Embarressing financial situation.

[greedy4chips]

You are getting some great ideas from previous posters. I just have a couple to add.

1. Look at cancelling the long distance portion of your phone, and all extras (including that stupid monthly maintenance fee if you have it in your area. Our area adds it to renters and I bet 99% of renters don't know that they are not required to pay it.) After cancelling your long distance service get a prepaid calling card that charges about 2.5 cents/min. and make all long distance calls using it. It saves us over $25 per month.

2. Look into donating plasma. Our local center pays $60 per week now if you donate twice ($20 for 1st visit & $40 for 2nd visit each week). They even offer free daycare!!!

3. Tell the collection agencies they will get their money, but at this point you cannot send them a penny. Payoff all your other debts besides the 1st and 2nd mortgage before moving onto the credit cards.

4. Since you homeschool your kids doing inhome daycare would be tough. Have you thought about 3rd shift daycare where the kids basically just come and sleep over? Many people do it around here for $1.50/hr. IMO it is free money for very little hassle. 1 kid is about $60/week.

We have 3 kids and always had 2 in diapers and that expense alone can crush a budget. I know of some people who still do the cloth diaper thing, but that isn't for most people.

Since you already have the internet, you should listen to Dave Ramsey's show. You will learn some great tips and he will keep you motivated to keep working your way through even the darkest days.
Listen here Talk to other Dave Ramsey Fans about life and money!

Try to get his book from the library.

Many people are in far worse of a sitiuation than you are and make it through. Just create a plan and put it into action. If it doesn't work then revamp it some and try again until you find a solution that works for you.

Dave also has great advice when dealing with collectors and how to avoid their scheming ways.

Good luck!

[Quynne]

Thanks Greedy!

There is a plasma center right by my house!

I have done childcare while homeschooling and it is very hard. I am not opposed to sending my kids to school. I would still have a toddler to deal with...I mean as far as a daycare expense. If the expense is worth the money I would make...then I would do that. I am through trying to maintain my lifestyle at the cost of my ship sinking. HOwever, if I can keep afloat and still homeschool, I will. So, 3rd shift is a great idea. I will be looking into many things over the summer before I have to make a decision on school.

Dave Ramsey is a name that I am always hearing. He has been suggested to me many times during my search. I will be giving him a serious look.

Thanks for the encouragement!

I must say this thread has helped me. Someone make the comment about little leaks sinking big ships. That stuck with me. I found myself ready to spend money foolishly...a dollar here, 5 dollars there, 10 over here, 20 there.... My old mindset was that a few dollars or so wouldn't make or break me so whatever. Well, I have found some little leaks and I am learning to patch them up. Silly little purchases I would have made or grabbing lunch out because of being rushed...has pretty much ended. I will admit I just got Wendy's for the kids while out running errands. The small cost of that would never even registered with me before. However, this time I remember thinking...that is so stupid...what a waste of money! So, I am patching the holes that I didn't know were there. lol. In fact, this forum kept me from buying a ton of $1 items at Target the other day. lol. I had to buy a shower gift. Thanks to you wonderful people....I set an amount that I could afford. I said that would spend no more than $20 on a gift. That was what I could afford. The old me would just have spent more because it was a shower gift. lol. Well, $20 was my limit. I went to Target and found a crockpot for $19.99. A very nice one that was on sale. Well, an aisle over, I found an awesome deal on glass pans...a set for $9.99! So that is what I got. I also had in my cart $1 items for my kids. I told each to pick out a dollar item if they wanted. They had cute socks for my little one for a $1 and she needed socks. So I grabbed a few of those. Then my $1 items were adding up to like $8-10! For junk! I also had to buy wrapping paper and a card as I had nothing at home to fit this gift. At first, I thought that I was planning on spending $20...so a few extras won't matter. Then it hit me! What kind of thinking is that! Little leaks...little leaks... I emptied my cart expect for the gift and gift bag. No card...used the to and from on the bag. lol. My kids didn't even seem to be bothered by me saying I was not buying anything but what I came for. I even explained to them why. I did have to get diapers. Target has diapers at a great price. So my bill in the end was under $20! Just under! And that included diapers! $10 for the gift, $3.00 for the card and $6.00 for diapers. Woohoo! I am learning. I never knew how much money I spent in silly ways. Thanks all.

