need some practical frugal advice-

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Hello Michelle,

I totally understand what you both are going through.My hubby just got back to work after being without a job for 10 months.Here is what we have learned:

Unemployment filing must be a top priority-it takes a bit to finally get a check coming in.Do not have taxes withheld from his unemployment.Take the full amount as you will need it.

Sign up for food stamps at family services.Also if you have children see about medicaid or medicare for all of you btu especially the children.They will also help you with utilities like for heating your home.

Sign up for wic program at your local health center.if you have children,you can get such things as cheese,milk,peanut butter,juice,cereal,eggs and so on.this will help your grocery bill tremendously.

go to salvation army and sign up for their food bank.do not get alot but every little bit helps and they will also help you with your electric bill or propane for heat.

go online and
serach for angel food ministries.you can get food for less than in the store.

contact your church.let them know about your hubby losing his job.they might help you with groceries and/or utilities.

we have a community center here called oacac that helps also with utilities.try to finbd out if you have a community center there that does that as well.

do cut back on phone usage but do not cut off the phone or the internet as we have found here that most jobs are not put in the newspaper anymore.they list them on the internet under carreer builders.not sure about there but try to find out about it.

make sure the electric usage is cut back wherever you can.do not leave lights on if you can help it when you leave the room.this is a great time to utilize candles as much as possible but don’t hurt your eyes trying to read by candlelight.i don’t know how you heat but maybe if you cut back on what rooms you heat.let the children share bedrooms
instead of heating more than one or two.

if you find a child or someone in the family needs an article of clothing or shoes-find a used clothing store in your area.you can find super bargains there for way less than a regular store.they will also have bag sales where you can fill a bag for one price.

plan your meals right down to the smallest thing.tuna is relatively inexpensive and you can make such things as tuna salad to last a couple of days,fried fish patties(instead of using salmon).make a big pot of brown beans.you can use some of this for just a bean and ham and biscuit dinner then make a big pot of chili with the leftover beans and make taco salad with re-fried beans in the bottom.make a big pot of chicken and dumplings for dinner one night and the next day make a chicken and dumpling soup from the leftovers and add a couple of cans of mixed vegies and a can of chicken broth.utilize hot dogs,having regualr hot dogs one night and then any of the
chili leftover can got with hot dogs another night for chili dogs.

make sure you have alot of fl0ur,sugar,baking powder,baking soda,vegie oil,margarine,etc. so you can make homemade biscuits,homemade pancakes,homemade dumplings,cookies,etc.

Couponing is a great thing to use so if you do not use them,get started.Watch for the stores sale ads all around your area.Use the coupons with the ads and also do make sure that you price match as well with other stores.Plan your shopping trip accdordingly along with any other things you need to drive for so that when you get out to shop,you are also doing all other running thereby cutting down car and gas usage.

big thing-do not let hubby wallow for very long.i know you feel bad for him and rightfully so but make sure he picks himself up and gets busy doing what needs doing to keep his family afloat.you also need to make sure you care for yourself.it is so easy to get depressed and frustrated.make sure you have a
friend or family member that you can get all your frustrations out to.if hubby finds a parttime job,he will have his unemployment cut back so unless he will make more than unemployment do nto have him look for a parttime job unless it is one that he will be paid cash for.you will need to find a parttime job if not a nighttime job fulltime to help him and your family get past this.it will not be easy but may be necessary for a while.

i hope this has been of alot of help for you as this has helped us to get through our 10 months.
Sandy

shellbeau813 wrote: Hi everyone-
I live in MA, and my husband lost his job very unexpectedly last
night. He has been given 2 weeks severance (for 10 years of service)
and will also recieve his three weeks vacation pay. He is a great guy
and has many contacts out there, but that could take time to turn into
a job.

My husband is shocked and quite brain dead right now,
(understandably) and I am the one who has to be thinking rationally. I
am hoping that some of you might have some advice as to what needs our
immediate attention. Maybe the first three things we should do.

We
have two kids (5,8) an a mortgage and credit card debt. Our bills are
current and our savings is small. I appreciate any advice so that I
can help my family get through this difficult time.
Thank you, Michelle in MA

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