How Broke Are You Now?
 

I'm pretty damn broke.

Every month I have to decide what bills to pay.

In July, the water bill and the trash bill come due (quarterly) and it's a tight squeeze.

Plus, my Rx co-pay went from zero (last year) to 300.00 this year. And I still owe everybody for the cancer.

I don't know who to pay first.

Is v. disheartening.

Sorry Bri - that's gotta be tough to deal with.
Got nothing here for ya 'cept a cyber hug.

This plus fuck cancer.

Yeh good point Griff....
Got me thinking - Even when you win (beating the cancer)
You still lose financially. Trust me - I understand that end of things.

Pay the water bill first. You need water. If they stop picking up your trash, pop it in your neighbor's bin. And are they threatening to put the cancer back? Maybe you can pay them in trash?

So broke I can't even pay attention...

Ditto :thepain:

A lot broker than I was this morning!

Bri- sorry to hear about your financial issues. I know a lot about being broke. It sucks, but there are a few tricks that can save you a few dollars, here and there.
I have several ideas for meals, electricity, laundry etc.... If you or anyone else are intereseted, let me know, and I will print them out for you.

Paging Jim ... paging Lumberjim ...
where's that thread about money saving ideas???
ktxbai

Jaydaan - I PM'd you! that would be great!!

I think it would be great to see them here.

I remember there was a woman who started a newsletter called "Tightwad Gazette" that was filled with money saving tips. I think she claimed to have saved enough money to buy a house or something crazy. This was pre internet, I'll have to google her.

Damn squirell (why is your name spelled wrong?) probably ran off to play with his nuts ...

Anyway "The Tightwad Gazette newsletter, a publication written and distributed quarterly between 1991 and 1996. The focus of all of the material is on frugal living in some form or another."

Review:

The Complete Tightwad Gazette

Time for some Viz Top Tips...

Save a fortune on laundry bills. Give your dirty shirts to Oxfam. They
will wash and iron them and you can buy them back for fifty pence.
J B Cartland, Brighton.

Domestos is an ideal substitute for Blue Curaco, and far less pricey.
It gives any cocktail a bit of "oomph."
James Francis, East Glamorgan Hospital.

Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to
the object you wish to view.
S Goldhanger, Fulchester.

Why pay the earth for expensive jigsaws? Just take a bag of frozen
chips from the freezer and try piercing together potatoes.
B Reastford, Iranville, Notts.

Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and
slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.
D Duckham, Didford.

Always fart into the rings on top of your gas cooker. This will turn
back the gas meter, and save you pounds over a period of time.
C. Custer, Little Bighorn.

An empty aluminium cigar tube filled with angry wasps makes an
inexpensive vibrator.
Sister S. Berwick, Blackrod.

I c&p'd these from here, but there are many more out there....

