money concerns

I just need to vent. I'm really stressing and bugging out about money. I've always been so good with money. We started out great saving for the wedding. Nothing was being charged.

Then FH lost his job. He's not getting unemployment (trying to), and he is looking for something. It's been 3 months of no work. This has been really tough on our finances. My credit card just keeps going up and up. I have all the money saved for the big vendors that I dont want to touch, but I cant save anymore.

With paying the bills for our home, his one student loan, and his phone bill, I'm really struggling. That's an extra $400 a month that I never had to pay. So now our basic needs (gas, groceries, gifts for birthdays/etc) are being charged.

I was always the type to pay off my cc right away, so seeing this number keep going up is sooo hard on me, and making me bug out. I know we will be able to use the wedding money to pay this off, but that makes me mad too. We want to use that for the house savings. :(

We are not going to have cash until June 15 because of paying off bills. I am working extra at work, but wont get that check to who knows when. I am applying for waitressing jobs, but I dont know what to do...Just needed to vent

I completely understand!! We are paying for everything ourselves and are soooo broke right now!! My hours at work have been cut so we are spending more and living on less, and I can't really look for a new job right now with my wedding only months away. You are definitely not alone!!

Do you have any tips? I dont want to have to keep charging and not being able to pay off the whole bill. it s ucks.

for you

Who are his school loans with? I know my lender allows them to be deferred temporarily for hardship reasons.
Also, perhaps having him go on a new phone plan to lessen the monthly bill. Or go on a family share plan.

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Posted by AdriandSteve

Who are his school loans with? I know my lender allows them to be deferred temporarily for hardship reasons.
Also, perhaps having him go on a new phone plan to lessen the monthly bill. Or go on a family share plan.

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ITA!! also, is he looking for any work off the books?

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Posted by AdriandSteve

Who are his school loans with? I know my lender allows them to be deferred temporarily for hardship reasons.
Also, perhaps having him go on a new phone plan to lessen the monthly bill. Or go on a family share plan.

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we def are looking into doing the family plan. only thing is he has a different service, so we'd have to buy a new phone right? His plan is up in June, so we are going to do the family plan then. Thank you girls.

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Posted by latinaj

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Posted by AdriandSteve

Who are his school loans with? I know my lender allows them to be deferred temporarily for hardship reasons.
Also, perhaps having him go on a new phone plan to lessen the monthly bill. Or go on a family share plan.

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ITA!! also, is he looking for any work off the books?

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Like what? He can't find anything right now. He has applied to so many things too.

I feel your pain and it royally s.u.c.k.s. We are struggling too after they cut overtime at work. I know it's not as bad as one person losing their job entirely but it makes things difficult when we are constantly doing home repairs, paying mortgage, saving for the wedding.

I know you said you are charging the bare neccesities. Try as HARD as you can not to. Really challenge yourself. I know you can't really compromise on gas but the groceries and birthday presents need to be cut to the bare bones. Your family and friends will understand if they get a card this year if they know of your situation.

As for groceries, FH and I have gotten pretty good at buying things ONLY on sale and stocking up especially on beans, pasta sauce, cereal, frozen veggies since they keep for a while.

It also helps if you cut down on meat since protein tends to be the most expensive.

Have you tried selling stuff on ebay? FH and I did this and I made a few hundred bucks selling things I never wear. For a while, FH was also buying broken phones, fixing them, and selling them on ebay. He made a couple of grand last year.

You just have to be creative. Take tutoring, baby sitting jobs. Have FH look on craigslist for quick gigs such as helping someone move furniture for a day. Every little bit helps!

Good luck and I hope FH finds a job soon! What was his previous job?

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Posted by jackieee

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Posted by AdriandSteve

Who are his school loans with? I know my lender allows them to be deferred temporarily for hardship reasons.
Also, perhaps having him go on a new phone plan to lessen the monthly bill. Or go on a family share plan.

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we def are looking into doing the family plan. only thing is he has a different service, so we'd have to buy a new phone right? His plan is up in June, so we are going to do the family plan then. Thank you girls.

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Nope, many providers will give you the phone for free. It might not be the best and newest but it'll do the job.

i am so sorry mama

sorry youre going through this..

the best advice i can give u is to LEAVE your CC at home!!

and please understand the diff btwn 'wants' and NEEDS'

as far as food shopping, get the family packs that are on sale ..buy your fresh produce at a farmers market, NOT at a supermarket. its sooo much more $


like right now.. im goign to go on waldbaums dot com and see what is on sale for this week. thats how i plan out our meals.

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Posted by ourwedding9510

What does FH do? what does he have a degree in? Maybe someone on here knows of hiring for what he does.

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He has worked in banks before and in collections..administrative asst. type jobs. His last job was for about 4 years doing audits and inventory in different restaurants and bars in the city.

His degree is in English. He is a writer (not published YET).

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Posted by grkbarbie

sorry youre going through this..

the best advice i can give u is to LEAVE your CC at home!!

and please understand the diff btwn 'wants' and NEEDS'

as far as food shopping, get the family packs that are on sale ..buy your fresh produce at a farmers market, NOT at a supermarket. its sooo much more $


like right now.. im goign to go on waldbaums dot com and see what is on sale for this week. thats how i plan out our meals.

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I've been doing that. Not even taking my cc with me. Def hear you with the wants and needs. Like we've been still trying to do date night once or twice a month even though we are po', and going to the movies/dinner for those nights, but I think we have to cut that until he works again. I pay cash for that, but then it's like our NEEDS (gas, toilet paper, etc have to get charged).

Thank you girls for the tips!!!!!! I always buy produce at supermarkets. gotta try the farmers market.