tootall
5-18-12, 12:46pm
Hello,
My name is Joe and I am 28 years old, married with a 6 month old boy, mortgage and two dogs. This is my attempt at an introduction and also an offering of my knowladge that I have.
My story:(May 2011) My wife of 7 years and I had finally gotten pregnant after multiple 1st trimester miscarriges. The boy was doing fine and Mama worked at a local Childrens Clinic that is Doctor owned, best place to work ever!! Regular bonuses, contributes to her 401K, low low stress and everyone is there for the kids and it truly shows that they love what they do. However there is not as much money being in a job that you enjoy as there would be in a job that is stressfull and crazy, but decent pay and good health insurance.
My job as a Diesel Mechanic was great paying, decent health care and a incredibly horrible place to work. Besides beating my self up on the job as a heavy equipment, log truck and school bus mechanic, I helped train two managers my own age that had no experience what so ever. Add to that the fact I was low man on the Totem Pole I got all the worst jobs and was constantly passed over for pay increases and the senior mechanic just loved making life for everyone misserable...me especially. The last boss asked me if I slept with his ex-wife? Or what I did to earn the constant hasseling...but some people are just that way! So at the end of it the branch was shut down because the practices were incredibly unfit in regards to the EPA and contamination, along with the manager never wanting to take the position and the economic down turn effecting us about 2-3 years later than everybody else. So I was layed off on 9-2-11 and that was fine since I hated the job and was already looking for an out from that place and the "for profit" mechanic because they payed me $20.90 and charged out $116.75 per hr when I billed, but still complained that I over-repaired. At the end I figure that I was trained for 7 years and left there with multiple certificates and the ability to rebuild diesel engines as a journeyman level.
So on 9-9-11 I bought an old PUD service body truck and started my own business. Too Tall's Truck mobile repair service, it seemed like a good fit since all my customers were still in the area and never wanted to afford the dealer costs for the maintenence or repairs. So I was able to take advantage of WA states Self Emplolyment Assistance Program and draw my unemployment while I started my business. It is alot of work and effort to even think of breaking even with costs let alone become proffitable, but I figured I would give it a go and could always take a steady job if one arose, but never again for a "for profit" corperation that kept me inside of an exclusivity clause (keeping me from helping my self on the side).
So on 10-19-11 my wife was put on bed rest because of low amniotic fluid. On 10-21-11 she was summoned to Seattle Swedish Hospital for bed rest and 24 hour observation!!! There goes income number two! The best part of that all is that her employer paid for her medical insurance just the same as if she was working full time. So after 20 days of bedrest with bathroom privilages (after the nurse came and unhooked the baby's moniter leads) I went to an interview for a good job as School Bus mechanic, on my way over to visit my wife I got the denial call. Next morning at 8am the nurse came running into the hospital room and moved my wife around because the boy's heart rate was dropped and not returning (laying on his cord in his small appartment). 20 minutes later he was out via emergency C-section, which was way better than a helicopter flight, we just changed rooms on the same floor.
So Alden James O***** was born 11-9-11 at 1 lbs 15 oz and 13.5" at a date of 27 weeks and 6 days....91 days too early! Our income was now low enough that we qualified for an appartment near the hospital since our son was on Medicaid, which was great for my wife. She spent the time at the hospital in the NICU or ISCU and our son did great for 125 days and got to come home!
Within 2 weeks we realized that my wife needed to go back to work to bring in some more income as our family was very charitable during the winter and we made it barely...so we did as much trimming as possible financially. We sold her Saturn and my business has a Yukon and F250 both of which I use regurlarly for work and for boyo transport but the insurance is $2000 per year for full coverage on the Yukon, liability on the F250 and tool coverage as well as liability insurance, so it is not very costly.
We were already planning on me taking full-time care of our son once he came home since my wife had a job to go back to and I have work when I schedule it. So for me to keep busy I would spend lots of time and maybe get the work since repairs are after fauilres normally!
So at one point we had over $1000 per month going towards insurance and auto loans, now we have $120 payments on our 1997 Yukon that is a business asset.
No piped in TV, DVD's and Hulu Plus but internet cost is around $55 with business office line.
Cell phones are $130 which kills me since I use Wifi on my iPhone anyways but have to pay for a data plan. Which I would do away with in a second but as a mobile repair service I have to have a cell phone so customers can contact me.