Here are a few basic ideas.....
* Use cornstarch instead of buying expensive baby powder.
* Tear dryer sheets in half (works just as well as using a whole sheet).
* Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer. If you can't have a clothes line in your backyard or live in an apartment or condo, hand clothes in the showers and on wooden drying racks.
* Run errands all at once (one errand after another) instead of sreading the trips out over several days. You'll use less gasoline and it's less wear and tear on your vehicle.
* Borrow books, movies, and music from the library instead of purchasing.
* Add 1 cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle to get all remaining detergent out of your clothes.
* Turn junk mail into scrap paper.
* Reuse grocery bags as trash can bags.
* Shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and consignment stores.
* Don't subscribe to magazines - read them at the library instead.
* Buy holiday gifts when you see them on clearance throughout the year.
* Buy items after season for best prices.
* Make your own laundry detergent.
* Use a lip brush to get remaining lipstick out of a tube before throwing away.
* Do home haircuts, if possible.
* Reuse bows from presents.
* Use leftover bits of wrapping paper to wrap small presents or for decoupage projects.
* Make your own finger paints, play dough, face paint, bubbles, etc.
* Use vinegar for cleaning mirrors and windows and wipe clean with newspaper (leaves them streak free).
* Save Christmas cards you receive and use the front's as the next year's Christmas postcards OR make gift tags for the next year from the fronts.
* Save Christmas wrapping paper and shred to use in gift bags.
* Save empty glass jars with lids for mix recipe gifts or for storing things like screws, nails, etc.
* Use milk jugs and juice bottles in the freezer. Just fill them with water and stick them in the freezer - they will help fill space in the freezer (a full freezer runs more efficiently), help keep items cold in case of a power outage, and provide a source of drinking water if necessary (just let them thaw).
* Reuse coffee grinds by sprinkling them in your flower beds.
* Keep water heater set to 120 degrees.
* Turn off lights when not in use - also TV's, radios, etc.
* Unplug appliances when not in use - microwaves, toaster ovens, toasters, coffee makers, etc. (There is still an electrical current being run to them even though not in use).
* Don't let your bath water go down the drain! Use it for watering plants and flowers.
* Collect water from your a/c condensation drain for watering plants and flowers.
* Use cardboard toilet paper tubes for storing appliance cords.
* Use milk jug and juice bottle caps for paint palettes.
* Reuse tissue paper from gifts - just iron all the wrinkles out and it looks good as new. Reuse gift bags too.
* Use the linings from cereal boxes as a substitute for waxed paper.
* Sew buttons on with dental floss for extra strength.
* Place candles in the refrigerator or freezer before burning - will help them to last longer.
* Take showers instead of baths - you'll use less water.
* To save even more when taking a shower, turn on the water, get wet, turn the water off and soap up and shampoo your hair, turn the water back on and rinse.
* Rain water can also be collected for watering plants.
* Use ceiling fans and keep your a/c set to the highest comfortable setting.
* Run your dishwasher at night when rates are lower.
* Wash and dry laundry in consecutive loads all in a day. By doing this you don't give the dryer a chance to cool down and it doesn't require as much energy to heat up again for each load that needs to be dried.
* Use countertop appliances for cooking as much as possible instead of the oven. Crockpots, toaster ovens, countertop roaster ovens, etc. are cheaper to operate than the oven.
*make a weekly menu, and follow through with it, this saves the last min ideas being more expensie as well as keeps you on track for the week.

* I buy 2 litres of milk, pour 1 litre of it into an empty 2 litre milk jug. I then make up 2 litres of skim milk powder and add to full cream milk in the containers. You can't taste much difference, it lowers the fat content and saves me money!!

* I buy large cuts of meat when they are on special, then I use the remaining in several different planned meals. For example, from an extra large chicken I get a roast dinner, a chicken pie and maybe chicked fried rice.... 3 nights of meals.

* I use my own made up bread mix in the bread maker, this also forms the basis for pizza dough. Saves you heaps!!!

I put a large freezer bag in my freezer and I put my vegetable scraps in there (tops of celery, carrot shavings, onion skins...) and when it's totally full I'm going to make a vegetable stock. Sometimes we don't eat our vegetables before they start to rot so I'm going to put those in there as well (before they rot, of course ). I got so sick of throwing away vegetables and I saw this tip on a cooking show. I'm also dicing up green peppers and onions (if they aren't getting used quick enough) and putting them in smaller freezer bags. Not only is this frugal, it's nice for those busy nights so I don't have to cut up veggies.

When buying shampoo, deo, etc...I always dig to the back of the shelf to see if there are any "Free--extra 25%" (for example) sized bottles. I just bought shampoo and conditioner this weekend, and the regular sized bottles were out front...the bottles with the extra free amount were at least halfway back on the shelf. With the sale prices and my coupons, I basically got a buy 1 get 1 free type deal!
Change your filter on the return vent of your heating/AC unit. Ours in on the wall in the hallway. It makes a huge difference in your bill if it's covered with dust. I change ours on the first of the month as the filters are 75 cents at Wal-Mart. You can look at it and tell if it's time to change.

* Don't rinse dishes or vegetables under running water.

* Make sure the condenser coils at the rear of the refrigerator to keep the refrigerator running efficiently.

