Fru-Gal Friends

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1827

Here's more to add about how BROKE we are...lol...we are losing both foster kids wich cuts us back by about $2, 200 a month. That hurts especailly while DH job is so screwy. We are not sure what to do!

kim

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Thu 22 Feb 2007, 3:02 pm

Kim I am so sorry. If we lost that much money in a month there is no way we could afford to live. Our income for the month right now is $4,400.00 and we are barley getting by with that. Hang in there. You are in my prayers
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Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

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Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Thu 22 Feb 2007, 4:17 pm

I love reading how with all this tough times are happening,,,no one has forgotten about God in their lives and reasons for everything happening.
Good will prevail in tough and in good times,,but prayers to him everyday are still needed too! I will pray for your husband and for the huge bill with Vickis daughter,,,shes worth that bill,,in order to get better,,your husband must be special and the company has faith in him to handle the workload of 3 men!

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Fri 23 Feb 2007, 4:28 am

Kim I know how frustrating it can be trying to make ends meet, not to mention the added stress on your DH over the increased workload.
We have cut so many expenses this past year it has made a huge difference and give us some much missed breathing space.
Financial worries are very stressful.
I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1827

Thanks for the kind words ladies! I love you all so very much! This will be ok....in one way or another....
we crunched numbers and this is the reality of our situation...the only reason I am mentioning this is b/c if any of you have any REALLY REALLY frugal advice...please share! Ok....we only deposit $125 in the checkbook after house pymt every week...then after tithe (not willing to compromise here) we have about $50 or so left each week for food, bills and gas for cars....this is NOT enough.....ADVICE PLEASE!!!!! LOL...I know God will meet our needs, but we still need to plan, even though He could change the direction we are going in the blink of an eye...we still need to plan. We have money at the moment, so we are going to Aldi (never been there, well, once many years ago) and are going to buy food for the month...but I am cooking everything frm scratch to save...we switched to flourecent bulbs and really watching how much we use the lights. we just got all the coal we will need to finish out the winter and paid for it...we paid off the dentist and kids pediatrition...and we will pay off our CC before our income stops...but we don't pay for tv our cars are paid for...home ins. and car ins all paid for for the year....so...all we can do in hang on! LOL....thanks again ladies!

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Fri 23 Feb 2007, 10:22 am

Kim,I am really praying for you and your family. I can identify with having more month than money sometimes and it can be very scary! I know that your #1 priority will be to provide for your children. My first thought is to ask if you have a food pantry in your community. I know that sometimes it is really hard to ask for help,but there is no shame in using this service during hard times,that is what they are there for. In our town there is one at a church. Also,do you get any kind of financial help for the children? I am sorry I can not seem to remember their ages,but are they young enough to qualify for the WIC program? I also think that there is still a food stamp program,but I am not sure of the requirement guidlines. It might be worth looking into though. Would it be possible for you to do child care for a couple of young children in your home to bring in some extra income? I am sure that others will have some good ideas for you and I know that we all will be praying! God bless!!
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MARY

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Fri 23 Feb 2007, 10:33 am

Dear Kim,
I agree about not compromsing on your tithe, can you tithe with some of your time in place of cash for a while? Say secretary, internet, handyman or cleaning services to the church? God bless !
Teri

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Fri 23 Feb 2007, 11:40 am

Lots of meatless and myo recipes .. plan trips and Make sure what you purchase is a need not a want ..

Kim I have a lot of frugal recipes I would share and so many make you own recipes..

let me know what I can do to help
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1827

Thanks for the ideas...my kids are 4 and 6...so WIC sin't for us...but DH makes too much. We just have a big house pymt...we might have to refinance...really don't want to...we just got to where we are paying on principal...and we don't have the extra for closing costs...as for my tithe...this will not be compromised at all...the Bible says God wants to have only 10% of what we earn and He will get that and we also give to Faith Promise Missions...that will also continue...I know if we keep giving He will provide....I thought about daycare....we live in the sticks...more than likely nobody will drive out here for daycare when the town is crawling with them! We have AT LEAST 12 daycare centers in town! Thanks for the prayers...I can FEEL them!!! AMEN!

Kim

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Fri 23 Feb 2007, 6:36 pm

There is some good advice here, especially looking at frugal recipes. Is there anyway you can bring in some extra income, perhaps some housework for others, or ironing, etc (UGH...I know Rolling Eyes

...but 'needs must' sometimes) just to pull you out of a hole for a little while? What is tithe? I have never heard of that before.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Fri 23 Feb 2007, 6:58 pm

Kim what about doing care for family with elderly or kids... its a few hours and pays well. A family with elderly sometimes need a few hours I am praying Kim.. searching for recipes and every hint I can
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1827

Thanks Gayal....I appreciate it!

Skin....thithe is the offering you give at church....in the Bible it tells us that God will meet the needs of His followers, His children...but He asks that we give only 10% of all that we have back to Him and He will see our needs are met. So, a tithe is an offering. Faith Promise is the money we give to missionaries.

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Sat 24 Feb 2007, 6:57 pm

Thanks kim, I've only ever known it as an offering and in our Church you gave what you could afford, when you could afford it. Sometimes it could be more, other times it could be less, or nothing depending on folks circumstances. God is forgiving and understanding.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Sat 24 Feb 2007, 11:20 pm

praying for everyone ... you are all so dear to me.
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: It's gonna be TIGHT!!!! Sun 25 Feb 2007, 8:18 am

I agree that meals should be meatless (as much as possible) and simple to help save on cost.

~Spaghetti with sauce.
~Hamburger Helper with ground turkey (much less expensive than ground beef here in Ohio : by about half!). We ate for less than $2.00 last time we had hamburger helper.
~Lasagna (I can make lasagna for $6.55/pan if I go to Save-A-Lot to buy all of the ingredients. This has fed a group of 12-15 people!) (Noodles=$0.79/bx, Ricotta Cheese=$1.79/small container, Cheese $1.99/pkg, $0.99 ground turkey (1lb), and $0.99 for a jar of sauce. )

I really like this website. I've found several recipes I like that can be made for very little money:
http://www.miserlymoms.com/MOMfrecipes2.htm

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."