We are trying to modify our mortgage which isn't bad at 6.125% fixed for 30 years, but since I was laid off we are dealing with underwriters to see if we can get it modified. Current 1st and HELOC payments $1300 per month... we did the super smart thing of getting a $43k HELOC and clearing all our debt up, then buying newer cars and trucks and getting back into debt!! Now 3 years later we are trimmed back down to where we were right after the HELOC was dispursed.
We don't eat out except for the rare trip to "Frugal's" a drive thru only burger joint that makes them like you would at home for $1.39 for a plain 1/4 lb burger which can still get into the $15 range for us two but I burn two burgers easily so it is pretty cost effective splurge. Other than that I clean up at Albertsons with the "reduced for quick sale" meat and freeze it or cook it right away. Other than that food is our highest expense.
Our utility bill is a consistant $250 year round and we can't improve on that without investing in more effecient windows, we do burn firewood in the winter to help.
We have never taken a vacation trip since we have been married in 2006 when we went to Las Vegas for the ceramony. I would rather go on road trips with our son than fly anywhere...I hate excessive amounts of people.
I have taken a major change in my mindset the last year or so...from having cool things to having what I need. I set my hourly charge out rate at $65 and a $45 destination charge to get me to the customers, so I feel it is reasonable and "enough" which is all that I need to cover my costs. But I am trying like crazy to think of other ways to save money.
-we buy diapers at COSTCO because the inital investment of cloth diapers is rediculous and the labor involved is more than we want to invest
-we buy baby wipes because they are cheap and easy when compared to making them out of Bounty rolls
-we can't afford to buy organic foods over normal foods
-we eat very little processed foods since they have very little satity, and the whole potatoe fills you better than a package of mashed
-neither one of us drink alchohol (I used to drink MacNaughtons at $24 1/2 gallon so I was frugal right)
-we buy at COSTCO whenever we can to buy in bulk
I have read lots of those "Save Money Tips" and we pretty much do them. But I am wanting a Stand Mixer and feel that could help save money on bread, cookies, and make food prep alot easier...been wanting for 8 months now just picking the right version.
Long rant...rant off....and Hello!
My name is Joe and I am 28 years old, married with a 6 month old boy, mortgage and two dogs. This is my attempt at an introduction and also an offering of my knowladge that I have.
My story:(May 2011) My wife of 7 years and I had finally gotten pregnant after multiple 1st trimester miscarriges. The boy was doing fine and Mama worked at a local Childrens Clinic that is Doctor owned, best place to work ever!! Regular bonuses, contributes to her 401K, low low stress and everyone is there for the kids and it truly shows that they love what they do. However there is not as much money being in a job that you enjoy as there would be in a job that is stressfull and crazy, but decent pay and good health insurance.
My job as a Diesel Mechanic was great paying, decent health care and a incredibly horrible place to work. Besides beating my self up on the job as a heavy equipment, log truck and school bus mechanic, I helped train two managers my own age that had no experience what so ever. Add to that the fact I was low man on the Totem Pole I got all the worst jobs and was constantly passed over for pay increases and the senior mechanic just loved making life for everyone misserable...me especially. The last boss asked me if I slept with his ex-wife? Or what I did to earn the constant hasseling...but some people are just that way! So at the end of it the branch was shut down because the practices were incredibly unfit in regards to the EPA and contamination, along with the manager never wanting to take the position and the economic down turn effecting us about 2-3 years later than everybody else. So I was layed off on 9-2-11 and that was fine since I hated the job and was already looking for an out from that place and the "for profit" mechanic because they payed me $20.90 and charged out $116.75 per hr when I billed, but still complained that I over-repaired. At the end I figure that I was trained for 7 years and left there with multiple certificates and the ability to rebuild diesel engines as a journeyman level.
So on 9-9-11 I bought an old PUD service body truck and started my own business. Too Tall's Truck mobile repair service, it seemed like a good fit since all my customers were still in the area and never wanted to afford the dealer costs for the maintenence or repairs. So I was able to take advantage of WA states Self Emplolyment Assistance Program and draw my unemployment while I started my business. It is alot of work and effort to even think of breaking even with costs let alone become proffitable, but I figured I would give it a go and could always take a steady job if one arose, but never again for a "for profit" corperation that kept me inside of an exclusivity clause (keeping me from helping my self on the side).
