We don't right now because it's $800 for just 2 people. I can't imagine what it would be for all 7 of us.

Not if he stayed in the same field. This state pays higher than most and the living rates are lower than anywhere from what I've read. Housing is still affordable. Our payments are only $500 a month for a 4 bedroom 1800sf (it was a really good deal even for here). I'm not saying we can't move but not for his same job.

I am interested! I'll have to check that out, thank you!

Two things I forgot or failed to mention. 1. the car isn't a new car it is still 9-10 years old, we bought it used. All Our other cars except 1 are over 20 years old. 2. My husband reminded me that one reason we haven't pushed for me to work is due to insurance. Right now because of our income we get a lower insurance and if I start working we no longer get it. Then any amount I make would only go towards the insurance premiums. In this area with what I'm likely to make would not or barely cover those so we would be in same spot or worse than we are now. Unless it is a significant increase over $15 an hour it actually costs us more for me to work. Sigh... Even many full-time positions only pay $14 an hour here. I'm not sure that me working part-time will actually help. Maybe I'll start looking into school for myself. We have a great community college that I mostly likely would qualify for a grant for.

He is open to it! We actually talked about it last week and he is willing to do something else. There just aren't a ton of options here that is not oil driven and those jobs are not stable Right now. Though they do make a really good living.

ALso, WHY when you say to group of homeschooling moms that you might need to find way's to get extra income do they ALWYAS suggest an MLM?! I've done my fair share usually for the discount in years past but seriously?! I would never turn to it for a serious income. 🤦‍♀️

good point!!!

This is exactly what i think happened! They are luxuries and not needed.

We make $100 too much to qualify. I'm definitely talking to my husband about this tonight. I can definitely see this is silly when for some reason I hadn't really noticed before.

Wow, that is beautiful! I'll share this with my husband, thank you ❤️

My oldest is 17 but not home much between work and college. We really only need 3 cars, we live semi rual and can't get anywhere without a car, not even t to the mail box, lol! Maybe we could sell 2 of them, I hadn't really thought of that but that does sound silly now that it's all written out.

Right?! I'm not even sure how we ended up here 🤣 1 we bought for my son who drives it to work he helped us buy it and it only cost $300 so it hardly counts.

It is ridiculous. But also things don't always come out right in typing, I mean you guys can't see everything and I simply can't explain all of it. But it is what he says and I've told him what you and others are saying multiple times. It's just something he struggles with. I guess I'll look into something I can do at night or during the summer at the very least. I just don't know what else to do. I know I'm probably being pushy but I still think he should and could change careers because he really isn't that happy in this one. I'm hindsight it would have been better to send me through school and it's something we've always wanted to do but a couple unexpected health issues and pregnancy changed a lot of plans back then. He isn't paying for his masters either btw, the college has a program for teachers so he isn't paying for it except for a few books.

We are definitely in a realization mode that things aren't working.

I can completely relate to this ❤️ My husband is afraid that if he makes more money he'll be a bad guy because the bible says that thing about "it's easier for a rich man to enter heaven than a camel through a needle" or something like that. Anyways it's time for some changes for sure!

Right!? I've said this for years!!! I am afraid don't get me wrong but I'll get over it. Maybe with things being so tight he'll be more willing to.

Good point. We have 5 cars with the new one, all are paid off except the new one. They are all old though that's why he worries.

I'm not so sure he's passionate about it. He hates it and does nothing but tell me how awful the kids are or that dealing with the parents is the worst. He really enjoyed it the first couple years but not anymore with all the rules and changes that states and districts have made. Maybe if he weren't working so many jobs he'd feel better. They are done during school hours so his day isn't any longer than a normal teaching day so sometimes I forget he does them.

Oh I know you're right I am being stubborn too ❤️ I don't mind working out of the home in many ways and I'll get over my fear. It's just hard. I did finally convinced my husband that maybe it would be good for me to work because he's not wanted me too. He hates dealing with the house and kids when I'm gone but I've really gotten some good systems in place the last couple years, so I know him and the kids can run things while I'm gone. And really if it's at night there isn't much to do.

