Good point, MWM! Thank you! Thank you all for the advice!
DDD, we're fine as far as meeting needs financially (food, bills, etc) but things are tight trying to cover costs of car needs and things we want- that forum and clothes for it, etc. I had taken my clothes to the laundromat then realized they only charge $1/pound to wash, fluff, and fold or hang them up so I started doing that. That worked fine when it was just my light-weight clothes for work plus a pair of jeans and a couple of towels. It saved me a lot more at home because I didn't have to buy laundry detergent and my electric and water bills went wayyyyy down. With E home and having bigger, heavier clothes, it's costing more like $25 per week so I'm thinking it's not so cost effective anymore. It has helped this past week though because I've been more than slammed for time.
Now that I need to think about credit score improving and getting a with-D in the house but still having a balloon payment due in a few weeks for him to go to this forum, I thought I could use the with-D to improve credit and make payments, then maybe do the same thing for living room tables (which is all that's left needed as far as primary furniture), then the next goal would be a car toward the end of this year.
I hadn't thought about getting a CC and using that for the with-D but that would be best because it does more for raising creadit scores (I think) plus that would allow me to buy a scratch and dent set or used set, which would even be more cost effective.
I was able to buy E a new queen mattress set, bed frame, bed linens, pillows, & comforter, shelves for clothes (they are in 1/2 of his large closet), a desk, chair, night table, a small stand with shelf & cabinet for a small tv I had saved, some clothes & shoes, school supplies (not much was needed) and pay school fees for about $1000 so that went well. I knew it was coming so had prepared for that.
He's being great as far as helping to keep costs low- which is tons different than how he used to be. He's eating one regular lunch at school instead of 2 every day, even though he's always had breakfast, dinner, and snacks available at home. He's helping to make sure no food bought goes to waste and isn't asking for everything under the sun at the store. He's been so good I'm afraid to jinx it, honestly. We've even had an arguement and survived it without going anywhere close to crisis mode. No matter what might happen in the future, I thank God I have had every one of these days with my son. I guess all that is Occupational Therapist (OT) but just wanted to express it.
