Rock Bottom

[pigletsmommy]

I got a hit from my website. Going to email the mom back in the next 5 minutes. It would be 2 kids, FT. That, alone, would be the difference we need! Pray I get them and maybe one or two more so we can rebuild the savings we just destroyed. Oh, no, now I think I'm too excited to sleep! Please, Lord, just let them be as good as the family who is moving away and the PT family I still have.

Yeah! I hope it comes through for you!

[alyssyn]

Hope everything goes in your favor! Good Luck!!

[Unregistered]

i am really pulling for you and i'm going to say a prayer for you! i've been in that same position where i've just needed that one inquiry to pan out. stay positive & visualize it all working out. let any negative thought that seeps into your consciousness just drift away!

[professionalmom]

UPDATE: the potential may not pan out. Apparently my rate (including a 25% discount on the 2nd child) was approximately $25 more than their budget. They will discuss it and get back to me. Plus, it could turn into part-time.

Question: The PT client I have now, I only have for the 1-2 hours that mom and dad's shift over laps. One of them works the midnight shift at a unionized factory. I asked the mom if she could pass my info along. She said she would put a flier up on their board. So here's my thought: if I open up for 3rd shift (I don't have any other shift right now), then they would come and go right to bed, then wake up just in time to go home (maybe a snack or breakfast, depending on the time). I won't have to prepare crafts, meals/snacks, educational curriculums, etc. They won't need constant interaction, just basically a warm body to be able to respond in the event of emergencies, illness, or middle-of-the-night-nightmares. I can even sleep on the couch in the same room as them (unless DHS has changed that). So I would be getting paid to sleep. I normally charge $130 per week for FT, but with the reduced amount of actual work involved and the fact that I would be getting paid to sleep, I think it should be significantly lower. Plus, I am hoping to become the "deal" on overnight care. But, I want it to be worth my while. I was thinking that at $75 per week per kid, I could max out my numbers (husband is here so DD doesn't count in my ratio) and make $450 per week, which definitely gets us out of CRISIS mode. However, my mom said no lower than $100, which would give me $600 a week. What do you think would be fair and competitive enough to get people in here quick? $100, $75, lower, higher? I'm at a loss.

[katie]

I know I'm down at the bottom but just wanted to say I'm praying for you and your husband. We are just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here. Hubby lost job in Oct. while I was pregnant with our daughter. Ours was also not a spending issue but an income issue. I have high blood pressure so being pregnant and having to go to the doc all the time I could not work. After I recovered I began doing Daycare. I have 4 of my own, so I took 2 and have a third coming. Hopefully we can pay the mortgage for July with my money. Hubby just got a part time job, but we are 4 months behind. At least it's coming in now, and there is hope. We visited the food closet near us. I know what it is like to be pregnant and have this stress. It will get better. As the storm blows it seems unbearable, but it will get better. Just keep advertising and know you are offering a wonderful service. Someone will come. My daughter's bday was in May. At that time I spent my last 3 dollars on cake mix! I"m sending hugs your way today.

[QualiTcare]

it may be worth going down on your price $25 if you're that strapped for cash.

i know it ****s, but it's the difference between some money and no money. you could always cut back on supplies and make cheaper meals to make up for the difference.

you ever heard the song Sounds Like Life To Me by Darryl Worley?

you'd probably like it. it's the story of my life.

[jenh171]

I agree with the previous poster that you should definitely consider foregoing the $25 and just get the clients in at this point. I have noticed there is a lot of discussion on here about the importance of setting policies and sticking to them in order to not get screwed, but I also think karma is an enormous power. I think it is entirely possible to incorporate compassion/flexibility into your business plan; in other words, stick to your policies, but recognize that we're all human, and there are just going to be times where you have to bend. Perhaps if you help this family out by reducing $25 so that they can stay within their budget, then maybe you'll find that they'll be flexible with you in the future too! I really hope it all works out for you! You sound completely conscientious and thoughtful and I'm so sure it will all work out!

[professionalmom]

So, my hubby is trying ANYTHING extra to bring in money. He said he would try to do some online surveys. I didn't think there would be anything substantial in it, but I let him try. Last night he came downstairs with his arms up in the air and a big grin on his face (like he just scored a touchdown) and said, "I just got paid for my first survey and they deposited it into my account that I have with them."

I thought, wow, maybe he can actually make a little extra money. After all, if he's this excited, it must be decent pay.

It took him 20 minutes to do the survey and he made ... (you should go potty before you read further) ... a whole $0.10!!!!! :::::: So he basically made $0.30 per hour (imagine a federal employee working a side job making $0.30 per hour!: What a sarcastic goofball! But he's my goofball!

At least we have not lost our sense of humor!

[QualiTcare]

hey i did mystery shopping before. i only did it one time, but there are lots of chances to do it and you choose if/when you do it. i found a place to register through google.

i did mine at office depot and it was easy. it took like 15 minutes - i bought a pack of paper and got a check in the mail for the price of the paper + 7 dollars.

i'm about to log into my account and see if there are more i can do actually! i don't know why i haven't done more.

