We've been making some big changes. Basically, we lost about 53% of our income with DH's job. While I would love for him to find another one (and he could) the opportunity for him to go to school full time and still receive unemployment and qualify for the Pell Grant is one of those opportunities that is too good to waste. I'm still uncomfortable with taking the unemployment, but I pull out my tax returns for the last 7 years and look at how much we paid in and remind myself this is what I helped pay for, I just always thought of it as a security net for
other people, not myself.
Anyway, I decided we needed to cut our basic living expenses. So far:
Netlflix reduced down to streaming only: Savings of $8/month
Phones reduced to regular phones (no data, limited texting, no smartphones): Savings of $120/month
Car insurance reduced to minimum (I don't particulary like this one, but in all honesty, the car is 13 years old with approx 125K miles on it and valued at $1250, carrying all the other stuff wasn't worth the money paid in vs. value if paid out): $39/month
I"m working with the student loan people to see if I can get a reduced payment, so fingers crossed on that one
Internet company changed: Savings of $43/month
Total saved off monthly budget: $210, with student loan still pending. $2500/year.
The only thing I haven't been able to change is the mortgage (of course) and utiltiies. We're on level pay for that one, so I'm hoping our diligence in water usage and electricity usage will pay off.
I'm hoping I can at least halve my student loan payment. They actually have a repayment option for 25 years now. I was physically ill for a moment thinking of paying my student loans for 25 years. I don't even know how long I have left to pay on mine since everything was screwed up when I was unemployed and I had to make some changes to it.
ETA: Spaces, since apparently the bullet option is just for a joke.