We're living paycheck to paycheck at the moment, which is largely because a number of incidents hit at the same time, causing us to go through our meager savings in a few weeks. Replacing two windows on the van, then having the transmission blow and take the engine with it has already cost us $800, with a potential $6500 for the engine work... which we really can't afford. Prior to that, one of our incomes was stalled while a company bought out the company that our roommate worked for; for almost a month, no one got paid, so we had to live partly on savings to cover that. When the savings ran out, there were still issues with how she was being paid - instead of direct deposit, she was handed a check, and because of the hours she works, she couldn't put it in the bank. Needless to say, several bills were auto-processed before she could get to the bank, resulting in several hundred in NSF fees.
On top of all that, the gas prices locally have jumped from an average of $1 per gallon to well over $3, and with both ladies working at least a half-hour away, that's a LOT of gas. Plus two kids in preschool (which means no bussing) 15 minutes away, and that's a huge cost in gas. We're filling a 15 gallon tank about every other day.
Thanks to increased fuel costs, our power bills are higher now than ever before, and we were already using every cost-saving trick we could.
We're diligent coupon and specials shoppers, and buy the cheapest foods we can get away with. We do eat out - about once a month - but usually at CiCi's, where the buffet for everyone works out to about $20 or so. But with several members of the household being on special diets, we're still spending a lot more than is comfortable.
Now, our budget (not taking into account the van issue) has us getting a savings back by mid-October (a small one), and if we wanted to lower our standard of living, we could get a much larger one, sure. But what could we cut out? Our phone line, cable, and internet are all on a bundle; we could trim the cable TV out, but the savings would be minimal. My son is virtual-schooled, and my wife is taking classes via internet at the local university, so we have to have decent internet access. Our cable phone line is also wired into the home security system, so that has to stay, too.
We are occasional drinkers - I think I buy a six-pack of beer once every other month. I smoke a pipe - and one ounce of tobacco lasts me about a month.
We still have the same TV we bought three years ago when our old one died (it had actual tuning knobs and a wooden cabinet!). My computer is about three years old, and I've hobbled together improvements in fatter times to keep it running. Their computer is newer, but cost all of $300 at Sam's Club, and is a piece of crap.
We were given a PS2 as a Christmas present one year. It's the only console we own. Likewise, there's two GameBoys - both presents.
The kids have two or three games for each system.
Both of the ladies are in management; one is working in the lowest-paid retail in the U.S., trying to earn a few years under her belt before moving on. The other makes fair money, but has very few benefits.
I stay at home to cook, clean, and take care of the kids. Day-care costs would be extremely prohibitive, and frankly we've had nothing but bad experiences with day care.
We've managed finally to get off of public assistance, except for Medicaid. That makes me happy!
But for now, it's paycheck to paycheck. If everything goes alright in the next few months, we'll be OK - but I still have that van to worry about. Especially since we'll still be paying for it until April 2009.
I wonder - could I get away with not paying it, since it's basically totalled? Of course, it'll mess up my credit, but what's worse - a black mark on your credit that will be gone in seven years, or two more years of paying $320 a month for a van that doesn't run, with an expired warranty?
This is just life for a lot of folks - no bling, no expensive toys, but always living hand-to-mouth. And when we do get up, even a little bit, something hits us and drags us back down.
