Stressing out!! How did you make it work??

Re: Stressing out!! How did you make it work??

• jen5-03 member

  July 2009

  You should post your budget on money matters for their advice on cutting it.

  Do you own or rent? Any way you could live somewhere cheaper?

  One thing you should do is look at daycare costs in your area and figure out if your salary is more than daycare expenses. So you'll know that you have a backup plan, or that you're going to be really tight no matter what. Don't forget to add in the extra cost of insurance for your baby.

  For general expense cutting - cut cell phones, cable, internet. How much are you spending on groceries? How much can you cut that bill if you had time to cook? Don't eat meat at every meal. Cut coupons. Don't buy convenience foods or junk food.

  For baby expenses - buy used for everything except a car seat and maybe a crib. 99% of stuff that people buy for baby is NOT necessary.  Save that money. Shop at yard sales, accept hand-me-downs. Use cloth diapers if you have a washer and dryer, BF instead of formula (those will both save you thousands the first year).

   

  - Jena
  
  

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• vanessaNOV2

  July 2009

  Im already at home bc i couldn't find a job during beginning of pregnancy so I doubt I will find one at this point..DH is at a job now that will be ending in about a month and has been searching desperately for a new one...he found one but its in the next state up so we will be moving...We sold my car, which help bc we pay just for 1 car and insurance...we got our cell bill really low, cut cable, and I'm learning how to cook at home, and I make it a challenge to find coupons for everything I buy...I started sewing a little makin baby burp cloths, bibs, and blankets, so I can get the more important items on my baby shower registery...

  I want a part time job (once a week even) when LO is born, so fingers crossed on finding one. Good luck to you! I am confident we will make it work, and if we can do so can you!

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• annak23

  July 2009

  Is there any way that your DH can pick up a PT job at the local grocery store or Walmart for extra cash...at least until something in his profession comes up? I guess, if you are really in a bind, you will do anything for the money to keep your family going.  Save every dime you can, shop second hand stores for the baby, wait until the shower to see what you need, return things that are unecessary.  Learn how to cook at home (if you don't already) to really stretch your dollar & use all the leftovers for either lunch or another meal, shop sales & freeze meats.  I guess it's hard to know when we don't know what your bills & income are, etc.  Can you move or get rid of a car? GL to you, I'm sure things will work out!

  

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• mommycj

  July 2009

   After I had my DD, I went back to work for a while. we didn't think we could make it work without my income, and so I went back to teaching. after 3 months. I hated every minute of it!

  finally, at Christmas break,  we decided that I should quit and stay home.

  Things were rough at first. I tried several work from home things, and did phone call scam thing that I never got paid for, and then I tried secret shopping. I did that for almost 2 years but that was a lot of work.

  Now, I sell Pampered Chef and that is working really well for me. I make about $400-$600 a month (about 4-6 shows)
  

  There are things out there if you need to work, things that will work around your schedule. I believe if you really want to stay home, you will find a way to make it work!
  

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