Money Matters
formerlyGDaisy09
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
from ML but more of a MM issue
Hi MM,
I've posted about this in ML, but I think I'll get more help here.
My H is a little worker bee, and has been since we met. It has been his goal to find one full-time job that will meet our needs without having to change the lifestyle we have come to enjoy.
H accrued a lot of debt in the 2.5-3 years he attended college (he got no help from my in-laws, they refused to co-sign any loans with him, or help him understand what all that debt meant) basically H ended up with around 60K in student loans and I think about 24K in Credit card debt. We have paid the CC debt down to 3K in the past 2.5 years and have made dents in both of our SL debt (I graduated with about 20K in student loans that's now around 12K).
We have been able to purchase a house, we own my car out-right and recently purchased a certified-preowned car after we were spending tons of money each month to keep H's car running.
So far I'd say we've been doing pretty well balancing our monthly budget, minimizing wants (no cable, H has a dumb phone, I need a smart phone to function at work, so we have a small data plan, minimal eating out, $350-400 on groceries each month, we haven't taken a vacation in 4 years)
All H has been able to find without a bachelor's degree is part time work, for the past 4 years he has consistently worked 2-3 part time jobs (averaging 60-70 hours a week) (I work full-time, I have a small PT job, and I'm working on a masters degree part-time...paid for by my full-time job). Recently H lost his smaller part-time job, so he is now down to one part-time job that is 25-30 hours a week, and he has been struggling to find something else. his PT job is from 3am-8 or 9am T-Sa, so his availability for something else is excellent.
this month we had some unfortunate timing with several things...our propane tank went empty at the beginning of the month ($900), I was in a fender bender but had to get the car fixed ($500 deductible) our gym membership was due (pretty much the only thing we splurged on $500). I am praying that we have a good sized tax return so I can payoff that last bit of credit card debt (we've been agressive that reduces our monthly "needs" by $700)
He is currently checking local classifieds and helpwanted websites, monster.com, and the 3 largest employers in our area...is there someplace he's missing? Unfortunately we've had to dip into our e-fund this month, and will be about $1000 short next month (it's in the e-fund, but it is really hard to think about dipping in there again). His current PT job does not have any full time available, there's a FT position opening up soon 90 minutes from our house...but any extra money earned there would pretty much be spent on gas.
We have taken some risks with our money, but I feel like they've been for smart reasons, most were with the advice of our FA. (purchased a house well below what we were pre-approved for at a low interest rate, purchased a nice car, but it was pre-owned...) I'm beginning to feel like everything we've worked so hard for could slip away so easily.
Me: 28 H: 30
Married 07/14/2012
TTC #1 January 2015
BFP! 3/27/15 Baby Girl!! EDD:12/7/2015
Re: from ML but more of a MM issue
I agree that I don't see too much to trim. It's just a high housing/car cost without the second job. What I'd do in the short term is cut all extra payments until your e-fund is where you want it to be. An exception is the CC if you'll have to pay back interest if it's not paid off during the promotional period.
In the long term, is there any way to trade a car for one with gas mileage that would make the FT job worth it? I know you mentioned your car has good mileage to start. Also, a small- potatoes idea, but you might be able to get slightly lower car insurance if your records are good.
Good luck to you H with the job hunt. Fingers crossed!
Would he be interested in the trades? (becoming a plumber, electrician, welder?)
He needs a skill that will make him employable at a higher wage.
Glad you were able to pay off that CC! Congrats!
If your husband has facebook, have him like businesses that he likes or is interested in working for. Also include any local police dept & cities. Sometimes places will post job openings on facebook & just their own websites.
Also have him post on facebook, that he is currently looking for either part time or full time work if anyone is aware of anything. A friend of mine did that and one of his facebook friends (someone he doesn't talk to face to face regularly) told him about a job at the company he worked for, my friend found a new job in about 2-3 weeks. The networking really helped him. Plus no one is going to go, apply where I work even though I hate it here.
Good luck!!