At this point we're having to be careful, but no where near as broke as I have been in the past (with my ex we were literally always one inch from losing the house and going onto the street).
but practical stuff? Man, I can tell you tons ...
1. I'm a legal secretary and honestly we do *some* foreclosure work. Not much but I can tell you this much -- if you know you're going to be "late" on a payment (whether it's mortgage, credit, utilities or whatever) -- call and TALK to them. This is vital ... most companies will give you an extension (usually 2 a year) but be REAL and then be unbelievably prompt. It won't hurt your credit unless you break a 'payment promise' -- that's like the unpardonable sin.
I have seen people call a second time and say "I just can't KEEP that promise ... can you work with me?" and usually they do. It costs MONEY to foreclose and the government is getting tighter, so if I company can work with you they will. It's embarassing as heck ... BUT it makes you look good to call them *in advance* and say "I can't have it to you on the 1st, but I can on the 15th and then next months on the 7th" (or whatever. But don't forget to think about next month.
2. This is gonna be a cruel blast for some of you ... but we've gotten to the point as a society that we think we aren't in 'debt' if we can make our payments. Nope -- if you have a mortgage, if you have a car payment, if you have credit card payments YOU ARE ***IN*** DEBT. That's the defnition of it.
That's not 'bad' -- that's simply calling a spade a spade. BUT that means you have to manage that debt.
The retail and credit industry have encouraged us to pay credit with credit -- and those of us who have been around the block 8 or 9 times know that will eventually bite you in the butt. So frankly, don't do it. Even if it makes life easier *don't* because the day CAN come when you lose that job or some huge problem erupts and what was manageable before isn't now.
I'm not 'preaching' at anyone, but it's my sincere hope that a lot of folks are going to wake up and get real. Economic times have been wonderful for a long time -- altho a lot of us have had a hard time for a LONG time. But frankly ... it *can* get worse. Doing extra things to save money is intelligent. And I do mean SAVE ... even if you are broke, you honestly can still save money.
3. How to save?
a. Change -- if you haven't already start a change jar, or piggy bank. Sooo maybe you need quarters for toll or machines at work... BUT how about pennies, or nickels?
You don't have to put them thru change machines that cost money -- you can roll them for free -- ask at the bank and they'll give you coin wrappers. It's a p.i.t.a. but if you do it while you're watching TV or waiting for something it's easy.
b. Have a garage sale -- or see if a bunch of you in an apartment can get together and have one -- even if you only charge a nickle or dime for stuff, you'll be amazed what you can sell or trade that you can scrape up some change. Craigslist is great and can help -- but there's nothing like a garage sale for money in your pocket. It's saved my butt more times than I want to admit.
c. Consignment shops -- for buying AND selling clothes -- can really help.
3. Part time work. Man this was always my favorite. There have been times in my history when I worked 3, 4 and 5 jobs at a time. Like hobbys? Make candles, soap, specialty baskets (especially for those of you who are thrifty or great shoppers) and SELL them. You don't have to start big -- find a neighbor having a garage sale and ask if you can set up a table next to hers, is there a farmer's market in town? Find out how much a table costs.
One of my FAVORITE jobs when I was single was working temp. I used to work at grocery stores (often they'll do this and pay CASH for 3-4 hours of work on a Saturday) passing out whatever the 'special' was -- I've handed out popcorn, strawberries, cheese potato chips (ugh - I will never eat those again).
I would sign up at temp agencies to work nights and weekends! (clear it with your regular job first) Usually a 3-6 week course will give you a certificate so you can work as a home health care aide -- I used to babysit old ladies and old men at night. Often my dog could go with me (one of the places I learned to LOVE pet therapy to be honest) -- but I could sleep there and take care of Mrs. Whoever at darned decent money and all I had to do was help her to the toilet (or empty a bedpan) or maybe make her breakfast. You don't have to be a nurse -- often it was just 3-4 hours between shifts. Doesn't need to be your life's work -- but it's fast work, and in some areas you don't need the certificate.
In short -- sometimes you can do amazingly weird things and get paid for it. If you're willing. One time (no joke - this is TRUE) I worked for three weeks when I was out of work for a temp agency ***pushing ONE button***.
