re: single moms how do you do it?

Quoting momma melissa85:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Tasha Norman:</b>" A roommates a great idea-my SIL makes a ... [snip!] ... one or two kids to watch part time before I go to work. I'm trying everything I cam and praying God will make a way for us."

I totally agree that it would be hard to find someone you could trust around your kid. it'd be nice if they were a family friend or something so you at least knew a little about them. otherwise I'd definitely run a background check.and the watching kids is a great way to get extra money and probably fun for your LO too

<blockquote><b>Quoting Tasha Norman:</b>" I totally agree that it would be hard to find someone you could trust around your kid. it'd be nice ... [snip!] ... I'd definitely run a background check.and the watching kids is a great way to get extra money and probably fun for your LO too"</blockquote>




Yea I don't know anyone as far as who needs a roommate. Or a baby sitter lol but I am going to keep looking and praying haha

I am a single mom of two and wouldnt be able to do it without help from the government

Quoting mom2andrew&carter:" I am a single mom of two and wouldnt be able to do it without help from the government"

She already established that she doesn't qualify for assistance though

It SUCKS. I qualify for nothing and im struggling my ass off. I make 30K a year and that might sound like a lot but babies are expensive. I make about 2K a month Daycare, milk and diapers run me near a thousand bucks a month alone. Rent, utilities/bills and gas and insurance takes care of the other $1000. Im living paycheck to paycheck. If I lost my job today id be homeless if I didnt find another job quickly...sigh.

basically, I ALWAYS get needs first. I get paid 15th and last day of the month. I schedule all of my bills for the 17th after my 15th check, because my rent is due on the first and I pay that with my last day of the month check.. And I worked out a deal to pay daycare half of whats due on my paydays so I dont drain my checks to the point Im broke for 2 weeks. I always take out 100 automatically for gas. I buy food on sale. I use Price Chopper card (also saves me on gas), Save a lot and aldis.

I know it will get easier/better one day.

Quoting Ꭶwan♥Nemö:" It SUCKS. I qualify for nothing and im struggling my ass off. I make 30K a year and that might sound ... [snip!] ... on sale. I use Price Chopper card (also saves me on gas), Save a lot and aldis. I know it will get easier/better one day."

Also for toiletries and things, the Dollar Tree is my friend. I dont have sensitive skin and Im not picky about soap and other things so I get the off brands there.

Clothes shopping is done on the internet where i can search coupons and get good deals. 10dollarmall.com and 599fashion.com is AWESOME because everything is under 10 dollars and are high quality. I get a LOT of my sons and my clothes there and they ship quickly.

I do have some luxuries though.
I dont have internet, I usually use my phone. I do have Direct TV and that 30 bucks a month for a basic cable package. Thats all I can think of on how I cut pennies and live within my means.

Its hard but you can do it.

Looking at your wages and expensises.. If you trutly have no help, the only solutions I can see is that you move, I can't see your rent getting much lower but a 2 bedroom apartment would but your power bill down to about $100 per month. The rest of your bills don't look like they have any wiggle room. I'm guessing you have about $600 left over after bills but that doesn't include childcare or groceries. If you could save $100 on the power somehow and $20 in diapers (Jumbo boxes are only $40 at Wal-art, make your own wipes), that would give you about $700 after bills.

I would then look for a private sitter and expain in your ad that you can only afford $400 per month for childcare (you may get lucky and find someone). That would unfortunely only leave you with $300 a month for groceries and any extras that pop-up. I personally could never survive on that as I'm feeding four people but just for the two of you, you may be able to make it work.

That's $150 biweekly for groceries. You'll have to watch for sales and always plan the meals.. but it could work:

Breakfast: $20
Loaf of bread
box of oatmeal
bananas
box of healthy cereal
eggs
pancakes mix and syrup

Lunch: $30
loaf of bread
cheese slices (grilled cheese with soup 3x)
4 cans tomato soup
block of cheese
cucumber (chesse/cucumber salad 3x)
3 cheap soups (soup with crackers 3x)
box of crackers
box of kraft dinner (once bi-weekly won't hurt you)
sandwhich meats (sandwhiches 4x)

Supper: $50
5lb patatos
frozen baby carrots
frozen green/yellow beans
2 cans of corn
one hamburger helper
rice
soya sauce
onion soup mix
2lbs hamburg
whole chicken
4 pack pork-chops
pack of stir fry beef
** Thats a big shepards pie (3 melas for you), 3 chicken dinners (chicken soup can be for lunches from left overs), 4 pork chop meals with patatos, carrots, green beans) 2 beef stir frys, 2 hamburg helper meals or instead you could do a meat loaf or tacos ect..

This means you eat 3 times per day and still have $50 bi-weekly (25 per week) for milk and snacks.

It will be rough, but it is indeed doable.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ꭶwan♥Nemö:</b>" It SUCKS. I qualify for nothing and im struggling my ass off. I make 30K a year and that might sound ... [snip!] ... on sale. I use Price Chopper card (also saves me on gas), Save a lot and aldis. I know it will get easier/better one day."</blockquote>




I am in the same boat but my bills are another 1660 to 19000 a month and I bring home about 2k. All that is average of course. Then child care is $900 to $1200 a month. I've cut everything I can cut. I've asked for all the help I can get. Sigh

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ꭶwan♥Nemö:</b>" Also for toiletries and things, the Dollar Tree is my friend. I dont have sensitive skin and Im not ... [snip!] ... for a basic cable package. Thats all I can think of on how I cut pennies and live within my means. Its hard but you can do it."</blockquote>




Yea my skin in extremely sensitive but I may just have to deal with it to buy cheap stuff. I don't have intrnet I use my phone and I already get half off my phone. I have free cable tv.

I just think with all these people making millions for rapping or catching a football, why should it be so hard just to survive?

<blockquote><b>Quoting candace18:</b>" Looking at your wages and expensises.. If you trutly have no help, the only solutions I can see is that ... [snip!] ... eat 3 times per day and still have $50 bi-weekly (25 per week) for milk and snacks. It will be rough, but it is indeed doable."</blockquote>



I already live in the hood and a 2 br apt is the same price as I pay here. I have looked. I got a steal on my house. Plus I wouldn't have first month's rent or deposit or the money to transfer my light bill. But I have unplugged everything in my house so hopefully my light bill will go down.

That price did not include food or taxes so on a good month I might have about $280 left over. I went back and looked at my old checks. I bring home about 2k a month on average.


As far as food I am going to try to live off beans and 2 veggies per week. I already cook meals then freeze for the week. I don't eat grains, dairy or meat very often. Maybe once a week. I am going to buy more frozen veggies instead of fresh and try farmers markets. I shop sales


Thank you for your helpful tips   too.