I need to know how to better work my budget?

Question

I make $1000 a month as a cashier I have a 250 car payment 35 insurance 300 in groceries I have a small child of which I cannot get child support for (estranged father) I buy about 100 worth of stuff for him diapers, food etc i pay my mom 50 a month to watch my son i pay about 240 in gas because i work far away from my job these are my monthly costs its adds up to 975 I am wanting to go back to school but i don't know how i can afford the gas or the books or the babysitter because i would have to pay someone else because my mom watches him only in her free time, also im wanting to get my own place and my car payment is over in Feb 2009 that will only be 250 extra plus i may save a little on groceries maybe 150 but thats rent alone anyone have any idea who i can talk to or what i can do to get out of this hole im in

Answer 1

$300 a month in groceries + $100 a month for diapers and such?  Wow!  I spend only $100 more a month for a family of 5. (2 adults and 3 kids).  1 still in diapers.

1.  Do all you can to get child support.  The laws have gotten better for finding a way to get money out of "dead beat dads".

2.  Since it sounds like your child is under 5 years old, have you looked into WIC?  Even if you make too much for food stamps (though it does not seem like it, unless they take into the fact that you leave at home), you should qualify for WIC which will help with some groceries and formula and food for the small child.

3.  Try to find a job closer to home or public transportation (including carpooling) to cut down on your gas costs. --Or a job closer to home that makes more money.

4.  Look at getting an apartment with a roomate to help out with Rent.

5.  As for school you may be (should be) eligible for pell grants and a lot of colleges have "reduced cost" child care for when you are in school.  

Answer 2

Apply for college and apply for financial aid. You should be able to get enough assistance to pay for school. Look at the school do they have a childcare program daycare on campus? If not, find a great daycare and apply for assistance for your child to attend. Contact the HRDC services in your town. You might also qualify for WIC services.

You can try to start saving a little bit of money off your groceries and diapers. You are spending a high amount on both.

Printable coupons can be found here:

www.boodle.com

www.redplum.com

www.smartsource.com

www.coolsavings.com

http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/20...

http://www.wow-coupons.com/grocery.php

You can create a budget by keeping track of all your expenses like you have already done. If you can and no matter how small start putting away some money into savings.

Answer 3

Fortunately, your car payments end in February.  That will be a big help.

When the time comes and you are looking into starting school, talk to the financial aid department about loans and scholarships.  The loans you may be eligible for can give you "living expense" money, as well as pay for classes and books.  But, remember, they are loans -- you'll have to pay them back eventually -- when you leave/finish school.  Payments may be steep.  (Get all the info you can from Financial Aid.

Shop with coupons.  At www. CouponMom.com, you can read & download her (short) books on how she saves over half on her grocery bills and bundles on other purchases.  Check out EverSave.com -- it may have coupons & codes to save you money on other purchases.  Belonging to CouponMom has a lot of benefits -- (like) you can see (on Saturday) what's coming out in Sunday's Coupon Inserts.  (You can decide if you want a paper, or if it's worth getting two or more.  There are usually "baby" coupons in them.  You can download a Coupon Toolbar there, that can help you be aware of current printable coupons.  I save a lot with it.)

Too, if you sign up for food manufacturer's newsletters, you will receive specials offers not available to the general public.  (Visit you favorite brans' sites and sign up -- including baby goods sites.)  In the last few weeks, I got a full rebate on a pound of butter ($3.49) from Land O Lakes and a free half-gallon of CoffeeMate ($3.66 at Wal-Mart).  Get your mom interested in using coupons and newsletters, too...  Maybe she lower your child care bill.  :)

Look at grocery store circulars online and see what specials they have (weekly).  Many offer "2 for 1s" and you can use coupons on those items.  Consider the items that offer "50 off" and such and, maybe, stock up....or (just) save weekly.

Always go with a list when you shop.  It helps you stay focused.  And, eat before you go shopping, so you're not throwing "junk food" in the cart (thus, going over budget).

Is there anyone you can carpool with a few times a week?  

Maybe cutting expenses around the house will help overall.  Like turning off lights, air-conditioning at night (using fans), using lower-wattage lightbulbs in areas where brightness isn't important.  (Don't sacrifice your eyes!!!)  

Meal planning is most important.  Use more rice, potatoes, pasta, and bread as bases...  Just enough that it cuts the budget, but doesn't cause weight gain.  Use (like) "parboiled" rice instead of "Minute Rice"-types.  (Make it in the microwave, in advance, & store it in the fridge, so it's ready with out hassels.)  Go through weekly circulars and then get an idea of what meals you can plan around the Specials & the coupons you have.

Too, if there's any thing you can do to earn extra money -- like make crafts & sell, sell things on e-Bay, have a garage/yard sale -- that would be helpful.  

I wish I could think of a way to cut the car payments...  refinancing, at this point, since you are so close to "the end" would be foolish.  HOWEVER, maybe you could cut the insurance by a few dollars.  Many insurance policies have agreements to use certain repair services for discount repairs (or something like that), but no ever notices that in the policy -- and they go elsewhere, not taking advantage of the "discount repair", yet you are paying for it.  So, ask your insurance agent if there is ANYTHING you can do without in your policy.  [Don't sacrifice coverage for you & your child/passengers.]

Good luck to you.  :)      

Answer 4

Depending on where you live - SELL THE CAR ALTOGETHER.

If you have good transit... use it.  The car costs you much more than a payment: insurance -which you noted, gasoline, maintenance.

I know you work far and the economy is rough (in the USA) but, I would serious consider selling the car and working closer to home.

you would save money immediately, and poss turn a profit selling it.