Tell me it gets easier...AKA I'm scraping bottom

[TrkTBHJ]

So this is a little lament. Well, a big lament. I counted coins to buy groceries today, and then I got crafty with scissors and newspaper to make kitty litter. I feel so depressed. I'm just so tired of money being so tight and wondering how I'm going to make it to the next paycheck. I already made some major adjustments to try and ease things (1/2 lease horse, part time job) but I just don't know what else to do. It makes me feel like such a loser. I'm just so tired of being tired of being tired......and trying and I keep chasing my tail and just can't quite get caught up. I know I'm not the only one and I know there's been tons of threads on this topic already and so its redundant but I just had to get this off my chest. :cry: I'm looking for the light at the end of the tunnel...... :sadsmile:

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Big hugs. Here's hoping that in a few weeks we'll start a turnaround.

[HorsesinHaiti]

((((((((HHHHUUUUGGGGGSSSSS))))))))))

You aren't a loser, lots of us are in that boat. I've been having one of those days myself - I have to work out a budget for our medical dispensary system and I know our board is about to have to cut our funds big time.

[Slewdledo]

Most definitely you are not alone. I rolled up $21 worth of coins today. If you are physically tired, try taking an energy supplement or getting out and taking a brisk walk (with your horse if you can.) Both have really really helped me the past few weeks.


Hang in there.

[grandprixjump]

I have been trying my own business for the last couple years, big struggle without $100k in the bank to back you up (savings currently $21), then to deal with clients that drive a Hummer and want to pay you less than your supplies cost. I have always said "If you look up Horse Poor in the dictionary you would find a pic of me and my horse" I haven't showed in 1.5 years (but must say, with all the flat work my mare seems ready to make a level 5 debut, and I thought she was stuck as a level 3 MAYBE a level 4 horse).My business choice is great, I could go to shows and MAYBE make some money, have been to a couple, I did alright, then a couple more and I LOST my shirt... And my teenage daughter lives with me, and her mom REFUSES to pay court ordered child support, if I got that now, I would be saved, pushing $10k owed.

[theoldgreymare]

Most people go through tough times in their lives. I am a firm believer in "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger" so hang in there, you will get through this. No specific advice on how to turn things around for you. Just know that you are not alone and you have people here wishing that things turn around for you quickly!

[pintopiaffe]

It is HARD. I have had times when it's a question of whether I've got enough gas in the truck to get to work and home before the direct deposit hits. 99.8% of the time, it is worth it.

I do think that those of us who already know how to stretch everything, subsist on ramen noodles, and shop at Goodwill and find the short-dated groceries are actually better equipped to deal with the current environment. Of course it makes things tighter, but we know how to make it work.

I work 2 pt jobs in addition to my FT, plus live on my farm. What helps me a TON is if I get a day off (sometimes I don't for 2 or 3 weeks at some times of year) but when I *do*, I rest. Yes, there are always Things Needing Done. Chores, errands... but that one day off (or the first day when I sometimes have the rare treat of TWO!) I will sleep late, nap, and go to bed early--WITHOUT GUILT. I *know* my body needs rest. I know I will end up sick if I don't do it. I can still do chores and errands on my work days, in small chunks. I managed for the weeks I didn't have a day off, now didn't I?

It sucks. There's no way around it sometimes, it does suck. For me, it is worth it. I have more simple, pure joy in my days than most people have in their lives. I don't have money, I don't have things, I don't have savings, but I have profound joy. And honestly... many of my peers *had* savings, do not any more (stocks) and did not have, nor have now, pure, simple joy.

You make choices. Sometimes it's hard because of your choice. But it's usually worth it.

Hang in there. Sixteen bean soup and ramen noodles. And never, ever pay for a beverage of any sort. You can buy coffee/tea at the grocery store, to make at home (drip, of course, not instant) but do not buy coffee on the go, soda, juice, and most especially water. You'd be amazed at how much you 'find' when you make that one simple change.

[Griffyn]

well timed post. The day I sold my toyota to pay off my credit card (at long last) my dog racked up 3,500$ in surgery. I could have chosen a different, cheaper route, but hes home and bouncing back, and Im glad I did it. Theres NO overtime at work to get ahead, and hiring freeze prevents me from moving up. I feel like Im one more disaster away from BIG trouble. Nevertheless, Im typing this at home, not the public library. So I know where to cut back- cable internet and the like. Be sure to call your insurance such as car and make sure you are on the best plan. I cut 100$ off the bill, just by double checking on some routine payments. No advice, just hugs. Weirdly enough, I feel OK. Ive always had to cut corners being horse poor. Now everyone else is drinking tap water- I feel like one in the crowd for a change.

