Updates - it's been awhile
Life in September - the condensed version, to date.
So - we have work! I am working in the Impress Copy Center of OfficeMax. I worked for the company in 2007, but was spending so much money on gas and infant daycare, that it wasn't worth it. However, with the prospect of no income, it was time to go back to work, since Red's prospects weren't hopeful at the time. I applied for the local store (5 minutes down the road) - and found out that the supervisor I had at the old store was now the manager of THIS store. He remembered me, and thought I would do an excellent job in the Copy Center. So - yay, me! I'm actually making more per hour than Red - but it isn't likely I'll get as many hours.
Red also has work now. He's working for a private security company. His current assignment is overnight security at an office building downtown. This is both good and bad. It's his first week of doing the work, so he's still adjusting to a night schedule. Part of the schedule works well, since we still only have one working car - I take it during the day, and he takes it at night. However, it means that he is in charge of watching Aurora during the day, and getting Bean from the bus-stop after school. So - his sleep schedule is messed up. But we'll figure it out, and if we can avoid paying childcare for the short-term, so much the better. The company he works for has no problem with paying overtime, and will schedule him as much as he wants. This should help jump start our finances.
Red is also applying for an Assistant Manager job at OfficeMax. He had applied to the same store earlier in the year, but there was a lot of confusion, and it didn't work out. However, things have changed, and the position is open again. This is the store closest to our house AFTER the one I work at, which is good. If he is in management, we couldn't work at the same store, anyway. He had a really good interview on Wednesday, and has another one with a different person today - so not much sleep for him today :( - but if the offer is right, it would really help us out, although we'll have to figure out childcare at that point. We figured out what they would have to offer to pay more than the security job (once childcare was included), and at the first interview, while the person didn't mention an exact salary, it was certainly in the range that would make it a better deal. It's nice that he has the first job, so that he can compare any offer to it, and the situation falls through, it's not an 'all or nothing' situation.
EDIT: His interview went really well. He was recommended for the job by both people he's seen, and the person today thought that Red could move into a store manager position quickly in the company. Crossed fingers and knock on wood!
Bean is doing much better in school this week. Last week he had 2 horrible meltdowns that resulted in In School Suspension. The school initiated an 'intervention' with us - so of course, now he's doing much better! While I hope that his good behavior continues - if there is something wrong, it'd be nice to know about it. They did a hearing test yesterday - he heard the beeps, but we haven't gotten the results back yet. They also are going to have him talk to a psychologist, I think. Red and I think that if there is a problem, it is probably more stress related, rather than a developmental problem. If so, counseling/cognitive behavior therapy might be really good for him. We'll see how it works out - but so far, it's been good this week (knock on wood).
We are in the process of getting the kids enrolled in CHIP healthcare. They have the paperwork - now it's a matter of approval/denial/more information. This will really help if we need to arrange for medical tests for either of them, plus well-child checkups, etc.
Because of our lack of money, we are trying to get into the government 'Mortgage Modification' program. We have the paperwork, but we may have to delay sending it to get our new paystubs for the new jobs. If it works out and we can make the trial period payments, our loan might be permanently modified with a lower interest rate, or something similar. Of course - if we can get our finances back on track, we shouldn't have any problems paying our mortgage.
The Explorer is the last priority on our list. We have a quote from our local mechanic for about $2K to cover the parts and labor. If the part is still available, it would be a 60K engine, instead of our 116K engine (yay!) - but they can't do 'layaway', and we have to get everything else done first. The car is still working (except the a/c compressor), so that's the vehicle of choice for right now. If our schedules get too crazy, I can also ride the bus to work - it's literally down the main street, and the bus takes about 5 minutes between the stop by our house and the stop in front of the store.
So - we are scraping the bottom of the barrel at this moment, although Red's first paycheck will be ready at noon. I may get a check for 8 hrs of work this week - or a REALLY big check in 3 weeks. He may also get a last unemployment check - which will really help tide us over.