By the way, my 9 year old is now "Money Patrol"..lol. She keeps me from buying any unnecessary things. lol. She said to me at a store, "mommy stop looking before you buy something you don't need." lol. She even puts things back and asks if something is cheaper before she approves my buy. lol. It is like having my husband with me! Geesh!

So, my progress is this: we are making the final cut on what is being cut out. We are doing as much shopping at Aldi's as possible and have seen the grocery bill drop a bit. I am not causing anymore leaks! I am seeking some type of employment. I have gathered old kids clothes and things to sell on ebay. I have sold before and did well. We are catching up on everything expect credit cards. Once we are caught up...we will devise a debt plan. I will be looking into Dave Ramsey. Mostly, we will be giving this over to God. As, this is a terrible testimony, we trust the Lord will guide us. We don't expect God to pay off debt..lol. Afterall, it was incurred outside of His will for us. We expect and have felt consequences. However, we trust that we will be lead down the right path. I feel He must have led me here as I would never have believed my silly expenditures could sink a ship before. My 2 year olds birthday is in 7 days. Instead of going crazy, I am taking advantage of the fact that she won't know any better and buying wisely. lol. I usually go nuts on birthdays and use that as an excuse. Besides...my mother already bought her everythign I mentioned I was thinking about getting her anyway. lol.

[tinapbeana]

By the way, my 9 year old is now "Money Patrol"..lol. She keeps me from buying any unnecessary things. lol. She said to me at a store, "mommy stop looking before you buy something you don't need." lol. She even puts things back and asks if something is cheaper before she approves my buy. lol. It is like having my husband with me! Geesh!

quynne, that is too cute!!! getting the kids on board can be easier that spouses sometimes, because saving money can be made into a game almost like a scavenger hunt. and it's a big help with math skills, too.

if your daughter is showing an interest in finances, etc, perhaps she would enjoy helping balance the checkbook, or creating an ideal household budget, or even the weekly grocery shopping list.

[Coleroo]

Be careful with biweekly payments!! Many companies do not allow you to pay less than the full payment without joining their plan (for loads of fees!). I was never told this and last september I started "biweekly" send ins. 2 weeks later I got a letter stating I still owed such and such (the other half). I told the CSR why i did it and she said they dont accept half payments. I said my second half was to be their the following day - she said ok she would note my account, and "just dont do that anymore"

A month later (the 30th of October) I got a threatening express certified mail letter that I was overdue for my Oct 1 house payment and I needed to act immediately. The letter was so harsh. I called back - after 2 hours on the phone, i found out the payments (both) had been applied to my principle only (GRR). They said they would apply it to the account as a payment and they were sorry for the confusion yada yada, and to check back within 48 hours. Weeeelll. when i checked back - I had been charged a LATE fee because my payments were applied with a send in date of Oct. 30! After more phone calls, more transfers, more explanations of what happened, and another hour later I finally got the late fee removed and everything straitened up.

Their biweekly "saver" program costs $295 UP FRONT to join ("conveiently billed to your credit card of choice!") and automatic, unchangeable withdrawals to your bank account is set up.

So instead I just divide my payment by 12 and send in that much to principle every month instead. It produces almost the same effect without the hassle.

Anyway... everyone here has provided great responses! And you seem very willing to accept advice (an admirable trait). I commend you for caring so much about getting things in order!!

[disneysaver]

Have you thought about looking for a job at a daycare center that would let you bring your youngest child for free?

[Quynne]

Thanks for your input, Coleroo. I don't mind taking advice. I have learned to admit when I need help and to seek it in the right places.

Disneysaver, I have looked into daycare positions. They do not offer free daycare for my toddler...well at least the few I looked into. HOwever, I can still look. Also, I just found out that the Y offers scholarships for memberships...well, if you qualify it can also be used toward their childcare. So, I am going to look into that also.