April Showers of Savings the sequel - 2015 Frugal Chatter

[bobbiegirl2010]

@Insane we've been selling off and giving away all of our baby stuff for the past 2 years. It's sad for me too (sniff sniff). At Easter we gave all of our baby/toddler clothes 0 - 4T to a family member in need. I think that was the hardest (sniff sniff).

[bobbiegirl2010]

BG-the only other thing I can think of to suggest is perhaps expanding a bit in terms of what you do if possible-for eg could you provide care for a disabled adult in your home( usually tax free income) or could you provide respite care in your home or a disabled adults or child's home-I am not so sure this would be tax free but here in AB it is at a much higher hourly wage than childcare. Or is there a need for elder care close by and something you would be interested in? Try to think outside the box-or could you host a foreign student or? I do realize you are in a smaller town so I realize options are more limited than in the city but I am hoping you can come up with some extra ways to generate some income while still caring for your own little ones.

As well I don't know if you have a garage to rent out for storage or a trailer to rent out etc. Obviously you have lots of patience as you work with children and you have a home so see if you can leverage either of these to come up with any additional ways to generate extra income including the ideas you and the other ladies have already come up with. I hope things improve soon for you.

I agree with what others have said about prices going up especially for food. I just caught part of a newscast about the cost of hydro one in Ontario and it sounds just awful-I feel for any of you dealing with these very high utility bills in Ontario or elsewhere.

Because I walk the kids to and from school, my kid-free time would be 9am - 3pm. I am thinking about taking courses in September during this time. To work with disabled adults you need a Personal Support Worker degree and to work with children in a school or daycare centre you need an Early Childhood Educator degree. Either one would open up more job opportunities for me.

As for storage we do have a large property and garage but we are already storing our own trailer in the yard and FIL's trailer in the garage (for free - he does so much for us so we told him he didn't have to pay). If FIL sells his trailer this year (he's had bypass surgery complications like J&C's Mom), then we could consider renting out his space in the garage for storage next winter.

[Frugalbigmama]

Morning! Sunny Sunday here! Today is tackle the garage day! So excited!!!! So much junk to clean up and re-arrange so it's nice and clean. And there is the last pile of dog poop to pick up since the snow is gone now. Will finish laundry too and post stuff for sale too. And maybe a nice cold beer in the sun

[Frugalbigmama]

@bobbiegirl . Sorry for the sudden change in your financial life. My suggestion is to only spend on necesseties and save whatever $ you can for down the road. Use up what you have. Only shop grocery basics and sale items. ( no lobster etc). Sell everything and anything you don't need and save the money. Since the nice weather is here it's great to get the kids out of the house and have quality no cost family time. Always pack drinks/snacks if you don't do this already. I do this anytime we leave the house. Clean up the outdoor stuff your kids already have so they are ready to use ( bikes, scooters, balls etc) Make homemade Popsicles and buy ice cream on sale and cones so you have summer treats available and the kids get a treat ( dq is expensive). Summer is a great time to be frugal for us and being outside means we aren't using hydro too . Kids clothing. Make do with what you have. I found I was always buying for them and they didn't need it! It's a good time to gather up the too small fall/winter stuff and get it ready to post for back to school shopping on FB groups go through fall and winter coats etc. too. Good luck Bobbie. I truly believe everything happens for a reason and you will survive

[Frugalbigmama]

Ok this mama better get up and at it. Today is back to frugal ways since the last while has not been so( I can't believe the money spent to get the small space of tiles put down and my honey did the labour and the expensive part - the tiles!!! We're bought over a year ago!). And I still need to pick up tile grout sealer!!! Anyway so happy it's done but I could imagine what it would have cost to hire someone to put it in. Yikes! So up to get stuff done have a great day everyone!

[lizzie bargain]

One good thing for those with children who are tight for money and needing it to pay bills or start an emergency fund. Each parent of a 0-18 year old will be receiving an extra $360 per child in July and then an additional 60 per month per child thereafter. I think we have discussed this before on SC but it can certainly give a budget boost to those in need or become the start of an emergency fund. At this point I am wishing I have 5 kids( just kidding lol- as I know how expensive that would be)-we just have one DD but if we don't need it for something day to day it could for eg be used to top up her RESP and then have the govt kick in another 20% grant which would essentailly turn 360 into $432 which could grow in her university account. Everyone will have a different plan for this money but it would be nice to make a plan before it comes so that each family can use it where they need it the most( kind of like we all do with our tax refund).

[Andit]

Good morning, everyone.

Discovered last night that the local brewery makes their own root beer. Yummmm. I feel like an idiot asking for cola for the last several years. Guess I have to stay away from the pub, don't want to get addicted to that stuff.

Spring cleaning day for me (with breaks to enjoy the sunshine with my roommates). Hoping to get one area cleared so I can put the glass shelving unit in its proper place (& incur the wrath of Quincy cat who likes its present location, which happens to be in the middle of the room). Then I'll take a break and sort through papers (still looking for a couple of receipts that were put in a safe place for tax season, sigh). If all goes well, tonight will be do my taxes night (very late for me, I rarely wait later than March to do them). Or maybe I'll just nap away the day with the brats.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

[lilo0003]

Crochetlady: we went to AnnaMaes Saturday, I could see you had been busy. It was a madhouse. There must have been 75 people waiting for a table when we left. Logan had lacrosse in Waterloo so it made sense to go as we i wanted to go to the furniture store to buy a coffee table. We have been without one since I decided to kijiji ours last summer.
Avon: prayers for you and hubby, it seems that bug has really taken hold.
Bobbiegirl: everyone else has given lots of good suggestions so I can only add I hop it turns around. If we can help with coupons let us know.
I too have return to selling stuff, our PC has a huge virus, and it has wiped our history's so DH and I have decided to buy a laptop for me and the kids can use the desk top for their gaming. It's the games that are the riskiest. Thankfully DH is a computer specialist in security no less so he is trying to clean it up and recover my our stuff. But a lap top was not in the budget.

