financial challenge vent?

[sahm2boys]

alright..im a little stuck right now..husband is the worker
husband hurt leg almost 2 weeks ago in hole in front yard..no health insurance no sick pay no vacation..off a week..said he would be "taken care" for that pay period..well check came in today..$100.00 (the 100.00 was where they shorted him the week before) the rest is in a disability claim..several weeks before its received
then this week he has been off 2 days due to the owner of the companys son passing away.. no work today because now everyone is pushed back and my husband cant do his work until the other guys catch up..then monday is a holiday so no pay for that day the third week...

no savings..just havent had room..probably could have saved something though..

i have a full month of bills ahead of us..
i need to talk to the landlord..we were a little behind last month which i have the remaining balance to pay that but now i have no check to cover the sept rent. im sure she will work with us..she always has..but i hate not paying and hate putting stress on someone else..but she has 30+ rentals and the ppl across the street that rent did yard work to pay her one month because they have lost income. but i also feel bad because she just replaced the washer n dryer last week.
then we have truck payment, car insurance, vet bill, electricity, cable, cell, financial payment, dr bill, 3 small monthly direct debits, water bill, child support, and the next months rent. and some of these bills are on the extend already from a mishap in july.
i have some groceries and diapers..my oldest start school next week for the first time..all supplies are bought, i have plenty of snacks stock pilled for lunches, ceral/oatmeal for breakfast, some drinks. i will have $240.00 in the bank with the bank releases a $40.00 hold..i will need a little bit of gas $15 gets me 85 miles and i dont go anywhere typically. the past due on rent is $185.00 husband brought home $100.00 today on his check..he is trying to sell a couple of things right now. a big power washer and something else. i dont think i have much else to sell to make money off of..i should have an extra $250.00 the start of next week, then his next check will be thursday for 2 maybe 3 days (trying to work saturday) then the following week will be 1 day short because of the holiday. so on the high side for the 9th his check will be $500?? normally $875.00 after taxes then the 16th $650.00 then if things are back on tract $875 on the 23rd and 30th and 7th. and hopefully a disability check in 2-3 weeks for 80% of what he normally draws so $650-700.00 ???

BILLS
the past due rent $185.00 previously talked to landlord and the agreement was to be caught up by the 9th but that included the sept rent..
rent $885.00
truck $350.00 (16th)
Cell $250.00 (23rd) - included split payment is normally $200 or less in
Truck Ins.- Geico $135.00 (1st..usually have time to pay b4 cancellation)
Motorcycle Ins. - Geico $24.00 (18th) direct debited
Comcast $215.00 (23rd) (cable phone internet)
Electricity $250.00 (23rd)
Vet $100.00 (28th) - direct debited
child support $150-175.00 would like to make payment no later then the 16th
dr bill $50.00 (25th)
follow up dr appt around that time..dont know if they will charge or not
water bill can probably get by with a $75-125.00 payment arrangement
gym $10.00 1st (PAID for sept)
netflix $10.00 (23rd can postpone)
Sirrus $16.00 (28th i think)
moved the financial payment from the 30th to the 10th of oct..but double payment now in oct. $122.00
usually we have 200-250 each week for groceries, gas, cigs ( i know !!!! hubby) etc, which is a very comfortable amount but is also new because we just paid off 2 big bills..he typically gets $100.00 a week..sometimes $80.00
unfortunately he smokes ALOT and trying to talk him out of that is pointless..if you are a smoker or live with one you know what i mean.
so i know we have no wiggle room..and need to come up with a came plan..i am more or less posting this to make my self sit down and look at what i need to do..feel free to post ideas and advice

family consist of 2 boys 5 and 2yrs old. one starting school for the first time..will be catching bus and taking lunches and snacks..4 little dogs on some puppy chow $5 every 2 weeks, husband n wife..husbands likes to snack i like second helping of good ole tasty country dinners..lol

i do coupon..

husband occasionally has to buy gas for work truck they are only allotted one fill up a week and if he gets called to the sites multiples times a day that is 45 minutes away its burns up the gas

[BlissMommy]

I like how you seem to have a plan. Have you thought about babysitting? I would also suggest seeing if there are foodbanks around to help you stretch things out this month.

[Momto5RN]

i was thinking some babysiting also - maybe not full time but maybe like a moms day out type of thing where you could do a few hours here and there for perhaps other SAHM who need to go to dr or would love to get hair done without taking kids etc .

my dh was a smoker so was my dad- both quit - my dad when it was affecting his health ( too late though he later died of lung disease) and my dh when he realized that what he spent on ciggarettes was more then what it cost a month for our schools montly tuition for our oldest kid at that time ( 100 at the time) and i basically told him you want him in catholic school you quit - he wanted it bad enough so he did .

he had smoked x 15 years and my dad geez he had smoked for 50++ . When there is a big enough will there is a way .

when it comes down to feeding and housing the family it should come last to me thas a form of blow money and around here blow money is the first to go .

but i can be a real "B" when it comes to cigarettes and beer and soda etc being a part of a budget when there are more important things to be paid that are your four walls - food shelter etc etc - i just say no lol !

just how i was brought up that it is equivelent to stealing to not pay what you owe when spending money on non neccessities.

i think of it this way -
imagine if you were owed money by someone - yet saw them saying they couldnt pay you but you then saw them at McD's or at the movies etc doing something not a neccessity - i imagine you would be a bit upset - i imagine that is how maybe the landlord may feel if he is being put off but sees cigarettes etc being bought .

i know one cant just up and quit very easily but cutting back may be a necesssity if you cant pay your rent .

