My hubby got laid off - need some advice....

[RuffTuffCreampuff]

I just remembered when my DH was doing his student teaching, money was really tight! So babysitted during the day for working moms, it was really easy and fun. I just did kids around the age of my son, so he had playmates. I brought in about an extra $150 a week, and sometimes more....when I subtracted what my expenses would be if I was working and had to pay someone to watch my son, gas to and fro from work, etc....I came out ahead in the end.

Pam

 

[thechickenchick]

We have been cutting corners for a long time too. However it seems we are always finding new ways to save $.

We only eat out twice a month and that is Taco Tuesdays at the local diner. We all 3 eat and tip our waitress for $18! DH loves taking us out!!

I bake our bread and cook most everything from scratch.

We shop at Sams Club.

We do not have cable.

I garden. I even grow herbs inside all year, so we are not buying those. I love to cook and fresh is better and cheaper.

I am a saver. If there is leftover food I give DH and DS 1 day to finish it. If it is still there after that I freeze it to use in another meal. Left over sloppy joes can become spaghetti sauce and nobody knows its leftover! Save little bits of veggies, pasta, etc. It can become a casserole or a soup.

We do not have a land line, but we do have cell phones. DH needs one for his job.

I shop thrift stores.

I am not too proud to take hand-me downs.

Also my MIL knows to save her scraps for the chickens! Sometimes she will clean out her cupboard or refrigerator and send home a big bag. What we can use I save and what we can't I feed to the chickens.

We pretty much stopped purchasing any alcohol. Maybe a 6 pack of beer for camping. I like a bottle of wine once in a while but what used to be a necessity on the shopping list is now a treat.

I use a clothes line.

There are so many things that I do that are just second nature. So I can't think of them right now! I am grateful that my DH lets me be a SAHM so I do everything I can to help by saving $.

I can't imagine how scared you must be. Please know it will be a life style adjustment, but it will be ok.

 

[aeg1001]

Thank you all so much!!! i am taking everyones advice and i am going to apply it!! most of our money does go to the chickens and groceries. we have really cut back on everything!! we have verizon phones and verizon internet, no cable, no home phone, been doing at home hair cuts for a long time now. i splurged today, b4 i knew he was laid off, and boutght the 9$ laundry detergent rather than the 5$. we also live in a small town yes i know i am going to have to find a job regardless, and i am actually excited about getting out of the house, if u are not there almost as soon as they post any job its gone within the day. and i plan to go check out the local food banks on monday. He is applying for unemployment and we are not to good for food stamps, that is what they are there for. i am just stressing, there is a hole other siduation were we rent the house we live in off of his dad, and his relactionship with with dad is strictly tenant landlord no father son. his dad has really jerked us around with this house, the back half has no roof only a tarp, and he will not fix it and we are to do nothing to the house in any way shape or form. i really think he is just waiting for the roof to fall in and then tell us to get out. my DH has decided that until he gets a job he is just not going to pay him rent, i don't know what is going through his head and i hope i can change his mind b4 the poop hits the fan. i don't have any kids of relationship with either of my parents so that is out of the question. just having a rough day and needed to vent i guess. thanks for listening, well reading lol

I have been making everything from scratch to, i was making my own bread till my bread machine kneeded itself off the counter

the clothes line is also a daily thing for me. we also have a HUGE garden. i know right now it seems like i don't know what else to cut back on but by the way it sounds there are more ways than i would imagin.

 

[thechickenchick]

No problem! That's what we are here for and 99% of us have probably been right where you are. Hang in there.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

i was making my own bread till my bread machine kneeded itself off the counter

FWIW: You don't need a bread machine to make bread. In fact I've never used one so wouldn't know how to. I mix mine last thing at night and let it rise so that I can bake it in the morning. Works great and tastes great too. There are lots of recipes on the net for hand-kneaded bread, so don't let the loss of the machine stop you!

Rusty​

 

[ozark hen]

You can't beat this bread for taste and being so easy...one bowl to use, too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=120918
here is the dry detergent that I swear by..it is awesome for hard water, too. I forgot, I always hang out my laundry now.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=112156
Go to the recipe section and you will find some awesome made-from-scratch recipes!!

 

[Mahonri]

Go here for some wonderful ideas on stretching your money and becoming more self reliant.

It's another one of Nifty's great Internet sites.

Self Sufficient.com

 

[Wifezilla]

The home made laundry detergent is a BIG money saver. I did the math and the mix I am using is less than 5¢ per load. The cheap commercial detergent I was using was over 15¢ per load.

I also just hung a clothes line and started using vinegar as a fabric softner replacement.

 

[Dar]

dont forget free cycle....

DH had his hours cut back in march 08. We no longer had the money to pay all our bills so he had a loan that went to collections and then to court so needless to say the smaller cheque we were scraping by on was cut even further when they started to garnish his pay for the loan

(talk about kicking you when yr down)

anyway i am a fighter....i came out ready to fight..lol GRRRRR lol i am woman hear me roar...lol

(clears throat) back to the topic...

I started free cycling
we were on a rent to own for our furniture ...gone ...got a freecycled couch

my local feed store will call me when they have a broken bag of feed and i get it cheap

I make as much with eggs as i can

I sell my eggs to family and friends

dh and I have quit smoking and we were never big drinkers so booze is gone too

i ask for freecycled clothing for the kids and watch the clearance at stores, got shoes for $1 for DD at walmart so i bought 5 pairs, got brand new shirts at old navy for DS for $1...bought 20 of them in different sizes

no cable

internet is shared with neighbor i pay 1/2 her bill and we use a wireless system

carpool as much as we can and cause i am the one in the country i do most of the driving and i am actually making a wee bit of money by being the driver

and my biggest savings.....I call it "used meat" there is nothing wrong with it but the stores have to sell it fast....there is a coupon on the package with a sticker freeze today or consume today..cause its about to expire. I get more bang for the buck...i pay $1 for a steak and ground beef for 1/2 price

 

[yotetrapper]

This is a liquid detergent recipe. Using it, I spend less than $20/YEAR!!! on detergent.

1/3 bar fels naptha bar soap
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda

Melt soap in a big pot in 6 cups of water. Add boarx and washing soda once soap is melted. Pour 4 cups of hot water into a bucket and add your soap mixture. Then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water. I then pour this in to used detergent jugs. Use a capful just like normal. I've not bought detergent in over a year now.