latenightleader:

although we are out the 1st of October in order to break the lease

Have you found out if he will be charged for breaking the lease? Not that you can afford to pay the lease out but I am wondering if this is going to be a headache and hassle in the near future.

latenightleader:

dentist

Are the dental visits just routine cleanings and check ups? I would personally be inclined to put routine stuff for healthy inviduals off a bit. If someone is having dental problems though, that's a different matter entirely. 

latenightleader:

This does not include prescriptions

Are you and yours on any medications that have an equivalentOTC option that would be cheaper and safe to switch to? Are you using generics? Is there another prescription medication that would work just as well as what you have but be cheaper? Are you getting the best price at your pharmacy...some pharmacies are getting competitive with club pricing or $4 prescriptions and other savings. Can you tell your physician that you are having temporary financial issues and ask him/her to discuss affordable options with you...the first questions I asked can be traveled here and some physicians will give out samples that can cover a month or more of medications.

latenightleader:

the car breaking down

ACK! Don't think about all the what ifs right now. You have enough on your plate as it is. You can quickly become depressed or anxiety ridden even more so than now if you spend too much time on focusing on how bad it could get. I suggest meditation, prayer and any other calming techniques along with positive focus. It's vital to you right now so you can make it from here to there.

latenightleader:

Christmas entertaining

You simply can not afford to shoulder the cost of entertaining. Think really cheap and have others bring foods so that you are not carrying this responsibility.

latenightleader:

or gifts, gifts for the four girls with birthdays in Oct-January

Again, think cheap.  I know it feels bad to offer your children cheap gifts but maybe with Christmas coming, some good sales will pop up on decent items. Truly, it's about the moments you create in their hearts not what they find in a box. In 20 years, they won't remember most of what you gave them, they will remember the love.

latenightleader:

It does not include any of the nonfood items we use, pet food, diapers, TP, laundry soap

These are things that you are stuck having to pay. You already look for sales and coupons. Are you using homemade cleaners?

latenightleader:

as will school pictures- $21 times 4, a bang trim before pictures for two girls, by a professional- $5 each

 Are the pictures mandatory? If not, skip them. You really have more necessary things pressing for money. If you really want some shots of the kids for a yearly development then take a few yourself at home.

all very excellent advice, Brandy.

Tracy,

It's guerilla warefare time on your budget. Time to start doing haircuts yourself. Time to cut cable and possibly internet...use the librarie's internet to keep up with us here! Time to cut out unnecessary running the car. Don't focus and what could go wrong, you might wish it so lol! School can add in alot of things that aren't needed to pay for. If you have access to a digital camera, take your own children's pictures and have a friend photoshop them so they look professional. Lots of parents are doing that now for graduation pictures and school pictures.

I agree with you dipping into the 401K to pay off those cards, but if you're not careful it can be a bad habit. Then you may not have cash to fall back on. Get back on those state programs. You need it. Are you involved in a church? They are there to help. Churches took care of families way before welfare.

Best wishes Tracy, and all my prayers. In the words of Red Green," We're all in this together and I'm pullin' for ya!"

oh and "keep your stick on the ice..."

Cinnamonhuskies:

all very excellent advice, Brandy.

Years of stretching to make it from here to there have to come in handy for something.

Cinnamonhuskies:

and possibly internet...use the librarie's internet to keep up with us here!

I don't think that is an option for Tracy as she has said they use the internet for school and work.

I wonder if driving to the library to use internet is actually cost efficient for those with higher use needs...considering the fuel it may take. I'd likely compare options though to be sure I am getting the lowest price for our net needs.

