nothing seems to work...

[joesixpack]

Re: nothing seems to work...

Youll have to, they depreciate like crazy!

I glad I love my car, because it isnt worth half what I paid for it! (although the fact that hes paid off helps me love him even more)

I know that! That's why I owe what I do.

I had a 2000 BMW 528i that I owed $18,000 on and I got $10k trade in. I tried for a year and a half to sell it myself but snooty would-be buyers turned up their noses at the mileage. 126000 miles...

I was spending $240 in maintenance a month. I thought that cut and run was my best option-my new payment is about the same, and the Galant has a bumper to bumper warranty to 60k miles, and free oil changes and service to 100k. And they've honored it at the dealership so far.

[andy'smama]

Re: nothing seems to work...

I think Ohio still offers the "Apples to Apples" program which allows customers to compare and choose alternative suppliers for natural gas in order to save money. They provide a chart and worksheet which helps you calucate the cost of your local supplier and competative companies. I know this won't help with your current financial situation but it may help keep your heating costs down next winter. Go to www.puco.ohio.gov for more info.

[Thrifty Ray]

Re: nothing seems to work...

Looks like you've cut back where you can...

sorry if these are repeat suggestions...but your thread is now 5 pages long...(too long to go back and read everyones suggestions)

a roommate?
donate plasma?
top ramen?
a second job?
carpooling?
selling anything you own?
.....
a rich relative with a bad cough?

For a finite time, you can do anything you set your mind to. JUST DECIDE TO DO IT!
Someday you can look back and say "that used to be me"....

[joesixpack]

Re: nothing seems to work...

a roommate? - possibly but got screwed last time by one. Sister already lives with me part time and doesn't pay a dime.
donate plasma? - didn't think of that. Good idea.
top ramen? - Yup.
a second job? - could work, but I already work 60 hours.
carpooling? - I am in sales. Need my car for appointments.
selling anything you own? - Doing that now!
.....
a rich relative with a bad cough? - nope, unfortunately!

[PrincessPerky]

Re: nothing seems to work...

Go with the cold shower for you (or at least short) and save the heat for the GF, unless you really run out of options I didn't actually mean you should let them turn it off, I meant you should appriciate the luxury you have .

And be honest with her!

[Elgin526]

Re: nothing seems to work...

I know it's been said, and I know you work 60 hours a week already.

But the only way to earn more money is to......earn more money!

If you are aready staying late and working 2 Saturdays a month, and that extra time at the office isn't increasing your commision, then you are esentially working for nothing. Can you cut back to 45-50 hours a week at your mortgage job and then go work for Starbucks (or whoever). Even if you can't cut back your hours at the mortgage place, I still think you need a second job. Yes, it will totally suck. Yes you will be tired. I worked a second job for a while and once found myself driving to the wrong job one morning because I was so tired, I couldn't remember what day it was and which job I was supposed to be at that day!

Here's a new suggestion though, for your utilities. Turn everything off AND unplug EVERYTHING when not in use. It's a little known fact that electronics that are off but still pluged in STILL draw some electric current, hence you are billed for that little bit of use. One or two things pluged in, you wouldn't know the differance. But if you add up the number of stuff pluged in to the wall in the average home, it would amaze you. When not in use (which you have to figure is most of the time for most things) unplug the TV, dvr, vcr, radio, computer, toaster, toaster oven, coffee maker, can opener, microwave, hair dryer, cell phone charger, in short, everything except your alarm clock and your fridge needs to be unpluged when not in use. I know it sound nuts, but it can make a differance.

Also, check your water heater. Most have a dial that you can adjust so you can control the temperature your water heats to. Set it to the lowest seting, that will help your natural gas costs. Also, only do laundry when you have a full load, you use almost the same amount of energy running a partial load as you do a full load. And turn off all the lights in the house and keep them off as much as possible, don't forget the porch light! Don't run the AC. Period. Get a fan, sleep on top of the covers, watch TV with a bag of ice in your lap to keep cool, but unless you live with a pet or a senior, AC is a luxery. Yes, it is. Growing up even though we had central AC, my parents NEVER ran it except when my grandparents came to visit (which was once a summer). We had heat waves in the low 100's with high humidity. We survived. It sucked, we (my brother's and I) hated it, but we survived.

And when winter comes, keep that thermostat set at 60. If your sister still lives with you, then put a cover with a lock on the thermostat so she can't change it. I'm totally serious (and you can buy locked covers, I've seen 'em). She doesn't like it she can move out.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck!

[b4freedom]

Re: nothing seems to work...

Car Payment - $538 (balance $23120) (before you suggest I sell and downgrade...I owe TEN THOUSAND more than this thing is worth...)

Your ego is costing you $538/month and is TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS over rated. Next time, buy a cheap used car that gets good mpg.

[TinyFish]

Re: nothing seems to work...

Did you get the water issue sorted out? You MUST have a leak unless you are irrigating a HUGE lawn. Maybe we just have cheap water or something (it would be the only cheap thing here) but I don't think I've ever had a water bill more than $35 and that's with watering the heck out of my garden (no rain in the summer) and not being very careful about showers.

If you suspect the toilet, do you mean it is always running? Have you tried fixing it? Of course, that might take parts, but it might just be that the flapper is stuck on something. In our house, we call this 'the flapperdoodle'. If you can't fix it yet, how about shutting the water off when you are not actually using that is, flushing, it? There should be a stopcock valve next to the toilet. Failing that, I guess there will be one for the whole house, though that's a little dramatic.

If you can't afford hot water, tell her you had to have cold showers because she gets you all hot and bothered

For electric, be sure the fridge is sealing well and that the coils are clean. Hang clothes to dry them.

Try dates at home. Can't cook? Well, this is a great time to learn and I'm sure Girlfriend would appreciate it. Anyone who can read can learn to cook. Get a book from the library maybe. Maybe you could get GF to come over and teach you, assuming she knows. Hey, maybe even she will spring for ingredients if you cook. Tell her you want to make a special evening, but you need to save money so you can turn things around.

-TinyFish

[b4freedom]

Re: nothing seems to work...

My MIL had a leaking toilet. After I fixed it, her water bill dropped nearly $200/quarter. Now, we’re talking about water that costs about ½ a penny per gallon. That’s a lot of wasted water!