I really admire those of you with bigger families.  I am in awe of how you stretch everyting!  If it were more than DH and I, I'd probably itch from stress even more than I do!

re-tired

Tracy, I will keep you in my prayers! have you considered going to a local thrift shop looking for jars for canning? I found a good deal last fall on some pints and half pints, only $2.00 a dozen and I just wished they had more than the three dozen I did buy. The free sites for food are allowed you know, for they are for people who are down on their luck, so you and your family do qualify, we don't judge here, we just try to help in giving moral support when it is needed. Hope it all works out and you and you family are in the "kings row" soon. LOL

 Thanks!  I think back to when we seemed to have lots more money, we gave a lot more but SPENT a lot more.  Not bad, just different.  I am planning what more to give when we have more money, I know now what the food shelf needs and doesn't need, I know churches who are being very good hosts to people who need a hand up- some are very gracious, it is amazing the creativity that goes into these places.  

The one I went to Saturday is all church driven, they take a little info, have a table where you can get four items, from candy to hair spray to tylenol to crackers, they handed out some diapers, ran out just before I got there, the person ahead of me received a case, they had racks and tables of free clothes.  They offer coffee and treats while you wait, they give three bags of food in a cart for a household, and have their junior high kids taking them out to your car in a cart for you.  Very warm and welcoming, a significant outreach.  They have this food shelf every week, people can come once a month.  It is a very large commitment for a not very big church.  I would love to contribute to the pick 4 table.

One place I went had tables of free books for kids and a kid video running, and cups of water for while you wait.  All a kind of society I would not have known about at all if I didn't have a financial crunch.   

I was broke in college and with my first job, but didn't know about the private charities. Made it by renting a duplex for $100/month.  For the past 15 years, I've been mostly middle class, except for short stints of unemployment and moving, the last one was several years ago, I think seven.  We've been pretty stable and giving to charity for the most part during this time. I am very grateful for the help we're getting now.   

Thanks for the tip about thrift store jars, I've been looking for a reason to go to my two favorites!   

I just hope to see a hundred or 2 hundred in savings hopefully create a down payment on a car this year...:(

latenightleader

Would a few diaper and baby food coupons help you with this month's budget.  When I was cutting coupons on Sunday I ran across some that I could not use and Lord immediatly brought you to mind.  If you would like these, please send me a PM and I'll get them out in the mail to you. I only have a few but can't use them and would be glad to mail them to you, every little bit helps.

Shellia

Shellia-

thanks, but I don't think I'll need them soon- bought diapers at Aldi's for $5.99 yesterday, and working our way through a case of baby bananas that we got free!  Dd also still has lots of the oatmeal and rice cereal.  I also bought some care bear wipes at Walgreens last month that had three packs for $5.  She is a frugal toddler!  Thanks so much for thinking of us. 

 

 

Tracy

You are welcome.  I'll pass them along to another mother with a young baby in our church.  I'll keep an eye out for any I see in the future and check with you then.

Shellia

Brandy:

What is your expected budget for April?

Track your actual expenses with us.

 

don't ask. it's blown lol.

I rebudgeted for next 2 weeks and it gives me $47 left over for gas and groceries and I know it won't cover. So has resigned to keeping a balance on a cc for gas and grocery if some little side jobs don't come in in the meantime. The last of our cash jar went to car repairs.

April:

$355 mortgage

$55 gas

$52 water

$24 electric

$15 gym

$12 cable

$27 internet

$8 phone

$30 medical bills

$50 car ins.

$160 food

$80 gasoline

$50 pets

$30 toiletries

$10 cleaning

$50 credit card

---------------------

$1008 total

 

Income $1116

$108 for incidentals

 This month I am paying for a spanish and a knitting class.  That's $35 for spanish and $10 for knitting.  I hope to find a job with the spanish class so I think it is a good investment.  It's $35 for 10 weeks of classes.  The classes for on for two years.  The knitting class is entertainment.  I already know how to crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch and do embordery so I think it would be a nice skill to have and the classes are dirt cheap.  I found a large package of yard at the goodwill for $2.50 so I have plenty of yard to use, it's easily worth $15.