Time to tighten the belt - again!

[Shelli_wnj]

Well, my husband called me from work this morning and told me that his hours are being cut back. First (a year and a half ago) they cancelled the bonus schedule. Then (this past year) they cancelled the commission incentive. Now they are down to 4 day work weeks. We were at the point where I finally figured how to cut back to make the last pay cut work, and now a new one. He needs another job, but there just aren't any out there. I honestly don't know how much more I can cut back. I could cancel cable now (we were under contract) and that would save $40 a month. internet is also $40 a month, but I use that for homeschool. I guess if we had to. I could downgrade the cell phones again and go to the basic plan to save $20 or so a month. I need to get $150 out of the budget. We are already at $50 a week for groceries and other incidentals. There are no haircuts, clothes are hand-me-downs. Gas is $30 for me and $100 for him, he works over an hour away. I need to remember to unplug everything and turn down the bedroom thermostats in the morning. We need to layer up and turn down the main thermostat all the time. What else can I do? thanks!!!

[ktsmama]

I'm not sure what else you could do, but I wanted to wish you good luck. I am sorry his hours are being cut.

Maybe his gas usage will go down a little.

[NikoSan999]

You said you need another $150 cut. Does that mean before or after his taxes are taken out. If you are figuring 150 straight there would be a little bit of that taxes that wouldn't be taken out.

Did I say that clear. Know what I'm trying to say here but hard to word.

Also that would be one less day of driving. Do you qualify for WIC or food stamps after the cut?

[savvy_sniper]

Do you have anything you could sell on eBay, craigslist, etc.? How about raising the deductible on your homeowners and/or automobile policies.
Get busy and shop around with different insurance companies to see if you can save some money.
If you have a land line phone, can you cut out any of the extras - call waiting, 3-way calling, long distance (you can use your cell phones for long distance). Maybe even cancel the land line completely. More and more people are doing that.
Cut out cable TV.
Join any freecycle groups and look for FREE stuff you can use.
How old are the kids? They can mow lawns, shovel snow, etc.
Hubby can look for ANY kind of part-time job.
Can you babysit?

[mombottoo]

Maybe you could bundle your TV, internet & phone service; when I did that it saved us a little over $70 per month. You could check around to make sure you are getting your best deal on you car insurance & house insurance; doing that a few years back saved us over $800 per year. What are the association dues for? Can they be cut?

If you get the newspaper delivered you could cut that out and not renew any magazine subscriptions if you have any.

Can't think of what else to suggest since I don't know what all of your expenses are.

Good luck!

[Shelli_wnj]

Do you have anything you could sell on eBay, craigslist, etc.? How about raising the deductible on your homeowners and/or automobile policies. I didn't think about insurance! Thanks
Get busy and shop around with different insurance companies to see if you can save some money.
If you have a land line phone, can you cut out any of the extras - call waiting, 3-way calling, long distance (you can use your cell phones for long distance). Maybe even cancel the land line completely. More and more people are doing that.Already did...
Cut out cable TV. Seriously thinking about this. The only thing stopping us before was a contract, but I think it's up.
Join any freecycle groups and look for FREE stuff you can use.
How old are the kids? They can mow lawns, shovel snow, etc.
Hubby can look for ANY kind of part-time job.
Can you babysit?

LOL - kids are kinda small for manual labor, 2, 4 and 6 years old (and the 6 year old is the size of a 3 year old - medical conditions). I LOVE freecycle. I am advertizing for babysitting, but people want you to do it for practically nothing (someone asked me if i could watch 2 kids for 4 hours 3x a week for $20 a week!).

You said you need another $150 cut. Does that mean before or after his taxes are taken out. If you are figuring 150 straight there would be a little bit of that taxes that wouldn't be taken out.

Did I say that clear. Know what I'm trying to say here but hard to word.

Also that would be one less day of driving. Do you qualify for WIC or food stamps after the cut?

sorry, I mean he will be loosing $150 a week, so a total of 600 a month, after taxes - I don't know gross, only net. I love that he won't be driving one day - I bet we save a bit just for that! We are already on wic after the last cuts - great idea, tho!

I'm not sure what else you could do, but I wanted to wish you good luck. I am sorry his hours are being cut.

Maybe his gas usage will go down a little.

Thank you!!!

Maybe you could bundle your TV, internet & phone service; when I did that it saved us a little over $70 per month. no phone, and the tv company doesnt do internet. we're in the back woods You could check around to make sure you are getting your best deal on you car insurance & house insurance; doing that a few years back saved us over $800 per year. What are the association dues for? Can they be cut? association dues are so we can live here! LOL they WILL start proceedings 3 months after they are due to evict based on association dues. I know, it almost happened to us our first year here. I didn't know, and we weren't using any of the amenities, so I just thought since I don't use them, i dont have to pay them. "stupid tax" big time!

If you get the newspaper delivered you could cut that out and not renew any magazine subscriptions if you have any. so sad. I love magazines. I get one right now, I won't renew it.

Can't think of what else to suggest since I don't know what all of your expenses are.

