I'm in a financial mess!

**autoxer** · 09-06-2014, 03:06 PM

What degree are you going for? When will you be finished? And what are the job prospects for someone with that degree?

**frugalredhead** · 09-06-2014, 06:05 PM

Rent is a huge expense... can you get a roommate? Move in with a friend or family for a bit (harder to do with a child, I know). Can you drop to a cheap pre-paid phone plan? I'd drop the YMCA membership - we used to be members and it's expensive!

You haven't mentioned groceries, gas, etc in your expenses... how are you paying for those?

You are doing the right thing by going to school to gain better opportunities for your future. I commend you for being a single mom, it's tough!

**rachel333** · 09-06-2014, 07:20 PM

autoxer: I'm currently in a Business AS program. Still not sure what I want to do, but I know working in fast food and convenience stores isn't it. Most of the education requirements call for at least an Associates degree in ANYTHING, though.

frugalredhead: Here, rent for a studio-1bed with a front door that closes is AT LEAST 650. Two bedroom, we're talking 750+. I've looked into roomates, but haven't had any luck finding a reliable person I can trust around my son, or even someone willing to room with a toddler. My parents live in a one bedroom with my little sister. So, not much room there. Honestly, at 650, this apartment is a steal. But 700 is pushing my limit.

My phone is StraightTalk, actually. I just paid for a whole year of service when I got my tax refund. So it's $45 a month. The Y membership is actually a debt I owe... Didn't pay the bill when I actually had a membership at eighteen!That's what most of the random bills are. No interest, just past bills headed towards collections.

Groceries, I have food stamps. Gas I pay $40-45 every two weeks, depending on prices. Other things like clothes, shampoo, toilet paper, I get free from whatever Community Action agency has them at the time. So I'm literally paying nothing.

I know I sound like I'm shooting everything down. But there's gotta be a hole in my logic somewhere!

**autoxer** · 09-06-2014, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by rachel333 View Post

I know I sound like I'm shooting everything down. But there's gotta be a hole in my logic somewhere!

Okay, why is your electric bill so high?

**rachel333** · 09-06-2014, 07:51 PM

I think it's called a payment plan. The company takes the average of the last year's bills and that's what I pay every month. At the end of the year is the catch up month. If I paid more than necessary, I get an account credit. If I didn't pay enough, I pay the difference. Last year I ended up getting an account credit. I started this plan because the bill was like 50 bucks in the summer and it was 300-400 between December and February. It's a lot easier to plan for $115 eleven months out of the year.

**autoxer** · 09-06-2014, 08:48 PM

$400 a month to heat an apartment!? What is the temperature set at? There are a bunch of things you can do to reduce your electric bill if you are willing to put in a little effort.

**Permanent Temp** · 09-07-2014, 06:30 AM

Currently you are at a -$119 deficit monthly not counting gas.

If you can't move in with your parents than do you need a cell phone? You could switch to Ting instead and that would be like maybe $10 a month or so taking that deficit down to $84.

Can you inquire at the campus if there are any other more affordable housing situations for you? If not you may be stuck where you are. Are you able to pick up a part-time job in the summer to help save up money?

As far as car insurance goes have you shopped around for cheaper and gotten all of the discounts possible? Can you do public transportation or join / start a car pool?

Honestly though if I were you I would probably be sleeping on my parents couch and setting up a cot for your son in the living room right now until school was done. How much time do you have left? If you did that you could save more to have an emergency fund and pay off the credit card, those old debts and possibly even start in on your student loans so that you can improve your credit score for when you move out again and get a new apartment.

What you are doing now is admirable but with a deficit like that and with rent increasing its just not sustainable. Going to school is great because you will be improving your situation but it would be much easier to be working with +736 (because electric and gas would also be gone) than the -119 your working with now. You are going to school to improve both your and your son's situation living with a deficit like that could mean racking up a lot of debt and maybe further wrecking you credit score which would be taking a few steps backwards of where you want to be.

It's all a how bad do you want it kind of thing. From what I can see it looks like you've done everything you can to stay afloat. So aside from working full-time in the summer to save enough to cover 119 a month which is soon to be 169 a month deficit which would be about 2K I'm not sure there is anything else you can do but ask if you can back move in with your parents and make it work for as long as you need to.

The only logic that works here is decrease expenses and/or increase your income. If you can't increase your income to cover the deficit you will have to decrease your expenses and it seems the only way you can do that right now is by moving in with your parents. I wish you the best of luck in this situation and hope that your A.S. will greatly help you and your son!

**TBH** · 09-07-2014, 08:59 AM

Your situation does sound tough!