[Equine Obsession]

Ditto to pintopiaffe's post.

I have so been there. In fact, I am there. Believe me, you are far from alone. And thank you for posting because I am going to use your newspaper idea next time we run out of kitty litter.

I second the beverage boycott. Get a quality, sturdy water bottle and save a good chunk of change. If I am craving anything that isn't necessary, I use coins. Helps me figure out whether my favorite fancy drink is worth it or not. Now is the time to remember that "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Go out and hug a horse, spend time doing something you enjoy with them. Remind yourself of the reasons you're being stretched so thin. Remind yourself that it's completely worth it.


We'll make it through this, don't forget that.

[Guin]

I feel your pain! I have $1.53 in dimes and nickels before I get paid tomorrow. AND, I woke up this morning with a TICK on my BACK! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! :dead:

I hope at least you're tick-free. :yes:

[armandh]

I found that I was over paying on insurance

but every one has these problems, the rich have more zeros after theirs

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2003/0811/068.html

[ThoroughbredFancy]

I can relate. I am exhausted mentally and physically.

Then, every time I even start to get back on my feet I get slammed with something else. I know it would be so much easier if I just sold my horse. But I can't part with him. But I am really scared about my financial security because, well, I have none.

[Guin]

Ditch the ramen noodles. They are so unhealthy and just make you feel gross, not full. Buy a "supersaver" package of chicken pieces (you can find them for .$99 cents a pound) and make your own chicken soup, broiled chicken, etc. A 2 lb. package of rice costs about $1.99 and a bag of carrots is $1.00.

You can eat healthy on the same amount of money it takes to buy those crappy ramen noodles, that are loaded with sodium and MSG. :yes:

[chism]

Many of us are feeling exactly the way you are right now. I feel like I"m so close to that proverbial straw & the camel. :( We've cut back dramatically on everything, are both working two jobs & just slogging our way through day to day. When I feel close to the edge, what gets me through is going through a mental inventory of all the things that are good in my life. Kids, husband (mostly), my job, my herd. We're all healthy, have a roof over our heads & food to eat, even though it's not gourmet. Living paycheck to paycheck sucks the life right out of you, but it can always be worse.

[Ashby]

I got crafty with scissors and newspaper to make kitty litter.

Use sawdust from the barn for kitty litter, it's less time-intensive than cutting up newspapers. And don't spend money on a newspaper subscription, read them online to save money.

Just a suggestion. I know what you're talking about. I have had lots of times like yours and am heading into another one. I wish this forum had an emoticon for hugs, we could use it for posts like yours.

[TrkTBHJ]

Thanks all. I laughed when I read Pinto's post about the gas (I am SO there today....horse getting day off cause I can't stretch gas for the 1.25 hour commute home AND the 60 miles RT to the barn tonight, but at least he got ridden all weekend) and of course RAMEN -- sent DH to store yesterday with a bunch of dollar bills and coins and we did get ramen....although I always use a fraction of the flavoring which seems to help it be slightly less salty and bad for me. We actually got a ton of food for $20 -- 2 loaves bread, 2 cans tomato soup, 1 package cheese, 1 package bagels, 3 yogurts, cream cheese and a ramen six pack. DH did a pretty good job overall. I think there were a few more things, but I said way to go on stretching that money!!! We are really scraping around the freezer for dinners, but all those frozen veggies and meats I bought when we had the cash sure are coming in handy this week til direct deposit kicks in (come oooonnnnn Wednesday midnight!:yes:)

I also liked the sawdust idea for litter, but the barn I board at uses straw -- I think Miss Smarty Cat Princess Puss enjoyed watching her mommy cut up the paper last night :lol: and thank goodness for the free local paper that they kindly dropped on our stoop yesterday! :D

[jn4jenny]

BIG HUGS to you...I have been there and fear I will be there again someday. Here's some things to consider if you have not already.