[Andit]

Question of the Day

Does anyone have any tips for surviving a sudden drop in income?

First thing is to take a very detailed look at where you are spending - list everything from the smallest expense (a stick of gum) to the largest expense (property tax, heating, etc). Then divide the items into needs and wants. Certain things have to be paid (property tax), others you can live without if you have to (gum, etc). You'd be surprised how quickly the little things add up.

Next, see if there is anything you can do for extra income. I know you mentioned that you need the PSW & ECE certifications, but sometimes if you work as a caregiver privately, you can skip the certifications (less money & you might have to get bonded at your own expense, but might be an option). Do you speak any other languages? My friend's SIL got a job at a school without any credentials because she spoke Greek & the little boy who was autistic didn't speak English, so she worked PT as a translator. Try thinking outside the box. Do any of your neighbours need someone to let the dog out at lunch-time or feed a cat while they're gone overnight? If you drive, do you have elderly neighbours who need help getting groceries? Going to doctors appts? What about house-cleaning? It's getting into gardening season - any elderly neighbours need help setting up their gardens? What about baking or cooking meals for those who are busy or elderly or under the weather? Summer always seems busy for kids parties, maybe baking cakes or healthy treats for a price that would still net you a profit. The dog biscuit bakery world in downtown Toronto is vicious (why I just bake for myself and my neighbours), but it might go well in your neighbourhood. Lots of easy recipes that are inexpensive but sell well (PM me for recipes if you want).

Sorry, I can't think of anything else. Good luck! It will all work out (I live on about $50/month for groceries for the 3 of us and manage - the chubby cat I live with shows none of us are starving ).

[Crochetlady]

Crochetlady: we went to AnnaMaes Saturday, I could see you had been busy. It was a madhouse. There must have been 75 people waiting for a table when we left. Logan had lacrosse in Waterloo so it made sense to go as we i wanted to go to the furniture store to buy a coffee table. We have been without one since I decided to kijiji ours last summer

Hope you didn`t have to wait too long for a table. That`s why I try to never go on a Friday or Saturday. I can tell things are starting to pick up. I didn`t get a stockpile built up this winter so things will be even more crazy for me this summer.

Did you find a coffee table at Family Furniture? We bought a platform rocker there years ago that I love.

BG: I don`t have any more suggestions for you...I think everyone else covered everything I could think of.

Ashley: I hope your mom manages to find a full time job or at least pick up more hours.

Nancy: I hear ya about chasing your tail. I dread the hydro going up. I think we already pay too much. That debt retirement charge just kills me. Wish I could get someone else to pay off my debt. However I am still making progress with my CC. If all goes well this year it should be paid at the end of the year. I also finally activated my PC Mastercard. Once I`m sure all my automatic payments are going on it I will cancel my Scotia Visa. I don`t earn much more cash back than to pay for the annual fee so I decided to get rid of it.

[lilo0003]

Lol, my kids love those rockers. The sit in them the whole time I shop and browse. We did buy a table, now we wait for it to be built, we wwill pick it up as ddelivery was crazy for one table. We did not wait long as we were in by 4:30. But like you I never go on the weekend so it was a surprise.

[Frugalbigmama]

Oh I am looking forward to a bath and then crashing on the couch. Dog poop
is gone. Garage cleaned and re-organized and lots of stuff tossed in the garbage! Posted stuff for sale. Big things I thought I couldn't part with but now I just want it all gone! I made homemade burgers for lunch so we will eat leftovers for dinner with salad/kd if kids want lol. Laundry almost done! Beds made with fresh linens. I am done for the day! Phew! Oh and was smart and fried up the kids eggs for the next few mornings for egg mcmuffins. Did. That while cooking breakfast. I need to make oatmeal for my breakfast so will hopefully get a 2nd wind before Big Brother is on and make it quick.

[Granger]

Sounds like btwn health and finances everyone is feeling stretched in some way. Thinking of you all.

We are an almost one income family. DH brings in a modest amount. As you all know I am an Ontario teacher, I will not lie, my income is stable and good comparatively. We struggle to make ends meet. There is no extra. We are carrying debt at this moment in time but endeavour not to outside of our mortgage. I don't know how ppl are surviving!

I don't have wants like latest TVs and gadgets. I saved for my iPhone 4S and bought it outright. It was out of date 2 years ago when I bought it!!!! My property taxes are going up 8% this year. Inflation averages 2% a year. My income is not keeping with even average inflation rate. I think since 2008 I have received inflation raises that total 4%. If you do the math that is 10% short of keeping up with current prices. I have it better than many, but if our middle class is struggling that is scary.

[jasperandchar]

for all us hydro one users....sigh...the debt retirement will end this December and so will the 10% reduction on our bills and then the .70 per person/household will take effect to cover the low income families to assist with their hydro reductions. No offense to anyone who qualifies but it's just not right that the people who make more have to pay. Those who have a household income of less than $50K need to apply and can qualify for up to $30 a month reduction, I can't find anyone news on how this .70 per household/person will be recoop for those over $50K, I will admit we are barely over $50K and find it difficult to do make do (not complaining) just saying the gov't needs to step up and cut the stupid delivery fees which are killing everyone financially

[jasperandchar]

@Granger I agree it's pretty scary when the middle class folks are struggling, something needs to give