How do middle class familys get by?....see details...?

Question

I am so frustrated, we don't make enough money to afford the things we need such as health insurance for the kids, but we go ask for help and they say we make to much money....so, what the heck do ya do when your stuck in the middle?....since when does making $350 a week make you to rich for any kind of assistance?...and why can people sit on there butts, not work at all, and live in a low income apartment, with there bills, food and insurance paid for..how is that fair?...here we are trying to get by and trying to make a future for ourselves but when we need a little help we can't get it...this sucks..anyone else have this promblem?...any one know of any cheap health insurance for kids?...thank you.

By the way, i'm a stay at home mom, my hubby is the only one that works...i know your gonna say i should go get a job, but think about it, by the time i pay a daycare for 2 kids and gas money, what kinda money will be left in my pocket?...

We live in texas, and yes, there is insurance through my hubbys work but it's outragous,,,,it would take half his check, and medicaid and chips are the 2 that say we make to much....

Answer 1

Hi...

i understand how you feel... when i was raising my kids we both worked, but had very good incomes... i was fortunate that i could raise my kids well.

now that i'm older (50 to be exact), i found myself caring for my mother until her death -- it drained me financially, my retirement is gone, i have no home of my own anymore, and lost most of my furniture and household goods.

not long after mom died, i was in an auto accident and broke many bones, including my femur... almost 2 years later, and two failed surgeries, i'm on social security disability. YES i do have state insurance, because i'm considered disabled; however, i didn't have insurance at the time of the accident and hadn't had any for 7 years. i couldn't afford it.

i get about $600 a month, and pay over $300 rent.... the rest is for whatever i need, food/phone, etc. it's a struggle for just me, so i can only imagine that your income doesn't go far.

sorry this was so long.. i just wanted you to know i have empathy for your situation, considering mine over these last years.

some states have well-child programs through the health department, so you can make sure your kids get their immunizations. perhaps you can try applying for medical assistance again? i sure hope you find something.. i know it's a worry about your children.

god forbid if there ever is an emergency or one has to go into the hospital, many hospitals have charity programs which you can apply for in time of need... i hope you NEVER need this sort of help... STILL, i see YOUR worry and frustration.

sending good thoughts your way... i hope someone comes up with a helpful solution for you. hugs

Answer 2

First of all-I commend you on being a stay at home mom!

Here are a couple of ideas:

-Maybe you can get a job a couple of nights a week? That way you could work while your husband is home with the kids. It's not the funnest situation but it would help you get some extra money.

-Have you thought about babysitting? You could take in some kids that are around your own kids age. It'll be more like a play date than work! Just go through the necessary steps such as CPR classes.

-For help with food, check your local food bank. I know around here they don't really check your income. We always need a little help around the middle of the month and they offer a lot of canned foods.

-Assuming you belong to a church, they might be able to help you out. (I'm very sorry if you don't belong to a church and have offended you)

I don't have any ideas about health insurance for your kiddo's! I really don't know much about that. But I hope I helped a little. :)

EDIT:
Also, most cities have plasma donating services. My fiance donates twice a week and gets $70. For the whole month we get about $300, depending on the way the month works out.
I believe there are some health risks. My sister had a lot of problems with it and had to quit donating but my fiance hasn't had any problems. You'll just need to do your homework on it and see how your body reacts.

Answer 3

I think you are wrong....but no offense. If you have a college education of some sort and go out and get a REALLY GOOD job then I am sure you will make a good amount of money along with your husband to pay for daycare, gas, and a little extra for anything else. When I see families out there like you, and the mom don't work....I sorta feel bad for the husband because all of the stresses of trying to support the family are on him. I think that it would really help him out if you get a job, maybe even part time. I have never had a problem with stay at home moms, IF the husband can support the family all the way....but in your case it is a little bumpy so do him a little favor. Hope I have helped and not have been too mean. Good Luck with whatever you decide to do!

Answer 4

If you found a job on opposite shifts from your husband, you wouldn't be out daycare expenses. That's what my husband and I do. In addition, the kids and dad reap the benefits of a better bond with each other.

Your job might even have health insurance tied to it!

Or, if you can only get something on the same shift as him, you still might get health insurance. And, even if you don't - your salary - minus daycare - minus gas would still be *more than what you have now*.

Or how about some work from home options. There are quite a few legitimate call center jobs that you can work from home (evenings & weekends, if necessary - you need a quiet room & time to do the work).

My husband & I also work a Dino Jump delivery job on weekends, which is something that brings in extra cash -and- that we can all do together as a family.