[momofboys]

So, my hubby is trying ANYTHING extra to bring in money. He said he would try to do some online surveys. I didn't think there would be anything substantial in it, but I let him try. Last night he came downstairs with his arms up in the air and a big grin on his face (like he just scored a touchdown) and said, "I just got paid for my first survey and they deposited it into my account that I have with them."

I thought, wow, maybe he can actually make a little extra money. After all, if he's this excited, it must be decent pay.

It took him 20 minutes to do the survey and he made ... (you should go potty before you read further) ... a whole $0.10!!!!! :::::: So he basically made $0.30 per hour (imagine a federal employee working a side job making $0.30 per hour!: What a sarcastic goofball! But he's my goofball!

At least we have not lost our sense of humor!

You should look into market research companies. I live near Columbus, OH & I am on a list for a company who conducts market research (Columbus Research). Basically they conduct in-person surverys with big groups of people on a regular basis. They call me all the time to see if I or one of the memebrs of my family will qualify to take part in a survery. Usually they call me to ask questions about me or my family's use of certain products (laundry detergent, use of coffee, diapers, etc). The gist of it is if you qualify to participate in a survey you can normally earn about $75-$150 for an hour or two of your time. It's decent money, if you can do some research yourself & get on some lists for them to call you. So google your area & see if you can find some companies who conduct market research near you.

[marycragers]

The daycare's around here are doing okay. Curriculum is being updated and many of the parents are chipping in to provide snacks and craft materials. The biggest problem we have had is maintaining the school playground equipment. It's only five years old, but it's already rusting and one of the stairs to the slides is broken. The problem is there has never been any money in the budget to maintain the playground equipment.

[professionalmom]

Update

Well, it looks like things may be turning around. We have a land contract on our house, which basically means that we own it, but instead of a regular mortgage company or bank being the mortgage holder, it's the previous owner. In this case, the previous owner is a non-profit organization that buys home in struggling neighborhoods, guts them, and rebuilds them from the basement to the roof. Then they sell them to families that they feel will take good care of them. It's basically part of the neighborhood revitalization project. We were very lucky to find a house this great, basically new, and for the low cost.

So we talked to the organization that holds the mortgage and they said not to worry about the payment this month at all. They will be talking with the head of the organization about possible ways to help us during this difficult time. Basically, would rather work with us than foreclose on us. THANK GOD!

So every bill (other than the house payment) is paid! And I had enough left over to stock the refrigerator and splurge on 3 new pairs of maternity underwear and a belly support band, since I'm having twins and my waist is expanding rapidly and I am having a lot of round ligament pain from the extra weight. And I'm only going to get bigger over the next 4-5 months! So, I feel guilty for splurging on myself, but it really is almost a need. Oddly, I am still at a -8 lbs for this pregnancy, but you'd swear I have gained at least 20 with how big my belly is getting. So the weight has shifted from other areas to right in front and it's pulling on my muscles. Ouch!!

We also got a strawberry cake mix for DD's birthday and the in-laws are buying DD her Pillow Pet for us to give her for her birthday next month.

Also, I have a very promising interview tonight, one tomorrow, and one Monday. I hope to land at least 2 of them. That would get us out of crisis mode, so we don't have to stress about next month. If I get all of them (yeah right, you ladies know the odds), it would allow us to maybe put a little back into the savings that we wiped out. So, fingers crossed and still praying, but at least we have hope again.

Thank you all for your prayers and offers to help. We never wanted actual help, just advice and trust me, we took as much of that advice as we could and ran with it! Hopefully, we can get a little more sleep now.

[Golden Rule]

Yay!!!!! This is awesome news!!!!!

[Tripletmom]

I'm new to this group, just joined today, but I couldn't not reply to your post. I have BTDT, and am thinking of you and praying for you and your family. Congrats on the twin pregnancy!!!

A few months after my triplets were born, my husband was laid off for 8 months. It was so horrible! We had to live on our CC's to survive. WIC, food pantry's, adopted by MOST (Mothers of Supertwins), etc, was a huge help too. We are still paying off the debt and my triplets are 8!

Here are some of the things I do to help make ends meet (besides home daycare):
I sell stuff on Craig's List and Ebay.
I sell handmade items on my Etsy site. (vinyl stickers and greeting cards)
I work evenings in the church daycare.
I offer parents nights out to my friends and family. They are HUGE and parents want me to add more nights. LOL

I also am part of a local M.O.M group (Mothers of Multiples). I have been since my triplets were born. They are a wonderful group of women, very caring and supportive. I get out of what I put in - times 10! I hope you join a MOM group close to you, not only for the networking, but for the wonderful friends you are bound to make.


Liana

[Janet]

It's good to hear that the tide is turning!

I thought about you quite a bit this week and I'm glad to hear that things are starting to look up for you My hope is that it continues for you!!! I will keep you in my thoughts!