Oh, yah, the mortgage thing is right (well at least here in Canada). Our mortgage allows us to skip one payment a year. We have had to do it a couple of times over the years, so we would have some money for Christmas. We would be waiting for umemployment to start and would have no money coming in for over a month. It really helped us out. They just tack it on to the end of your mortgage and they do charge you a fee...I think it was something like $80.00 (added to the mortgage, that is). That would be great for you to have that extra money by not having to pay your mortgage this month.

I thought of a few things since your husband wouldn't want to do without certain services:

1) Lower your cable/satelite package type and lower costs (if you aren't on a contract at the moment.) Or cancel cable or satellite TV for just a few months. We have lived without cable or satellite TV for over two years now to save the cost and haven't missed it as much as we thought we would. It would be easier right now to live without it since most things are re-runs in the summer anyhow.

2) Phone your telephone provider and see if you can lower your monthly cost with lowering services (like no call-waiting, no free directory assistance, etc.) I just lowered my long-distance package to save about $25 a month two months ago. I went from unlimited long-distance at $20.00 a month, to $.05 a minute with a one-time fee of $30 for the year and took off the 3 extra services we paid $5 a month for. We weren't really using it.

3) If you aren't on a contract with your internet provider, switch from DSL to dial-up, (which should be cheaper) or go with a lower cost provider (you might have to change your e-mail). Some Internet providers offer 3 months of free service (you can get the disks to start at Wal-Mart for several providers.)

4) Do not sell anything that you really want or need that you would not easily be able to replace later (like a computer.) However, something like a 2nd TV could be sold because you could get another one later at a garage sale or from Craig's list and could survive with just the one TV.

I have been married for 21 years come the middle of July and have virtually always lived on one lower or middle income (with paying for college, teacher credential or two different master's degree programs for 6 of those 21 years while living on a single income). I speak from experience, do not sell anything you would not easily be able to replace that you really want or even need.

5) If you have a cellphone, see if you can change your contract (if you are near the contract ending date) or go to a pay-as-you-go phone if you don't use the cellphone that much (also if you are near your contract ending date.)


5) Try CookingByNumbers.com for recipe ideas for what you already have in your pantry/fridge.

6) See if you can lower your car insurance by switching companies. Do some comparison shopping. You CAN always raise your deductible on your car insurance for a little while, but that is a calculated risk. If you can get the same coverage from another car insurance company for a lower price, that would be best.


Good luck.

I did it! I met my goal of $100. :happy dance: I actually made a few dollars over but went in with neices for the add and almost literally broke even at $100. I went ahead and paid our electric bill. Next week we are going to see if we can borrow some money from where he works and talk to the lady about the credit card problem. I really want this resolved. I wish they would take $200 or lower than to expect $400 one month and another $400 the next. It's really bugging me. I'm going to try this week sorting thru the boys clothes and putting the ones that aren't stained and have small holes in containers and mark them for school clothes. I'm not going to be able to buy a bunch of new ones but this way I can see what they actually need. I will get to get most of their school supplies free next week because I was approved for the program. It's like a back to school fair type thing where you go to booths for different screenings and then after so many is checked off they give you school supplies for the grade they are going into. I know things will work out and I've always believed that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we don't understand it at the time. I did declutter and maybe after another yard sale I will have more uncluttered space. I only brought back two small bins of stuff and my sis said you really don't have alot left. After all of this I will be careful with every purchase to not reclutter my space and to not waste any money even if it seems like a bargain. I guess I'm on my way to living simply and being content.

Once you figure out what your kids are going to need for school clothing, you should post a wanted ad on your local freecycle board. You would be amazed at the generosity of people. HTH!