Topic : Living on One Income

They have a freecycle.org in New
Buller District
Christchurch
Dunedin
Feilding
Gisborne
Gore
Hamilton
Hastings
Invercargill
Kaipara
Kapiti Coast
Kerikeri
Manurewa
Masterton
Nelson
New Plymouth
Rotorua
Taupo
Tauranga
Thames (Thames/Coromandel/Hauraki Plains)
Timaru
Waiheke Island
Wellington

e.g. Tucson, Arizona
 Results per page: 10 25 50
Zealand here's the link get stuff for free and sell it!

I get very frustrated when I watch the show and there is a couple whining and complaining about how bad they have it  when they are living in a 700 thousand dollar house, driving new expensive cars and wearing designer clothes. Please get real! That is not how it is for most Americans. You are not Donald Trump, if you don't have the bucks you can't live like you do! My husband and I have been married for twenty-three years and for most of that time I have been a stay at home mom. It has not always been easy but we felt that it was important that I be at home with our children. Due to the public schools not being very good in the area that we lived I home schooled our boys. During that time I supplemented our income by keeping children in our home and by tutoring elementary children in the afternoon. When our oldest son was in the eighth grade and our youngest in the fourth we moved to our current location in order for my husband to go back to school. This being a small country town the schools were much better so off to school my sons went. Both sons now in school and my husband a full-time student, I looked for work. I didn't have much luck. I was told it had been to long since I had worked a Real job. They didn't believe that  being a household finance manager (on a very limited budget), a cook, a maid, a chauffeur, a secretary, a nurse or a teacher was sufficient  experience to answer their phone. So I had to do something else, I went to the local library and checked out every book they had on antiques and collectibles. I started going to auctions and yard sales looking for my treasures. You would be surprised what you can find. I bought, cleaned up and resold on E-Bay. What didn't sell on E-bay I took to auction. This has really helped us out  for the last few years. My husband finished his education and now teaches 7th grade math. Teachers do not make very much so sorry to say our income is still low. My E-bay business is also very slow right now due to the economy people aren't buying to many extras. I am once again looking for work. With one son in college (thankfully he received a full scholarship) and one in high school we really need some extra income. Some other things that I have done through the years that has really helped are buying most of our clothes and many other items at yard sales, thrift stores and auctions. We watch what we buy at the store and try to never pay full retail for anything. My husband drives a Ford Focus and I drive a paid for 167,000mi Chevy. As of present we do not own a home, we rent a three bedroom, one bath brick house for 500.00 a month ( we were blessed to find at that price). My college age son moved into an apartment this year. We completely furnished it by going to yard sales and auctions, and believe me its not furnished with junk. We are your average American family just trying to make ends meet, times may be tough but we are happy! I truly believe that its not what you have but what you do with it that matters! I know that there are two types of people in this world- givers and takers. Takers may sometimes eat better but givers always sleep better. I want to be remembered as a giver!

I have been doing that and it's great. Just be careful you get the coupons with the "bars" on them or the stores may not take them. I have had great luck. I just got a $5.00 coupon for the automatic shower cleaner (off the scrubbing bubbles website), checked the store, and it's only $3.98 in the store, wonder if I will get any money back?! Make sure you go directly to the websites themselves also they always want your business you just have to buy before they expire, but there are usually coupons for EVERYTHING you could want. Just takes time.  So, give it a go! Good Luck everyone!!!!

You're story sounds eerily similar to my own! Are you sure we aren't related? You go girl, keep it up! Stay the course and you will be better for it. I don't think that the people that have the most appreciate it either.

A little poverty is good for the soul.  JG

You can usually check w/ verify.com if it's printable to make sure that it's agood coupon. hotcouponworld.com lists nearly every deal imaginable and has a huge coupon database. I love the fact that they are very above board and will not tolerate discussion of anything fraudulent, so you're pretty safe with the coupons that are available there...because they're mod certified. I've been making out pretty good with rolling the Glade catalinas this month. Nearly every store has them

I think that yes we do get ahead of ourselfs but the pros always say get rid of that car or that house but how ?I can't sell my car it's so upside down I will never get right.  No  company can help I can't undo what I've done so why does It always sound like it's a walk in the park when their giving advise to someone who is trying to hold it together.  You tell me...........How??????

I totally agree with you. I have never even lived close to the lifestyle that some of these people do. I,ve pinched pennies all my life. Yes, I married way too young and didn,t finish school, but I got my GED, went to work, then nursing school with four kids under ten. I worked part time, went to school 5 days a week and still did everything at home without my husbands help, who by the way, is my ex husband today. I,ve never had alot of money, having 4 kids to raise, but I,ve also never known what its like making $100,000 a year and living in a huge house with huge bills either. I,m a widow now and my kids are grown and gone. I,m retired and live on a little over a $1000 a month. With everything going up, I barely survive, so I wouldn,t know how to act living in a $700,000 house. I find it hard to feel sorry for these people who have basically lived on credit cards most of their lives and now wonder why their in trouble. I,ve seen this coming for years. In fact, its happening in my own family. My sister lives in Calif., has always made good wages, but they have always used credit cards for everything. Now she,s 64, in bad health and paying almost what I make a month just trying to pay them off. I figure she will be a very old lady before that happens. I think I,ll keep my $1000 monthly check and my old 94 van.

I'm single, it is a financial struggle.  I love my flat but wonder whether taking in a lodger would help financially? But, how would I feel with a 'stranger' in my space and to share my space with?