I need help! How can you survive off of $23,000 a year with two kids and receiving NO help from the state?

Question

I CURRENTLY BRING HOME AROUND $23,000 -WASHINGTON DC AND THE STATE CLAIMS THAT I MAKE TOO MUCH FOR ANY KIND OF ASSISTANCE AND THATS HARD TO BELIVE. WHAT CAN I DO? MY KIDS HAVE MY HEALTH INSURANCE ASWELL AS MYSELF. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I HAVE BILLS TO PAY AND MOUTHS TO FEED!

Answer 1

I know how hard it is to survive with a small single income and kids. You have already had some good suggestions in the previous answers.

One of the things I did when I was in a similar situation was to write down where every cent went for a month, and from there I was able to make a few changes and save a little here and there. It wasn't a huge amount - how can it be when you don't have a lot to start with? But it helped, and it also helped me be more organized about our money and to be more aware of how we were spending it.

Examine every expense you have and see if there is a way to cut back on anything, even a little. Use of water, electricity, cable TV, whatever can make a difference at least until you feel more in control of the situation.

Are there church groups in your area who might help with boxes of groceries once a month or something like that? We were able to get that kind of help a few times, particlarly in the winter when heating costs were high.

From your question I am not certain if you are a single parent or if there is a spouse, so I won't focus much on that aspect. But if there is a spouse, consider what might work as a "work at home" job or a part time job when you are not working.

I think the suggestion about moving to an area of the country where the cost of living is lower may be a good one if it is a viable option for you. From travelling throughout the US in recent years my husband and I have found that in the Carolinas the cost of living seems to be considerably lower than in many other areas. I don't know if that would make any sense for you, but it is something to think about.

When we were living payday to payday when my kids were little I found that coupons saved us quite a lot of money. I was fortunate enough to find a grocery store that accepted coupons for anything they had in stock that sold quickly, whether I bought the item or not. I know that was not strictly kosher, but it made a difference of about 10% on our grocery bill every week - that is the amount of coupons they would accept. You may not be able to find that kind of deal today, but always be on the lookout for coupons for things you buy regularly. Be careful with them though, because sometimes the coupon brand is more expensive and if you buy a cheaper brand it will be less than the more expensive brand even when you use the coupon.

I expect you already know about the stores such as Big Lots if they are in your area. You can buy many food items there at considerable savings. Dollar Stores can also have brand name food items at a much lower cost. Look for places such as bakery outlets also for staples such as bread at lower cost. Is there a "bulk food" sort of store in your area where you buy just the amount you need of things such as flour, rice, etc. at a much cheaper price than the pre-packaged supermarket brands?

I always cooked meals "from scratch" and saved considerbaly as compared to buying frozen pre-cooked food for example. My kids and I would work on the weekends to prepare main meals for the week and freeze them. For school lunches they always took sandwiches or food prepared at home, not the expensive "lunchables" sort of products. We did buy the juice boxes, but for yogurt we bought the large containers and used the small plastic reusable containers for them to take some to school.

I made it a point to always be on the lookout for a better job. I changed jobs several times, always looking for something that paid more money. I started as a classroom teacher, with very low qualifications, and gradually worked my way up. Whenever there was an opportunity to improve my qualifications, I did. In those days it meant doing courses in how to use the Internet, computers, etc., and quite often I was able to find a free, or almost free, course that I could then add to my resume.

Something else that helped us was seeking financial advice from a professional. I was able to find a community based free financial counselor, who helped me sort some things and have a better handle on our finances. If you have a lot of credit card debt, focus on paying as much as you can on the one with the highest interest rate and making minimum payments on the others until you get the highest one paid off. Then go to the one with the next highest rate, and so on.

I hope things work out well for you and your kids, and I hope the ideas you get from these answers are of some help to you. My best advice would be to stay focused and make a plan that makes sense for you for improving your situation. Best of luck.

Answer 2

Move to North Carolina. My husband was the only one working for a while and we made it on a little less than that every year with our two kids. We didnt get any help from the state (we made too much too). The only thing I can think of that you can do is just cut as many expenses as possible. If you have to pay for day care, you should see if the state will help with that if not with anything else. We are getting help for day care because the thing they want most is for you to work. Day care assistance down here may require you to pay a percentage 8,9,or 10, but still, 9% of 600 dollars is better than paying all of it. If you can get that help then it would really help. Also, for groceries, try the local Salvation Army pantry. They help with low income people who really need it with food and things like that. You should try to find a better paying job, but I know how hard that can be. Good luck and I hope that you guys are ok and find a way.

Answer 3

What kind of work do you do? Are there simialr positions available in which you could make more money? Would it be possible to get a second job? Since you made the choice to have these children it is your responsibility to do whatever it takes to support them.

Answer 4

cut down on all expenses that you can. no cell phones. no luxury items. no cable. i did it making less than that. it was a struggle. i got a little part time job too. don't charge anymore to your credit cards. wear your clothes longer. your children are growing they will need bigger clothes. shop at a goodwill or salvation army to get lower priced clothing. it is hard to be poor. but you have to live within your means.

Answer 5

Get a second job.Or get a better paying job.You can't support 2kids anywhere on that kind of money.