I'm wondering if you can scale back on school and get another part time job. I know that might jeopardize your financial aid. Talk to the advising office at your college to see whether you can cut back to 9 credits or something like that so you'll be able to work more.

Other ideas: See if you can pick up odd jobs on Task Rabbit or Fiver in order to make up the shortfall in your budget. You might even be able to find odd jobs that allow you to take your son along.

**rachel333** · 09-07-2014, 09:15 AM

autoxer: Yeah, it's a lot. Apparently the last few winters the company said their rates for buy the heat had skyrocketed so they had to up what we paid. I had the heat at 70 two winters ago. It was my first time on my own and didn't think it would make a difference. Last winter I lowered it to 68, and to 58 when I wasn't home or sleeping. Definitely made a difference. So I'm going to work on that this winter, too. I'm also not vigilant about shutting off lights and stuff when not in use, so you're right. I can make some effort there for sure! Thanks for that!

permenanttemp: I'm going to look into Ting. It looks good. Right now, I have a $45/month unlimited everything plan. I don't even know if I use over 1000 texts or minutes a month. But, if I use less, I could go to the lower $30 plan from Straight Talk.. BUT, I use my android for internet instead of a computer. Works well for me, even for most school requirements. But, Ting looks interesting. Definitely going to check that out. I've paid for the service through the end of March, so I have some time to make some decisions.

I go to a community college, and their residence life office isn't that knowledgeable. They just got dorms, but they are quite limited. I've asked them for ideas, but they kind of just look at me blankly, like they've never heard of the situation. Weird, I know. As for summer jobs, yeah. I plan on working as much as I can this summer, even if it means three jobs.

A friend of my aunt is an insurance broker. She was able to find me coverage for a year for just under $900. I went to her because Geico had me paying $180 a month. I just got my license two years ago, so apparently I'm a risk. I was using buses and taxis, but the time I was losing having to walk 15 mins to the closest bus stop, waiting for schedules, etc was cutting into hours I could have been working at another job. And taxis, phew! EXPENSIVE! I was paying $18 round trip to get to one part time job, and that's without a tip!

After this semester, I have 21 credits left. At that point, in a perfect situation, I want to transfer up north, to where my son's father lives. Dream school, dream place to live, and he'll be close to his dad. I talked to him last night about the child support. he owes just over $5000 in arrears, and he said he jut put in the paperwork for the State to take out $96 a week from his checks. That'll help. He also said he'd send in some extra money because he's pretty well off and wants to get the arrears paid off. But we'll see what he actually does.

I've gotten some great ideas from here. Definitely going to be looking into some of these today! A fresh perspective on the situation always helps! Thank you to those who have replied. Anyone else have any ideas??

**ktmarvels** · 09-07-2014, 11:42 AM

I know you mentioned moving away from your area. But in the mean time, or if that falls through, is there another single mom who you could move in with? That way you both have someone who can take the kids in the pinch and split the cost of rent.

**snafu** · 09-07-2014, 02:34 PM

What arrangements do you have for childcare? It would be wonderful to find a homestay share with another single mom. Have you tried an ad on FB, Craigslist or Kijiji? Are there any community services/programs for single moms? Can you engage free legal help to encourage tot's dad to get up to date on child support?

**hamchan** · 09-07-2014, 06:16 PM

If you are eligible for food stamps you should be able to get free cell service up to a certain number of texts and minutes per month, and you should also be able to get help with hour heat bill. Can you get Medicaid? Low income housing can be harder to get, but depending on where you live you may have some options there as well. Make sure you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. It will make a huge difference. If you tell me what state/county you are in I can try to find out what is available there for you.

**YolandoAmaya** · 09-07-2014, 11:16 PM

You should cut the expenses of your daily routine, I think your rent is high, Try to cut it.

**Eagle** · 09-08-2014, 07:48 PM

@rachel333

Wow it sounds like you are in a tough spot. Kudos to you for going back to school and being a single mom at the same time. Eventually this will all pay off and you will get a better job. How far along are you in your degree? Will you get an associates degree by the time your done with this college?

It seems you need increase your income. These are the options I can think of:
1) finding another part-time job with better pay/more hours,
2) getting a 2nd part-time job,
3) getting work-study (allows you to work for the college and get paid)
4) getting scholarships or grants,
5) getting child support,
6) or taking out more loans.

Does the child's father not pay child support?

Have you applied for grants or scholarships for school? Considering your income I'd imagine you would qualify.

You are so brave. You can do this! Hang in there.

I'm in a financial mess!