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Forum -> Household Management -> Finances
Does this make sense? More income<breaking even
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amother
Smokey


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 2:24 am
I had a low paying job. We got Medicaid and food stamps and a nice tax refund every year.

Dh was looking for a job all that time. He just got one. The pay is not amazing but significantly better than minimum wage. For now at least he is paid by the hour so no benefits. They will reconsider after two months.

I did a little math. Estimated how many hours he'll work in an average month if it's going well, multiplied that by a year. Plugged the result plus my own income into a federal and state tax estimating calculator online (reputable tax website that accounts for family size etc). Went to state of health website, put in our income and family stats, picked an average of the lower cost plans. Estimated value of food stamps we receive.

Took the combination of dh's new income estimate plus my income, subtracted income tax, health insurance premium, and value of food stamps. Came out pretty similar to previous income (I.e. my job, no dh job, yes Medicaid, yes food stamps, minimal tax obligation)

Subtracted cost of monthly metro card to get dh to new job, that already put us squarely below current budget. And that's without counting copays (Medicaid has none) and other expenses associated with a second working parent (outsourcing more childcare on days off of school, subtracting a day of hourly income every time a kid is home sick, etc)

That's without any changes to tuition discounts or anything.

I was hoping dh finding a job would relieve some of our financial pressure. Instead it now seems like a massive stressful headache with no advantage other than maybe dh's self esteem. I'm not knocking self esteem, but this is an awful lot to go through for no monetary benefit... and no, this job is not a step toward advancement, it is by nature limited including limited by time.

Please tell me I'm doing this wrong and am in fact about to become unbearably rich.

Even if the job would only net $1000 a month it might get me an apartment that has space for a bed for my 4 year old. Yes this is an issue in my current life. I was desperate for this big break and now feeling extremely anticlimactic.
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amother
Blush


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 2:30 am
I'm sorry, but sadly it makes sense. But if he has potential for growth at this job, and u have potential for growth at your job, hopefully u will soon be out of the financial hardship u are in. A lot of families stay on programs because they say it's not worth it to work because they end up with more on the programs- that's a short term solution. Ur dh going out and working will help ur family financially long term, so try to stay positive and focus on the big picture. Wishing u luck!!
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amother
Lawngreen


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 2:59 am
Even if this particular job doesn't have potential, the very fact of having a job is a step in your husband's advancement. You've made the first move towards financial independence. Good for you! May you have every success.
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amother
Lavender


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 7:11 am
We've been through this. It's every very very hard. But the only way to move upwards and not stay in same predicament as now (ie. the apartment that would have room for beds for the kids). It's incredibly difficult to go through this especially when you can't even see that bigger apartment looming in the immediate future. I am so sorry. But it really is a step up bh. Wishing you much luck and strength and quick upward moves toward more financial stability. May this job bring dh incredible self esteem and encourage and lead him toward bigger and better jobs and much success.
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amother
Bronze


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 7:16 am
I'm in the same boat. Dh makes close to minimum wage but I don't care because HE IS WORKING! He couldn't find a job for the longest time and was quickly falling into depression. He I'd so happy now and has a new social life at work. To me that's totally worth it.. To see him have a reason for asking up in the morning etc..
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cm




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 7:22 am
Ugh, that sounds frustrating and difficult - and realistic.

However, it is far, far easier to get a job if you are currently employed. Your husband would be ill-advised to quit until he has something better lined up.
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Rubber Ducky




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 8:06 am
Welcome to the middle class!

Now that your husband has a job, your income is in a place where it can improve over time. You said he may start to receive benefits in a few months, which can be significant. Did you include the benefits in your calculations?
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amother
Smokey


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 10:21 am
We both have zero room for advancement. I don't want to give too many details because I don't want to out myself.

I did not figure in benefits because it's a big maybe. I don't even know what the benefits potentially are. They said it's up for discussion in 2 months. But I don't see why they'd offer more if they can get the same work for peanuts. I don't really know how this works because my job is different in nature, I've always been paid by how much work I complete.

The kid needs a bed a year ago. She is not petite and is still in a crib in my room. My sanity is at a brink. The place is poorly lit (we put in as many lamps as we could but landlord won't let us install anything more useful) and poorly ventilated (two windows in the whole place that somehow never catch the breezes.) A neighbor smokes something nasty. I've held out for years because I keep thinking something must be just around the corner. We have some savings and I am so desperate I'd be ready to start using them to move to a more expensive place, but DH won't even talk about it. It would be a little risky and not a long term solution but I don't see any other way. DH's alternative idea is to put a twin size bunk bed into our dining room, made possible by throwing out our old table and chairs and getting a smaller table and chairs - there is no other furniture in there besides other child's little toddler bed, I told you the place is small. The table is not that big in the first place. There is no kitchen table and no room for one. This basically means no more room to move without tripping over someone our bumping into something. Winter is coming and our kids are going to be stuck in between a bed and table until playground weather is back? I can't even. Sad
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amother
Beige


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 11:34 am
It's a step in the right direction. Maybe one of you will get a raise or a better job even in another field. Someone who has a job has a better shot at getting a second.

Maybe we can come up with ideas to help make life more comfortable. My place doesn't have overhead lighting and I don't want to pay to put it in a rental. So we got LED bulbs. More expensive per bulb but they supposedly last longer and cost less to run electricity wise. Plus each one gives off less heat (so less stuffy) and more light! Check to make sure you aren't hiding it behind thick lamp covers though.
Circulating fans are good too- we get no cross breezes and my neighbors smoke too so it STINKS when we do open the window.
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gp2.0




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 11:47 am
Yes OP! You're doing good!

Financial success is not measured only in numbers. It's measured by how many of those numbers are being paid by you and how many are being paid by someone else.

