Current Events > Help me make a budget, CE (WARNING: TEXT WALL)

(+) Yeah! (+)

So it's like this: I got in a car accident (totalled) AND lost my job in the same week. As if I weren't skirting the poverty line before, now I'm pretty much hanging below it. My boyfriend's income is about 1,000 a month, depending on hours and other variables and mine was sitting at around 700 for my old job before trying a new career path, but I got canned before I even got out of training because the company lied to me and culled me to keep their numbers straight. I'm trying to find a better job right now, but it's been a tough few weeks for me so it's really making me crazy and stressed. I'm going in a circle of not getting a car loan because of being unemployed so no income to pay a loan, but no way to get to a job with no car. It's a complete catch 22! How do they expect me to make money if I'm stuck at home?! Anyway, I'm basically doing the minimum of what I can do, but have to cut something out somewhere.

Here's the condensed list:

Rent:$800
Cable/Internet:$120.XX
My Cell Phone:$82.XX-$108.XX
His Cell Phone:$30.XX
His Car Insurance:$130
My Car Insurance:$85 *for the totalled car, unknown for a new car
Gas (car):$100~ *between the two of us
Electric:$70-$130 *low winter/high summer
Gas (heat/stove/water tank):$15-$130 *low summer/high winter

Gas in the car is kinda hard to pin for me since I was travelling a little far to get to this new job that basically told me to fuck off in the middle of training where I wasn't spending anything on gas before that. Now I have no car so no gas or insurance expenses for the time being, but no income to support it anyway. My phone plan is weird because, through my new job that fucked me over, I got a 50% discount on my bill, but it's only supposed to work when you're actually employed there. I have no idea if it'll stay like that now that I don't work there anymore. I might get lucky and nobody will notice, possibly for a long time. Plus misc. expenses, like he buys Kratom and nicotine pouches and energy drinks and cheap lottery tickets and snacks (though he tries to use tip money towards anything that isn't Kratom) and I get cigarettes (though I've cut down to save money). We don't even have a food budget and have taken to one meal of soup a day just to get a few calories (I haven't even eaten at all today).

Some of my ideas include: putting in an application for HUD, trying to get into a food bank, signing up for LIHEAP to reduce heating costs, and doing Uber when I do get a new car just to make enough for the car payments so it doesn't come out of my actual paycheck when I do get a job. But those come with their own problems... LIHEAP bases their ruling on income and the utilities are in my grandmother's name because she owns the house I live in and she "makes too much" to qualify, even though she's on a fixed income, HUD might not grant me anything because my "landlord" is a close relative instead of a real arrangement, the area I live in is for really poor people so the food bank might be full already, and Uber might "cost" more than it pays in the form of fuel, wear and tear, and time. It's all very complicated and confusing and makes me feel like giving up.

So... what the hell am I going to do?

tl;dr I'm fucked.
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Cutting out or at least tapering cigarettes and kratom will help. That's not a judgement, since I'm a recovering addict and understand those vices help. HUD is super backed up, but you'll never qualify if you don't apply, so do it anyway but expect rejection or a long waiting period. Food banks aren't really something you apply for unless it's government subsidized, there tend to be all sorts of charity drives through churches and stuff like that. Even if you disdain religion, churches do a lot of that stuff since public assistance in this country (and PA especially) is junk.

I can't recommend Uber, especially if you'll use it to finance a car. The maintenance and gas will kill you. It simply doesn't pay enough and the requirements on the vehicles you use are strict, plus their "insurance" sucks (used to be at a body shop, we hated doing Uber jobs).

Cable/Internet is the fastest cost saving measure you can make. Drop the cable. That'll save you $50-60 a month.

You probably need to keep the internet for job hunting, but if you have a good nearby library you can use them for internet and other things.
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foxhound101 posted...

Cable/Internet is the fastest cost saving measure you can make. Drop the cable. That'll save you $50-60 a month.

You probably need to keep the internet for job hunting, but if you have a good nearby library you can use them for internet and other things.

I can get on board with this too. What sort of data plans do you have for your phone(s)? It might be cheaper to use them as a hotspot when necessary.

Oh yeah, and no more lottery tickets. They bank on the return being less than the profit, and the house always wins in the end.

treewojima posted...

Cutting out or at least tapering cigarettes and kratom will help. That's not a judgement, since I'm a recovering addict and understand those vices help. HUD is super backed up, but you'll never qualify if you don't apply, so do it anyway but expect rejection or a long waiting period. Food banks aren't really something you apply for unless it's government subsidized, there tend to be all sorts of charity drives through churches and stuff like that. Even if you disdain religion, churches do a lot of that stuff since public assistance in this country (and PA especially) is junk.

I can't recommend Uber, especially if you'll use it to finance a car. The maintenance and gas will kill you. It simply doesn't pay enough and the requirements on the vehicles you use are strict, plus their "insurance" sucks (used to be at a body shop, we hated doing Uber jobs).