I've said it more than once on this forum, and most choose to ignore it, but really--check out The Grocery Game. I used to buy generic/shop at Sam's/Wally World and I have still managed to cut my grocery bill in half from that. You get a 4 week trial for $1, so what do you really have to lose? I scored $50 in free cold medicine last week, I never pay anything but sales tax for toothpaste/shampoo/deodorant/etc., and I have a closet full of General Mills cereal that I bought for $1.65 a box. Thousands of people use it every week. Try reading about it at www.terismessageboard.com. A lot of people put their savings percentages in their signature, and it will blow your mind. www.thegrocerygame.com is the link to sign up for a trial.

Other than that, here's some inspiring sites to help you cut whatever corners remain:

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/ - The daily articles are often a bit holier-than-thou and are mostly book reviews, but when this blog hits the spot, it really hits the spot. Try the "Most Popular Articles" column on the left to learn about things like making your own laundry detergent.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ -- CHEAP recipes. I recommend her tomato sauce recipe highly. It makes enough sauce to fill two spaghetti jars and then some, and it costs me less than $1 to make. She also has a $40 emergency weekly menu. You might also check out her recipes for making your own yogurt and yogurt cheese--one cup of store yogurt can be stretched a very, very long way.

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ -- If you can still afford this, it could be a real godsend for you and your schedule. It is a national church-based ministry service that offers pre-boxed, nutritious, and diverse foods that will last the average single person about two weeks for roughly $30. There is NO SHAME in using services like this--it is open to ANYONE regardless of income, they do not ask why you are ordering the food, and it's delicious. You can pick it up at a local church distribution site. This is not leftover or seconds food; hey have special deals with food distributors that make their prices possible. It is still overpriced for me compared to the Grocery Game, but I would not hesitate to use it on a very busy week or if hubby and I were just dog tired.

By the way, if you have access to newspapers, that stuff is excellent free insulation for the winter. Use it to seal door cracks, tape it up over windows, put a layer of it between your mattress and box spring to help reduce body heat loss, I've even heard of people taping it to the floor under rugs. If energy bills are an issue, this guy gives energy tips for the truly destitute among us--as in some of his tips could even be dangerous, so use your judgment, but at least there's some new ideas here instead of the usual "just turn your lights of and cancel the cable": http://www.energyconservationinfo.org/almanac.htm

Hugs to you and hang in there.

[shea'smom]

The biggest problem facing me is four old horses. I just took another 25 year old back that I thought I had put in a forever home. I have 12 horses living on my dollar right now. I run a boarding'lesson business, so that is a big chunk of profit. I have given these guys good homes for anywhere from 10-4 years. They are all 25+ except one navivular mare that is about 22.
It is perfectly logical to put them down. I can not scrimp anywhere else.
That is a crappy decision facing me every day. Thank god, I have grass this year.
Not a very pleasant topic.

[Guin]

If you work at an office where people use paper shredders, that's an excellent source of kitty litter (I take it home myself for bunny litter!)

Ditto on never, ever buying a drink - coffee, soda, bottled water. I stopped doing that this fall and it has made a difference, even that $2.75 a day that I don't spend. I keep a box of tea at my desk.

[TrkTBHJ]

:mad: I just tried to move some money around from one bank to another -- and it will take 3-4 days. Which doesn't help as I need it now.... :lol: I just have to laugh, or I'll cry.

[Stacie]

:mad: I just tried to move some money around from one bank to another -- and it will take 3-4 days. Which doesn't help as I need it now.... :lol: I just have to laugh, or I'll cry.
I take it out as cash from one bank and deposit it as cash in the other. No waiting for the money to move electronically.

[Iron Horse Farm]

The beverage thing was one of my "resolutions" lately. $3.80 for my Starbucks and $0.75 for a Diet Coke from the vending machine twice a shift at the hospital adds up! $1378 per year to be exact!!! :eek::eek:OMG

We have well water at home and while it is safe, I don't like the minerally taste to it. I bought TONS of bottled water. Now, I go down to my parents house in the city (I'm going to go visit them anyway, so no extra gas involved) and fill up empty milk jugs with their city water for free and use it all week.

[dressagetraks]

Peanut butter! Many, many are the peanut butter meals during the last year or so when I was at my toughest point. Also you can buy a jar of spaghetti sauce for $1.25 at Walmart, a box of macaroni for $2 something, and a sack of frozen onion and veggie seasoning tidbits for $1 something. Those three together are a lot of meals. Two handfuls of macaroni, one shake of seasoning stuff, two gallomphs of sauce when it's done. Doesn't taste bad, either. Buy a jar of applesauce ($1.00 at Walmart) for two spoonfuls of applesauce with each meal for the fruit allowance; fruit can get skimped on when eating on a tight budget, but my jar of applesauce lasts 3 weeks.

