This being in debt is getting the best..

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
This being in debt is getting the best..
18
Wed, 12-21-2005 - 10:20am

of me today!


I just keep going through all the numbers in my head trying to figure out a way to make it work out better and frankly it just doesn't.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 12-21-2005 - 10:25pm

I can't believe I'm recommending something from a murder mystery but here goes....I read a book called carpool where a main character earns the money for flying lessons by doing piecework things like delivering phone books, pizza flyers, etc. that could be crammed in between her carpool duties. I've done the phone book thing when DD was a baby-if you had a wagon the 2 year old could ride in along with the phone books you would be set. You might think about trying to fit some stuff like that in just to help out.

Taleyna

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-19-2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 7:43am
Can you do in home daycare?

Shannon


Pregnancy%20ticker
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 8:34am
Becky,
I do not know if any of this will help you.
Have you ever thought of becoming a virtual assistant? It is people who do typing, data processing and other clerical work from home and a project or sometimes a regular contract basis. It would be owning your own business, so you would have to save your own taxes. It is legit - we hire out for transcripts, but I don't know how you get started.
Kind of like temp work from home.
Can you do scrapbooking? Scan photographs to CD or DVD? Do you have a DVD recorder and could offer to transfer people's VHS home movies to DVD? People pay for these services.
Or - maybe you could start a subscription newsletter/webpage like Mary Hunt did (she formed cheapskate monthly to pay off her debts). Just once you become rich and famous, please don't hound your subscribers to buy your books.
Good luck!
Sandra
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 11:13am
Becky,
I sympathize with you, though i don't have any suggestions, really. My husband and I moved 600 miles after our youngest dd was dxed with autism. We moved even though we had to pay double rent, take a pay cut, finance the move with our ccs, etc. Even though it has been a struggle, if i were in the same exact set of circumstances again and knew what i know now, i would make the same move all over again. Anyhow, fast forward a couple years...and things are starting to come together for us. they will for you, too!! Your kids won't be young forever...someday you will be able to get a job without having to pay for daycare. It might be a long road, but you are doing what is best for all of you. If refinancing to a 40 year term is what is best for you for now, then go for it!! Even though you will be paying extra interest, you will still be in your home. If you anticipate that your situation will improve over time so that you will be able to pay off the debt sooner, that is great!! At least you won't be renting, like my husband and I have been for the past TEN YEARS!!!
Anyhow, i know how hard it is when it seems that other people have an easier time when it comes to finances, but Becky, you have four kids! (I'm one of four, so i can sympathize there too...my friends always seemed to have the nicer clothes, nicer houses, nicer cars, etc, but when i sit down with my husband and two kids I think sheesh! we have a small family!! We'd like to have more...)
Anyhow, I am getting off track here...keep your chin up, girl!! Your kids can have as much fun baking cookies with Mom as going to a playing with fancy toys. I don't know about you, but i can be as happy wearing clothes off the clearance rack as the next gal wearing all the latest fashions!!
You are not your debt, and someday, you will be free. You are doing a great job!~!
Heather
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2000
Thu, 12-22-2005 - 2:37pm
Becky,
Have you thought about trying to get a job at the kids school? Our school is hiring for kitchen help and aids. They make almost $10 an hour. That way you will be off when the kids are off. Just a thought,
Donna
Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Mon, 12-26-2005 - 6:33pm

Hello Becky!

I too have tried the Mr Clean Eraser, and if I'm very very gentle, it won't take the paint off before the stain is removed. However, I too have the standard white paint the house came with, so I understand your interest in waiting. Sometimes you can get a touch-up kit that will let you cover those smudged areas (after using Mr. Clean Eraser). If I use too much force on the eraser, I get a large grey smudge from the primer underneath. Using the touch-up kit helped me cover those areas where the dog knocked paint chips off the corners with his tail. =)

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Take a Virtual Ride on a Ferrari!
http://www.my.ws/runsamok

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished

Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Mon, 12-26-2005 - 7:00pm

Hello,

Regarding day-care and working, there are some jobs that don't require major "away from the house" time, depending on your skills.

One example: I have worked for West, taking inbound calls from the Home Shopping Network and Infomercial advertisements. URL: http://www.workathomeagent.com

FYI: I make no money or referral fees for anyone who goes there.

There is no fee to apply. They call to interview you, do a background check, and train you on how to use their system. You can schedule your work in small increments. Anyway, I did this for awhile and knew exactly how much I would be paid per hour of calls before I took them.

I don't have children, but I imagine if you arrange a regular playdate (your house, then their house, etc) with a friend, you could expect some quiet time for taking calls that wouldn't eat into your budget.

You could also try a paper route for a limited area. http://www.coffeenewsusa.com/ was offering a paper route, once a week for 2-3 hours max. You can search on the website to see if they have a franchise in your area. Other free / paid papers and newsletters may need drivers to deliver them to businesses.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Take a Virtual Ride in a Ferrari!
http://www.my.ws/runsamok

Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2005
Mon, 12-26-2005 - 11:09pm
Sounds like a good idea to me! This is the kind of support I believe that I would like to receive if I were in that type of situation.

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