also, if you miss a sale on back to school supplies many times they are reduced again a week or two after school starts so keep that in mind. So an old backpack that needs to be replaced can last a little while till a good sale comes along. Basically any new school clothes which was only a few growing up was bought after school started when the sales came around a few weeks later.

You may want to see what items you have around the house you could sell. If you have enough for a yardsale go ahead and do that. Any money you make could be used to build your stockpile.


Take care.

[Pianolady]

With that many people being laid off, are you going to be willing to relocate to find work? I know this is hard to think about, but sometimes you'll need to go to the job, as the job might not come to you. I only mention this, as I didn't see anything regarding looking for work in your plans. You need to plan for this too.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

First you have my compelte sympathy.
I've been dealing with my stepmom who was resently widowed and left with only 695.00 SSI per month. We have done alot of digging in our local sr. services. Pick up the phone and call you state elder affairs advocate. Find out what programs she may quailify for. They help us get my stepmom into a cheaper eldercare apartment 1/2 of what she was paying before. Got her signed up for meals on wheels delivered to her new place. Took her drug list which is huge she has COPD, arthrist, etc...to Target several of her drugs can be had at a discount rate. Elder affairs got her on a sr. bus pick up route for grocery store, doctor office and several other things. Perhaps they can help off set you loss of 300.00 a month.
As for the covette I'd take it over to CarMax who buys and get a quote from them, then DH and I would sit down with the bills and discuss its furture. I'm sure he'll see the reason in losing it.

Hope things look up soon

Laurie in Bradenton