Funny about the above post on the water. I have the opposite situation. I have a well which is wonderful, extremely pure water, basically spring water out of a faucet. I can't stand the taste of city water anymore, and Mom, when I was on the final push to convince her placement was necessary, threw an absolute fit because of the water. THAT was the "I can't do this" issue that was going to break the whole deal for placement. She would NEVER agree to drink anybody's city water again; she liked my well water, thank you. She could not leave it. So, of course, I fill up jugs weekly and take them down to the nursing home on visits. That satisfied her.

[TrkTBHJ]

Love the suggestions, thanks!

We are on the PBJ diet, and we switched to home-brewed coffee. DH is missng his daily Starbucks fix, but good soul that he is, he never ever complains! What a huge $ saver, agreed.

[riverbell93]

Tap water can actually be expensive if you live in the right (wrong) place. My local tap water is so hard that it eats through the pipes - I can't help thinking that's gotta be bad for my teeth... And I work in Philly, which has disgusting water.

The day I sold my toyota to pay off my credit card (at long last) my dog racked up 3,500$ in surgery.

Dogs! They're as bad as cars for knowing when you have an extra nickel. Glad he's okay.

I feel your pain! I have $1.53 in dimes and nickels before I get paid tomorrow. AND, I woke up this morning with a TICK on my BACK! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!! :dead:I hope at least you're tick-free. :yes:

:lol: That sounds like a cracked greeting card.

[DeeThbd]

Check out stores like Aldi as well....their packaged stuff is pretty affordable and decent quality. Canned goods especially are pretty cheap there. Frozen chickens run about 79c/lb, with enough meat on them for a couple of suppers for 2, and then a good potential for chicken stock and soup.
I will second what another poster (Guin?) said...that buying inexpensive meats and basics can actually stretch your food dollar farther and make you feel like you are eating like a king. If you are lucky and get a cheap cut of beef, brown it, stick it in a pot with a few taters, carrots, a browned onion and a cup of liquid, cook it low and slow, and you have a gorgeous pot roast. If there are leftovers, I cook them in a homemade barbecue tomato sauce and serve it over rice for the next day. Dried things like split peas and chick peas cost pennies and make a good soup too. There are some good recipes on allrecipes.com that might help too.
We've all been there or are there, and it's good to see so many people being encouraging. Sometimes that helps more than anything else! :D
Dee

[Trevelyan96]

I grew up poor as dirt Its very important to put nutrition high on your priority list, as illness will only cost you more money. Cook and freeze in bulk. 2 cans of tomato sauce, a can of tomato paste ,and 1 lb of hamburger will give you enough spaghetti sauce for 4 meals for a family of four. Another favorite of my family is the good old fashioned new england boiled dinner. A smoked picnic shoulder, potatoes, carrots, and a head of cabbage will give you enough for several meals. Throw it all in a big pot, and simmer all day. Stretch tuna with boiled eggs, celery, relish. It's absolutely delicious on tasted english muffins. I'loved the hillbillyhousewife link.

Horse savings... try organizing a tack swap at your barn... lots of us have things that we no longer use for our horses, but others need. Sometimes we can just trade and share.

Purge... anything you haven't used for a year... craigslist, ebay, or a yard sale.

Our neighbors and I have also started planning our 'errands' together. Any time I'm going tothe store or to run an errand, I call the neighbor and ask if they want to go, or if there is anything they need. It's become such a habit with us now that we've both found we're saving time and gas money!

[ReSomething]

I sure remember being dirt poor. Scraping the edge of homeless dirt poor. When you are so poor you bounce a check and the $25 fee means you don't eat this week. Needless to say I didn't have a horse back then. Go to the cash economy if you can. You'll lose interest but late fees will eat them up anyway if your check comes after the due date. Keep the checking for stuff like the rent and really track your account. I did a lot of living off my credit card back then and made the minimum payment. It always surprises me that people with good jobs do that, make the minimum payment I mean, unless it is a nasty emergency like the car breaks down. I did fork over maybe a grand for vet bills for the cat, but they snuck up on me $200 at a time when she got hit by a car. For me it was a desperation maneuver, but our business was seasonal so I always knew I could pay it off come summer.

