Oh my goodness it's raining!!!!

**littlemotherhaywood** · 08-06-2007, 06:04 PM

I know I'm not alone, I just need to rant a little. Over the summer we depleted our EF. My goal was to take it no lower than $1000, but I had hoped we wouldn't even go that far. We were building it up so much since my dh was on the ten month pay plan. We did get his retro check just in time to cover some monthly expenses and we used our change we had been saving for our vacation to visit family and friends back home. The school is going to reimburse dh for his schooling (so thankful for that at a $1000 a course), but we had to pay 25% of each course up front and then show it fully paid before we get the reimbursement and that ate up a lot of money I didn't account for. Ugh....stupid planning on my part I guess. Now he has to register for three classes next week plus books and we're still waiting on reimbursement from the first two.

Our ds had his first ER visit yesterday. Thankfully it was only an impacted bowel (very scary nonetheless), but that was $100 not in the budget.

We all need glasses. Dd and dh have never worn glasses before. I'm holding off on mine for a month or two...doctor said it won't make a big difference since my script change isn't that much, but of course we had to get dd's right away and dh really needs to get his as soon as possible. Dd's were only $50 with a full warranty, but with the specialized lenses and AR coating, we'll be lucky to get dh's for less than $200. Same thing with mine

Dd is going to need probably $50 for school between fees and the "special" stuff that you can only get at the school. I really hate that. I got all of her other supplies for less than $10.

My due date is ten weeks away tomorrow and we have a $500 copay on our hospitalization. I should be grateful that that is all we'll have to pay, but I'm getting anxious about having it all before the baby comes.

Dh doesn't get another paycheck until August 31st

We don't "need" anything, but our bills that we'll get are going to be more than what's in checking. He's still working pt at Sherwin Williams so he should have a check big enough to cover the difference, but in the meantime, it means we'll be dipping back into the EF.

Ack!!! I feel like I've been doing Mickey Math or something. We have not been frivolous this summer at all. I don't want dh to go back on the ten month pay plan again, but with him having to take three classes this fall (for his official licensure) it means he won't be working at SW as much and I'm afraid we have to. The difference is $700 a month. At least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. He has one class to take during the winter term and then he's done. I hate that he has to work so much, but our expenses should be a lot less by next fall. He's working on getting some more classes to teach Monday nights. Even a two hour class is worth $50 and an extra $200 a month looks really nice in our EF

He's been such a trooper working so hard for us and going to school too.

I'm really scared about being home with three kids while he's busy doing all of that though. Some days I feel as though I can't manage two. They fight and create chaos all day long. I can only imagine what the baby is going to bring to that mix

**Daisygirl** · 08-06-2007, 06:30 PM

Oh, darlin' once you are not pregnant you will have MUCH more energy for chasing kids. You will also find your older two very helpful with the baby. My daughters are 5 1/2 years apart adn Chloe was so amazingly helpful.

As far as the money situation goes, one thing at a time. Is the copay something you can pay out or does it have to be paid all at once? If it has to be all at once, what can you put off? Mary Hunt has an article, I am searching for it on another screen, about the order in which to pay for things when money is extremely tight. Found it, here is the link.

http://www.crosswalk.com/finances/11546733/

I have used this process in the past myself, and the world did ot stop spinning on its axis, the girls and I kept a roof over our heads and food in our tummies and did just fine. I know this is just an awful time to feel so stressed out.

My fingers are crossed that you will see the reimbursement for his classes soon. That will make it possible for you to relax.

The only other advice is what I always do when times are tough. We grocery shop in the pantry and plan a menu with ony a $20 allowance from the grocery store. I make a game out of it with te kids and we come up with some pretty creative meals.