So - that's our finances in a nut-shell. We are surviving, and the rain brought us the change we needed. Thank you for all the good wishes and encouragement - 'You like me, you really like me!' and all of that :)
So - we have work! I am working in the Impress Copy Center of OfficeMax. I worked for the company in 2007, but was spending so much money on gas and infant daycare, that it wasn't worth it. However, with the prospect of no income, it was time to go back to work, since Red's prospects weren't hopeful at the time. I applied for the local store (5 minutes down the road) - and found out that the supervisor I had at the old store was now the manager of THIS store. He remembered me, and thought I would do an excellent job in the Copy Center. So - yay, me! I'm actually making more per hour than Red - but it isn't likely I'll get as many hours.
Red also has work now. He's working for a private security company. His current assignment is overnight security at an office building downtown. This is both good and bad. It's his first week of doing the work, so he's still adjusting to a night schedule. Part of the schedule works well, since we still only have one working car - I take it during the day, and he takes it at night. However, it means that he is in charge of watching Aurora during the day, and getting Bean from the bus-stop after school. So - his sleep schedule is messed up. But we'll figure it out, and if we can avoid paying childcare for the short-term, so much the better. The company he works for has no problem with paying overtime, and will schedule him as much as he wants. This should help jump start our finances.
Red is also applying for an Assistant Manager job at OfficeMax. He had applied to the same store earlier in the year, but there was a lot of confusion, and it didn't work out. However, things have changed, and the position is open again. This is the store closest to our house AFTER the one I work at, which is good. If he is in management, we couldn't work at the same store, anyway. He had a really good interview on Wednesday, and has another one with a different person today - so not much sleep for him today :( - but if the offer is right, it would really help us out, although we'll have to figure out childcare at that point. We figured out what they would have to offer to pay more than the security job (once childcare was included), and at the first interview, while the person didn't mention an exact salary, it was certainly in the range that would make it a better deal. It's nice that he has the first job, so that he can compare any offer to it, and the situation falls through, it's not an 'all or nothing' situation.
EDIT: His interview went really well. He was recommended for the job by both people he's seen, and the person today thought that Red could move into a store manager position quickly in the company. Crossed fingers and knock on wood!
Bean is doing much better in school this week. Last week he had 2 horrible meltdowns that resulted in In School Suspension. The school initiated an 'intervention' with us - so of course, now he's doing much better! While I hope that his good behavior continues - if there is something wrong, it'd be nice to know about it. They did a hearing test yesterday - he heard the beeps, but we haven't gotten the results back yet. They also are going to have him talk to a psychologist, I think. Red and I think that if there is a problem, it is probably more stress related, rather than a developmental problem. If so, counseling/cognitive behavior therapy might be really good for him. We'll see how it works out - but so far, it's been good this week (knock on wood).
We are in the process of getting the kids enrolled in CHIP healthcare. They have the paperwork - now it's a matter of approval/denial/more information. This will really help if we need to arrange for medical tests for either of them, plus well-child checkups, etc.
Because of our lack of money, we are trying to get into the government 'Mortgage Modification' program. We have the paperwork, but we may have to delay sending it to get our new paystubs for the new jobs. If it works out and we can make the trial period payments, our loan might be permanently modified with a lower interest rate, or something similar. Of course - if we can get our finances back on track, we shouldn't have any problems paying our mortgage.
The Explorer is the last priority on our list. We have a quote from our local mechanic for about $2K to cover the parts and labor. If the part is still available, it would be a 60K engine, instead of our 116K engine (yay!) - but they can't do 'layaway', and we have to get everything else done first. The car is still working (except the a/c compressor), so that's the vehicle of choice for right now. If our schedules get too crazy, I can also ride the bus to work - it's literally down the main street, and the bus takes about 5 minutes between the stop by our house and the stop in front of the store.
So - we are scraping the bottom of the barrel at this moment, although Red's first paycheck will be ready at noon. I may get a check for 8 hrs of work this week - or a REALLY big check in 3 weeks. He may also get a last unemployment check - which will really help tide us over.
So - that's our finances in a nut-shell. We are surviving, and the rain brought us the change we needed. Thank you for all the good wishes and encouragement - 'You like me, you really like me!' and all of that :)