The only way I know of to keep a horse while you are broke is to have your own place. Basic feed, grass only, if you are in the right parts of the country. Your facility will have to suffer from deferred maintenance, the horse may go barefoot.
It got better for me. But it took a while and I never just assumed that I would have a lot of stuff that other people were taking for granted. I mean come on, boarding your horse if you have to apply for assistance?!

[TrkTBHJ]

I know about bits and barter, but what about other sites for selling/trading tack and horse stuff, espec. blankets?

[twofatponies]

I think things are going to get worse in the next year - but that's pessimistic me, thinking this economic situation is just the tip of the iceberg.

I'm remembering all the things we grew up eating, on my parents' thrifty budget:

ground beef - stretched with stale bread, celery, onions to make hamburgers; or mixed into red sauce over spaghetti.

cassaroles - noodles topped with a can of cream of mushroom soup and bulked up with bits of carrots, green beans, corn, and broccoli

peanut butter - our main snack and breakfast was pb & j

homemade yogurt - start it with store bought, then keep a bit of each batch to start the next batch - my mom made yogurt on the stove top at least once a week, a couple quarts at a time.

gardening - we got all our veggies from June to October from our backyard garden! my mom still gardens, and puts away a freezer full of beans, spinach, broccoli, tomato sauce, etc. each year to last the winter.

soup - it's filling, easy to make, and good for you - fill a big pot with water, toss in some bouillon or meat scraps, toss in chunks of potatos, or rice or noodles, cauliflower, zucchini (whatever veggies are in the "scratch and dent" section of the grocery!) and boil 30 minutes - ta da!

Most of all, avoid buying foods that are pre-made (cookies, heat-and-serve foods, frozen dinners, etc.) Buy the ingredients and make stuff from scratch. It saves tons of money!

As to the horses, well, we'll see how we manage! I've moved to a semi-self-care, full-turnout facility, and stopped buying any treats for them. New treat - box of generic brand "cheerios", $1.50, and lasts for over a month!

[TrkTBHJ]

Interviewed at Starbucks for part time work. Interview went well. Just called to see if she had any news for me, apparently she has more interviews and hasn't decided yet. This is the 3rd minimum wage job I've applied for. Its not rocket science, right? I have a Masters and a good management job, for crying out loud!!!!! Am I not employable???? :mad::mad:

ARG. I just need some extra freaking money people. Come on! :confused:
OK, Vent over.

[jn4jenny]

Interviewed at Starbucks for part time work. Interview went well. Just called to see if she had any news for me, apparently she has more interviews and hasn't decided yet. This is the 3rd minimum wage job I've applied for. Its not rocket science, right? I have a Masters and a good management job, for crying out loud!!!!! Am I not employable???? :mad::mad:

ARG. I just need some extra freaking money people. Come on! :confused:
OK, Vent over.

Just a thought from someone with a similar level of education: You may indeed be unemployable because they consider you over-qualified. Have you considered freelancing as an alternative? If you have a skill that's marketable, you may be worth more as an hourly consultant than schlepping lattes for yuppies.

Then again, it is SO much easier said and done. But really, if you have any kind of marketable skill, it might be time to throw together a web page and freelance. I make good hourly money after business hours doing what I already do all day but for a very different clientele.

As for other tack web sites, there are many. For higher-end goods, try hawking your wares at www.theoutsidecourse.com (have to join to see the classifieds) and www.ewarmbloods.net/phpbb3. For middle-of-the-road or lower-end goods, www.tacktrader.com, Bits and Barter, www.horsegroomingsupplies.com, and your local craigslist are all possibilities. Don't forget to take great pictures.

[chai]

jn4jenny, what is the Grocery Game? I checked out the website you listed and it looks interesting. But how does it work? What are 'mushy' items?
Thanks, too, for the listing of the tack sale websites. I'm going to sell my Stubben that I haven't used in 8 years to put extra shavings in the barn, so I appreciate those links.

[jn4jenny]

jn4jenny, what is the Grocery Game? I checked out the website you listed and it looks interesting. But how does it work? What are 'mushy' items?
Thanks, too, for the listing of the tack sale websites. I'm going to sell my Stubben that I haven't used in 8 years to put extra shavings in the barn, so I appreciate those links.

Hi chai - I don't want to clutter the board with non-horse-related business, but I will PM you about the Grocery Game.

[gabz]

Is there anyway to put your horse and/or horse knowledge to work?

Hands on horse grooming classes for a 4H group or Girl Scout group?
Teach classes at a nearby community center?
Maybe teach classes about other subjects?

