While walking Rocky this morning I saw the apt. manager. I told her we still can't come up with the rent for this month. She said they need to have it or she'll have to give us (I thought she said) a three day notice. I get paid next Friday, Jon gets his 400 on Monday. He said he'll sacrifice his phone or storage in order to give them 400.
For those that wonder where our money goes and whether we're spending wisely, here's a breakdown:
My paycheck: Approx $700 every two weeks (that can vary anywhere from 675 to 700 depending on my punches for the week.)
My Bills: Storage: 250 (no we can't reduce it any more.) Phone 58; Internet; 98 (we have COX and that is base price); SDGE (we are behind on that also) approx $100 oh and because of the distance I have to travel, car insurance went up by a lot. It is now 106, gas due to older car and needs work is 35/week if I run it close to empty and the fluctuations of gas prices. I briefly lost my car insurance for about a week when it went through automatically when I had less money in the bank due to needing gas and food.
So: 250+100+58+98+106+120=732 And there you have it. That's all from one paycheck which as you can see is over what one check is. Now we got notified that we're getting pay raises starting next month. I'm getting a bump of about 10/hour which will be 15.50 instead of 14.30. But that's next month. So we need an extra 400 every month just to hold even. Jon is looking to see how much he may qualify for retirement SS. From my research since he's been out of work over a year, and he's only 62, he won't qualify for much if anything.
Oh and food is roughly 110 every two weeks depending on where we shop. We've been going to the large Walmart and Target mostly. Occasional shopping at Vons when we need something only they have.
These are not all due on the same week. When we moved in we had some cushion but that got used up right away. We were able to survive because Jon had the extra EDD money coming in, that gave him an extra 600 per month. That got cut in half so for his bills divided between his two checks he has storage at 158 and phone is 125. He splits those up between the two checks. Which leaves about 400 but in two separate lumps. He uses that to help with groceries and any medicine he needs (not prescription inhalers thank god he has MediCal and it pays for everything) he needs a nasal spray to keep his nose open.
Even if we save 20 here and 20 there, that still won't add up to the 950 we need every month. Once or twice a month we splurge on Starbucks breakfast that's about $23. Also once or twice a month we splurge on lunch at our favorite places and it runs about the same. I am in bad need of new shoes and pants, new bras, haven't had a hair cut in six months. The clothes are not luxuries but necessities, my heavy pair of jeans has friction holes on the thighs, my other pair are thinner women's jeans and not suitable for cold weather. Shoes are getting thin enough on the soles I can feel rocks on the pavement. Rainy season is coming and they are not safe on slick pavement.
Oh and if we do end up getting kicked out, I'll be behind on all the utilities which means my credit will tank even more and we likely won't be able to afford hotels. Hotels run about 400-500 for a week and that's cheap. Then there's Rocky to take care of, tack on an extra 100 if we have a cat and that limits where we can stay.
So yeah, we're screwed again. Why can't I ever get ahead longer than a few months or a year! Is it something I'm dong wrong? Karma? My fate in life? The best thing that's happened in my life in the last 20 years was finding Katie as a roommate and then when I was at a low, I found Jon. I am scared for both of us and despite him saying he will go wherever I go, he also admits to being scared. It's my responsibility to keep a roof over our head and I'm failing at that too.
And another note; yes he is still looking for a job and no one is hiring HIM. IF there are job openings, he doesn't have a driver license (medical reasons) can't do overnights due to not having transportation. Most warehouse jobs that want drivers require a car license as well or they do overnights. Due to breathing issues can't work at a fast pace anymore. Can't do security guard due to health and being out of police force for over 20 years. He's applied at any open position possible that is reasonable. No one is hiring with everything else going on especially.
Getting a second job for me is just as unlikely with only two days a week available and in the middle of the week.
So any other questions? Pretty much covered everything. Happy Holidays everyone!
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