* Thaw foods completely before cooking them to reduce cooking times (and energy used).

* Use the range hood to remove cooking heat - it can help reduce a/c costs.

* wash and reuse all ziploc baggies (i dont reuse ones that held raw meat.
* add shredded carrots and bread crumbs to 1 lb ground beef to expand into many servings then freeze

* make homemade face scrubs and body scrubs with sea salts and different kinds of oils

* make fire starters (in winter) by stuffing toilet paper tubes with dryer lint

* use vinegar in wash for fabric softner

* dilute shampoo - 1/4 water to shampoo

* neutralize carpet odors with baking soda

* use squeezed out lemon rinds and baking soda to clean your sink, then throw into garbage disposal to deodorize

*At the bottom of the cereal box there is normally SOME cereal left but not enough for a full bowl.... put it in a ziplock bag or tupperware bowl and mix them together for trail mix! Add raisins dried fruits small candies and nuts....

*I keep the used dryer sheets in a bag and place one or two at a time inside drawers or boxes that will be stored. It keeps things smelling fresh, and since it's been used already, it wont leave marks or damage clothes

Check out websites for coupon offers or call 1-800 numbers. I've gotten quite a few coupons and vouchers this way. Tell the companies what you like or dislike about their product.

I wash and rinse all my clothes in cold water and only use hot water for washing my white clothes.

We make our own fries instead of buying frozen. We make regular and to jazz them up we sometimes make cajun by sprinkling on the cajun seasoning when the fries come out. To keep the fries hot while you are frying a large batch, Turn the oven on a low temperature and when you take the fries out of the oil sprinkle them with your salt and seasoning and put them on a baking pan and place them in the oven to stay warm until all the fries are done and ready to serve.

To make our own Pam, an oil spritzer works great and saves money.
I bought an oil dispenser from our local kitchen store and put dish liquid in it. It controls how much comes out. (Only a drop or two) It makes it go much further.

I've heard that gas (like any liquid) expands as it heats. So I try to fill up my car in the coolest part of the day, to get more gas per gallon.

I try to run my errands in a circle thereby saving on gasoline. I fill up when it get down to 1/2 because the price seems to rise daily and this helps. I also make sure that our tires are properly inflated and that I don't carry around junk in the car that just adds weight to the car.
One thing that has helped me save money is using cash only when I go to the store. This has eliminated almost all of my impulse buys. I used to grab a lot of junk when I took my checkbook with me, but now I have to really think about buying something when I only have cash. Is it a need or a want?

When I do wash dishes in the sink, I draw the rinse water first and then fill up the other sink with wash water. That way I don't waste water while the water is warming up. I use the rinse water to water plants in my pots outdoors.

FRUIT FLY REMEDY. The best way to get rid of fruit flies is to put out a glass with an inch of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of lemon liquid dishwashing soap. The flies will die and your kitchen will be fly-free, with no dangerous or expensive pesticides. You will be amazed how quickly it works.
POTLUCK BOWL. I use empty frozen ice cream cake containers for disposable bowls. They are great for taking to potlucks or parties. Just turn them over and put the food you are packing in the bottom of the bowl-shaped lid. The flat “bottom” makes a snug-fitting top. This way you won’t have to worry about leaving your favorite bowls behind at the scene of the potluck. Just tell the host or hostess to please recycle!
CLEANING CHROME. Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is wonderful for cleaning chrome fixtures. Spray some on a paper towel and just wipe away. Works great.
GARLIC STORAGE. Skin a whole batch of garlic and freeze in plastic bags. This gives the garlic a much longer shelf life and it can be used directly from the freezer.

Great tips Jaydaan! I practice a lot of them already, but there are a few that are new to me.
Your fruit fly remedy will be put to the test tonight. My wife has become a Fruit Fly Rancher and has about 300 head. Mostly breeding stock, it seems.

We'll see how the vinegar thing works. BRB

Six years ago, I was making $50k per year in salary, with 100% medical coverage and 100% reimbursement for out of pocket expenses.

Today, I am making $39k per year, with none of the above.