Part time work and contract work - GO TO YOUR nearest Kelly Services or similar employment company. See what's available that way.

Many of us can easily schlepp 50 pound bags of grain and bales of hay. Maybe the nearst Fed-Ex or UPS or DHL place needs helpers on the trucks or at the loading docks. ESPECIALLY during the holidays - they use helpers on the trucks.

Craigslist .... the grd area is where to list for sale horse / tack items. I like to browse the "wanted" areas ...

[Belair]

Me too, actually. Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and a few places in the mall. I'm an accountant with a bachelor's degree. Sigh. Do they prefer flaky high schoolers? grrrr...:cry:

Interviewed at Starbucks for part time work. Interview went well. Just called to see if she had any news for me, apparently she has more interviews and hasn't decided yet. This is the 3rd minimum wage job I've applied for. Its not rocket science, right? I have a Masters and a good management job, for crying out loud!!!!! Am I not employable???? :mad::mad:

ARG. I just need some extra freaking money people. Come on! :confused:
OK, Vent over.

[appaloosalady]

Me too, actually. Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, and a few places in the mall. I'm an accountant with a bachelor's degree. Sigh. Do they prefer flaky high schoolers? grrrr...:cry:

Just a friendly FYI for anybody looking for part time minimum wage work - make sure that you don't give the impression that you are too good for the job or that they should be glad that someone like you would be willing to work for a place like theirs. Nobody wants to put the time and money into training an employee only to have them walk out a month (or week) later because they don't want the job after all. Almost everybody is looking for work right now, some even need those part time crap jobs for their main source of income, but not everyone really wants to work and employers know it and watch for red flags when interviewing.

Things are definitely tight right now, but all of the great suggestions for saving money really do help :yes:.

[summerhorse]

You are not alone so don't feel bad. Just keep trying and hopefully things will get better.

[BuddyRoo]

I had really good luck picking up some part time work on craigs list.

Like many of you, I want to keep my horses and dog--who have made it their mission to keep me poor with assorted veterinary bills! LOL So I was just looking for some supplemental income. I have a good "day job" and am "overqualified" for most of the PT work I had initially been looking at.

I picked up a tutoring job (yay for my bio degree--first time I've ever made money off of it!) and I also work 4 hours a week as a dog food rep...I just go to Petco and help people find the food that works for them. One pays 30/hr cash, the other is 16/hr through proper channels. That is enough pocket money to help.

I also took on a roommate. I'm never home anyway. It's helping already.

[lilblackhorse]

you say you lease a horse---is it your horse that you are leasing half out to someone else, or someone else's that you are paying half for?

Seriously, I feel your pain, but horses are a luxury-if you can get out of the lease, this might be a good time to do it. Yes, all the naysayers will say that it's exercise and good for the mental part of you. I concur, but if you are are in as deep as it sounds, then maybe you need to get out from under the leased horse. Just a thought.

[AppendixQHLover]

Interviewed at Starbucks for part time work. Interview went well. Just called to see if she had any news for me, apparently she has more interviews and hasn't decided yet. This is the 3rd minimum wage job I've applied for. Its not rocket science, right? I have a Masters and a good management job, for crying out loud!!!!! Am I not employable???? :mad::mad:

ARG. I just need some extra freaking money people. Come on! :confused:
OK, Vent over.

Yeah that was what happened to me. I have a BS degree in business, and working on my Master's in management. I just wanted a easy job that I cuold not make any major decisions that could cost the company billions.(FT JOB THING)

I was poor up until about 8 years ago. I would go volunteer at a homeless shelter, and got my dinner for free. The woman in charge would always send me home with extras so I could have something the next day. She knew that I was struggling and was proud.

Growing up we ate a lot of pancakes for dinner when the paycheck was late. Also ate a lot ground beef with all kinds of mixtures. McDonalds was a treat and most of the time we got a drink so that the playgound could be used for free entertainment. Sodas was almost never. It was water/milk/kool-aid.

I am slowly starting to empty out my cabinets and use the stuff. I do need to go through it and put the stuff that is out of date in the trash, or close to out of date at the front.

OH and I didn't have a horse at that time. I could barely feed myself never mind a horse. That was the winter that my natural gas bill was 450.00 a month because of the horrible cold, and bad insulation.