Good luck!

Thank you all so much. I am going to search on insurance today!!! that could be a major savings.

[NikoSan999]

QUOTE
sorry, I mean he will be loosing $150 a week, so a total of 600 a month, after taxes - I don't know gross, only net. I love that he won't be driving one day - I bet we save a bit just for that! We are already on wic after the last cuts - great idea, tho!
END QUOTE

Wow!!! I thought you meant $150 a week. Wow!!! Another $600 a month. And in the winter.
I'm crossing my fingers, eyes and toes for you. My heart is with you. I guess just take the suggestions here and all you can do is the best you can do and roll with the punches.

[frugalwarrior2]

No fault ins.??
We just decided weird things like the dogs get 1/2 a cookie a day and this doubles how far they go.
I wear almost everything 2x and wash in cold
every garbage bag is fill. My parents just use supermarket bags. They don't buy trashbags.
Use cloths instead of paper towels. Contaniers instead of bags.

In other words reexamine every little thing. We make cat toys now. We use suave instead of Neutrogena.
I fish coupons out of the community recycle bins. Sell stuff in the sale or trade section here. Can you make anything that would sell on ETSY.com??
Our cats go to the vet every other year for distemper and get 3 year rabies (not aloud out either).
WE download videos,watch hulu,on demand and borrow tapes.

If you need to check out the food pantries. Just look at every little thing and evaluate-Do I need this,CAn I sustitute for something I have,can I borrow or trade w/ a friend?? God bless. Pray for inspiration.

[Shelli_wnj]

I do make things, I don't know if they would sell. I knit and crochet. I made lots of little cuts last time his pay was cut - went to cloth everything, stopped buying anything disposable, etc. i may list a few things I have made and see if they sell. also, i should list some things i have that I dont need on craigslist!

[ladytoysdream]

When companies around here go to 4 day weeks, 32 hrs, they get some kind of plan with the unemployment so the employees can draw one day's pay from UE each week. Is this possible where you live ?
Not knowing your income, I can only suggest food stamps, food pantries, and HEAP to help with the heating.

[Trishagirl]

Be thankful that your dh has a job my dh got layed off The end of Sept and doesn't have a job yet! We are surviving but I don't know how much longer.

[Josephhgoins]

I know this sounds backwards, but what kind of groceries are you buying. Sometimes it makes more sense to buy the more expensive item becasue its better for you. Items that are high in fiber fill you up more.

So 1 sandwich with whole grain bread may cost a few pennies more that 1 with white bead, but would fill you up whereas it may take 2 with with white bread.

I am not sure where you live, but do you have a wood stove or fireplace? Maybe you could heat with wood and turn the thermostat off all together?

When I had a yard I had an area set aside for cooking. I had area for a small fire with a pot hung over it. I also had a griddle I could use there. It was great fun in the summer to put on a pot of beans while I was working outside, didn't heat up the house and cost nothing. The griddle made the best hamburgers.

W-2 forms are due soon, so I assume you will be getting back some money on your taxes. Maybe it will be enough to be a "stop-gap" until your adjusted.

Good luck! I think your going to need it.

[Vanilla]

Quote: "I mean he will be loosing $150 a week, so a total of 600 a month, after taxes -"

My employer is now applying a 'work sharing program', since the employees' work hours have been cut to 3 days/week. My gross income is now 1/3 less for more than 1 year.

Go to EDD site, pull out the info regarding this program, ask your DH to talk to his employer (company need apply & get EDD approval) to apply for this program, so that the employees can get the partial unemployement pay (if the individual is qualified). I wish my employer had applied that a year ago, but at least they are doing it now. By the way, I am in California.
So sorry to hear this.

[shoiji]

Definately would look into wic, welfare, medical assistance, heating assistance, anything you might qualify for now that you will have less income. Go to your state website, they may have information on different services available to you. Try to find any other sources for food, such as food pantries, coops, salvage stores, etc.

Even though it is winter, you can start thinking of planting a garden or container garden. Which will save money. Talk with you friends about sharing seeds, seedlings to help cut the cost. Also see if you have a recycling center, they may have free soil you can use.

Try selling items that you knit. If there are any boutiques near by see if they would be interested in selling your items.

If you can try to cancel your cable tv. Let them know your situation, many times they will let you even down grade to just basic cable.

Try to stock up on all the personal care items that will be on sale now.

Hang in there.

[nessarowdy]

Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that! I would look into cancelling the cell phone plan and going with a pay as you go. See if it makes sense for you. I did it for 2 years before I opted for a texting plan for my oldest dd and myself. It cost 99 cents per day for when I would use it. If it was turned off, no charge. Then it was free calls to any other verizon customer. I rarely spent more than $20 a month on it. What is your food budget? I would also cut cable. If you have internet, you should be able to watch programs thru the internet. I would also call all the loans that you have with everyone and explain that you could be going thru a hardship within the next few months. Given the "wonderful" state of our economy, they are more in tune to this and may have some lenience for you in regards to payment plans.


Hugs, will be praying for you!
-Vanessa