You got your layoff notice today (or fired...either way) and your broke, rent's due, and the baby needs diapers what do you do...
Ok first off they call if public assistance because its there to help the public. Many refuse to even consider this, but if its going to help pay your other bills and allow you stay in your home... it maybe time to consider signing up for it.
somethings that help you alot more than you realize is SNAP (EBT or FoodStamps). Depending on number in household and how much income there is SNAP will buy all or most of your groceries... Don't forget WIC either, for pregant women and children under age 5, buys milk, eggs, cheese, juice, cereal and such.
Second, make your rounds register for medicaid and hud. These services will help with rent or house payments, provide low cost or free health care (in some cases the entire family), and possibly help with utilitie bills as well.
Third besure to register for unemployment ASAP, even if you think you won't get it it can't hurt to apply you may get it. If you are turned down be sure to appeal it many employers will try this even if they are in the wrong.
Next, take a look at your bills what do you really need?
Cable - ok no one wants to give this up... so cut back to basic 13 channels for local news, or get an atenta, consider Netflixs or Hulu if you have a wii or Xbox. saves approx.- $100 a month
Cell phones - cut every thing off except the minium minutes package.... (no text, no internet, no ring tones, etc.)
2 people costs approx. - $85 a month
Electricity- unplug everything in your home with except of the neccesities like clocks, fridge, tv. consider getting energy efficient light bulbs and always turn the lights & fans off when you leave a room. And last turn your central fan and ac/heat off when not needed or raise the temparture up to point that can be tolerated or just turn it off (our grandparents lived with out air). Don't dry clothes hang them out on a clothes line, if your unemployeed you now have time to do this. Another trick my grandmother taught me, if your overhead light has 2 or 3 bulbs in it, consider taking all but one out of it.
1200 sqft house costs approx. - $75 to $125 depending on location and rates.
Water- not much be done about water consumpation but here are a couple of things that can lower the bill a little bit, new faucet water saving airteors cost about $4 each, supposed to save 1/2 of the amount of water you use in the sink. Buy a water saving shower head different prices for different styles some are as low as $4 and up. Always wash full loads of laundry. Consider washing dishes by hand. Never leave the faucet running.
Family of 4 water savings approx. - $35 to $100 depending on location and rates.
Internet- I recommend keeping this for a lot of reasons... worse case you can watch tv through it, search for a jobs, and possably use it to make money from home while you search for a new job.
Home phone- get one saves on the minutes of your cell phone. for $49 you can buy a MajicJack that connects to a regular phone and computer, this device will give you 2 years of phone service (local and long distance with caller id and voicemail) at the end of the 2 years it is $20 a year.
These are just some of the things we have done in our home. Try it out and let us know what you think.
Ok first off they call if public assistance because its there to help the public. Many refuse to even consider this, but if its going to help pay your other bills and allow you stay in your home... it maybe time to consider signing up for it.
somethings that help you alot more than you realize is SNAP (EBT or FoodStamps). Depending on number in household and how much income there is SNAP will buy all or most of your groceries... Don't forget WIC either, for pregant women and children under age 5, buys milk, eggs, cheese, juice, cereal and such.
Second, make your rounds register for medicaid and hud. These services will help with rent or house payments, provide low cost or free health care (in some cases the entire family), and possibly help with utilitie bills as well.
Third besure to register for unemployment ASAP, even if you think you won't get it it can't hurt to apply you may get it. If you are turned down be sure to appeal it many employers will try this even if they are in the wrong.
Next, take a look at your bills what do you really need?
Cable - ok no one wants to give this up... so cut back to basic 13 channels for local news, or get an atenta, consider Netflixs or Hulu if you have a wii or Xbox. saves approx.- $100 a month
Cell phones - cut every thing off except the minium minutes package.... (no text, no internet, no ring tones, etc.)
2 people costs approx. - $85 a month
Electricity- unplug everything in your home with except of the neccesities like clocks, fridge, tv. consider getting energy efficient light bulbs and always turn the lights & fans off when you leave a room. And last turn your central fan and ac/heat off when not needed or raise the temparture up to point that can be tolerated or just turn it off (our grandparents lived with out air). Don't dry clothes hang them out on a clothes line, if your unemployeed you now have time to do this. Another trick my grandmother taught me, if your overhead light has 2 or 3 bulbs in it, consider taking all but one out of it.
1200 sqft house costs approx. - $75 to $125 depending on location and rates.
Water- not much be done about water consumpation but here are a couple of things that can lower the bill a little bit, new faucet water saving airteors cost about $4 each, supposed to save 1/2 of the amount of water you use in the sink. Buy a water saving shower head different prices for different styles some are as low as $4 and up. Always wash full loads of laundry. Consider washing dishes by hand. Never leave the faucet running.
Family of 4 water savings approx. - $35 to $100 depending on location and rates.
Internet- I recommend keeping this for a lot of reasons... worse case you can watch tv through it, search for a jobs, and possably use it to make money from home while you search for a new job.
Home phone- get one saves on the minutes of your cell phone. for $49 you can buy a MajicJack that connects to a regular phone and computer, this device will give you 2 years of phone service (local and long distance with caller id and voicemail) at the end of the 2 years it is $20 a year.
These are just some of the things we have done in our home. Try it out and let us know what you think.
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