[Simkie]

Those of you who are looking for some additional work: temp agencies and call centers. Seriously. You'll likely find something a couple bucks an hour ABOVE minimum wage and they actually WANT you.

Not all call center jobs are outbound cold calling. Most are inbound sales, customer care, tech support, retention, stuff like that. Some accounts will even pay you incentives if you're a good sales person. You can get up to $15-$20 an hour.

[TrkTBHJ]

I am leasing MY horse out. I work far from the barn and he gets more exercise that way. Its a win-win. I make a decent salary just sometimes right now expenses are a little more than income. I don't want to sell my horse. Hence the half leaase, part time job and other cost cutting measures.

Its going to be alright. I know it.

[birdsong]

Ditch the ramen noodles. They are so unhealthy and just make you feel gross, not full. Buy a "supersaver" package of chicken pieces (you can find them for .$99 cents a pound) and make your own chicken soup, broiled chicken, etc. A 2 lb. package of rice costs about $1.99 and a bag of carrots is $1.00.

You can eat healthy on the same amount of money it takes to buy those crappy ramen noodles, that are loaded with sodium and MSG. :yes:

I totally agree to this one!!

And bring home the shredded paper from the office for the cat litter...one week it was in place of shavings for the stalls!!

[gully's pilot]

I'm currently the Interim Director of a social services agency. More misery walks through our doors on a daily basis than I was, before this job, ever acquainted with. We've got a "list of tips" we're handing out to clients in the hopes it might help them through what we fear will be a difficult winter. It includes:

--set the thermostat to 65 degrees or slightly below, and wear sweaters;
--unplug all appliances when not in use (they say this will save 8% of your electric bill);
--contact your electricity service about doing an energy audit on your home, to help you save energy;
--fill cracks around windows, etc., with caulk.

Also:
I highly recommend getting rid of cable TV. It costs a lot for what you get.

If I think of any more, I'll post them. Last Friday I told a man who gets $8000 a year in income (social security) that he made too much money for me to help him with his heating oil bill.

[AppendixQHLover]

If I think of any more, I'll post them. Last Friday I told a man who gets $8000 a year in income (social security) that he made too much money for me to help him with his heating oil bill.

That is sad.

We are doing some energy checks with windows and doors.

[HorsesinHaiti]

I'm currently the Interim Director of a social services agency. More misery walks through our doors on a daily basis than I was, before this job, ever acquainted with. .... Last Friday I told a man who gets $8000 a year in income (social security) that he made too much money for me to help him with his heating oil bill.

I can feel for you GP. In the mountains here, about 1/3 of the kids were clinically malnourished BEFORE the hurricaines beat the crops to pieces. When the kids aren't getting 2 grain-including meals a day, you can imagine how poorly the horses eat.

[4Martini]

One of my favorite new foods is Hominy- it's some kind of yummy puffed wet corn that comes canned. I put it in the crock pot with some chicken, or in soup. It's really filling and very cheap. It's in the Mexican Food ailse of my grocery store. You can make a really cheap posole that lasts a long time with that, some canned stewed tomatoes, black beans and some hot sausage mmm. It adds a little variety too!

bean buritos are also cheap - I lived on them when I was in grad school.

Now the garden I'm not so sure about - If I add up all of the supplies etc- while I love the fresh veggies I think I end up like the guy who wrote the book called The $15 tomato or at least close. Maybe that's just because it was my first year though and I put really pretty flagstone paths in :lol:

As far as the horse goes - I'm trying to keep my horse blanketless this winter and letting him grow out his mane too. He looks like a Yak. My NH BO is happy and I save $40/ month.

[sidepasser]

just got a minute here, but try: www.homesteadingtoday.com
go to Countryfamilies board and check out the frugal tips sticky - lots of very good ideas for cutting costs.

Did you know that you can watch tv for free on the web? Google "free tv sites" there are four out there that cost nothing to watch on the 'net.

Do away with the home phone if you have a cell phone and your DSL carrier will allow it, I saved 60. per month discontinuing the home phone through AT&T and porting my home number over to Verizon for the cell phone. I never used the home phone anyway and that sixty bucks pays for three trims on my horses or one front shoeing and one trim.

Shop at Goodwill or similiar thrift stores for things - you would be surprised at what people donate! I've found kitchen things, etc. for almost free at those stores. Craigslist and freecycle as well.