I'm cutting down on the smoking, but he really needs the Kratom. He doesn't take too much to begin with, but it's done wonders for his anxiety and depression and is way cheaper than traditional prescriptions, not to mention less side effects. However, he is cutting down so there's that. I'm not holding my breath for HUD, you're right. And no, you don't "apply" for a food bank, but some of them go by "slots" and if they're full, they won't accept new people into their program. But I won't know until I try contacting a few to see how each one works.

The car I'm getting is pretty new so it'll pass all their requirements no problem. My driving record is also clean, minus this past accident which wasn't my fault as you know so it shouldn't count against me. And if I pickup fares on my daily errands and appointments I'm already doing (job interviews, bank stops, doctor's appointments, etc.) it won't be THAT much out of the way of what I'm already doing. I won't try to run myself into the ground with it, but money is money. I'll have my own insurance, not through Uber.

treewojima posted...

foxhound101 posted...

Cable/Internet is the fastest cost saving measure you can make. Drop the cable. That'll save you $50-60 a month.

You probably need to keep the internet for job hunting, but if you have a good nearby library you can use them for internet and other things.

I can get on board with this too. What sort of data plans do you have for your phone(s)? It might be cheaper to use them as a hotspot when necessary.

I could drop the cable, but I have a bundle of cable, internet, and phone right now as part of a new two year agreement promotion. If I dropped it, it would cancel the promotion and I'd be paying the same, if not more, for not bundling during the initial two years. The internet is an absolute necessity so I really can't drop that. And how am I supposed to get to the library without a car? I live in an all residential area with no real shops for quite a few miles to walk just to get some free Wi-Fi.

As for the phones, he has a TracFone so it's about 20 a month for service and about 10 a month for a gig of data. He doesn't usually buy minutes or texts because he uses so few that the packages he's bought in the past are still keeping him going because he mostly uses data for communication. And my phone has a regular Verizon unlimited plan, but I'm holding out for my discount to stay even after being dropped from the job that provided it. I need that plan.

Cpt_Pineapple posted...

tl;dr

Gee thanks.
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Bump.
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Yeah, the lotto tickets should be cut ASAP. If your bf doesn't mind cutting down on energy drinks that would probably help since they tend to be pricey. As a Monster addict, I know lol. But if he could cut down maybe one or two cans a week, that could be put towards some cheap food like instant ramen, which, while not exactly good for you, could at least give you something in your stomach during this hard time.

And maybe make energy bars to snack on instead of buying snacks? My grandma makes ones that I really like with Rice Krispies, peanuts, cranberries, macadamia nuts, and peanut butter to hold it together. Of course stuff like mac nuts probably aren't common or are expensive where you live, so just throw together some cheap stuff you like that can tide your bf over so he doesn't feel the urge to buy snacks :3

I have no suggestions regarding transportation though. I'm "lucky" enough to have epilepsy, so I can buy a disability bus pass. A 2-year pass costs $60 and gives me unlimited rides. Maybe you have something that can be considered a disability? TBH my doctor is sort of stretching the truth with the note though. I noticed on the application for the pass he checked the box that says I have trouble reading informational signs lol.
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Cpt_Pineapple posted...

tldr@

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Why is your cell phone so expensive? Can you cut there, maybe a lower data plan or something?

The cable/internet thing is a total racket. We've looked into cutting cable and run into the same issue--it would cost more to have only Internet because of the bundling. And we don't have any other options in our area.

Now is a good time to look for a seasonal job, just to get some money in your pocket. And maybe some references/connections. I would stay away from Uber.

You need to eat. That's the thing you need to get sorted out right away. Soup can be good food, but it needs to have some substance to it. Beans and rice are (relatively) cheap and are very filling. Buy in bulk and cook big batches from scratch (if you have the refrigerator/freezer space to store it.) Pay attention to sales and stock up when you can.

Make sure you're driving in a way that maximizes fuel efficiency. No "jackrabbit" starts; no accelerating to a stoplight, only to hit the brakes at the last second.

Can you handle keeping your house a bit colder (warmer in the summer) to save on natural gas? What about making sure you're using energy-efficient light bulbs and turning off things that aren't in use? Do you take long showers? Can you cut back (you didn't mention a water bill, but heating the water costs money too)?
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YugiNoob posted...

Yeah, the lotto tickets should be cut ASAP. If your bf doesn't mind cutting down on energy drinks that would probably help since they tend to be pricey. As a Monster addict, I know lol. But if he could cut down maybe one or two cans a week, that could be put towards some cheap food like instant ramen, which, while not exactly good for you, could at least give you something in your stomach during this hard time.

