need help with new budget

**Suzy** · 08-21-2008, 10:02 AM

I am re-doing our budget. In this business we can't always depend on a paycheck week to week. We have one employee that gets paid no matter what. Dh and I get paid when $$ is there. Right now I have a budget that includes both checks. EF has been used since we went through a period of no income. Groceries were fine since I had a stockpile. Ef went towards kids school tuition and house payment and electricity. So here is what we have:

Tithes & Offerings $200.00/wk (Dh won't change that!!!!)

House payment $540.00/mo($491.00 and we have been paying $540.00 since the beginning-10 years ago)due on 1st of month after 10th late fees

Kids tuition $750.00/mo( private school, public is not a choice)due on 1st of month, after 15th late fees-would pay over $1000.00/mo

Dish $80.00/mo (this is the basic, I checked, can switch to Direct, had it in the past, Cust. serv. wasn't good, w/o it we wouldn't have anything where we live)due on 12th of month

Water $120.00/mo(approx) (Dh has done everything suggested and this is the lowest we can get it-7 people in household) after 15th of month late fees added

electricity $230.00/mo(approx)(again, 7 people, I turn off lights, cut up air, etc.) due on 15th of month

phone $130.00/mo(approx)(internet included-needed for personal and business use, separate bill for business, this is just home but internat on that line, if not charge more for business to have internet) due on 21st of month

3 credit cards- amounts listed in my signature(2 smallest have $15.00 min to pay, 3rd has $30.00 min to pay) due on 7th, 10th and 12th of month

groceries- $160.00/wk approx(shop at Aldi -amount has been less recently-see signature) usually on Thursdays

life insurance- $57.40/mo due on 21st of month-draft

vehicle insurance- $111.00/mo due on 28th of month-draft

gas for me :
minivan $50.00/wk (seats 7)
Expedition $75.00/wk ( only including one $75.00 not $300 b/c not driving it unless have extra kids for the weekend-seats 8)
*****both vehicles paid for******

gas for DH comes from business account

no medical insurance- expensive when you are the employer and few employees. Plus dr's do give discount on visits with no ins.

Med's. (2 kids ADHD)
$175.00 each /mo

DH income $900.00/wk pd on Thursday's
Not including mine because sometimes it is hard enough coming up with enough for one. But old budget included mine which was/is $688.57/wk

Help! How can I make this work just on his? Forget EF right now, don't see any extra to put towards it.

**Greebo** · 08-21-2008, 10:14 AM

Why is public school not an option? That's costing you more than your house.

Changing the budget requires change. You've got a lockdown on the two areas where the most change is available.

You know, I understand tithing is important to you - but maybe you cut the tithe now, so you can give a lot more later? From a Christian perspective, God commands you to tend to your OWN household first. (Read "Boundaries" for more on that...)

About the only other thing you can cut is Dish altogether.

**Squirt** · 08-21-2008, 10:25 AM

$80 is not basic for Dish Network to me. You can get just the local channels for $6 a month- but you have to ask.

I agree 150% with Greebo on the tithing issue. Tend to your family first or you won't be able to help your church. Paying such money to a church borders on irresponsibility IMHO when other obligations cannot be tended to.

**Suzy** · 08-21-2008, 10:49 AM

The public school in our district is REALLY bad. All the kids except one would be in the highschool which is TERRIBLE!!!! And 2 kids with ADHD well, that is just asking for trouble. WE know, we had them there for a year a few years ago. As for the tithing. 10% would be $90.00 of DH income. I know everyone is entitled to their opinions And I did ask for help. But DH grew up in a strict Christian household. He is more relaxed now. But that is one area he feels strongly about. His dad was a deacon and over the missions. The $110.00 extra goes towards missions and the building fund. DH looks at it this way, We give tithes before we do anything else. The Lord knows what we need and will supply it. He hasn't let us down yet and never will. I don't want this to turn into a heated debate. Dh has grown up with this mindset. I wouldn't have made it through the custody battle for his kids (which btw, he has custody of his 3 children, not many men -especilly here in SC- can say that)with out that strong rock to lean on. DH is a wonderful provider. The $200.00 is set. That won't change. So I guess the only other thing for me to do is turn off the dish ( I did ask for basic) That would save me $80.00. I already stockpile and we have a garden. I guess my next step would be calling the credit cards and asking for the lowest payment plan they got and close the cards. That would be the only way the CC would accept a lower payment. DH looked into bankruptsy once when he was married before and that is what they told him. These are my CC not his. He paid his off before we got together. Anyways, thanks for ya'lls help. It is appreciated!!!!

**ktsmama** · 08-21-2008, 10:57 AM

I know when I was in private school (many moons ago) my parents had some financial issues for a while and my mom found out that she could work at the school for a certain number of hours per week for a reduction in tuition. Maybe you could check on this.

I don't have much else to offer except for ((hugs)). I am sure everything will be better then you expect.

Oh, are there generics for the medications that the children take? That would help a little.

**freebs** · 08-21-2008, 12:04 PM

I would look again on the dish looking at the dish website they offer a $19.99 dish family package. Or they offer the $39 package. If you could get it down to the dish family that would save $60 a month!

