So I wanted to give a bumpdate (bump and update) on what's going on!
We are still in the hotel, we need an NJ DCA inspection followed by a standard CO Inspection. We hope to have those by Wednesday.
We have friends providing a Queen Frame for us, and another providing a couch set. Still, we are going to need to collect them, which means renting a moving van from Home Depot for $150/day (unlimited mileage vs U-Haul at $0.99/mile), which will also allow us to pick up a few things we found at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store (which is fucking awesome btw).
So many little things are popping up, like while we have some things in storage, I wasn't even thinking about multiple sheet/bedding sets so we can have one in the wash while the other is on the beds, or the fact that we need lighting in some of the rooms as they don't have celing fixtures like what I'm used to.
We are so excited to be moving, however, and we have started packing up our hotel room. It's funny how cluttered a single hotel room can get when you've been collecting clothes and small things for almost two years.
Beyond anything else, thank you to everyone that offered tips, suggestions and/or donations to our GoFundMe. You are all the best and have been so much of a help!
-HuGs-
Kirstyn, Aimee and the NinjaPotato - https://gofund.me/2468a5e3
P.S. Sorry for not updating sooner, but we've actually been sick all week. First, the ninjapotato had something, which he gave to me, and I was down and out for about 4-5 days, 3 of which I had a fever, and I still have a stupid cough!
--- Previous Post ---
After almost two years of living in small motels, we will soon be living n our own new home!
It’s a small apartment on the Jersey Shore! We will be in a tourist driven summer vacation area so the winters will be quiet and the summers will be wild. We are so close to the beach that one rental insurance company turned us down!
But thankfully I did find a broker that could underwrite us.
But after 18months of not having a home, we also don’t have any furniture!
We aren’t asking for much, and anything will help. Our goal is to be able to use marketplace and the restore and various agencies to be able to furnish two small bedrooms and a living room. We need beds, dressers, seating, etch and maybe a few small kitchen niceties to make cooking in our kitchen easier.
I can’t wait till I’m able to make Christmas Cookies with the NinjaPotato again or possibly making a whole Thanksgiving dinner again!
N-E-Ways, I’ve created a GoFundMe if people want to help us: https://gofund.me/2468a5e3
And for those of you that can’t help, please keep putting those good vibes out into the universe for us because it really feels like it’s working!
Thank you!
-Kirstyn, Aimee, and the NinjaPotato
Comments
Another resourse
You might want to look on Craig's list. You can sometimes find free stuff in quite usable condition;
https://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
So happy for you
Hi there. I've hung out here for a long, long time but rarely posted, and we've never spoken before, but I'm feeling a ton of joy for you.
Two years ago, I had my first ever panic attack when my sister called to tell me she and her husband were homeless. I knew they were on the edge but not how close. They endured 7 months of periodic cheap motels mixed with a lot of couch-surfing with friends (they had a car then, thankfully) before we got them housing through government assistance (we're in Canada). It was scary to me, 300 km away; I can hardly imagine how scary it is for you who have experienced it.
But to do it with kids... !! I've never met you but I know you are a master of resilience, ingenuity, and straight-up balls-out chutzpa.
Congratulations on your new home! I hope you keep the gofundme up for a while. I can't help right now, but I also can't help wanting to help in some way. In one or two months, I'll be able to send some support.
Good luck out there! You freakin' made it. Cheers to you!
Good luck in your new home.
I wish you all peace and love.
Angharad
I Suggest
That you buy new mattresses if you can. All the hard furniture can be thrift or used as long as in good condition.
Anyway, congratulations and good luck. I'm sure it will be a pleasure after motel rooms,
Joanne
YAAAAAY!!!! ... The "flip side" to money coming in ...
... is strangling the money going out.
Please have a look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO25TrVo_dU&t=2s
Yeah, some steps do not (yet) apply. But for sure, "Baby Steps" (Ramsey's name, not mine) one and two. Then #3 as fast as you can manage.
-
And yes, I ran this thru my own budget spreadsheets before sending "a few small coins".
===
I've spent the last 20 months getting our from under almost $5,000 in credit card debt. This was slowed by my car demanding $1,000, and then $1,100 in repairs. The $450 muffler is on-hold ("On Holed" ?), and then {mumble}.more in pending repairs.
I expect to zero-out the last ($500) CC this month or next.
Yaaay =Me=!
I Zeroed may last credit card balance!!!
This was on 8/21.
And since I have $1,000 "under the mattress", I have completed Ramsey's Baby Steps 1 & 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_RvHPL-3Zo.
I'm now 'officially' on "Baby Step 3", a 3-6 month emergency fund ... for me, that translates to me having enough to pay property taxes in one go, because two installments costs more than $100.
===
Hoping you can follow me as soon as you can!
Food, fridge/freezer, cookware, plate & utensils.
Food can be a Big Expense.
Anything you can scratch-prepare at home, then save extras for the next meal(s) will save you Big Bucks.
Here is what I can think of for "day one" on, and for, food. I tried to come up with the bare and least expensive minimums.
So refrigerator/freezer as soon as you can manage.
Eating out, carry-out, prepared/boxed/frozen meals from grocery stores - those will KILL your budget.
If Aldi's is close enough -er- ask around. the "Locals" will know better then me... they might be your best price on food. But compare prices for toiletries, drugs, bathroom stuff, paper goods. [1]
For prep: Minimum: one pot, one pan. You'll want a store-new cutting surface/board. Decent knife (Get, learn to use, a sharpening thingy; "next month". a honing steel), can opener, big stir spoon, "flipper"/spatula, maybe soup ladle.
For eating: One place setting (plate, bowl, drinking thing, knife, fork, spoon) each for the three of you. Rinse and wipe dry for next meal.
Check thrift and resale shops, maybe the "Dollar Store". (It's now the $1.25-$1.50 store.) from Dollar store: freezer-safe food containers. You'll want a store-new cutting surface/board. Don't buy 'coated' pans (ex: Teflon), regardless of condition. Best bet, stainless steel.
Again, I've tried to give the minimums. Then expand as dictated by needs and budget.
---
Paper towels ... When my -cotton- clothing and such is worn beyond use, I cut it into about 9x9 inch squares. Use them and toss in laundry.
I last bought paper towels in January.
Of 2017 ...
Good News!
Maybe I can come visit next year. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
YES! but not in the summer
YES! but not in the summer because it's way too crowded. More Wawa is in order!