help i need help with my money problems....?

Question

i am a married mom of one with one on the way! me, my hubby, and our daughter live with my parents... my hubby makes 1200 a month and we HAVE GOT TO MOVE OUT OF HERE! an apartment will be WAY too expensive...(750 and higher in this area for a two bedroom.... and we have been looking into a manufactured home...) the problem is we still owe about 12000 on our car and untill we get that paid off, we only get to keep about 700 $ after we pay car payment and insurance....

any ideas, on how to pay the car off faster....

Also any ideas PLEASE about government programs in texas, (we are on foodstamps, and medicaid.....)or places where we can get a decent place to live. ALSO ideas on how to save money (not extensive bank stuff and such, i mean stuff thats easy to do every day....) and NO I CANT WORK, daycare would be 300 a week when i have this baby and i wouldnt even make that much prolly....

(ideas on how to save money on baby stuff would help alot, i have an 18 mnth grl and one due in may

ok first off let me say this, i am in dallas texas are... second, there are no bus lines around here so that transportation mode is out of the question third what am i suposed to do when i have to get groceries? walk with 2 babys the 6 miles to the store EVERYDAY to get them (because id only be able to carry, one days worth of food with two kids....) , what about their docter visits? thats 12 miles to their doctor, and this is TEXAS, land of 100 degree weather...by the time i got to the doctor id have 2 babys with heatstroke...

also no i dont want to depend on government aide and NOT work.... i cant babysit untill i get a place of my own and that is actually what i plan on doing, i used to work in a daycare so i have the qualifications and such to do it, but id have to have my own house for it to be legal!

ok more stuff to add, i did not ask this to be put down and told im lazy.... and we dont spend the extra 700 on cigerettes or whatever we dont smoke and we dont drink, it goes on diapers (60 bucks a month) our part of the light bill,(40 dollars) rent, (300) and groceries, (200, since we buy for 6 people) dont forget gas to get to work and such.... and its hard to work the opposite of my hubby since he works 2pm to 10 pm and id have to have a shift like 11 pm to 7 am, so i could sleep for 3 hours before having to get ip with our daughter....and none around here has those hours except gas stations, and i cant work in the ones around here because my hubby works for shell and my mother works for HHH wich owns most of the ones around here.... (all of them except shell...which my hubby works for!)

Answer 1

I had two children and a step daughter with out much hope either. What happened was we kept getting further and further behind in debt and we finally split up due to all the negative stress in our lives. The children were on ADC and food stamps most of their lives until they were 18. It is not a pretty picture when you are poor AND homeless. Now the byproducts of this union are doing the same lifestyles as their parents. No education (all three quit at 16) got married had children divorced. Repeat marriages repeat divorce. So try to stay married even if you are under stress. Find a spiritual side to your life so you can withstand the poverty. Live on less by not eating out at fast food restaurants //don't use disposable diapers..use real cloth diapers. cut your own hair, don't wast money on babysitters ..stay home and read (public library has books and movies for free) the parks are also free for pic nic lunches. Force yourself to save some money for a rainy day...go to Church as this is also free but find a church that is not a cult ...have faith as most of the people i know went through the depression years and you may find that the years of struggle may be the best years of your life. I had to learn to go without many things for many years but you are just one of many who have had to endure hardship. I finally got a good job at the age of 33 and could work 28 years and got retirement at 61 and I agree with my parents that the years of struggle were the best.

Answer 2

Reality check time:
You don't need an expensive car, and in your case, $12000 is too expensive. Trade it in for something you can actually afford. Debt is never the solution unless you are borrowing on something that will appreciate - like a house.
Focus on saving money toward a goal, not fancy bank stuff, but putting money every day or week into an account toward a house. Every time you want to go out to eat or buy cigarettes or whatever it is you spend your extra $700 on put it in the bank. That's a down payment on a house; it'll happen so quickly you'll be amazed and feel very empowered. Then move out of your parents' house and grow up. Take care of your children on your own and not at the expense of the taxpayers.
Also, you can work; I hate to tell you princess, but lots of couples work opposite shifts so they can afford to own homes and not pay daycare. That is part of being parents and taking care of yourself and your family.