**Cricketlegs** · 08-21-2008, 12:11 PM

lets see here--900x4=3600

bills going out if I have it right--4145.00

4145.00-3600.00= -545

you need an additional $137 a week to just make your bills.

So cut $69 a week off groceries--that gives you $276 to add back into the in coming.

545.00 -276.00 = 269.00 in the red

At this point I wouldn't worry about customer service. I have been on Directv for 10 years and it has been fine.

try looking at prices--see if you can get at least $20 cheaper.

269.00-20.00=249.00

249.00/2=124.50 less gas per car??? That would be $32 a weel less per car.

this should even you out

Is there anyway you can drasticly cut down your driving at all??

I can't see any other way to make it work without getting into the church funds.

I have sent you back to minimum house payments
stolen from the grocery budget
stolen from the gas for cars budget
lowered tv $20

I am out of ideas.

I hope it works out for you.

**Suzy** · 08-21-2008, 12:33 PM

I can cut the groceries a little. Not by much. I will try $70. I am going tomorrow so I will see. No generics on the meds. Already tried. The only driving I do is from home to school and the grocery store. and back home. One day a week is errand day but here lately DH has been helping with that while he is out.

**orlivin1225** · 08-21-2008, 12:57 PM

Suzy,

I understand and agree with most of your budget. I agree that public school is not an option, but I do have a suggestion. I realize that the ex-wife does not agree with HSing, but what if you guys HS'd your bio kids and allowed your Step kids to continue to go to the private school. Would that make a difference in the tuition budget? Is the ex-wife contributing to the step kids education, food, etc.?

Also, I know that this would be hard, it was for us, but I'd loose cable all together. We have not had cable since April and we've gotten used to it. My kids read more, they play outside more and we play board games and talk much more at my house. Every once in a while we rent a movie (when we can find one that is family appropriate which is difficult these days) and make popcorn. I've noticed a change in our attitudes because we aren't bombarded with the crap that's on TV these days.

As far as the other bills, it doesn't appear that you have too much wiggle room. Maybe apply any surplus of your budget to another bill to keep them big bills at bay....

We are in the same boat, and sometimes faith is what you need to rely on. So far, it's worked for us! Just last week, I didn't have enough money to pay the bills that were due last week, but 'somehow' all the money I needed was there.... faith! lol

**Suzy** · 08-21-2008, 01:00 PM

at the private we get a discount on the kids. 1st full price, 2nd discount, 3rd another discount, 4 and more go free.

**rachelj** · 08-21-2008, 01:02 PM

I applaud you and your dh on your desire to keep tithing.

God will honor that - maybe not always in the way we think He should but He will!

**orlivin1225** · 08-21-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by Squirt

I agree 150% with Greebo on the tithing issue. Tend to your family first or you won't be able to help your church. Paying such money to a church borders on irresponsibility IMHO when other obligations cannot be tended to.

Tithing is supposed to be a minimum 10% of your gross income. $200 per week is not unreasonable. Depending on your beliefs tithing is not an option. (For us it also isn't an option) I believe that to give less than that 10% is 'stealing' from God. That's my personal opinion, but I think that everyone needs to be understanding of her DH's opinion and not flame her for that...

**Nishu** · 08-21-2008, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by orlivin1225

Tithing is supposed to be a minimum 10% of your gross income. $200 per week is not unreasonable. Depending on your beliefs tithing is not an option. (For us it also isn't an option) I believe that to give less than that 10% is 'stealing' from God. That's my personal opinion, but I think that everyone needs to be understanding of her DH's opinion and not flame her for that...

I don't believe anyone was 'flaming' in response to the tithing. Normally I just kinda point and laugh when Greebo says anything, but I have to agree with him on this.

Growing up, we never had extra money for anything. My dad raised four of us on his one income. We weren't just frugal, we were straight up poor... The church always got paid though. Admittedly, I'm biased. The idea of sacrificing your own family's financial stability to give to the church just doesn't make sense to me.

I would think that if your beliefs demand to give that much, then I'd cut out everything that your belief's don't require. Direct TV isn't required, and it certainly doesn't come before food.

And certainly doesn't make sense to pay extra to your house payment and cut back on your credit card payments. Paying your mortgage first is absolutely ideal... paying extra to your mortgage isn't, IMO.

I think someone posted earlier something about writing the med companies to get less expensive medication... maybe you could try that?

**frugalbabe** · 08-21-2008, 01:50 PM

Hey Suzy just wanted to comment on the tithing issue. We also pay a 10% tithe every month as well as a fast offering (We don't eat two meals on the first Sunday of the month and then offer the money those meals would have cost) Tithing IS getting your house in order. It sets your priorities straight and acknowledges the only reason we have what we have is through the grace of Heavenly Father. I applaud you.

**orlivin1225** · 08-21-2008, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by frugalbabe

Hey Suzy just wanted to comment on the tithing issue. We also pay a 10% tithe every month as well as a fast offering (We don't eat two meals on the first Sunday of the month and then offer the money those meals would have cost) Tithing IS getting your house in order. It sets your priorities straight and acknowledges the only reason we have what we have is through the grace of Heavenly Father. I applaud you.

I couldn't... and obviously didn't... say it any better... lol