Seriously, is there ever any way to get ahead?

[nivtup]

Well I have to say that this thread is helpful in a way.

I am looking into the eyes of change. I have worked in the same location for 25 years, and we are in the process of closing things down. The estimate is that I am on the street at the end of March.

I have seen this coming, and have paid off most bills. We are in a house that costs too much, we are not "upside down" however we are probably near break even. No re-fi going to happen here, with record low rates, and good credit. Seems a bit unfair.

Wife has been out of work for all but three months out of the last three years. She is battling with ADD and depression. Not much help will come from her.

Reserves are nearly depleted.

Change is coming.

I am a bit apprehensive, as I am sure there are no local jobs that I can transition into that will net the same salary.

Still have a car payment, have thought about getting out of that, however if I need to commute, the older truck would kill me on fuel.

Chicken population is getting smaller.

Still have kids at home. Gotta feed them

I agree that the economic downturn in the end will be known as a depression.

There is a strong possibility that a year from now things will be very different, that home will no longer be home, a strong possibility that we will be somewhere else in the country, who knows where.

We (meaning I) have become very frugal over the past 2 years. However I am not sure that I can control the outcome in the coming months. We have had things pretty well in comparision to some, and are thankful for it.

Maybe the future is one that is more simple, one where there is less stress. We shall see.

Isn't life interesting.


I would panic, but there is no fun in that.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I just had a conversation with a co-worker and she was complaining about her $480.00 utility bill. WOW!!!

I don't understand how these companies can charge whatever rate they want and our city government not see that this is a rip off but then again, the city government met and voted to bring in these utility companies. I live about 7 miles from my co-worker and I am with a diffferent utility company and my utility bill averages anywhere from $40.00 - $60.00 a month and I live in a 4 bedroom - 2 bath brick home . I guess it also has to do with how well the home is insulated, unplugging things in your home, etc. I explained to her that when I am NOT home, the only thing that is plugged at my house is my refrigerator, freezer and stove. Everything else (TV, lamps, microwave, toaster, coffee pot, can open, etc. is TURNED OFF) I see why we all can't get ahead.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
DH worked for a huge electric company for years, still does but out on disability. . .but I remember him saying at least 28 years ago that if we don't stand up to the big electric companies, they are going to own us. I had to choose between LP gas this winter and electric heaters, and chose the heaters, but made the electric bill go up to $400. Still, had to get one min. amount of LP and it was just over $500, so that would have been at least every 6 weeks, on top of a $100+ ele. bill, so I feel like in the long run it was better to use the heaters. I did sell a nice home last week, and with part of that comm. I am ordering the EdenPure's or something close to it. Everyone around here who has them LOVES them, and their ele. bill only went up $20. Can't beat that. Grocerie scare me to death, on top of insurance and mortgage and unexpected things. Plus, have a son looking for work right now, so am having to fork out money to help him out too. I am so down and out right now, I could just lay down and croak, which is NOT me, believe me. My glass is always half full. . .but this winter has been one of the worst yet, and can't wait to see Spring and gardening and just being able to set outside on the porch and be calm.

We have rent houses, and with DH being disabled he isn't able to work on them like he did, and we have 3 that are not up and rented, which is another toll on the budget . . .really bummed out this year. Sorry, don't mean to sound like such a downer, but I am so weary of just "getting by".

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
You really have hit the nail on the head, because one day on TODAY one of the girls went to her house with some sort of measuring ele. output gadgets and it showed what she was using when she left everything on, and then when she went through the house and unplugged everything they weren't using, it was absolutely AMAZING what she saved. Made a believer out of me, and the expert that went with her said to use the power strips, and then its just one click of a button to turn everything off . . .want to do this, but cannot get anyone else in the house to help me, and I am tired of doing it all by myself. DH is good as gold, but that man has never turned off a light in his life.

 

[annaraven]

Quote:
You really have hit the nail on the head, because one day on TODAY one of the girls went to her house with some sort of measuring ele. output gadgets and it showed what she was using when she left everything on, and then when she went through the house and unplugged everything they weren't using, it was absolutely AMAZING what she saved. Made a believer out of me, and the expert that went with her said to use the power strips, and then its just one click of a button to turn everything off . . .want to do this, but cannot get anyone else in the house to help me, and I am tired of doing it all by myself. DH is good as gold, but that man has never turned off a light in his life.

Get a "smart strip". You plug one thing into the "master" outlet, and everything attached to it goes actually *off*when you turn off that master item. For example, plug the tv into the master control and when you turn off the tv, it's actually off as if it's unplugged AND so is the VCR, WII, PS2, DVD player, or whatever else is attached. It's also got an outlet so you can plug in the things that have to stay on - like your internet router.

It makes "unplugging" automatic so you don't need cooperation.

 

[debilorrah]

I have a feeling that my incubator being plugged in 24/7 since 11/9 MAY have something to do with the high electric bill.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Uh oh. You're a bad girly.

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
Uh oh. You're a bad girly.

Still trying to rebuild my flock from the massacre in early November. Those layers paid the feed bills from egg sales.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I guess we are of the lucky few.(Knock on wood)

I had a cabinet shop for about 20 years, & made enough to put some $ back. The economy made me close the doors about 5 years ago, & sold out.

I got a job on a ranch, that doesn't even pay enough to pay the bills, but luckily, the DW started working in a Dental lab. She's worked her way up to $22 an hour. We (she) don't spend that much, because we have about everything we need. so our checks go for food, feed, & bills. All extra( except my MAD money)

goes into a savings account. I do remember a time that we had $12 a week for groceries.

Glad that's over!

 

[zippitydooda]

Not that this is a good thing that we are all struggling, but..... it is kind of a relief to know we are not the only ones . I was looking at our tax forms since it is time to start thinking about filing and found that we made almost twice as much money 10 years ago. What??????

I think the politicians who are paid well and have a multitude of benefits should have to live on what the average family income is for one month (and have NO benefits) to experience what the rest of the country is going through. I'd bet that there would be CHANGE in a hurry afterward!

As far as vehicles, we have a 1992 Jimmy and a 1994 Concorde. Both run, both paid for and both are rust buckets.... but they get us around. I work in the service department of a Chevy dealership. I see LOTS of people fixing their cars instead of buying. Nobody wants or can afford those payments.

I got chickens as a hobby, but there is a possibility that they may produce potential income by selling the eggs. Right now 15 hens won't pay the rent, but they may pay for their own feed... and then I can justify having them here for my entertainment. I realize that they aren't always going to lay consistently but every little bit helps.

What does everyone else do to maximize the income they have? Let's make a list and share!