Comments on: Maybe Sometimes It’s Not Possible to Save Money

By: Loretta

Loretta — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:26:59 +0000

First, get rid of the phone bill. Do you have high speed internet? If so, you can get a majicjack phone
device that plugs into your computer. Then, you can make all the calls you want, local or long distance and talk as long as you want for $18.95 PER YEAR!!
The device costs only about $40.00 to buy and there are no monthly charges. Next, get a cheaper vehicle and save not only on the payments, but on the insurance as well. If you can find a cheap one for cash then you don’t have to pay for full coverage insurance. For gasoline, see if your husband can find someone else who needs to carpool
and charge them gas money to haul them. I would also shop around and find cheaper renters insurance. You natural gas bill is high also, so I’m assuming your heat is gas. Mine is too, but I bought a medium size electric heater and don’t even have to use the central heat at night. If you’re paying college tuition, find another college. The one in my town offers free tuition for anyone whose income is under $40,000 per year. I’m sure others do also. Buy clothes at thrift shops and garage sales. Next, buy your home. You won’t find anything any cheaper and if you are a first time home buyer, you will get an $8,000 tax credit next year. You could get most of that in a refund. Either let your 15 year old baby-sit this summer for you so you can work or let her get a paying baby-sitting job for someone else. Next, how are you figuring your husband’s income? If you multiply $1150. x 26 weeks (he is paid bi-weekly) you only get $29,900 per year, not $35,000. Add your income to it and it’s still only $32,300. I don’t know where you live, but in my state, that’s very close to qualifying you for food stamps with a family of 5. And don’t forget to take the educator’s credit when you do your taxes. Also, check and see if your income is low enough to get assistance with mortgage payments. HUD not only helps with rent, in some cases they help with mortgage payments. There are also grants out there for down payment assistance. Maybe you don’t like charity, but you have probably paid taxes for years, so why not take advantage of the benefits? I commend you for wanting a better education,but don’t commute to do it. Most of your classes can be taken on-line. My daughter-in-law got her doctorate that way. I agree that you should put your skills to work on-line or try to barter your skills. use some of the money you are saving for life and/or disability insurance. You or your family will need it to pay the bills. Keep one credit card for emergencies ONLY and pay cash for the rest. If you can’t pay cash, don’t buy it!!!it is expensive to move, so if there are no jobs in your city, MAKE ONE! Consider opening your own business out of your home. You husband works in construction, does he take on side jobs as well and build things for friends or neighbors? If so, then he can deduct a percentage of his car insurance and maintenance & repair bills. He can also deduct all his supplies or tools and if he does paperwork at home, he can deduct office-in-home expenses. Prepare your kids a school lunch instead of letting them buy their lunch. If you need help with groceries, but don’t qualify for food stamps in your state, there are social service agencies that help every three months. I work for one of them. Is there a United Grocery in your area? Antibiotics are free for anyone there, regardless of income.Also,see if your furniture and household goods are worth the $1,000. per year that you are paying for renter’s insurance. I furnished my son’s whole apartment when he moved up here for $35.00 at garage sales.
Are you hooked up to cable? In most places, satellite is cheaper and if you really want to save,you can buy the convertor box with a government coupon for $10.00 and don’t have to have cable or satellite. Also, use grocery coupons when you shop for groceries. It saves a bundle. Don’t buy convenience foods. Get things you have to cook. It’s much cheaper. Our agency helps people every day who have to learn how to cut expenses and we help with that and help in finding a job. Look for jobs on the internet, not through an employment agency. Tell your husband to advertise for side construction jobs. (Advertising is deductible also.)Last, but most important, tithe to your local church. It’s true what they say. God’s blessings will pour out when you give him what’s his. I am divorced and on minimal Social Security plus a minimum wage part-time job
but, because I honor God and give Him what’s His, I have enough left over to help other people. Good luck and God bless you.(Dave Ramsey is the best financial counselor I know and you can access his info at daveramsey.com .

By: editec

editec — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:07:35 +0000

It’s the arrogance of the new adults who have like no vested interest in any place, no mortgage and so forth, to simply assume that everybody can just move to a place with greater opportunity.

By the time most people realize that the place they’ve invested their time in is dying a slow economic death, it’s often far too late for them to just pack it all in and leave.

Of course explaining that to kids who are fresh to the world possible making their first adult paychecks and feeling so smug about their chances and as yet completely unencumbered by lives they’ve already invested into is somewhat difficult.

