Just getting involved....

**ALMOverton** · 11-22-2006, 12:14 PM

Hi all. I bookmarked this page ages ago - and browsed a lot! I did the change jar and it was great to have the money for vacation instead of using credit cards we couldnt afford.

Anyway - I backed off fast when I tried to list our debt - at the time we had two mortgages and well over 300 thousand in debt. It was seriously scary.

We did manage to sell our other house, so our debt is down to a level where I can at least look at it. I wrote it all down last night after browsing again for hours, and did a new budget. I am hoping you all can help me out with a few things now:

First off - we need about $1,000 a week in the bank just to pay bills. It was $920 exactly, but I forgot to add $70 week for part time preschool) The only thing we could give up right now is cable/computer - but DH is not going to give up cable, and I do use the computer ALOT - and it does occasionally bring in money. We are at LEAST $200 short EVERY WEEK! I do waitress on the weekends, and that is about 200 a weekend, but that is our gas and food money for the week. I need another $200 a week!?! Or close too it.

We have an apartment downstairs that could be rented for close that - once it is renovated. So question one is - do we pay big bucks to ahve it renovated and thus make our budget? Or do we save a bunch doing it ourselves and struggle for the several months it will take to do ourselves?

Or... how do I make more money

LOL

Also - I have done a bunch of research on OAMC - but I really just wanna starte with some real basic recepies that freeze well - any suggestions? It makes it a big more challenging that I am on a low cal low choleserol diet

So that is my novel - Some basics on us:

Married 6 years with 3 girls: 11, 4 and 1. We recently moved so I am still sorting out clutter and boxes! WAY too much stuff. Working on Dave Ramsey's money makeover and trying to get DH on board. No pets. When I am not surrounded by boxes I love crafts and scrapbooking, and working/playing on the computer.

Thanks all for the wonderful wisdom found here!

alyssha

Oh - and how do I fix up my signature with all my debt info?

thanks!

**Buckeye5** · 11-22-2006, 01:12 PM

Hello and welcome to the village. For your signature update, go to the User Cp at the top of this page, and click it on, then go to edit signature and type away. About the other questions, I am not sure what advice to give you, sorry. Maybe someone else on here will be able to do that, that has the knowledge. Anyway, welcome to the village.

**Darlene** · 11-22-2006, 01:23 PM

Buckeye is right, just remember to click save.

Welcome to the Village! I'm all for doing the renovations yourselves whenever you have a spare moment. How much would it rent for?

**oct2667us** · 11-22-2006, 01:27 PM

**ALMOverton** · 11-22-2006, 01:46 PM

We are thinking anywhere from 650 to 750 it will rent for, but it will also increase some of our expenses too

Hopefully my new signature will show now too!

**homesteadmamma** · 11-22-2006, 07:03 PM

Hi and welcome. Do you have things around your home that you might be able to sell on eBay, have a yard sale or take to a consignment store. Also one of the first places most people find money is in the grocery department. If you start making your own food, you'd be surprised how much you can save on your grocery bill. Buying loss leaders really helps.

If you can rent an apartment downstairs, why not see if they are willing to renovate and you cut the rate of rent in 1/2. That way you won't have the expense of renovating and they'll get a cut in rent. One of our older sons did this and although it took awhile for him to get the renovations done, he sure was happy to pay a whole lot less rent. Just a thought.

**PrairieRose** · 11-22-2006, 07:21 PM

Hello and

to the village!

The biggest favor you can do for yourself is to track every penny you're spending daily. Do that for a month and you'll see exactly where you dollars and sense are going. After a long hard look at that you can be honest about the leaks and plug them. Go to cash only as quickly as possible, especially if you're writing checks. Overdraft charges can send you to the poor house.

Don't spend any money for a while, eat only at home, take your own drinks/snacks to work and anywhere you go. You can't accomplish this over night but you can get there.
Another thing is you might check out mystery shopping, although you usually have to spend your money and then wait on a while to get reimbursed and paid for doing the job. Any questions feel free to ask or pm someone.

**ALMOverton** · 11-22-2006, 07:58 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions ladies!

As far as the apartment, we did that 2 years ago. It was rented really cheap and renovated some then. Then the water meter broke while we were on vacation and it was vacant so there was MASSIVE water damage. All the floors and most of the walls have to be replaced, so it's not even like someone could live there in the meantime.

We did get some money from insurance, but no where near enough to actually finish the job. We do have money that we borrowed from family till the other house actually closes, but It would be a lot less if we do it ourselves.

I have done mystery shopping, but living in a rural area there are not a lot of opportunities. By the tiime I pay for gas, I am making almost nothing. And I avoid the mall like the plague - part of the no spending

Other than extras at Walmart - there aren't much in the way of leaks. DH uses the card, but that has to stop - all the bills are paid automatically, so the overdrafts will kill us. The other thing I will start doing is really watching where the waitressing cash goes. Other than my birthday I can count on one hand the amount of times we have eaten out in nearly a year.

I do have questions about making stuff. I don't use any hamburger helper or box stuff anymore, but is baking my own bread and such really cheaper? I pay 80 cents to 1 dollar for a loaf. I will make my own if you tell me it's really cheaper. I am REALLY watching my diet - so a lot of my casseroles and budget meals are now out

Thanks for any and all suggetions ladies! You are really great. And I will keep reading and learning

**dmvezina** · 11-22-2006, 08:07 PM

Hi & welcome!
I think CJ has a great idea about renting it to someone that can do the renovating! Great deal for both!!
Are any of your debts credit cards? I would work on getting those paid off.

I'm not really good in the financial advice department though. LOL

**homemaker66** · 11-23-2006, 08:10 AM

Welcome to the family. One the biggest things I found to get the debts under control is read, read and read. This is the place to go for ANYTHING! Everyone here is GREAT. One thing I have done in the pass is get the materials together to fix up the apartment and have a family cookout and everyone helps out getting the place ready to rent. You may have to use some of the money that is set aside for now but in the long run you will have your place fixed up and ready to be rented and you will ge able to get your money back. You can charge over the 200. that you need maybe you can ask 350.-400.00 (depending the going rent rates) then you will have extra money each month. Good Luck

**baxjul** · 11-23-2006, 01:31 PM

Hello and Welcome!

**frugalfriend** · 11-23-2006, 02:06 PM

Hi, I'm new here. Really loving this site! What a great group of women!

Just wanted to add a thought that might help. I do a Pre-school co-op with three other moms with our (4) 4 and 5 year old boys. The boys just love it, are learning a lot and we all have a ton of fun. That might be a way for you to save some money (no Pre-school tuition).