Thank the gods that there hasn't been any, like, increase in the prices of food or energy or credit in the interim.

Totally broke after being laid off and no new work to be had

Feels bad man

Thanks for all the good frugal ideas. We already do a lot of that stuff, but some I had never heard.

We are also broker than broke. Lost job back in April...now just struggling to make a cleaning business pay the bills.

thanks, Jaydaan - lots of great ideas there.

FRUIT FLY REMEDY was less than spectacular I am sorry to report.

I just made a fruit fly swimming bath in my sink. (Blocked the waste disposer). I'm wondering if I can encourage a few to hold a swim/dive meet and then maybe I can nuke the buggers while they're all engaged watching the action?

OK remedy #2. I have used this and I know it works.

Put in an inch of balsamic vinegar in a bowl. I used balsamic because my flies are gourmet.

Put a piece of plastic wrap securely over the bowl. Punch fruit fly-sized holes in the wrap with a toothpick or fork. Set out where the flies are.

They are motivated enough to get in, not talented enough to get out, and eventually drown.

Until Fruit Fly Moses parts the red vinegar.

OK, I'll try this. I do have some really nice balsamic-- aged in chestnut barrels and all that...

A nice Bordeaux might do as well, but nothing below Troisièmes Crus.

mmm sorry, yes saran wrap with holes in it was part of it.... I forgot that part.....
Apple cider vinegar, with a splash of dish soap... saran with holes poked in.... works best.

Fruit flies like the vinegar/dish soap recipe, but the don't dive in. I wait until there are a bunch of them hanging around the pool, and then I either squash them, or spray them with DDT and Dioxin.

Why contaminate the world with chemicals ?

Just hit each one on the head with a hammer.

Isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle will knock them down.

I'm broke. I gave all my money to starving children in Zimbabwe, animal rights activists in russia, and syphilis awareness groups in NYC.

Just so you know how charitable and wonderful I am.

Look at meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Actually, I'm broke because I'm still paying for my teeth (well, they're all paid but it set me back a LOT) so trying to catch up other bills. Gas was shut off, but the only thing I need gas for in the summer is my stove. (I have a separate electric oven so everything is baked or nuked for now.) I've been able to keep my electric and my phone, by the skin of my teeth (pun intended.) Not fun. C'est la vie.

One thing I did for my mother is to string lines in the attic to dry clothes in bad weather and the same in the garden for summer time. As a result she only uses the dryer in case of emergency.

She also try to plan the grocery trip along with some other chores.
She collects rain water to grow some vegetables.

One thing we don't have much in France is A/C in homes.

The wife and I are used to never having much "extra" money. She's disabled and on SSD. I make fairly decent money but after the mortgage and other bills are paid, there's not much left.

It's been really tight since we had to buy a new vehicle last October. My car was 10 years old and cost me $1,000 and $1,500 respectively for the last two years with mechanical problems. I'm not one who likes the idea of buying used after seeing several friends (and my brother) get burned. I'd rather have the warranty.

Anyway, the important thing is that the bills are paid. That is always the top priority. I think we do need to look into some of the money saving ideas. If I would just go bald already, i could save money on a haircut every 3 weeks. :D

Also when it comes to paying bills, don't choose which ones to pay, figure out how much you can afford to spend on bills and then pay all of your bills a proportional amount from your bill paying fund. They like regular payments even if they are not the whole amount, Keep the lines of communication open and be proactive in calling them first. They cut you a lot of slack if you come to them. They don't take it personally that you are broke, they are just glad that you are still talking to them and intend to pay when you can.

I've had months where everyone got half or less of what was owed.

There is like a glitch in my brain where I am physically ill when I think of calling them to tell them I'm broke and I'm working on it. Though every fiber of my thinking being says "it's how it works, they'll work with you" and though many people have told me the same thing...it's a fear I can't seem to overcome.

Broke as a she hant

I do this. I hate to but it keeps things on. When I have money I pay up. Things are caught up now.
This is so if something unforeseen happens I only need to manage the rent and car payment until something comes up.

