Looks Like Life Is Going To Throw Me A Major Change....

I've known this was coming for sometime now but have been putting off talking about it. Hubby's work is slowly but surely starting to slow down and the babysitting gig I had up to a couple of months ago and lost has really hurt our finances. I have been running myself ragged working on the winter stockpile of food plus trying to work on the woodpile for the winter heating, etc.

Not to mention, that hubby got hurt yesterday...he fell off a ladder and has injured his back and I am having some dental problems...life without medical insurance is a bitch to say the least.

Long short of the story is...I am going to have to get a job of some sort...I've placed ads for more babysitting gigs with no results...I think I live to far out in the boonies to get many bites. So, I've been working on my resume and am looking for a least a part time job since Munch is starting preschool.

I don't even know how much longer we can afford internet...at this point, it is getting to be a luxury that we can't afford.

I will be online as much and as long as possible...just didn't want to fade off the face of the earth without anyone knowing what is going on. I still have a couple of envelopes and a package that I need to get in the mail, but then who knows. I have a lot of your all's addresses and plan on keeping in touch at least by snail mail until things improve.

Hopefully things will improve in a hurry and I can still contribute to this site that I have come to love.

Hi there I sent you a pm..

oh no Alias, I will call you in the morning

Oh Alias, I am sorry to hear that I hope Bobby is ok. I'd really miss you if that would happen. But we do have each others addresses so we would have to keep in touch.

I am real sorry that things are bad for you .. I hope everything works out for you !! i am going 2 send u a pm .

Oh Alias, I'm so sorry to hear this! I do tho understand cuz Greg's been laid off for over 2 months and it does hurt the budget. I hope Bobby is ok and is nothing too bad. Back pain is not good at all tho. And, I can understand the no ins thing- -I don't have any either and it does suck.
I'm hoping you find something and things get better real soon!

Argggg...had a lengthy post typed out and obviously I hit the wrong button as it isn't here...that is what I get for trying to watch television and type at the same time...Anyhoo...lets try this again...it won't be word for word but I remember most of what I typed...lol

You guys are the best...that is what makes this site so great.

Stayed up last night working on a game plan and figuring out what can be cut out of the budget. I've been feeling so stressed out and hubby had to remind me that we have been in tight spots before and somehow we have always managed. And he also reminded me that it could be a lot worse...there are lots of folks around here that are loosing their homes. At least out land and trailer are paid for, so that is a huge relief.

We live pretty frugally as it is, but I think I can trim what has to be paid out a tad bit more. Am going to give up our trash service. Instead we will be hauling the trash off once a month to the dump. We have an out building we can use to put it in to keep the property from looking unsightly and to keep the wild critters out of it. At least Munch is potty trained so there won't be diapers stinking to high heaven.

We heat with wood in the winter so there isn't much I can do to get the electric bill down much further. I am planning on using the clothes line instead of the dryer and won't be having the computer on 24/7. That might make a noticable difference.

We don't have near enough wood to get us thru the winter but with his work slowing down we should be starting on that. I've done as much as I can by myself up to this point but I just don't have the physical strength to do it all, plus I'm not "allowed" to touch the chain saw. That is one rule that I can live with...lmao.

He still has some jobs lined up but will probably have to have some help due to his back which will cut into our profit. Oh well, having something coming in is better than nothing.

One good thing though is after taking a inventory of my stockpile we are in pretty good shape where that is concerned. There are a few things like coffee that I need to work on, but as it stands right now we have about 6 months supply of food, personal hygiene and cleaning products. Within the next three weeks I hope to only have to be going to the store once a week for simple things like bread, milk and eggs.

I have even come up with a game plan for Christmas. Munch is really all that matters and I already have a few little freebie stocking stuffer things put up. I remembered MyPoints so will just redeem those in November for a WM gift card and will just be able to do what I can do with that.

Now the major hurdles we are still facing is my dental issue...none of them have a payment plan so I'm kinda screwed at the moment. Guess I will be popping aspirin for a little while longer. My cataract surgery can be put off indefinently.

The car is still dead in the driveway...I think he is going to go to a junkyard and get used parts and do the work himself. His work truck needs at least two new tires...he is expecting a blow out any day now...so we will have to come up with the money for that.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am able to get at least a part time job...it would really help.

So.....it looks like I will still be around, at least for awhile...you all can't get rid of me that easily....I like it to much here!!

we love you and you love us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Alias, I am so sorry for everything. I can understand. Financially we are doing a little better now that we live in a place that I can walk to work, as I have no license. Before I was trapped in a house 5 days a week and could only get back and forth to work 2 days a week. But with the move came increased rent, so my extra money is not really extra, but it is a little. So, I can sympathize with you totally on this. I really hope things start to look up for you. On the brighter note, as you said, at least your housing is paid for and that is not a worry.

Just hang in there chickie, you are all here for ya. I hope all comes out better in the end for you guys.

Alias, it will all work itself out. . . . I've been in bad times too and they do always seem to somehow work out ok. Just not fun till it does work out. Is there a dental collage near you? Dental school? I've heard they cost way, way less than regular dentists and they do have dentists there helping/watching the students. Just a thought.
Not sure if this will help at all but one year we used wood to heat a place we lived and we did not have money for all the wood we needed. There was a UBC where we lived and they had those wood pallets there from when they got things in during shipments. Well, they had some that were broken and we talked to someone there about picking them up. They said that was fine so we did every few days or once a week stop there, picked up the wood pallets and my husband, at the time,(now my ex) cut them up and we burned them. Sure helped us lots on the cost of wood that year. If there is any kind of building store or something near you maybe you guys could ask about the broken pallets? Sometimes they just want to get rid of them instead of paying to have them taken away.
I wish I had more or better ideas for you. Do you have programs there? Heat assistance? or Energy assistance that could help?
Do you bake? Is your fudge the best there is? I know, silly questions but there are people who bake at holidays - even Halloween, special cookies or something and sell the things they bake.
I'm keeping positive thoughts for you and your family!