So serious -- it was a company who was trying to develop a coating for keys for a deli weigh scale and they wanted to know how 'long' the new coating would last. It started out that they had 6 of us pushing ONE button (6 little 'counter' machines) and eventually the only one who tried to actually push the button as many times as she could was *me*. (rolling my eyes -- how did THAT look on a resume?? *grin*). One day I pushed my little button over 10,000 times. They made me 'rest' 15 minutes out of every hour, I could READ while I pushed, etc. Whatta joke, but dang -- I made my rent payment that month LOL.
No, it wasn't teaching, it wasn't secretarial but it WAS money. And it makes for a darned good story NOW. LOL It didn't kill me ... it wasn't fun, but it was better than not working.
A part-time job doesn't have to be forever -- and it doesn't have to be something you like. And sometimes the only way you find them is asking for them.
Some of you are moms -- so think of anything you *can* do and then think how to make money at it. Washing and waxing cars? You could do that while the kids are asleep ... can you crochet? Make potholders (and cut up scraps of fabric that are stained shirts or ragged stuff and use THAT to crochet with and then sell them for not much -- time you would otherwise spend watching tv? do something with your hands that you can sell). Shoot -- I've sold stupid potholders TONS of times. OR I've given them as gifts!!
4. If you don't need a part-time job (maybe things aren't that bad yet) -- then what can you do now to save money later? Sooooo you don't have to sell potholders, but how about making some and toss them in a box and give them as gifts at Christmas. It's a few more things under the tree for cheap -- saving money that you might otherwise have to spend later.
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So if you've survived to here (yeah, I know folks but this is ME and I'm NEVER brief!!!!) the moral of this is BETTER DAYS ***ARE*** COMING.
But when they do ... you honestly will be changed. You'll never look at money the same way again. When you've been unemployed (Dumdog I've BEEN There ... ohhhhh so many times ... you ROCK lady!!! You're doing it SO well and I admire you!!) or your spouse is -- you do what you gotta do.
Back when I was in my 'broke' days I used to start IN JUNE trying to figure out what I could make for cheap that I could give *with pride* at Christmas. I did far more handwork than I really wanted to -- because it was something I could be proud of to give.
One year I made pillows for friends. I cut up scraps and sewed them together as patchwork, and then I stuffed the pillows with DRYER lint!! It was free. Then ... *grin* ... I sold a couple!!
You don't have to be handy. Just be creative.
Some of you talking about dog walking -- how about that professional lady down the street with the long-coated dog. TALK to her -- maybe you're not a groomer but you could offer to BRUSH her dog out for her a couple of times a week. You don't have to do it as a business (taxes, withholding, etc.) but you could offer to do it either as a barter (maybe she IS an accountant and you could use financial advice, or maybe you could trade dog service with the beautician up the street for a hair cut -- talk to people you DO patronize).
5. None of this is going to make you rich -- but it can help get you thru. But I can tell you for sure ... I've been unbelievably poor. But I've survived it BETTER for it.
I have weird habits now -- I "stash" money. If I find $5 in a pants pocket that I washed, I hide it. Under something in the top drawer in the bathroom. In my jewelery case ... anyplace that I will remember it LATER. And a few times, man, I've needed money so bad I went thru the house and stripped every hiding place I had. ONE time I got $100 that way that saw me thru a dire emergency. Guess what -- I'm STILL hiding money!
If I get laid off -- the first thing I do is go buy something new for an interview and the next thing I do is go for groceries. THEN I can breathe! The dogs and I may eat rice, but we'll eat. Phew.
I wish I could make it easy on all of you -- but honestly I don't regret any of the hard times I've had (well, the idiot ex? HE is a regret and he was to blame for a lot of the hard times, but ... I digress *grin*).
Sorry this was long -- but saving money? Dang .. I wish I wasn't so darned *good* at it. No ... I wish I wasn't so EXPERIENCED at it. *sigh*.
I typed for free -- if even one tiny small idea here helps anyone .. it was worth it. Otherwise ... hopefully you aren't paying per minute for your connection so hopefully it didn't cost you to read this and get bored!