[3tomboys]

Babysitting would be a great way to earn a little extra money. Maybe you can mention it to some other mothers where your son goes to school. Is there anyway you can get a lower cable bill? Maybe less channels would bring the bill down. Can you lower the minutes on your cell phone? Can you do without the Sirius radio? I would call the landlorad as soon as you can and explain the situation. She sounds like someone you can work with. I wish you the best.

[mauimagic]

You sure have all the facts and financial obligations down to the penny - and I bet it does help to see it printed out. Let us know what you decide to do - you know that we are on your side to be successful - cheering you on. Take care.

[Siebrie]

Can your dh offer to use the powerwasher to clean some of your landlady's properties in exchange for a rent payment? (I hope I have the right equipment in mind). That way you would still have the powerwasher, and save the money for the rent. And while dh is working the powerwasher, he won't have time to smoke ;-)

[sahm2boys]

alright i think i have come up with a feasible plan..still need to run it by the landlord of course..but she has always been easy to get along with.

this week pay the past due rent $185.00 PAID
Pay $50 to child support
and $200.00 towards Sept Rent left over balance $100.00

next week the 9th (worse case he doesnt get paid for the days the office closed for death and funeral)
$75 geico (from the $135 i should be able to just pay $75 this month)
$25 child support
$200.00 sept rent - left over balance $200.00

the 16th should be a full check even with the holiday because they are working sat.now to catch up, so pay truck $350.00 geico motorcycle ins $25 netflix $10 child support $75.00 Electricity $50.00 sept rent $100.00 left over balance $265 (more towards sept rent?)

then on the 23rd pay vet bill $100.00 water $110.00 Cell $250.00 Electricity $200.00 sirrus radio $15 left over balance $200.00

30th pay gym $10 dr $50 cable/phone/inter $200.00 Oct Rent $400.00 left over balance $215.00 but drs appt..might cost some more money too

7th $485 OCT rent PAID, $100.00 towards Sept rent and $120.00 to financial payment leaves $230.00

balance owed on sept rent as of Oct 7th $285.00..

if the disability check comes in i will pay remaining sept rent and put the remainder of that check towards christmas granted nothing else happens (just to get christmas done and no worries and no pushing bills around to get the kids christmas)

thanks for the babysitting ideas..

being i can work the budget too still have something left over each week i will try and pay more towards the sept rent

what do you guys think?

[sahm2boys]

i was thinking some babysiting also - maybe not full time but maybe like a moms day out type of thing where you could do a few hours here and there for perhaps other SAHM who need to go to dr or would love to get hair done without taking kids etc .

my dh was a smoker so was my dad- both quit - my dad when it was affecting his health ( too late though he later died of lung disease) and my dh when he realized that what he spent on ciggarettes was more then what it cost a month for our schools montly tuition for our oldest kid at that time ( 100 at the time) and i basically told him you want him in catholic school you quit - he wanted it bad enough so he did .

he had smoked x 15 years and my dad geez he had smoked for 50++ . When there is a big enough will there is a way .

when it comes down to feeding and housing the family it should come last to me thas a form of blow money and around here blow money is the first to go .

but i can be a real "B" when it comes to cigarettes and beer and soda etc being a part of a budget when there are more important things to be paid that are your four walls - food shelter etc etc - i just say no lol !

just how i was brought up that it is equivelent to stealing to not pay what you owe when spending money on non neccessities.

i think of it this way -
imagine if you were owed money by someone - yet saw them saying they couldnt pay you but you then saw them at McD's or at the movies etc doing something not a neccessity - i imagine you would be a bit upset - i imagine that is how maybe the landlord may feel if he is being put off but sees cigarettes etc being bought .

i know one cant just up and quit very easily but cutting back may be a necesssity if you cant pay your rent .

i feel the same way..and completely understand..we have a sister n law always talking about how broke she is and needing financial help..like a guilt/beg thing and then in same breath or fb talk about the 4 or 5 concerts she went to that MONTH, the new clothes she bought a neice..and going out to dinner but not having enough to take her husband along with her for any of that..sad..AND buying those monthly diet packaged foods from the tv

if only the smoking would slow down..he did switch brands recently that saves more money then the other brand..i think it saves $20-30 a week..i so wish he would stop...i worry about his health so much.

