While it's true that she can't "undo" the dog and the baby, she could have changed her spending habits weeks ago. She could change today. She is still living like she's got money to blow. At this point, I think it just makes her feel better to ask for advice, even if she knows she's not going to take it.
Yeah I understand people's annoyance but I am going to be optimistic and hope she is really changing her ways and habits. Money habits are tough to break. I am assuming filing for bankruptcy comes with lots of requirements and money changing habits? Maybe that is the reality check she needs. IDK.
Dude, she posted asking for help while CLAIMING luxury items were non-negotiable. that is NOT being open to change.
Um seriously, you make 1600/mo IF THAT. I just looked up the income requirements for a two person house (you, and baby), I'm sorry but you are in poverty and qualify. Someone lied to you.
Rikki-iPhone
Or she never really looked into it; she just lied and said that she did.
I had a meeting with WIC. They told me I make $76 too much per month to qualify. I have applied to welfare in the past. They called and told me the only thing I can get on welfare is Medicaid and it would expire 4 months after the baby is born. I pay for my insurance so I thought it was silly to drop a sure thing for something that will expire. I am not lying. I live in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and they go by GROSS not take home. My gross pay is $900 every two weeks, so I make too much but I only take home $750 every two weeks because of benefits and 401k.
Yeah I understand people's annoyance but I am going to be optimistic and hope she is really changing her ways and habits. Money habits are tough to break. I am assuming filing for bankruptcy comes with lots of requirements and money changing habits? Maybe that is the reality check she needs. IDK.
Dude, she posted asking for help while CLAIMING luxury items were non-negotiable. that is NOT being open to change.
Exactly. Weren't we all hoping a few months ago that this baby would be the reality check she needs? We all see how that worked out.
Post by rikkiandjulie on Dec 7, 2012 17:06:41 GMT -5
I'm not saying you are lying, but according to this chart your household is 2 including baby, which it says to do, and you don't make NEAR the requirement.
While it's true that she can't "undo" the dog and the baby, she could have changed her spending habits weeks ago. She could change today. She is still living like she's got money to blow. At this point, I think it just makes her feel better to ask for advice, even if she knows she's not going to take it.
Yeah I understand people's annoyance but I am going to be optimistic and hope she is really changing her ways and habits. Money habits are tough to break. I am assuming filing for bankruptcy comes with lots of requirements and money changing habits? Maybe that is the reality check she needs. IDK.
I think we all wish this, but we have been through several similar "conversations" about these types of things with her in the past. She asks for advice but never takes it to heart.
I'm not saying you are lying, but according to this chart your household is 2 including baby, which it says to do, and you don't make NEAR the requirement.
I'm not saying you are lying, but according to this chart your household is 2 including baby, which it says to do, and you don't make NEAR the requirement.
Also, you mention 401K. I'd consider decreasing what you put into your 401K temporarily. It sucks and in the long term you want a plan to start making retirement contributions again, but you NEED the cash NOW. I had to stop contributing to my 403b when I got divorced in order to keep my son in his preschool and continue to pay the rent on my house without my ex's income, but it was worth it. I stopped contributing for 2 years and am back to contributing again.
Or she never really looked into it; she just lied and said that she did.
I had a meeting with WIC. They told me I make $76 too much per month to qualify. I have applied to welfare in the past. They called and told me the only thing I can get on welfare is Medicaid and it would expire 4 months after the baby is born. I pay for my insurance so I thought it was silly to drop a sure thing for something that will expire. I am not lying. I live in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and they go by GROSS not take home. My gross pay is $900 every two weeks, so I make too much but I only take home $750 every two weeks because of benefits and 401k.
If you gross $1800/month how do you make too much? You are damn near $300 under the requirement, if not more. If you make $900 GROSS every two weeks, that's $1800 GROSS a month, which is $21,670 GROSS a year. ($1800x12/mos) You are $8000 UNDER the cutoff for a family of 2.
I had a meeting with WIC. They told me I make $76 too much per month to qualify. I have applied to welfare in the past. They called and told me the only thing I can get on welfare is Medicaid and it would expire 4 months after the baby is born. I pay for my insurance so I thought it was silly to drop a sure thing for something that will expire. I am not lying. I live in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and they go by GROSS not take home. My gross pay is $900 every two weeks, so I make too much but I only take home $750 every two weeks because of benefits and 401k.
If you gross $1800/month how do you make too much? You are damn near $300 under the requirement, if not more. If you make $900 GROSS every two weeks, that's $1800 GROSS a month, which is $21,670 GROSS a year. ($1800x12/mos) You are $8000 UNDER the cutoff for a family of 2.
