REALITY CHECK ... MONEY

I hate to be a person who complains about money, everyone struggles with money. Rich people, poor people, married people, singles...even single mothers.

I'm a single mother and I'm struggling with money.

I'm going to be completely honest with you all here. This is my journal and I want to look back at this one day knowing I've overcome this moment. Knowing I came out of this. Currently, Makena's dad and I are working on things but, until we are 100% and everything is fine and dandy....I'm a single mom. (He does give me money monthly.)

Makena and I moved out to our own apartment in June. It's not ideal. It's what I could afford on my own and it has two bedrooms....but it's not how I imagined my life with a baby. My rent is $1071 per month. I've chosen to not have cable...one being I get sucked into TV and two being I just can't afford it. I do have internet. Other than that I have PG&E. I work full time making $15 a hour...I've stretched every penny I make to go a long way. But it doesn't go quite as far as I'd like. I could and should look for a better paying job, but right now this works well with being a mom, it's flexable and fits my needs with Makena. Before I moved out I started looking into getting assistance being a single mom. I qualified for WIC. Formula was expensive and I didn't have the income in order to purchase it. Currently I am still on WIC. It helps with milk, cereal, diary...I hate using it.

It's available for people in my situation but I hate going in and using these. But it's helpful and if I can eventually come out better because of it...then so be it.

I rarely go grocery shopping, I go for the basics. When I do shop, I try and buy in bulk to make it go further. I cook dinner as much as I can and bring lunch. I do let myself splurge every once in awhile, I won't say I've cut out Starbucks or eating out occasionally.

After that my money goes to the credit card debt I have...yes I have it...a lot.

 I've recently taken all of my credit cards out of my wallet and I strictly use the cash I have left after I pay bills.

Which usually looks like this...

It's November 11 and I've got $3.93 to my name. The husbands money will hit my account on Monday my next payday is not until the 16th. The account that has $500 is my rent account and each check I transfer half my rent into it. The account with $100 is an account for Makena (she has others that are not connected directly to my everyday accounts.) Then there is my savings account with $.78. I will not lie I do have a small 401k set up and also an ING account that is my "back up...oh shit" account. I also have my PayPal that has my Etsy, Ebay or any other online income I may receive. But in the end....it's not enough.

But we survive...I'm hoping that I can dedicate more time to my etsy shop and some people really make Ebay work for them..who knows...as long as my sweets has a roof over her head, food in her belly and love in her heart...we're good...

Ohhhh....and today I went to look at day care....do you know how expensive that is?? I've been blessed with my parents watching Makena but with her growing and becoming more active I'd like her to start socializing and learning what it's like to be with kids and all that....but for now it's out of the question...... one week...ONE WEEK...is $350....as you saw above...just not doable.

Whew...there you have it...

I make it work...being a single mom is extremely hard...being a parent with or without a partner and with money or without it is hard...but we make do and we move forward in the best way we know how...

I'm doing my best for today.