And maybe make energy bars to snack on instead of buying snacks? My grandma makes ones that I really like with Rice Krispies, peanuts, cranberries, macadamia nuts, and peanut butter to hold it together. Of course stuff like mac nuts probably aren't common or are expensive where you live, so just throw together some cheap stuff you like that can tide your bf over so he doesn't feel the urge to buy snacks :3

I have no suggestions regarding transportation though. I'm "lucky" enough to have epilepsy, so I can buy a disability bus pass. A 2-year pass costs $60 and gives me unlimited rides. Maybe you have something that can be considered a disability? TBH my doctor is sort of stretching the truth with the note though. I noticed on the application for the pass he checked the box that says I have trouble reading informational signs lol.

I told him to just stop with the tickets and drinks. I said he could have two chemicals at once, so he dropped energy drinks, cigarettes, and vaping in favor of Kratom and nicotine pouches. I know some of those ALL have nicotine in them, but doing three at once is overkill, you know? And the tickets just aren't necessary so that was easy.

I've got loads of old candy I could probably pack in his lunch so he can nosh on that instead of buying a bag of chips at work all the time. That's basically all I have that could be considered a snack. Luckily, he'll basically eat anything you put in front of him so it's like feeding a dog, haha.

Doesn't matter about that as we only have one car right now anyway and public transportation is terrible where I live. If you get on a bus around here, you're basically going to the city. There are a few that just go around town, but good luck finding one that will take you even remotely where you need to go.
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Sariana21 posted...

Why is your cell phone so expensive? Can you cut there, maybe a lower data plan or something?

The cable/internet thing is a total racket. We've looked into cutting cable and run into the same issue--it would cost more to have only Internet because of the bundling. And we don't have any other options in our area.

Now is a good time to look for a seasonal job, just to get some money in your pocket. And maybe some references/connections. I would stay away from Uber.

You need to eat. That's the thing you need to get sorted out right away. Soup can be good food, but it needs to have some substance to it. Beans and rice are (relatively) cheap and are very filling. Buy in bulk and cook big batches from scratch (if you have the refrigerator/freezer space to store it.) Pay attention to sales and stock up when you can.

Make sure you're driving in a way that maximizes fuel efficiency. No "jackrabbit" starts; no accelerating to a stoplight, only to hit the brakes at the last second.

Can you handle keeping your house a bit colder (warmer in the summer) to save on natural gas? What about making sure you're using energy-efficient light bulbs and turning off things that aren't in use? Do you take long showers? Can you cut back (you didn't mention a water bill, but heating the water costs money too)?

Because cell phones kinda are? The plan itself is about $80 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data, then there's the taxes, fees, and phone payment (I'm on a 24 month DPP). If nobody notices, I might keep my discount phone plan from my last job so it'll be cheaper than any other plan with my provider.

I applied for a few basic seasonal positions. Turned down each time. This late into November and stores have basically bulked up their staff to the point they need before the big day. But I can keep trying, of course.

That beans and rice thing... Um, well, my cooking isn't the greatest so I'm not even sure what I'd do with it all. Also, my boyfriend really chaps my ass if I make the same thing day after day. I'll make ramen twice in a week and he throws a little fit about how there's no "variety" and how it's "bad for morale" if we don't have something different each day. It's too bad because I have, like, 12 bags of this ready made chili stuff you just need to add beans or rice or meat to and, of course, cook on the stove. If I had a big cheap bag of beans and rice, I could make filling chili for basically a few months without having to buy anything else. But like I said, he'd really his lose his marbles over that, so...

Trust me, I don't drive like a fucking lunatic. I've always had clunkers so it was always imperative that I treat them with care since I'd be SOL if my tin can fell apart from me making it work beyond its limits.

I love keeping it colder!! About 55-60 is my ideal, but, again, the ol' bf jumps down my throat and won't go below about 67. AND I take cool showers AND only about three times a week, meanwhile HE takes BOILING showers EVERY DAMN DAY!! Like, if he's so cold he can use a damn blanket and Febreeze it up instead of hogging the shower. He still lives like when he lived with his parents is some of the problem I think. He doesn't always grasp the dire situation we're in and how much we can save by not being liberal and luxurious with our resources. The water bill is about $50 a month, so...
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Yeah Im lucky to be in Hawaii. High cost of living aside, the buses here are great and since its such a tiny living area, the stops will get you close to where you want to go :D
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YugiNoob posted...

Yeah Im lucky to be in Hawaii. High cost of living aside, the buses here are great and since its such a tiny living area, the stops will get you close to where you want to go :D

Doesn't Hawaii have a big homeless problem?

ProfessorKukui posted...

Buy less candles

Wut
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It does indeed. Highest homeless per capita I believe.
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A few thoughts:
*Have you contacted vocational rehabilitation? I'm not sure what it's called in PA, but here in GA they help a lot with finding jobs, from transportation to interviews and advocacy when a place turns you down (especially if you have some disability/mental health diagnosis)
*For 'variety' with the ingredients you have, see if you or your bf can buy some frozen vegetables at the grocery store. They are usually a dollar each (again here in GA), and though by themselves they might only be two meals, if you put them in the chili/rice you could mix up different ingredients in the same dish each day

Bump.
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Final bump.
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