Current financial crisis

It's been really rough the past couple months as some of you know. Hubby's job is not paying what we need it to pay due to the heat here in the Midwest during July and August which means a lot less traffic. Plus Hubby has been having issues with his mood swings because his medication just wasn't working any longer. He went to see the doctor on the 22nd (so a little over a week ago), got put on insulin and cymbalta (for his depression and diabetic neuropathy). I'm sure the medication isn't quite up to it's full potential just yet, but he and I can both see a drastic improvement in all his issues already. In fact, he's sold 3 cars in the past 4 days...compared to 2.5 in the previous 3 weeks. So we're hopeful that it will only get better from there!

As to the current issues. We finally got the rent paid up for August, half paid today, the rest is being applied from our deposit (per our landlord's suggestion). He is expecting all of September's on the 9th, however, with the water due on the same day, unless Hubby has a great week, it won't happen. We did explain it to the landlord and he's ok with it as long as we keep current (as in, make sure September is paid before October). In addition, Joe put his foot down...or both feet in this case...and told the landlord that the bug issue has got to be taken care of however necessary since it is completely out of control, and the carpet in the living room has got to be replaced in September. Period. Landlord agreed to take care of it. Next on that agenda is the windows upstairs in the girls' room, and after that, the carpet in their room as well.

Further issues we're dealing with. The natural gas has been shut off for about a week or so. It's not so bad currently since the only thing that uses gas right now is the water heater. It would be a different story in the winter, but even then, we have the fireplace to keep us warm and we could invest in space heaters if necessary. I digress. We have all gotten used to cold showers, which are super quick, or heating water up on the stove to throw in the bathtub and sink (for dishes). This has definitely cut down on our water and sewage consumption, and might be something that we continue to do anyway (or just turn the temp down on the water heater LOL). At any rate, the natural gas hasn't been a big priority as we can actually live without it.

The other thing is our electricity. We've been unable to pay it this month while on a payment plan, and so they will shut us off next week unless we pay the past due amount by Friday. Not sure where we're coming up with the $500+ for this, but we have to do it somehow. Gas is one thing, but if we can't do laundry (we have no clothes line to use to dry), or cool the house, or cook, or keep foods from spoiling, we're screwed. We've called the Salvation Army to try to get assistance from them, unfortunately, so has everyone else and they are out of money. Same with Catholic Charities. LIHEAP is only available to apply for in January, so that's no help either. I'm looking into other options for this, but it looks like I might have to beg and plead with my family and hope someone has some money to loan us.

On a different (yet the same) note, I think I'm going to look into alternatives to typical electricity. There might be a way to get help with installing solar or wind power, and that would be so much cheaper for us in the long run. Also, I'm going to start investing in sensors for the lights, since nobody seems to be able to shut them off, plus nightlights for the upstairs to we aren't keeping lamps on in the girls' room or ours, or the bathroom (so Hubby can find his way to the potty room in the middle of the night). Finally, I'll be resetting the settings on all three computers to shut down after a certain time. TV and Xbox already do that, but not the computers. It must be done! :)