Tired of Being BROKE!

[jacquelynrose]

Really, I don't have the 9-5 mentality to living Paycheck to Paycheck! And here I am living Paycheck to Paycheck! And it is FRUSTRATING! Some people like it and are used to it...everyone around Me...but it is NOT FOR ME!

My Job really is great and I have great Benefits but I just know it is not how I want to spend the rest of my life. I want to actually have a Lifestyle and instead of coming home tired from being at work for 12 hours and worrying about if I am going to have enough money for this and for that....it is just NOT worth it.

BTW I am a Single Mom and if I were Married again it would be the same scenario.

I know it doesn't take money to do things...but it DOES take TIME.

I am NOT going to be like this forever.

I was thinking well, how much it would be worth for me to SAVE Money but now I figured it would be better if I just MADE MORE and SAVED at the same time...which I have got pretty good at...

Thanks for letting me VENT!
Jacquelyn

[BillsGirl]

You know the gov't does pay for single mom's schooling plus the cost of a baby-sitter or day care (your choice), If I were you I would definately take advantage of that, It may be alot of work right now but it'll be worth it that day you get to sit back and relax to be able to take a sunday and just sit with your feet up all day!! I have my hat off to you, You must be an amazing woman to do what you do, My husbands works and I stay home and it's not easy around here either my husband spends his 2 off days at school ALL day so the guy never has a day off but when he finishes law school it'll be worth it!! Good luck to you and I hope you take advantage of the gov't schooling assistance for alone mommas in your sistuation... You could call your local DCF and they could have more info on it!!

[mom-from-missouri]

I can tell you the goverment does NOT always pay for a single moms schooling and daycare. I was turned down for any assistance--because I make too much. Yet, it is not enough to also cover tution and additional daycare for night class on top of the regular bills of the household and expenses naturally occured while raising my daughters. I cant go to day class because of work. So, moms like Jacqualinerose and I who are trying to work, end up getting penalized for it. If we were bums, didnt work and only collected our welfare, then our tution would be covered. Seems to me they should help those who want to better themselves, but thats not what I see happening. When i had to miss almost 6 weeks of work to care for my ill daughter and be with her while she was in the hospital, I was rejected for most aide, because of my income for LAST YEAR. Yes I did good last year, but I socked it into my housepayments, so I didn't have a big enough nestegg. I guess you have to be broke a year to get assistance in buying food or gas money to get back and forth to doctor appointments...that way when they look at your last years income, it will be low enough to help....

[BillsGirl]

Have you ever thought about getting student loans then? My husband has http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and it was NOT income based or he would NOT have gotten it, and he can ask for as much money as he wants per semester but remember you get a limit and have to pay it all back as soon as you stop going to school, but my husband gets school paid for his books paid for and gets extra money back to put away for grad school living expenses which is also able to be covered by the loan... The loan will pay for living expenses, books, schooling....... There just isn't any valid excuses in the land of oppurtunity!!

[jacquelynrose]

Let me clarify a bit...

Oh well, I am not in school anymore...I had too much on my plate and decided to take a break from it...I did have a Grant when I was doing College Online.

I was getting Child Care but since I changed Providers (One that isn't Licensed-very nice lady and she lives right next door) they will not help me out anymore.

And since I am getting a Car here shortly...I will really then have No Income...

I just really don't like living Paycheck to Paycheck...and I have NO TIME at all...

I know if there is a Will, there is a Way...

[BillsGirl]

I am sorry I didn't want to come across being mean, I hope it wasn't taken in the wrong way, I just wanted to be helpful!!

[jacquelynrose]

Oh no, I didn't take it as being mean...I just thought maybe I was misunderstood

Jacquelyn

[34saving]

Any idea what it takes to become a licensed daycare provider in your area? Maybe the lady next door might be willing? (Or course it may have tax/insurance/lease agreement implications that make it impossible, but . . . Then again, she might get paid more too . . .)

[mom-from-missouri]

I used to be a licensed daycare provider. First in my home, then I owned a center licensed for 57 children. It is not easy to get your license in our state. Did you know, that even if your daycare is only in your basement they still inspect your entire house?? They even have the right to go thru your bathroom medicine cabinet and request it be locked--even if it is upstairs and the children do not go there--and the door to the upstairs is locked. They also go thru your refrigerator, as well as the daycare refrigerator.....If your husband works nights, and sleeps days, the inspector can also say he has to have all the medical tests for tb and such, and a background check done on him, even though he is not around the children. Same with other children you have in your home. Yet, the state does not require the children you watch or care for to have tb test and such done before they can be in childcare..(double standard??) (If you have a child with a disease you may not get a license or if you do, you have to tell the parents of the children you watch that your child has it--yet, you could be caring for a child with aids, and those parents are not legally binded to tell you that they have it). In our state, they now don't like to license daycare in a building or home that has a fireplace or woodstove or heat, because you could use it and cause a fire or lung problems. As a result, more and more people are not licensed. In Missouri, you dont have to be licensed unless you are watching 4 or more children at the same time who are not related to you. (in otherwords, you can babysit your sisters 5 kids for money and you are fine, but not the neighbors 5 kids). You also have to have a huge insurance rider, and permission in writing from the landlord if you don't own. If the landlord has access to come and go, they have the right to request a background check on the landlord as well. (This turns a lot of landlords off).
Also, there is the issue, that if you work all day, you really want to be with your kids at night instead of going to night classes. They don't stay kids long. I checked into the "online" degrees. Most are scams-not accrediated. The ones that are legit, cost 4 times more than our local state college here in town. Also, our state college does not offer complete degrees at night or on line. At some point, you still have to take over half your classes in the classroom. If I were to quit my job for a full year, and lose my insurance, then I could qualify for tutuion assistance and such. after 6 months of no insurance, my children and I could qualify for state insurance. But, to qualify for benefits, you have to be activily seeking a job, which is hard if you are trying to go to school and raise a family. I think it is easier for people who are in the system to stay in the system, than it is for someone who has been on their own to try and get assistance.

[jacquelynrose]

Yes, those are the reasons she does not want to get Licensed. The College I was going to Online was accredited, I had visited their office building where they held classes in order to get the information about the Online Courses....

[PrincessPerky]

I totally agree the system seems to penalize people who are almost making it, people who try hard to do everything they can. And in many ways rewards the lifers.

Sorry it effects you

PS I hate being broke too, but it is easier the less I think of being broke and the more I think of being creative, and proritizing my money. For example I can afford to eat out once in awhile, but I prioritze paying off the CC sonner (most of the time) Though I have a slight advantage, DH, sorry. So It isn't me truning down a fun night out cause I am broke it is me choosing not to spend it. I know it is a fine distinction ane sometimes to fine for me! but when it works I am happier, still broke, but happier.

[kashi]

Just a note on the fasfa, it is income based to an extent, unless you are getting unsubsidized Stafford Loans, which means you are paying through the nose. One of the requirements states "You must have financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans)." Basically, you can't be making a ton of money or still be dependent upon parents who make a ton of money (and it depends upon last year's income, too). I am an alumni of a preppy private college with lots of trust fund babies (not me, I'll be paying back my loans forever), so I have first-hand knowledge. Weigh your college loan options carefully before diving in.

As for being broke...I think you are really on the right track, jacquelynrose!! You have so many different income ideas, and you're working so hard to make them work. I think one of the best things about "being broke" is learning to be frugal because you have to be. Someday, when you aren't broke anymore, you'll still have that frugal mentality, and you'll be the 60 year old taking a trip around the world (or whatever your fancy) because you frugally saved up that money.

You can do it!!

[Snoopy2645]

I know its tough but you can do it. Just keep up the good work.