One savings I have been thinking about is eliminating the cable tv and getting an antennae.

Well OK, I don't come cheap. But I'm worth it, damn youse!

FUCKING BASTARD FRUIT FLIES found out my PIN# and emptied my bank account with my debit card.

This shit must stop.

Sn - WHAT??????? Fruit flies???

You gotta watch those lyin' little fuckers!

I read somewhere that a bowl full of that expensive vinegar, covered with some plastic wrap with holes poked in it, will take care of those fuckers.

Of course, that's like closing the gate when the cow's out of the barn, and you've got no money in the bank to buy that good vinegar.

It's kind of like the Jilt of the Magfly.

I think it was the expensive vinegar that tipped me off. The bottle was half empty and I'd just opened it the day before.

Jilt of the magfly indeed.

I owe more money that all the money I have made in my entire life.

Lost quite a few bucks in share market last week:yeldead:

I'm trying to scheme a way to get gas for my car so I can get to work the rest of the week. Too broke to work, ain't that the shit? I'll see your irony and raise you a FML.

Soon, soon, soon, things will get better.

Fucking banks. Everything is automated and they can call you two seconds after you withdraw your account, but they don't have the capability to see when funds are available from another check. AND, the money on hold (that I had to ask my mother for, and I was completely ashamed) shows as a fucking debit on my already overdrawn account. So my electric bill wasn't going to get paid, the whole damn reason I had to ask for the money (and for, you know, gas and food because I'm selfish like that). I called and the girl I spoke with called a higher-up who happens to be my third cousin. She said there was nothing they could do about the hold but she WOULD make sure the electric bill wouldn't be returned. Otherwise, temps in my place can reach 100 degrees pretty quickly.

I know why people kill themselves over financial woes. I had to go and fuck up my life by having my 27 year old capped teeth break and having insurance that didn't cover an entire 1800 dollars. I don't know too many people who have 1800 saved up in case they end up looking like a character in Deliverance...and I have, for months now, been robbing peter to pay paul just trying to keep my head above water.

Promises from people that they will try to give me money for having let them live on my couch never come to fruition.

Good guys get fucked.

I'm so distraught and upset and I can't concentrate on anything at work or in my life. I'm tired of doing it all alone, I'm tired of playing Miss Independent and I'm tired of being strong. The choices seem to be: find a way to get in the crossfire of some gang murder in this armpit of a city, or win the lottery. I can tell you which is most likely.

:mecry:

As I side note: to all the attention whores who always remind us how noble they are and the rest of us should be noble like them because they hit the tip jar...good for fucking you. I do what I can, when I have it. Your transparent, self-serving admonitions (and I ain't talking about the mod) don't help those of us who can't do anything at the time, but still sometimes feel the need to find support here at teh Cellar, which I'm sure you think we don't deserve, and it's a special form of tacky redneckiness to want attention and accolades for your contributions to ANYTHING.

shawnee - I don't know what to say but I'm so sorry.

If it helps at all (and it doesn;t, I know) you aren't alone.

No, it does. It's part of how I've been getting through this: knowing that so many people are struggling and I'm not alone is *somehow* comforting. Part of it is too that I never expected to be in this boat again...it hit me out of nowhere. Of course, I will be proactive in the future and get some savings going once I stop drowning, but right now I've got nothing left...not an ounce of hope.

I will be getting a bonus mid-August, which will really help. So I know I still have it better than so many: it just hurts for me, and brings anxiety to me, and wears down every bit of positive energy...leaves me with a constant stomachache.

Thanks Bri. I'm sorry. I just needed to talk about this, and I have no other options. My friends and family irl think I'm jsut a big fuck-up. Which maybe I am. I want to be someone's dumb but loveable housepet. That I would be very good at.

I do feel your pain. I'm in the exact same spot this week. Not enough gas to get to work and not a dime in my pocket. I've already sold everything I have of value that someone might buy. And, although I just found a part-time maid job last week, it only pays $9 hour, and it costs over $8 in gas just to get there and back, AND I won't get paid for two weeks. Won't be able to pay my bills this month - first time ever. FFS.