He is working a ton! He's so good about that. After he finished his master's it's only a $3,000 raise and that is the highest his job will ever go. He had plans to maybe get into administration but it's several years away. We're have plenty of cars all paid off they are just older and he's afraid they well die. I think working at night may just be the best and only option at this point. But he's not going to like that, getting the kids to bed every night 😂 maybe working at that time WOULD be nice, lol!

I'm frustrated so please don't think my husband is terrible, he's really not, a little foolish maybe but an amazing guy. So I told my husband 6 years ago that his Field of work wasn't going to make enough for us to live on by the time he got to a decent paying rate with inflation, kids getting older and such, but he just got SO upset and said I was being negative. I decided it wasn't worth my marriage to fight over (he really is a great husband and father it's just this one thing 😉) Anyways here we are exactly where I said we would be and we can't make ends meet. To make matter worse my husband's parents just sold their car dealership so my husband decided we needed another car before they retired and we bought a car. But We simply can't afford the payments. We don't "need" this car but his current car is getting older and has a few issues, though still drivable. I think we should sell the new one but he thinks its right to keep it because the older car could die, and he wants to sell it (we would maybe make $1,000 on it barely denting the payments on the newer car). I could insist and he'd listen but is that the right thing? I'm at a loss. For reference we have everything budgeted , no debt other than the new car and are very good with money, there simply isn't enough income for a family of 7. I've suggested jobs he could do on the side but he's really maxed out, he's working full time and working 2 part-time jobs through the school and taking classes towards his master's. In summer I thought he could work but he's taking summer classes to finish his master's and says he won't have time to work. I've tried and tried to do things from home but simply don't have many skills or experience to use in the areas I need. I probably need to work somewhere outside the home but I'm terrified! I hated working when I did it years ago, our home was trashed, the kids were hard to navigate with someone watching them, and I had no energy to do anything. I was always so tired that dealing with the kids was impossible. I'd probably need to do something at night because my husband is home during those hours. But mostly I'm frustrated! If he would have just tried a different field other than teaching like I suggested, we wouldn't be in this spot. I love him and he's great but why is he so stubborn?! 😁🙈🥰 Give me some advice, please. But be kind ❤️

It looks so good! My youngest is already past it 😪 But I love the looks of the changes!!!

From what I have read about NG in highschool the LA portion is not enough. I am an admin of FB for a highschool group and that is something that comes up often, its simply not enough in most peoples opinion. Its great for history from what I've heard but if you are using it as a full LA program its severely lacking.

I will tell you that what you are hoping for at middle school is very unlikely. The teachers do have help for special needs but the bar is SO high that your son would need to show sever delays in many aspects not just one to qualify. I have tried multiple times and my kids do not qualify and yet in private help they were diagnosed with severe delays but since it was only in one area the schools will not help. I get why he wants to go to school but I really think you'd be better off finding classes he likes and get his social from there not school. He sound slike he is doing well academically thanks to you so don't cut yourself short about your abilities! Find tutors or online classes or something to help you but I would not rely on the school being able to help you like you are hoping. For reference my husband is a teacher and across the nation schools do not have enough teachers so most classrooms are full beyond capacity, kids do not get the help they deserve and need in most classes because the teachers are overwhelmed with students! And a regular teacher is not trained for all the special needs out there and like I mentioned earlier the schools bar is very high for qualifying for the IEPs they need to get that help. So hoping for that help in school for him is a slim chance, imo. If he wants more social (which it what it sound like) I'd get it in other ways.

I am not a strong math person and HATED MM. Yes, I understood what the lessons taught but there wasn't enough review of what was taught to help me or my kids retain it. Its also VERY dry and very boring. I was reading on her site recently and she mentions that if you need more hand holding as a parent she doesn't recommend using MM because its a worktext and doesn't have much parent instruction in it (which surprised me from what I've read here) but it also made total sense because that was my experience using. I did like CLE better for that reason it had teacher books to help me and It reviews a lot. We didn't stick with it and moved to Saxon math. I like that there are ample teaching videos for Saxon at the higher levels and tons of help if I needed it.