[singinjeannie]

Hi Everyone:

Okay, the $1300 IS counting an estimate for all "unexpected" or rather, unusual expenses. For example, I've budged as follows:

Dental / Doctor bills: $100 / month
Auto repairs: $120.00 / month
Gifts / Christmas: $ 85.00 / month

We have cut expenses in the areas of Cable TV, Internet provider, the kids are no longer getting allowances, we don't eat out at all, we've seriously cut back on our actual "spend" money, not buying something unless we believe it's absolutely necessary. (Toilet paper would count as absolutely necessary! HEE HEE)

If I count in every expense I can think of, that's where we get that $1300. We've pretty much stopped giving gifts and we're trying to creatively come up with ideas for Christmas for the kids. (A great deal of our Christmas expenses would normally come from entertainment --- the work party that costs $65, the MANY gatherings at friends houses that require bringing a dish and an expected to participate gift-exchange, sending out cards, baking cookies and special breads...) We don't go crazy for our kids gifts. Maybe spending $200 for all four of them for Christmas gifts is about average. I have recorded all Christmas spending for the past 10 years, so I know what I'm talking about, here!)

I've called Geico for an auto insurance quote and they are $150 more than I'm paying right now!!! (not gonna help me!) I've also called several other insurance companies for new quotes on home-owner's insurance, and they are all higher than what I'm paying now.

This is the first month we've really tried to cut down on Groceries and get down to $400 a month. No easy task. The first pay, we spend about $300. Sigh. This isn't loaded with chips and snacks, either. Just that diapers, formula, fresh fruits and veggies cost alot. I shop at a discount store near my house (ALDI's) and they are really reasonable, but my bill is STILL very large. Face it, 2 adults, 1 teenage boy, 2 kids and a baby take a lot of food to feed.

I have two credit card with lots of money on them.
#1, balance = 6776.00 with a minimum payment of $60 / month
#2, balance = 10,858.69 with a minimum payment of $100 / month

I have a mortgage and a line of credit on my house:
Line of credit = $12,521.00 with minimum payment of $ 90/month

I already gave you the morgage amount = $934.00 / month
(Does not include tax withholdings)

I have a car payment of $245.00 a month with a balance of $12,027

My cell phone, home phone and internet are all one bill for $156.00/month
(If we drop the cell phones - 2 of them are included for this price - we have to pay a huge fine and we won't get the discounted price on the home phone bill and the internet bill. We will end up close to the same cost.)


Gosh, sorry this is so long! So very much to consider here!

-Jean