By: jack

jack — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:13:15 +0000

Please don’t take this the wrong way but I want to question your college goals. I firmly believe that done right a college degree pays for itself many times over the course of your earning years. However, think twice about the degree you are getting. I’m sure Art is a fine field and a lot of fun (especially if you are talented), but a technical degree is probably worth double or triple the salary of an art teacher. There is a reason BS degrees are worth more than BA’s in the business world.

I’m not trying to sound elitist because I got a BA degree. It took me no time at all to realize that my economics degree wasn’t worth the cost of the paper it was printed on in the real world. I went back and got a CS degree and have been much more employable ever since.

I’m sure everyone who is a talented artist would like to get paid for their abilities, but the supply far exceeds the demand, thus eternally low wages even with a degree. Food for thought….

Oh and BTW, my BS was much harder to get than my BA.

By: lynne

lynne — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:22:28 +0000

I always pay myself first. Money that goes into savings and never gets in your checking account is easily forgotten. We all learn to live on our income, so pay yourself first! You don’t have to put 10% in the bank each month, but I would start with 5% plus save all change and bank it every 2-3 months. You’ll be surprised at how quickly even small amounts add up. The phone bill is way to high. Cut back on what you spend on groceries. Quit using convenience foods, they waste money and aren’t nearly as nutricious. Plan ahead and you’ll find you don’t have to be a slave to the stove, but you can eat well and for less. I wouldn’t jump up and think about moving. That may not solve your problems at all. I’d look for a way to make extra income. If you take a newspaper, stop–change cable or satellite TV carriers (new accounts get great offers, just don’t lock in for more than 6 months.)

By: Rob in Madrid

Rob in Madrid — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:54:56 +0000

Skype does call 911 but it doesn’t give you address so they have no way of knowing where you live.

I just picked up a copy of the tightwad gazette from Amazon.de 4€ plus 3€ for shipping.

I have to admit that I was skeptical of tithing but it really does work, things have turned around since we’ve started giving tithe.

By: Deb Jones

Deb Jones — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:30:20 +0000

I have a radical idea. Please give some money (1-10%) to your local church or charity and watch the blessings / opportunities flow. Expect miracles in your finances. The law of sowing and reaping works. Plant seeds now.

By: Jill

Jill — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:35:50 +0000

Renters insurance at $87 a month seems extremely high. I live in the midwest (Missouri) and pay that for homewowners for a year. When I rented, renters insurance was always under $300 for the year.

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:13:35 +0000

Tuition? In a small midwestern town? What kind of tuition?

If you are the “arty” type, perhaps there is something you can do to make and sell on ebay or etsy…or what about your husband..what is his creative niche?

What about substitute teaching?

For phone service, check into http://www.ooma.com…sort of like skype or vonage, maybe a bit cheaper or more versatile.

Ditto on the garden. Ditto on jobs for the teens.
(and have them go to http://www.getrichslowly.org and read the new post about job vs. career. VERY important advice for them as they begin their work careers.)

Visit http://www.daveramsey.com or get his books from the local library. They have been a huge help to our family. All the children would benefit from these as well. You will be inspired by the stories of people in worse circumstances than yourself and what they’ve managed to accomplish/save/pay off. Gazelle like intensity WORKS!

Once you REALLY start digging, you can find ways to save. You may not WANT to change from the status quo (we are now struggling with making the commitment to start doing our own yardwork, which the dh HATES) to buying what we need to do it ourself. Our savings would be about 1200.00 a year. Oh wait, I think I just made the decision.

By: Mincot

Mincot — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:28:27 +0000

I agree about the phone bill–very high! For clothes, I assume you’re buying at thrift stores first? (I teach at the university level and I haven’t purchased full-price clothes in years.)

Since you have internet access, what about beginning an online graphics and design business?

And yes — move!

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:37:03 +0000

I agree with other posters about the phone bill, $180 is extremely high. Skype is a great alternative. Something else to consider would be working at the local school. I did this for several years because it allowed me to be home when the children were home and bring in extra money. I recently sat down with my budget and went through everything with a fine tooth comb. Switching auto insurance companies saved $400 a year! I use the sub-account feature at ING to budget for upcoming expenses such as property taxes, new snow tires and heating oil.

Finish your degree! I took advantage of an adult degree program which allowed me to study from home and be on campus only one weekend per month. My salary more than doubled after I left my school position and I also live in an area with a difficult job market. I have the flexibility of working from home at times, which is great.

Be creative, look at all the options.