Rikki-iPhone
Your math assumes 2 paychecks a month which is 24 paychecks a year. She is paid biweekly which is 26 checks a year.
Post by rikkiandjulie on Dec 7, 2012 17:19:26 GMT -5
I'd start with figuring out how much money you make GROSS, a month because you math is NOT adding up, and mostly because you keep changing how much you make. Although out of all the calculations you still don't make too much <insert side eye>
Also, what other programs are offered in Pennsylvania. I know here in CA, there are programs to help with child-related healthcare costs and the income requirements are higher than WIC.
If you gross $1800/month how do you make too much? You are damn near $300 under the requirement, if not more. If you make $900 GROSS every two weeks, that's $1800 GROSS a month, which is $21,670 GROSS a year. ($1800x12/mos) You are $8000 UNDER the cutoff for a family of 2.
Rikki-iPhone
Your math assumes 2 paychecks a month which is 24 paychecks a year. She is paid biweekly which is 26 checks a year.
Even STILL she qualifies. She's no where close to the $27k cutoff
Post by rikkiandjulie on Dec 7, 2012 17:26:05 GMT -5
Also, do you have a degree? With a baby in tow it might be time to if you don't already. Better for you and for little one. Then you can get a better job, what do you do anyways?
Also, do you have a degree? With a baby in tow it might be time to if you don't already. Better for you and for little one. Then you can get a better job, what do you do anyways?
Rikki-iPhone
Yes I have a BA in Communications. I live in a LCOL area and my job is degree specific. $14 an hour here is decent. Normally people in my area are lucky to make $11.50
Let's be specific, then and put all of my personal info out there...
I make $14.00 an hour. I work 40 hour weeks.
$14 x40 =$560 X 52 (weeks a year) = $29,120.
What do you do? Very few people actually work 52 weeks a year. This would mean you still worked a full 8 hour day on Christmas, New Year's, Memorial Day, 4th of July.
If you live in a LCOL area and have a guarantee of that money on a regular, two-week at a time basis, you are not budgeting well at.all.
I go back to my initial suggestion of writing down every single penny for the next 30 days. I'd bet you are spending a ton more on random shit than you think.
Let's be specific, then and put all of my personal info out there...
I make $14.00 an hour. I work 40 hour weeks.
$14 x40 =$560 X 52 (weeks a year) = $29,120.
Cool. Your other posts don't reflect that. But you make enough to be in a better spot. Do what everyone said and WRITE everything down, sell the car, change your phone plan, no netflix, change your deductions since youll have s little one. Suck it up and stop spending, it sucks but you have too!
Hourly. I know I spend money stupidly, thus the point of this post asking for help. I'm not stupid and I'm not a moron. I KNOW I'm spending dumbly and I want to get it under control so I asked for advice.
Let's be specific, then and put all of my personal info out there...
I make $14.00 an hour. I work 40 hour weeks.
$14 x40 =$560 X 52 (weeks a year) = $29,120.
Cool. Your other posts don't reflect that. But you make enough to be in a better spot. Do what everyone said and WRITE everything down, sell the car, change your phone plan, no netflix, change your deductions since youll have s little one. Suck it up and stop spending, it sucks but you have too!
Rikki-iPhone
Yup. if you ACTUALLY make this, you are obviously over/frivolously spending. You need to STOP using cash, put EVERYTHING in the bank and keep a record EVERY time you spend ANYTHING and EVERY NIGHT check your online account and see where you are spending. STOP eating out, STOP buying expensive gifts, STOP saying/thinking you are fine financially. You are NOT fine financially if you are filing bankruptcy.
Hourly. I know I spend money stupidly, thus the point of this post asking for help. I'm not stupid and I'm not a moron. I KNOW I'm spending dumbly and I want to get it under control so I asked for advice.
The problem I have with this statement is that you say you KNOW this and that you aren't a moron, but quite frankly, you are acting like a moron. If you KNOW this and you KNOW what you need to do ... do it! We can't help you stop your stupid spending habits. You have asked for advice before -- with moving in with J, with your wanting a dog, with many other things -- and you NEVER take our advice. Why do you continue to ask if you aren't going to actually take the advice. You have received fabulous advice here, but you always have an excuse for everything. You can't sell the car because you love it. Tough shit. You aren't in a position for that to matter right now. You NEED a SAFE car; you WANT your current car. See the difference? But I know your history and I based on that, I'd bet money you will keep the car you can't afford because you love it, not because you NEED it. And that's just one example.