While it looks like less on paper, it's actually much more because you are digging yourself out of the hole of government help. As long as you stay in that hole, things will never improve. Now that you're out, you have a fighting chance. Your dh can take this job and use it as experience for the next better job. Taking a job doesn't mean you're stuck with it - first you take what you can get and then you can still keep an eye out for something better.

Weaning off government programs means you're no longer limited by income brackets and qualifications. You're your own person now and the sky's the limit. It doesn't happen immediately, but it will happen iyh.
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mha3484




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 11:52 am
Hi OP! I help people find jobs and I can tell you that having a job of any kind increases your chances of getting a better one in a huge way. The resumes that end up in our recycling bin are ones that have either large employment gaps, frequent job changes or someone who has never worked. I think its really great that you are trying to increase your families income. Hazlacha!
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Tel Tzion Ima




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 6:28 pm
OP - does husband know how to type? If so, he can work from home doing transcription and earn $1,000 a month, and you wouldn't need metro fare. He could be home when the kids are home bcse he could work whatever hours he wanted as long as he met deadlines.
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browser




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 6:32 pm
I think this is related to the playing the system thread. And-what's so bad about Hilary clinton-
This is practically a socialist country already
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amother
Lavender


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 6:53 pm
amother wrote:
We both have zero room for advancement. I don't want to give too many details because I don't want to out myself.

I did not figure in benefits because it's a big maybe. I don't even know what the benefits potentially are. They said it's up for discussion in 2 months. But I don't see why they'd offer more if they can get the same work for peanuts. I don't really know how this works because my job is different in nature, I've always been paid by how much work I complete.

The kid needs a bed a year ago. She is not petite and is still in a crib in my room. My sanity is at a brink. The place is poorly lit (we put in as many lamps as we could but landlord won't let us install anything more useful) and poorly ventilated (two windows in the whole place that somehow never catch the breezes.) A neighbor smokes something nasty. I've held out for years because I keep thinking something must be just around the corner. We have some savings and I am so desperate I'd be ready to start using them to move to a more expensive place, but DH won't even talk about it. It would be a little risky and not a long term solution but I don't see any other way. DH's alternative idea is to put a twin size bunk bed into our dining room, made possible by throwing out our old table and chairs and getting a smaller table and chairs - there is no other furniture in there besides other child's little toddler bed, I told you the place is small. The table is not that big in the first place. There is no kitchen table and no room for one. This basically means no more room to move without tripping over someone our bumping into something. Winter is coming and our kids are going to be stuck in between a bed and table until playground weather is back? I can't even. Sad

Hug Have you thought about a 33" bunk bed instead of twin size? Saves you half a foot. Or would you go for a toddler size bunk bed? My child was in a toddler bed until age 7.

Something I've noticed is that sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and get the larger place after trying to find the best rate out there and somehow be forced to make it work.
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amother
Smokey


 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 8:00 pm
I would love a toddler size bunk bed but they don't seem to make them. Any leads? Even junior size would help if there's such a thing, twin is about half a foot too big for the wall where toddler bed currently is. The less it dominates the room the better but fitting at all without having to ditch the table is a plus.

Bigger place is too far out of our budget but I've told all the real estate people in our area to look out for something in case I can convince dh. Meanwhile he's going to put our table on the curb and order a monstrosity.
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ra_mom




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 8:10 pm
If you're in the tri-state area please don't order a table just yet. There's an amazing furniture gemach group and if you're willing to wait a couple of weeks for the right size table and chairs (sometimes separate) come along you can get something great that you can pick up yourselves without paying.

And you can donate your current table there too.
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ra_mom




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 8:21 pm
I saw this from pinterest when googling
quote wrote:
Toddler Bunkbed: Just get two toddler beds and attach using L brackets and rearranging head boards & foot boards


See this link for a picture
http://www.apartmenttherapy.co.....02248

We actually have a junior size bunkbed (33") for our kids and are very happy. They're available at Hatzlacha furniture in Brooklyn and they'll deliver within reason (also available at Mega Babies which is more expensive and some other stores) .
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TwinsMommy




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 8:49 pm
if you're low income enough to just barely be coming off medicaid and food stamps, why not move somewhere where even on your income you can get a house instead of an apartment? sounds like you're in NY--- I understand the higher income folks not wanting to move out of NY if they love their jobs, but what's to stop you from moving to the midwest or somewhere cheap? I live in a community in Cleveland where hardly anyone lives in apartments-- it's houses--- so even people low income enough for food stamps are able to make houses happen (probably for less than NY rent). Once each child has their own room and you have room (literally) to breathe, the income or lack thereof doesn't feel as stifling. We lived in apartments in Los Angeles before we moved here and we had a desk in the dining room---- on Shabbos we'd say "be careful backing up at the table, there's a desk there". We pay the SAME rent here for a 3 bedroom house with garage, attic, basement (of course now we're hoarders and less organized but that's a diff story!).

If you stay with a cramped space I've seen people put clothing on racks by the washing machine and make closets into tiny spaces for hanging out--- beanbag chair, a teeny bookshelf--- great space for a kid hangout.
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Rubber Ducky




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 8:55 pm
I don't think you will find a ready-made toddler bunkbed because of possible safety issues with having a very young child in an upper bunk. But I think you could rig up a toddler pull-out trundle bed without too much trouble.
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Tel Tzion Ima




 
 
    
 

Post Tue, Aug 30 2016, 11:35 pm
I second looking for cheaper communities assuming you're currently in a higher priced area adn you don't have other compelling reasons for staying where you are.

Also, instead of a bed, you could get a junior sized mattress that you put on the floor at night and then put away during the day, like on top of the other junior bed of underneath the other junior bed.

Or just have both kids sleep on mattresses on the floor that get moved out of the way during the day so you have more floor space.
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