Locked in and living frugally this fall
By Kristen Howe
@KristenH (33591)
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
August 6, 2021 6:24pm CST
Three weeks ago, I received my voucher packet via mail. If I wanted to move, I had until before Thanksgiving, plus a 60-day extension. I knew I was stuck since I was locked in for another year when I signed my lease renewal for a final year in late June. So I asked my landlady if they accept vouchers. She said no they never did. But she told me two apartments under the same management as my apartments did that was located in another town. One was like the one I saw and passed in May (too small) and the other was for seniors only (not elgible). So I passed on both of them.
I didn't bother mentioning it to my brother since he told me to give it up in June. And in a way, I might have to. The timing was off after waiting one long year for it. I've talked to my housing specialist at my local housing authority twice about it. She said if my landlady said no, I can't do anything with my voucher, other than to let it expire and reapply for next year. I did last week, a year from here, I would get the voucher and hopefully plan to move by starting my search early like in April next year.
Since my budget would be hurting and pinched in 3 weeks due to the rental increase, I would be living frugally just to make ends meet every month. I talked to my social worker at Aetna about this last month. She sent me information via mail about local resources for paying rent and utilities when I really need help on cable costs. She mentioned the Emergency Broadcast Benefit and to contact Spectrum. I did last month. But it wasn't much help. Since I have the legacy package before the merger, the $50 would add more to my monthly cost and wouldn't work for it. I only manage to remove the Epix channel since I rarely watch it and saved $10 off my bill. I'm planning to call them next week and tell them all the channels I don't watch/need like Nick at Night and TVLand and see if I can downgrade my bundle by removing them if possible. My social worker also mentioned the Lifeline Phone Program when I'll get a free Smartphone if I'm approved for it. I haven't heard anything back from them other than the same information on the EBB. So I get I don't qualify for it anyway.
After this month, I also plan to put a hold on using Shipt and Instacart for extra groceries I can't get at Acme, and skip dinner deliveries from Postmates and DoorDash for awhile. (If I win a gift card from Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, Crowdtap, and/orCheckout 51, then I'll be able to do it again.) I know living on my SSI isn't enough to make meets. Other than my Stim money, my savings, and unused money from my father in cash, it's enough for emergencies yet alone. So I've thought of looking for work again. It would
be tricky since I haven't looked for a job and used my resume in a couple of years, plus my age would be an issue. I've tried to apply for a job at my local Acme as a personal shopper. It would be ideal since it's only 7 minutes away from here. But I couldn't get a way around the job history portion of the online application and couldn't leave it blank. I didn't have a recent job either. So I mentioned this to a church friend last week--she said to try volunteering to fill the gap (something I haven't done in a long time too), and wait for the right moment at another time. So today, I've applied to three places when I didn't have to worry about that portion of the application. It'll be for part-time work as a crew member at Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar and Tropical Smoothie and a barista at Starbuck's. Pulp and Starbuck's are located on the same street in my hometown, but too far to walk. And Tropical Smoothie is at the nearest town from where I live. I'll give it a shot and see how it goes. If they pass, that's okay. If I do hear back, then that'll make my day for sure. If I hear anything from these job applications this month, I'll let you know.
Have you ever lived frugally before? Any money-saved tips for me on a frugal budget? Have you ever worked or been to Starbuck's, Pulp Juice and Tropical Smoothie before?
Sorry if this post is a bit long. Thanks for letting me share this rant.
8 people like this
7 responses
@RasmaSandra (98129)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Aug 21
I live frugally all the time, I get what I need once a month and try to make it all last, Then if I need something extra I order from Amazon say 6 or 12 cans of something, Other than that what I have is what I have and if I plan it right for as long as the five kittens here stay with me I know I can get kitten food cheaper from Chewy that should take care of us all,
2 people like this
@kaylachan (84908)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Aug 21
I don't shop at those places, nor do I use delivary. It's cheeper to go to the store, yourself if you can then it is to get food delivered. You have to do what's right for you, though. Personally, I would cut the cord completely, invest in a smart player, and watch t.v. on streeming channels. You wouldn't have a cable bill and local channels like the news, streem live on a lot of free streaming services. In this way, you only pay for the cost of the internet a month and only watch what you want, when you want. Best decision I ever made by cutting the cable cord.
Go through all your expenceses and see where you can cut costs, too.
2 people like this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
9 Aug 21
I would keep that in mind if I need to and can't downgrade my cable bundle. I don't think I have that many expenses to cut or downgrade.
@snowy22315 (209177)
• United States
7 Aug 21
I haven't but have you ever worked in a restaurant before? It is hard work and is frequently stressful. What about volunteering in a library, and seeing if you can get in there PT somehow?
1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (209177)
• United States
9 Aug 21
@KristenH There is nothing easy about restaurant work.
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@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
8 Aug 21
No, I haven't really, but I once looked for hospitality-type of jobs when I had a job coach eons ago. But doing hostess work or being a juice/smoothie/coffee barista seems to be the easiest in the field to make smoothies and juice and coffees, even if I work PT for 4 hours in the afternoon after the lunch crowd. As for the library, I could try again, though I once worked there as a page for six months, eight years ago, before I had my heart surgery and lost my job there due to a work-related issue. Not sure if I want to go through that type of job again.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
14 Aug 21
@snowy22315 True. My cousin said hosting was stressful. So I passed on them and looked for work at my local gym's cafe as a team member and my local ice cream shop as an ice cream scooper. I also contacted every single store and shop downtown this week and asked them if they were hiring. Some responded, some didn't.
1 person likes this

@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
28 Sep 21
Frugality must be a way of life. Anything in excess is not necessary.
Definitely a difficult time for you. Find a work in congruence with your nature as a person. That will make you happy. Engaging in a job just for the pay will soon bore you.
If you like writing, perhaps mentoring could be for your. Children do need good teachers.
Your 'rant' post is good writing.
1 person likes this

@eileenleyva (27555)
• Philippines
3 Oct 21
@KristenH You write well. Perhaps if you write your experiences and send the articles to magazines and papers...
My daughter's friend sent an article to our local paper from London. It got printed. Not much but the young lady was so surprised that she thought of it as a start of something good.
But your churchmate gave you an advice par excellence. In volunteering comes opportunities we could not have thought of.
Here's hoping you find a job soon enough.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
4 Oct 21
@eileenleyva Thanks. I don't know about that or if it would interest them. Yes I agree. I've known her for a little over 7 years. And we're going to celebrate later this week to go to lunch. I agree. I did plan to volunteer at my local park this week--but it was canceled since they finished early and ran out of supplies last week. This sub job is as good as it gets until I can find something seasonal.
1 person likes this

@prashu228 (37518)
• India
7 Aug 21
Hope you get the things sorted out soon..
Frugal living in good..
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
9 Aug 21
It's the only option to make ends meet. Me too. It would take time before Labor Day weekend.
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
9 Aug 21
Yeah. So many options. I can use my Upwork freelance jobs to fill in the work history gap and apply for Acme's personal shopper and for hostess jobs for restaurants located downtown. I hope so before Labor Day Weekend. Thanks Carol.
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