Get rid of things you don't use or don't want. Have a "regifting" box for items you received but are too large, too small, or things that you have two of. Like coffeemakers, etc. that you received as gifts - make sure you keep the sender's name on the gift so you don't regift it to the same person..but many people can use a small kitchen appliance, etc. and there is a gift you don't have to buy!

Use coupons for everything..if you don't have a coupon, look for a rebate form. Especially for anything electronic in nature or grocery related. Haunt the "scratch and dent" bins or the salvage grocery company in your town.

Hope this helps and when all else fails..second jobs are nice. www.cloud10corp.com is a customer service based, work from home job that is legitimate - I work for them part time and it pays well every two weeks via direct deposit and I provide customer service tech support for them. No selling and no outbound calls.

There are many others if you do a search. You will need high speed internet but each site will list min. requirements for your computer.

hope this helps, I'm working two jobs right now because the main job is subject to go "poof" any day now and I am also looking for work to replace that job before it runs out. Network, network, network! Tell everybody you are looking for work, you'd be surprised how many people need someone to feed on the weekends, walk the dog, do some babysitting, etc.

sidepassser

[Fancy]

I posted this on another thread, but it bears repeating.

The very best thing you can do is sit down and make out a spreadsheet to find out just HOW MUCH money you spend. On the first page of this thread, somebody counted up how much money Starbucks actually cost. Well, do the same for eveything. How much do you pay a year for rent/mortgage? Car insurance? Food? Clothing? And when you get the first two columns done, divide by 12 for the next column and find out how much $$$ you have to have per month. It's scary to do--most of those numbers are way higher than we realize. It took me quite a while to get the list done. I kept remembering more "stuff." But now, after five years of this, I have a complete list. I'm on social security, and a fixed income this winter is going to be tough! I was able to carve quite a bit of money out of my original estimates. I'll put is all back when the economy picks up, but right now I don't have to hit my savings quite so hard. Thank you, Excel!

[luvmytbs]

Some grocery stores have dollar isles. At least the smaller ones, you can get some good deals there.

If you have heating vents in the floors, you can shut them and cover them up ( they make magnetic covers just for that purpose) in the rooms you don't need to heat and close the door to that room. Also get a timer for your heater/AC which you can program according to when you aren't home etc. It makes a HUGE difference.

At the farm, we have no garbage pick-up. We burn items like feedbags and take non-burnable items to the local dump, which is open to the public for free drop off.

Water troughs are located underneath the edge of the barn roof to catch the water from rain. They fill up quickly.

[Instant Karma]

jn- Thanks so much for posting up the Grocery Game link, that is awesome!

I also do online surveys to make some extra cake. There are a couple of different types, but survey savvy offers straight cash for surveys and referrals. I have cashed out and got my check for $121.75 in two weeks, so I can vouch that it is legit. http://www.surveysavvy.com/ss/ss_index.php?id=2559481&action=join

To the OP, I hope your troubles are short lived. Been there, done that, not fun:( And it can happen to any of us again in an instant.

[Ashby]

Interviewed at Starbucks for part time work. Interview went well. Just called to see if she had any news for me, apparently she has more interviews and hasn't decided yet. This is the 3rd minimum wage job I've applied for. Its not rocket science, right? I have a Masters and a good management job, for crying out loud!!!!! Am I not employable???? :mad::mad:

ARG. I just need some extra freaking money people. Come on! :confused:
OK, Vent over.

When doing an interview for a low-paying job, I would leave out the part about having a master's degree. When you have the theoretical qualifications to get a better job and you're applying for something humble, employers wonder what's wrong with you and steer clear.
Employers also think you'll leave them just at the time you get fully trained and start making them money. No law says you have to mention every honor or degree you've earned.

[JanM]

Really try for the part-time job at Starbuck's if don't have health insurance-I understand that they offer part-timers affordable health coverage.

If you want a full or part time job and can do physical labor there are tons of stock room and shelf stocking jobs at Walmart and other stores and I second the UPS idea. If you don't mind sales jobs there are tons of holiday temps and they should start hiring like crazy soon for department and major retailers-many department stores add lots of hours and need people to work them. When you go for a job tell them what hours you are available and if you say "anytime" then mean it, show up on time, work hard, and get along with everybody, and be nice to everybody--courtesy goes far. You may have to apply at an endless number of places but you only need one job-and check the state employment offices for job listings and don't forget the online ones like monster. Remember to look in regional papers for help wanted ads too. Leave no stone unturned-look in the classifieds in everything you read-including the Chronicle.