Pull some money from the sky. Search the internet for rebates from the gas company and the electric company. I got a rebate from gas for going on equalized billing of $20(which I wanted to do anyway) and a rebate from the electric company of $25 by allowing them to cycle down my AC during peak power usage times. I got a $70 tax credit from the government for buying an energy star appliance,

Good luck, and I know things will be ok.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 08-06-2007, 07:37 PM

I know what you mean. My dh is a teacher and i stay home with the 4 kids. For so long, when I was having babies and nursing, it was all him. He just had to keep taking on jobs and working more and harder. Now that my youngest is almost 3 I have been able to take on more. I don't work full time and I don't really work out of the home. But I have been able to take on some part time daycare and do some work from home to help the situation. This means that dh is home more. I hope that you can work through this. It is just a season and it will pass. good luck!

**Cricket1** · 08-06-2007, 08:47 PM

On your glasses, can you use the same frames and just get different lenses? That will save a little money.

**ktsmama** · 08-06-2007, 11:08 PM

Don't have any suggestions, just sending good vibes your way!!

**littlemotherhaywood** · 08-07-2007, 09:31 AM

Thanks ladies

I will definitely have to see if I can find any rebates. I know that since we moved we can't go on the budget as you have to have twelve months in one place. That sucked, but our utility bills are still a lot lower here

As far as the glasses go, I've had these frames for three years and my script is one that has to be mailed off (not one they can do in the store) and last time it took almost two weeks. I can't see without them. The frames are pretty mangled so I don't know if they could repair them or not. I've just been putting them back together for about six months now. New frames aren't the biggest cost there, it's the lenses. I've been looking at some discount sites for eyeglasses, but I'm afraid to order something I can't try on. I'd hate to buy something and find it to be terribly uncomfortable and then end up having to get another pair anyway. I'm keeping it open as an option though....anywhere I can save money

I think this pregnancy is just making me super sensitive. My dh keeps telling me there is nothing to worry about, but how can I not worry?

**Daisygirl** · 08-08-2007, 08:13 PM

Awww, you still need a big old Frugal Village group hug! Of course, hearing that you feel lousy and depressed cause of the pregnancy doesn't really improve matters, but I don't think you realistically have anything to worry about overly. But when you are worried you are worried, and not much help for that.

I try to read a good book or watch a good movie to take my mind off things and that seems to help a bit. What are your outlets for stress? Heck, have some chocolate ice cream, that cures the WORLD!

I really hope you see the light at the end of the tunnel soon! I'm thinking about you!

**claimsgirl66** · 08-08-2007, 08:20 PM

Sounds like you are handling things really quite well. God bless you for staying home with 3 little ones!! I babysit my grandson for one weekend and I am wiped out!!

I wear glasses and feel your pain, not cheap. Can you go to a Lenscrafters type place, quite often they have some stylish frames on sale for under $50 and then you can get the lenses done later? Good luck.

**littlemotherhaywood** · 08-09-2007, 09:54 AM

I had considered that it may be cheaper to get frames and then use one of the discounters for the lenses. There seems to be a pretty big difference in price....no reason why though.

I have no outlets for stress. When we lived in OH I could walk two blocks to the park and take a nice walk through nature. It's supposed to be 104 here today

I don't even want to go outside. I can't breathe in this humidity. It's aweful. The poor kids can't even play outside. I really just need August to be over and done with. It should start to cool down and we'll have more money again.

Seeing the numbers really helps. I've been running some scenarios through Microsoft Money to see where we're at and where we could be depending on the pay plans. I just hate money plain and simple. I worry too much if dh handles the finances, but I really stress when I do, lol.

**ohsandohs** · 08-09-2007, 09:12 PM

A thought on the glasses...

I've seen an online site posted on various frugal living boards:

www.39dollarglasses.com

Maybe this is a way to take care of these needs while not adding to the stress you're already under? It's worth exploring anyway...

Many prayers to you while you're enduring this heat while you're pregnant. And for your other concerns as well. ((HUGS)) So many of us are dealing with financial stuff right now. We're looking at DH having to get a second job because his sales commissions (General Motors) are flat right now.

Blessings to you,

Michelle