Wouldn't ya know it.... it is happening again

**mommy4ever** · 06-08-2010, 10:33 AM

As of July 1st, I lose $2000 in income per month!

It is so frustrating, but it seems to happen every year! It would be nice for just 1 summer to not have to go into ultra frugal mode

but THAT said, having 3 less kids means we can do way more summer activities. Splash parks(free), parks(free), etc. With only 2 little ones, I can manage that. If we do the zoo, it doesn't cost any more as it is a family fee regardless. We also have a season pass at the space science, so no money out for that.

And it isn't like there is no money, dh is still working, and I still have some income, just a lot less..lol. AND we have a savings. Thinking for next year I'm going to increase it by some so we can have a little to indulge with.....

**mommy4ever** · 06-08-2010, 10:41 AM

oops....meant a new post here.

**gottadance** · 06-08-2010, 10:57 PM

You're married with two incomes - from where I'm sitting that looks good.!

I'm single and paying for adoption on my own (after 2.5 years of paying for fertility treatments that didn't work!) and will be a single mom - would love to find someone to share my life with and increase my income!

But yes, losing income sucks. There are tons of free things you and the kids can do - go on a hike (see how many of the local forest preserves you can hike through this summer and check them off a list or a map), have a picnic, go to the local historical farm or petting zoo, do activities through the forest preserve district, do a scavenger hunt, go to the library, have a cookout, build a bonfire, make a leaf or flower collection. Get some fishing poles free from someone on The Freecycle Network (or borrow some) and go fishing. Teach the kids how to whittle. Build birdfeeders or buy them and fill them and make a list of all the birds you see. Go birdwatching in the morning. Go to the library and check out books - see how many each child can read this summer. Volunteer at the local animal shelter, volunteer for a park clean up, a food drive - anything.

**Paws** · 06-08-2010, 11:07 PM

Losing ANY income, esp. that much is tough.
We lost that much per month a couple of years ago, thus began my journey towards being more frugal...
It wasn't easy, but it can be done.

**Mrs. Piggy Bank** · 06-08-2010, 11:08 PM

One thing we have done was a summer project. For example one year my daughter's project was indians. She learned painted signs of indians, we took her to a randevouz, made a indian dress, made beaded bracelets, cooked on a campfire, built a teepee in the yard, etc... all of it focused on learning about indians. It was pretty cheap, she learned a lot and it was fun.

**3tomboys** · 06-08-2010, 11:18 PM

I'm sorry to hear you are losing income. That makes for a tight summer. We love to hike. Since we already have what we need it is just a matter of driving to where we want to hike for the day. I don't know how old your little ones are, but we started taking our's out when they were toddlers. My husband wore a kids carrier backpack and gave them rides when they got to tired. The hikes weren't super long but it was fun.

**Debbie-cat** · 06-08-2010, 11:29 PM

So sorry to hear this. It will be tight but you can do it!

**Darlene** · 06-09-2010, 07:37 AM

Sounds like you have a plan for getting through this summer. Since it seems to happen every year at this time can you plan ahead so it doesn't happen again?

**mommy4ever** · 06-09-2010, 09:10 AM

I can't really prevent it from happening. I run a home daycare, and until I get the actual notices of people leaving, I can't fill the spaces. And even then, summer hasn't been a good time for it. A couple years ago I had 3 families go on maternity leave, leaving me officially empty. I had two families coming, at the last minute one family decided they'd have a stay at home parent. Last year, there were 2 families that got layoffs last minute. Not much anyone can do there. This year, one family is moving, and another had her hours cut when she returned from maternity leave so she found a new job, but it's no where near us.

All I can do is put some 'holiday' money away for next year, and enjoy the light schedule..lol

**Russ** · 06-09-2010, 09:31 AM

You'll need to budget for no kids next year and then if you do get some it will be nothing but bonus.

**Greebo** · 06-09-2010, 09:37 AM

You're a school teacher?

Many school systems offer you the option of getting paid on a 12 month cycle instead of a 9 month cycle.

If yours does not, then every month you need to set aside a fraction of your income to treat as your paycheck for your non-pay months.

**mommy4ever** · 06-09-2010, 09:43 AM

No not a teacher, I run a home daycare. Self employed. It was the same last year but we still managed to put $2000 in the bank. I have NO idea what we did right. I wasn't paying attention..lol. I guess we had that gazelle intensity happening.

**mauimagic** · 06-10-2010, 12:42 PM

Planning ahead always makes like easier - just have to rememberr to do it!! Good luck - let us know what you come up with!!

**mommy4ever** · 06-10-2010, 12:55 PM

MauiMagic,

I'm just going to create a 'summer budget' account and tuck away an extra $2000 in it. That way it won't be so tight and we have the funds to do some fun things with the kids that we can't do when we have a full house. Our basics aren't in danger of not being covered, not yet anyway..lol. I have that covered. But summer is when we would spend a little loosely, and I failed to acknowledge or even notice the trend we have. So now I am noticing and acknowledging it. And we'll deal with it. I didn't even prepay the summer bills like i have in the passed, so it will be a little tighter than previous summers, but that is ok, live and learn. Not like there isn't a savings account if we need it. I would just rather not. That is there in case of layoffs, this is a partial layoff type situation, but one I could have budgeted for so I hope to not use it. My bad.

**Luckybustert** · 06-12-2010, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by mommy4ever

MauiMagic,

I'm just going to create a 'summer budget' account and tuck away an extra $2000 in it. That way it won't be so tight and we have the funds to do some fun things with the kids that we can't do when we have a full house. Our basics aren't in danger of not being covered, not yet anyway..lol. I have that covered. But summer is when we would spend a little loosely, and I failed to acknowledge or even notice the trend we have. So now I am noticing and acknowledging it. And we'll deal with it. I didn't even prepay the summer bills like i have in the passed, so it will be a little tighter than previous summers, but that is ok, live and learn. Not like there isn't a savings account if we need it. I would just rather not. That is there in case of layoffs, this is a partial layoff type situation, but one I could have budgeted for so I hope to not use it. My bad.

It sounds like you've got a good plan going forward. I hope everything goes well for you.