Dd has been getting approx 200 pages to read a week online for school- she is willing to pay half the costs of internet.  The hours we all work, except for me lately, exclude the use of the library for internet, dd works 5 days next week, including all day Saturday, as well as school 8-4, and the library is closed on Sunday.  I think the internet is cheaper than printing 800 sheets of paper, and then there are my 14, 12, and 9 year old needing to research on line.   Dd also only gets her work schedule online.  I am using it for job leads, to file unemployment, for school board info from my two school boards, to plan the gala at school, and for prayer chain, as well as staying in touch with my 5 out of state siblings.  It is really pretty cheap when you figure the costs we are saving.  I figure internet is on for four-five hours a day here, with the combined use of 7 of us. It costs $37 a month. I think about 20 cents an hour, used most frequently after the library is closed. 

So, I will be looking at more cuts, Brandy, the dentist bill is still one that we have from last year! I think it was about $800 for cleanings copays and two cavities, I pay $50 a month, it's $300 now.  That was when we had dental insurance.  We haven't been for a year. Most of our prescriptions are only $1, but dh doesn't have health insurance anymore, he has three prescriptions.  Two can be on the program at Walmart, one costs more.  There is no generic for it.  

I will bare bones it to the hilt, and not plan on cars breaking!  You guys are inspirational.  I will look into the homemade laundry soap, we do about twenty loads a week.  I have been feeding the dog all the scraps from dinner, very little dog food.  He seems very healthy.  We are on the same bag of dog food I bought in August.   Haircuts for the girls will be done by me, I think they look fine.  We still haven't turned on the heat, although it is nippy in the mornings.  We are using free shampoo, toothpaste, etc.  I will give very frugal gifts.  Christmas is always a potluck, we will look at expanding that to have someone bring some of the napkins, cups, other expenses I've paid in the past. 

Thanks for ideas-  

Also, Brandy, good news is that the landlord was willing to have us just pay for the October rent, as long as we were out by Oct. 1st.  We are not obligated to pay Nov or Dec, which was the length of the lease.  He also dropped the rent for Sept and Oct by $100.  We do need to get a professional carpet cleaner there this week, I guess this is state law.  

latenightleader:

the dentist bill is still one that we have from last year! I think it was about $800 for cleanings copays and two cavities, I pay $50 a month, it's $300 now.  That was when we had dental insurance.  We haven't been for a year.

Oh grrr then. 

At least the landlord is releasing your husband...that is a big relief. 

If I have any other ideas that I think might be new for you, I'll let you know. 

 Brandy- does the homemade detergent work on dh's work clothes?   I have found the cheap brand not working, the clothes are really filthy. I think I usually buy Sunlight from Walgreens.  LL gave me some 7th generation, that works much better.  Do you use homemade, for kid's sweaty clothes and dh's clothes?  always think towels and lightly soiled, you can use anything, generally have a little box of stronger- Tide or All- to use for work clothes and gym clothes.  

Cinnamonhuskies:

agree with you dipping into the 401K to pay off those cards, but if you're not careful it can be a bad habit.

Ch, we weren't going to pay off cards, just use to pay the mortgage, heat, electric, etc while we are getting back to our new normal- It would not brak the 401K, just take a big bite out of it.  

Do we have to repay this?  Is it a loan?  Has anyone done this?  I'm assuming if we are not paying federal taxes that we will not pay taxes, but will pay a penalty and might have to pay it back in a certain amount of time. 

Brandy:

Again, think cheap.  I know it feels bad to offer your children cheap gifts but maybe with Christmas coming, some good sales will pop up on decent items.

Brandy, since March my three year old has been asking for a walking piggy and a flashing wand for her birthday, from the Magnet Store at Mall of America, a place my  kids love that has a cornicoppia of fabulous items, from the walking piggies, to the light sabers, to the glazed donut refridgerator magnets.  They also offer the fake dog doo-doo and the fart putty, the planes that circle your head, the plastic tubes that sing when you whip them around.  Truly a magical place for kids. I  remember liking Spencer Gifts, it has the same kind of item, but no X-rated, just trashy, slightly strange things. The raccoon in a bag, glowing slime.  She is my only October birthday, she'll be very pleased to get her two items.  Then no one until Dec.