So on 10-19-11 my wife was put on bed rest because of low amniotic fluid. On 10-21-11 she was summoned to Seattle Swedish Hospital for bed rest and 24 hour observation!!! There goes income number two! The best part of that all is that her employer paid for her medical insurance just the same as if she was working full time. So after 20 days of bedrest with bathroom privilages (after the nurse came and unhooked the baby's moniter leads) I went to an interview for a good job as School Bus mechanic, on my way over to visit my wife I got the denial call. Next morning at 8am the nurse came running into the hospital room and moved my wife around because the boy's heart rate was dropped and not returning (laying on his cord in his small appartment). 20 minutes later he was out via emergency C-section, which was way better than a helicopter flight, we just changed rooms on the same floor.
So Alden James O***** was born 11-9-11 at 1 lbs 15 oz and 13.5" at a date of 27 weeks and 6 days....91 days too early! Our income was now low enough that we qualified for an appartment near the hospital since our son was on Medicaid, which was great for my wife. She spent the time at the hospital in the NICU or ISCU and our son did great for 125 days and got to come home!
Within 2 weeks we realized that my wife needed to go back to work to bring in some more income as our family was very charitable during the winter and we made it barely...so we did as much trimming as possible financially. We sold her Saturn and my business has a Yukon and F250 both of which I use regurlarly for work and for boyo transport but the insurance is $2000 per year for full coverage on the Yukon, liability on the F250 and tool coverage as well as liability insurance, so it is not very costly.
We were already planning on me taking full-time care of our son once he came home since my wife had a job to go back to and I have work when I schedule it. So for me to keep busy I would spend lots of time and maybe get the work since repairs are after fauilres normally!
So at one point we had over $1000 per month going towards insurance and auto loans, now we have $120 payments on our 1997 Yukon that is a business asset.
No piped in TV, DVD's and Hulu Plus but internet cost is around $55 with business office line.
Cell phones are $130 which kills me since I use Wifi on my iPhone anyways but have to pay for a data plan. Which I would do away with in a second but as a mobile repair service I have to have a cell phone so customers can contact me.
We are trying to modify our mortgage which isn't bad at 6.125% fixed for 30 years, but since I was laid off we are dealing with underwriters to see if we can get it modified. Current 1st and HELOC payments $1300 per month... we did the super smart thing of getting a $43k HELOC and clearing all our debt up, then buying newer cars and trucks and getting back into debt!! Now 3 years later we are trimmed back down to where we were right after the HELOC was dispursed.
We don't eat out except for the rare trip to "Frugal's" a drive thru only burger joint that makes them like you would at home for $1.39 for a plain 1/4 lb burger which can still get into the $15 range for us two but I burn two burgers easily so it is pretty cost effective splurge. Other than that I clean up at Albertsons with the "reduced for quick sale" meat and freeze it or cook it right away. Other than that food is our highest expense.
Our utility bill is a consistant $250 year round and we can't improve on that without investing in more effecient windows, we do burn firewood in the winter to help.
We have never taken a vacation trip since we have been married in 2006 when we went to Las Vegas for the ceramony. I would rather go on road trips with our son than fly anywhere...I hate excessive amounts of people.
I have taken a major change in my mindset the last year or so...from having cool things to having what I need. I set my hourly charge out rate at $65 and a $45 destination charge to get me to the customers, so I feel it is reasonable and "enough" which is all that I need to cover my costs. But I am trying like crazy to think of other ways to save money.
-we buy diapers at COSTCO because the inital investment of cloth diapers is rediculous and the labor involved is more than we want to invest
-we buy baby wipes because they are cheap and easy when compared to making them out of Bounty rolls
-we can't afford to buy organic foods over normal foods
-we eat very little processed foods since they have very little satity, and the whole potatoe fills you better than a package of mashed
-neither one of us drink alchohol (I used to drink MacNaughtons at $24 1/2 gallon so I was frugal right)
-we buy at COSTCO whenever we can to buy in bulk
I have read lots of those "Save Money Tips" and we pretty much do them. But I am wanting a Stand Mixer and feel that could help save money on bread, cookies, and make food prep alot easier...been wanting for 8 months now just picking the right version.
Long rant...rant off....and Hello!