[sahm2boys]

oh!!

thought of something..some one owes me $150.00 but i really hate to ask for it..

i bred my purebred akc male to her female for a $300.00 stud fee to be paid by the pups deposits she received..or when they were sold..how ever it worked..she is a friend of mine..

well she sold two and i asked for something and she sent me half...well by now 2 pups have gone home and she had one male left a couple weeks back so he might be sold now too..and i should get another $150.00

i know times are tight and i know she has lost 2 pets very recently..so i REALLY REALLY HATE to ask her about it...but my husband really wants me to because we could really use it right now.

???

[Mom2-3]

Can you put Netflix on hold until you are current on all payments? The library is free

[Jmarie]

Just wondering.. could you cancell netflix- there is no cancellation charge and sirus radio?. Also, what about changing your phone bill (lower the minute, or reduce text, or internet & data).. 250 per month seems a little high for a cell phone bill, DH and I pay 75 for three lines. And comcast, if you have the cell phone, not sure why pay for the house phone also.. but thats just a thought.

I agree with the earlier poster who suggest for DH to offer services to knock off something on rent so that you dont have to sell the powerwasher.

I'm sure everything will work out for you guys.. Keep us posted!

[xtena]

Don't be ashamed to tell your friend, you need the money due to your husband's having been out of work. You need to feed and house those kids of yours and that is more important than your friend's feelings at having recently lost some pets (I love animals but they are lower on the importance scale than your human family's needs).

Ditto what people have been asking you about Sirius; about cell minutes; did I see a gym mentioned/can you cancel that without penalty? Can the little one starting school qualify for the free lunch program?

Truck, car AND motorcycle? Can you sell the motorcycle?

Can you get your husband some nicotine gum or something? Food, rent, insurance and utilities should come before cancer sticks and I don't care how long he's smoked, he's killing himself; endangering the health of his loved ones and bleeding money when there isn't enough to pay your creditors. Something has to give and someone needs to get that through to him.

[shoiji]

As an ex-smoker I know that he will quit only when he is ready. All you can do for now is plant the suggestion. You could ask him to try and cut back. Make him smoke outside. When it gets colder it will be less rewarding. Right now I would have to say that it may be to stressful of a time for him to try and do anything with the smoking.

I would re-evaluate your comcast service. Just seems like a lot of money. Can you lower your cable service, have basic telephone service since you do have a cell, lower internet service. Do you really need a gym membership right now? Is sirrius radio a necessity?

If you start asking about babysitting don't forget things like housesitting, and taking care of pets.

The power washing of landlords places sounds like a good idea. Hopefully your husband can use the power washer for that.

It does sound like you have a game plan for payments. I would try to pay off as much of the rent as soon as possible. I have been in a similar situation with rent being late and was fortunate of having a landlord that would work with me. I can tell by your posts that you are concerned in paying the landlord back. Hopefully once you speak with your landlord you can calm down a little. After all there only so much you can do and you seem to be doing everything you can do.

[sahm2boys]

Just wondering.. could you cancell netflix- there is no cancellation charge and sirus radio?. Also, what about changing your phone bill (lower the minute, or reduce text, or internet & data).. 250 per month seems a little high for a cell phone bill, DH and I pay 75 for three lines. And comcast, if you have the cell phone, not sure why pay for the house phone also.. but thats just a thought.

I agree with the earlier poster who suggest for DH to offer services to knock off something on rent so that you dont have to sell the powerwasher.

I'm sure everything will work out for you guys.. Keep us posted!

i can put netflix on a 90 day hold ..sirrus i think is a contract 1 yr
the cell phone is higher due to splitting the payment it has some past due balance there...i was stretching things before school started and i shouldnt have..cell is also a contract, had it since i was a teenager
the comcast is the bundle plan..i dont have a actual house phone anymore..kid threw it in the mop bucket but to change the bundle would not save me anything..and i still have 9 months on the comcast contract.

i think the power washer sold..pick up is monday

but thank you for all the ideas!!

[sahm2boys]

Don't be ashamed to tell your friend, you need the money due to your husband's having been out of work. You need to feed and house those kids of yours and that is more important than your friend's feelings at having recently lost some pets (I love animals but they are lower on the importance scale than your human family's needs).

Ditto what people have been asking you about Sirius; about cell minutes; did I see a gym mentioned/can you cancel that without penalty? Can the little one starting school qualify for the free lunch program?

Truck, car AND motorcycle? Can you sell the motorcycle?

Can you get your husband some nicotine gum or something? Food, rent, insurance and utilities should come before cancer sticks and I don't care how long he's smoked, he's killing himself; endangering the health of his loved ones and bleeding money when there isn't enough to pay your creditors. Something has to give and someone needs to get that through to him.

thanks i started talking to her and they are in a financial bind as well with a new job holding back and behind on the mortgage..=(..

the gym is my husbands membership he started this summer and he can cancel but to rejoin the price triples..so we will talk about that one..

my truck is almost paid for
my husbands truck is company issued
the motorcycle is paid for and his personal transportation

the smokin is a sensitive subject..lol
we will be ok once we get past this hurdle so a lunch program is not necessary plus i have stuff to pack his lunches

but thank you!!