Got a call Friday after getting home from work that the camping trip was canceled. Everyone else bailed out. I was tempted – briefly – to go by myself. But it's not safe or all that interesting to go solo around here, despite the lovely photography depicted in your friendly neighborhood REI catalog. The excursion is supposed to be on in a few weeks, but we'll see.
We got some icky news last week. Apparently, unlike most companies in the civilized world, the Petite Filet's employer doesn't offer paid maternity leave. What this means, folks, is that she has to use all her paid time off to get only half her time paid. That leaves us with about a month of unpaid time. Note that we pay the mortgage with her salary (other bills and grocery money fall to mine), so it puts us in a bind. Thankfully we have many months to figure something out. We do not live in a castle, nor do we live extravagantlly in any other respect. There might be that whole "not eating for several weeks" that can offer a neat prospect for budget savings. But it's a blow to us, as is our crappy health insurance that isn't covering much at all (70 percent, which is better than some).
I need to find a way to bring in some more cabbage ...
• Sell some "extra" organs on eBay. Anybody need a kidney?
• Mow a looooooooooot of extra lawns.
• Operate a multi-national energy company and then extort money from it without letting shareholders know anything is wrong (oh wait, that's what Kenneth Lay would do).
• Go on "Antiques Roadshow" and convince the experts there that my antique gummy worm collection is worth a fortune.
• Relive a difficult part of my teen years by flipping greasy burgers, burning fries and having all the food I drop magically "land on a napkin."
• Sell coffee from a little cart downtown, but secretly switch their Folger's crystals with dirt, which is bound to save me a little dough. With enough whip cream, who could tell? It works for Starbucks.
• Become a nudist, sell all my clothes.
• Harness the power of the sun and wind to power our house, saving a bundle on high energy bills. Or, ditch the house and live on a 30-foot sailboat! We could live off the bounty of the sea (er, lake), sing sea shanties and drink our own (purified and filtered) urine. Or not!
• Get the dog to star in a few TV commercials.
• Get the cute kid to star in a few TV commercials.
• Finally get around to launching my rap career.
• Mooch off my parents (wait, that's what my sister would do!). Ouch!
• Get a better job.
What would you do?
Good luck T-bone. I'm in the same boat with my employer and we need every bit of two salaries to pay the mortgage and the bills. We waited a little longer than we would have like to start trying for a family to build up some savings to replace my income for a few months when the time comes. And we're still only about halfway there....but I'm just going to have faith that it'll work itself out and I'm sure it will for you too.
Why don't you try selling some freelance peices to magazines (say for cyclists or outdoorsmen) it may not be a lot of money but it would be extra income. Also, uh, you could set up a paypall donation thingy here on this site (I know controversy) Save T-bone fund. I'd give you a dollar. :)
I think the "American" way is to run up your credit cards while she's off. Pay them off (with the exhorbitant interest) after she's gone back to work and you only have one more mouth to feed and are already paying back the hospital/doctor bills that you didn't need to add to the list of debts either.
Best wishes for an uneventful pregnancy and delivery. If things get complicated, you could sure be in for a tricky situation with her needing to be off longer and more medical bills. Been there, done that, SELLING t-shirts. Not that you need something else to worry about. Just that if you're able to put anything away, do.
Sorry to hear about the camping trip cancellation. I was really looking forward to some cool stories!
Paper route. You can ride your bike.
I'm not in the same boat, but I'm trying to find a way to get out of the condo we live in and into a real home before my son puts me into a "home". I'm picking up a second job over the summer as a way to pack in some extra cash. I know that you already have a little, and that time away from the fam sucks, but with a month or two of a part time job on weekends, you might be able to make enough for the mortgage payment. Other than that, just scrimp and save. Cut your food budget by $10 a week.
Good luck, I feel for ya!
I think Syd has a great idea. You are pretty good at spinning a tale and if you throw in photos...even better.
Boy howdy, you never do things in a small way!
We'll think of sumpin...
Boy - doesn't that hit at a bad time.
Maybe you should try to squirrel away a bit each week, and maybe do those lawns, or writing or flipping burgers for just a little while. Writing would be the nicest choice, of course.
From reading your blog, I surmise that you're a very clever guy, and will work out something that is do-able.
I have a lot to say about who gets medical help and money to tide them over (from various sources who shall remain unnamed), but that's another story.
i served up drinks and sold plasma in college...a lot of plasma! you can always sell your body. it worked for me.
congrats!!!! i haven't been around in a while because i suck. nice to see you are expecting another bundle. you have always been one of the proudest papas i kmow!
i know this will all work out for you. you have a PRECIOUS family. thinking of you...