Answer 3

First off I'd sell the car and get a cheaper one that will fit your budget. There are cheaper cars. Next, get your local paper and find the garage sales and you'd be able to find anything really cheap and it won't hurt your budget any. Thats what I do. And right now I'm the only one working. My husband was a truck driver and got tired of the road after 30 years of doing it. And I had planted a veggie garden this summer and canned what veggies I could and sold the rest for extra money.
Use things sparingly and you will get threw it. we have. And we live with his parents. Because his mom has alzhimers and we have to stay to help out. Also, in your local paper, ( if your wanting to move) there are cheap houseing areas. Or ask your social worker for any suggestions. They some times know of some cheaper houseing for people like yourselfs.
Good luck honey!

Answer 4

Why can't your husband wake up and watch your daughter while you work? Then when he goes to work at 2pm, you can stay home with your daughter and the baby after he/she is born. You could pump your breasts and leave bottles if you needed to. You could have a shift from 5am-1pm or less, or on the weekends. I know that takes time away from your kids, but you're gonna have to make sacrifices, at least temporarily. Trade in your car if you need to and get one you all can afford so you can pay it off and just worry about insurance.
I imagine you have some baby stuff still from when your daughter was younger, unless you sold it or gave it away. Be practical. You definetly need a good car seat, a stroller, and a highchair. Clothes and stuff are necessary, but don't go overboard. Go to thrift stores if you need to; they often have nice stuff that is just a little used. Stock up on diapers, wipes and all that now.
Honestly, it seems like you're waiting for someone to give you some kind of golden answer. Government assistance programs are great because they help people get on their feet, but that's just it: they HELP, they aren't going to fix all of your problems. What can the state do for you? What can YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND do for your family?! TEAMWORK! I have seen people in your situation or worse tough it out and even make it through graduate school! When we found out I was pregnant my fiancé and I immediately began to plan things out: when he would work, when I would work, how much time I would take off, a car, living, savings, etc. It takes organization, effort, sacrifice, etc but it's possible. So stop making excuses and work together on how you can improve things, even if you need assistance. Just don't depend on it.

Answer 5

Well, you are on a good start getting Government Aid. I'm not EXACTLY sure, but I think you can get HUD (not sure if that is what it is called) but it is a program that helps you get into a house. They go by you income. And how desperate you are to get a house. Go to garage sales and gently used baby stores to get things for you children. Also, I know that you aren't wanting to work, but have you considered after finding your own place to live, babysitting? You can make a good $100 a week doing that! Good luck, I can't help you much, I live in Ohio, and I'm sure things are different over there.

Answer 6

First, you both should have thought of this before the car. You should have thought of a home with starting a family. Get rid of the car because a home should be your first priority. Also you might think of birth control. There are agencies that maybe be able to help you find something. Ask a Social Worker,also there are Housing Agencies (Hud) that goes by your income what you pay for rent.

Answer 7

I was and am still in the same boat but Irecently got out of my parents house. It is sooo stressfull!!! my husband and I work opposite shifts so we can both have a full time job. now we make about $3000 a month. (We're in CT and wages/rents are a little higher. $7.40 for minimum wage and $1000 a month for a 2 bedroom). I would look into your local HeadStart program and see if you qualify for daycare assistance. They'll even get care for your kids so you can go to school and get training for a better job.
As for housing watch your local papers for low income housing lotteries. You can get into a nice housing development or condo complex cheaply because of your income. you just have to get lucky in the drawing.
Good luck! I know exactly how you feel!!!

Answer 8

your car sounds like its taking alot of money away from you try going to a dealership and seeing what you would get for a trade in for it if they give you a fair price then i would look at buying a used car that only cost a couple of thousand. it might not be what you want be if it gets you around then thats all you really need for now til you can get on your feet again. if you dont want to do that then try refinancing your car loan we went from a 17% interest rate to a 5.9% and we save money that way. also since your already on food stamps you should be able to get on section 8 or HUD look it up online and see if texas offers this program they will place you in low income housing or help you pay for rent. for the baby stuff go online and register at gerber.com, pampers.com and huggies and they will send you coupons .

Answer 9

Personally, I would SELL the car, and get something less expensive.

Answer 10

Yes, you can work. You can work the opposite shift your husband does. Looks like you're more for public handouts than self sufficiency.