I have a spending problem! I have been a member on this site for a few months now and Im really loving all of the money saving tips!! I have no savings and have medical debt from the birth of my 3rd daughter around $4,000 and some other misc debt totalling maybe $2,000. I make about $1840 a month after taxes and insurance. I do not qualify for assistance of any type. My fiance was laid off of work a few months back but I have delayed his search for work due to moving 2 times since november!! To make a long story short we moved from a small apartment rent $575 no util incl which was under income guidelines which after my raise I was over their guidelines, so we found a house $500 a mo 3bd ahhh we were excited and rushed becuase he was layed off 1 month before the lease was up and we went from a $700 a month house to that $500 just to be safe and ended up with a slum lord, the wiring in the house was bad and blew out some appliances and our tv, we could not get renters insurance becuase the house did not pass the standards our stove never worked ahhh it was a slumlord to the fullest she refused to fix anything even after I wrote her a letter and stated our renters rights, we found another house and we just moved in last week My fiance has been able to stay home with the girls, move everything, and it is really saving on daycare!! He has his mind set on going back to work and has been applying like crazy online and has dropped his resume off at a few places in the last few weeks My parents and his parents have been making him feel like a lowlife BUT I really feel better knowing hes here with our daughters and able to take my oldest to school help with homework, i come home to dinner and a clean house our parents are old fashion and role reversal is not allowed..... We are having a hard time keeping up right now and waiting on our deposit from the slum lord. Xmas is over so now its time to get back on track!! Rent is $550 amonth we pay Gas, Electric & Water. Our baby(8mo) is still in diapers and drinks Nestle Good Start soy (i just moved up to the 2 step to save $5) I have to buy her 1 can a week, she eats regular food with us so we do not buy baby food I normally buy the big box of Pampers and use coupons so around $30 a month on diapers and wipes. Im coupon crazy thanks to this site and have really cut shopping for other things out completely. Taxes will be coming around but Id like to be able to save that. I am currenly looking for a used van or suv for around $5000 to purchase with taxes. I have a Focus that is on its last limb i use to live 30 miles away from work and would drive that to and from 5 days a week and this is our only car but I dont think its going to last much longer I paid for it in cash a year and a half ago it already had high miles on it.I pay my car insurance once a yr with my taxes. Any suggestions would be great. Grocierys list would be a great help. Would a Sams card help? We are living check to check and its driving me nuts. a family of 5 and soon to be 6 my fiances son will be coming to live with us by spring. I know my fiance would rather work but can we survive on just my income? We have so far but not as frugal as I would like. I want to be able to save some, pay some of this debt, and not live check to check. Thank You

really, i don't feel there is a huge problem.
you should consider yourself lucky that you can pay that little on rent.
we pay about $1500 for a 2 bed. apt. yes, it's orange county, but even in los angeles county it would still be about $1200 or so. maybe more. i am a single mom, i do make good money, but with the rents so high here, food much more expensive.
I would love to be in your situation.
after mommysavers, i have been able to spend $30 a week on groceries, $30 on gas (i work 3 miles from home) and $10 week on misc (anything for myself)
i take lunch-ALWAYS
i don't spend money on "unhealthy, expensive" snacks, i but what ever fruit is on sale, or yogurt (the big container, is usually less expensive)
I buy whatever meat or chicken is on sale.

I don't serve a huge amount of food on our plates (trust me, it's a little trick and it totally helps) if they want 2nds, they'll ask, but usually they won't
I mainly buy:
whatever of the following items are on sale:

veggies (fresh or frozen)
fruit
milk
oatmeal
eggs
meat
pasta/rice
(you don't need much) a lot of my HIGH grocery bill was things I could do without.
I use my crockpot, you can make very inexpensive, yummy dishes there.
But you should be comfertable with what you make, specially that your rent is sooo low.
I do believe thought that the man should be the one to be the main breadwinner, I too am kind of old fashion, like your parents, sorry. but im sure you know, most people will be like that, but if you want to work and have him stay home, maybe have him work, and with the extra money, pay down all your bills, build your emergency fund (3-6 months of income)
and then you can go to work and have him stay home without you worrying.

hope this helps,
yesenia

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Thanks,
Bestmommysaver!

Good for you for wanting things better!!! Will you qualify for any type of assistance when your finacee's ds comes to live with you? I would check on it. I think it is great if your fiancee likes being home with the kids. No problem with that. Maybe you guys can work oposite shifts to save on daycare or he can just work part time during the hours you are home.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Have you looked into Raising Your exemptions at Work so You get Less taxes taken out?

Ask your employer for a W-4 or You can get info at irs.gov

It sounds like you could use more money all yr. with 5 ppl on one income. If you think Not enough Money is the Problem.
It looks to Me like your bills and Your income are Good.

If you are Making 1800- 550 rent that should equal 1250.00 in excess to Pay all Your Bills- right?

That seems like alot left over to Me. although , I don't Know what else you are paying for things -
But I am Figuring our basic bills, Electric, phone , cable trash - are about 500.00

So I am thinking Your 1250.00 - 500.00 - would Be 750.00 for groceries and Other Misc. Bills.

It sounds Alright to me.

Maybe if You list what your Basic Bills are You can then See where too much Money is Going.

I agree with Happymom, good for you for wanting things to be better for your family! I don't think either set of parents has the right to try to make your fianc feel like a low life - the economy is tight right now, layoffs are happening everywhere...afterall, he's taking care of the kids and the house, it isn't as if he's sitting on his fanny all day. You're doing what works for YOUR family, that's nothing to be ashamed of! As far as money goes, maybe a just part time job for him could knock out the debt and help with bills but still allow one of you to be home with the kids all the time?

i feel much better, tomorrow he has an interview thru a temp agency i hope this works out for him! And this weekend was my dd 2 b-day and a friend of the family was there, her Mom stays home and babysits her 2 kids and said she would love to babysit for me!! YAY i am suppose meet her this weekend and discuss cost!! Now with 2 incomes we will be able to start paying off these medical bills and pay off any debts we have. Im so excited! I need to work on stocking up our basement pantry and saving up for if we are ever in this situation again. Thank You Moms for the support I was nervous I may get mean feedback after dealing with my family