There are other options. They might not fit into your fantasy about the way you want things to be, but they are out there if you're flexible enough to try them on.

Answer 5

I feel for you as we're almost in the same boat. We do have insurance through my husbands employer, but he has not had a real cash raise in over 10 years. Everytime he gets a raise, the insurance premiums go up and take all of the pay raise plus some. People will tell you that the state offers low cost insurance for kids, but what they don't say is that you can't find a doctor who will accept it, or if you do, it pays only about 20% of the bill.

Answer 6

I think it is very important in this society that a parent does stay at home with their children. I agree with you whole heartedly. You would be bringing home so little profit after paying for child care...and look at your states requirement for child care workers...It is not much usually. How much supervision, how much time do they spend with your child? Affordable daycare is almost like sending your children to live amongst wolves. In some states there are assistance programs to help middle class families, you still pay something, but it is not the insane amount that you would pay. If you know another stay at home mom you could trade off and both get part time jobs..that would pay some for insurance...There is no easy way around it, I live on basic minimum, but my child is safe and happy. I have done the babysitting trade off with a friend and it works very well. My daughter enjoys being around her friend and I know when I am away ( for the few hours I am away) that she is in good hands.

Answer 7

It is getting to the point where there isn't actually a middle class anymore, just the poor and the rich. If we aren't there already, we soon will be. Meanwhile, the politicians in Washington just sit there spending there time trying to devise ways to take more of out hard - earned money! I, for one, am sick of it. In my opinion, a revolt is coming. The people are going to rise up one of these days and stomp Washington right off the map! They deserve it and they've got it coming! Sorry for geting so riled up, but I just couldn't help myself! And to "ny21tb": Are you crazy?! The Democrats will only tax you more than the Republicans do. They always do and they always have. Where have you been, sleeping under a rock somewhere?! You'd better wake up before that next election, or you'll have nothing left at all once they get into office!

Answer 8

You shouldn't be punished for staying at home with your child. I agree that with day care costs it wouldn't be feasible to get a job outside the home. I could get on a soap box about the issue at hand here. But i will just say that you are probably better off than most although it doesn't seem like it right now. Just hold your keep your dignity - that's something that a lot of people don't have. Hold your head up high and be thankful that you have a husband who works hard and child who is not lacking. Things will get better. The economy is just really bad right now, especially for middle class. Try going online and looking for at home jobs/careers.
I wish you the best of luck.
God bless!

Answer 9

Hi guys :)

Your situation sounds a lot like ours. We have 2 young kids who are out of school for the summer so I am staying at home to take care of them. My husband works really hard but we still struggle with the price of rent being so high here in Maryland. We don't qualify for any kind of assistance at all (housing help, foodstamps, insurance for the pair of us) but we did qualify for energy assistance. It's money to help with heating and cooling costs, so you might wanna check into that. Your electric company can point you in the right direction for that. You get a yearly grant to go towards your bill.

Here in Maryland we have a program called the Maryland Children's Health Program. It has both free and premium insurance. I think it's only 45-55 dollars a month for full coverage for all children in the family. It's thru the state so check to see if your state has it too (I know in Illinois it's called KidCare)

I get bitter when I think of how many people are abusing the system as well. Yes, there are the people who have the Lexus sitting outside of the housing complex which they only pay $17 dollars a month rent for, and have all their food paid for and are collecting child support and seem to have the world at their disposal, on a silver platter. But then I try to remind myself how miserable those people's quality of life must be. Those that do qualify for cash assistance, only get like 500 dollars a month. Can you imagine trying to live on that? They live in those apartments, while dirt-cheap rent must be nice, but think about the crime and the crowds and all the b.s. that goes on in those places. They have no skills, and no future. They are doing the best that they will ever do. They are content with a lower level of sophistication.

I try to be very thankful for my beautiful kids and my wonderful husband, our nice country home (even tho rent is killing us) and our awesome marriage and it really does seem worth the extra costs.

Good luck to you, chin up, and thank God that you *want* more out of your life than those people do.

Answer 10

We are in the exact same position execpt both my husband and I work full time. We are lucky that one of our children qualifies for Medicaid but our other child, my husband and myself have nothing. My husband just had surgery in May to have some skin cancer removed and the surgery was $4000 and we could not get any help to pay for it. It's not fair at all that hard working people can't catch a break. This situation we are all in is one of the main reasons we, as a country, need some serious changes made. This country needs universal health care. It needs seriouse welfare reform.