There is a small bit of hope on the horizon (lots of foreign-language proofreading of election materials), but that doesn't kick in for another month. *sigh*

I can relate to the strain and stress of doing it all alone. I know you, Shaw, have a house with a yard (at least I think you do??) and I do, too. I have to keep everything going - the car (and I'm so stupid about cars) and the plumbing (I've had three basement floods in the past three years) and the appliances (I think my ancient fridge is dying) and the yard (are those gopher holes or snake holes?????) and the never ending bills.

STILL. I have to remember that most of the world lives on less than a dollar a day and only rich people get to eat bread!

I DO still have a roof over my head and food in the house - it may be tube steak instead of porterhouse, but, hey - lots of people don't have clean drinking water....

This isn't meant to 'shame' you or anyone - it's just the process I use to get myself out of a nonproductive funk when I'm in one.

And you always have the cellar! :) Good friends and invisible coffee!

Yup. I've managed it. Not boasting, but it just happened one day.
And yet when I was seeing a Psychiatric Nurse who specialised in addiction, with whom I felt safer than I've ever felt in my life, she tried to convince me to call my debtors in her presence. I couldn't. I physically couldn't. Retching and everything.

Today I called one of the (three remaining) debtors to explain I couldn't pay on the previously arranged date but would pay the day after. I even had a laugh with the chap on the phone.

It will come if you keep trying. Remember all the supplicants you deal with yourself.
The people you talk to about your own payments are simply people pulling down a wage, not judging you.
I know you don't want to hear it, but I have SO been there babba.
Even recently, when trying to apply for a Crisis Loan because I wanted to keep making the payments I've been covering from my days in Leicester - and been covering well and living up to my responsibilities even though I incurred them when I was mentally unstable. Only to have them tell me that I received the services and therefore owed the money (I KNOW!) and the Government should not be expected to pay for services received (it's a LOAN which will be repaid!) and I'll have to find another way to pay my agreed payment schedule despite the fact my benefits were taken away with -2 months notice!
Honestly - I know people don't think like this. They don't. I have personal evidence and you are a valued member of the community. Any organisation dependent on donations has to ask and promote its requests.
You're not a fuckup. Yeah, you do fuckup sometimes. What? I'm supposed to sugar the pill? I've fucked up far worse, especially financially.

YOU as a person are not a fuckup.
YOU as a person found a new job, looked out for a fuckup that probably didn't deserve it.
YOU have made some mistakes (heck, you're a Strawberry Queen, it comes with the job description) but I promise things will get better soon. And even if they don't, you won't hate yourself so much about them.

Be nice to yourself darling. At least you didn't have to borrow cat litter off your parents' friend in the same week you attended a West End show you haven't paid your brother for yet....

Love you x

Thanks for all that, Sundae.

As to the tip jar thing: I think bruce and UT and wolf have every right to bump the thread. We know the place doesn't run for free. It's the consistent month after month "look what I did" that doesnt' sit right with me. There are anonymous donors for giant charities who, apparently, believe the giving is not done to be recognized for the giving.

I begrudge nothing to Tony, that was just a side note about how it feels to me when someone is not particularly reminding others to donate if they can, but saying things like "I gave."
I love that! Love you too.
Heh, I should join the circus the way I've been juggling crap lately. :o

These are the kinds of things I try to remind myself too...was doing pretty good yesterday and this morning, talking myself through it...that getting on line to see my deposit like that broke some carefully packaged anxiety loose.

Thanks all, you're lovely.

That's kinda why there are no special tags or anything marking a donor. I admire the places like SomethingAwful where you have to pay to even post, but we are a community, and it becomes something else if it *requires* payment.

Plus, you've always held a top spot in my lottery list, where I'll be so filthy stinking rich I'll not only contribute huge amounts so that all you ever need worry about anymore is Cellar maintenance, I'll be all like "Look what I did, match THAT fuckers." Found money can be low-class that way, and yet still make some people quite content. :lol: