Wilk916 - thanks for the ideas - wow, you are really thinking! Love the idea of "selling" the loans. Yes, we have been very fiscally responsible (myself always, and husband for at least the last 5 years) so that is something to think about. Unfortunately, of our family, we are the ones who are in a better scenario than others. Sad to see my family still making dumb decisions.
the fixer - Yes, we have always withheld a lot in taxes and always got big returns back, which we've always put towards our debt, big chunks at a time, which is how we managed to pay off lots in the past. Great idea, and if we weren't already doing that, that would be my first move! (Now, we're trying to NOT have big refunds, and instead pay more each month. Before, with both of us working, we just couldn't trust ourselves not to spend any extra money. Because we were always too tired, we used money for conveniences like fast food, which wasn't "budgeted." So, to be "safe" the money just went to taxes, then came back for a big refund, which we put on our debts each March. Now, with more time = energy, we can be "trusted" to stick to our tight budget much better, so a few extra dollars go where they should. (So no "free loan" to uncle sam!)
velocistar237 - Yes, we did fine in our tiny house even as recently as last year before the newest baby. (Also w/ virtually no yard) But rambunctious 9 year old boys, wrestling matches among 11 year olds, and such - it's not the same. I find myself losing my temper with the screaming and yelling and wrestling. SO motivated to have a larger space for little bodies to grow and move. Adults can control their bodies and their energy better, and usually don't find a need to "throw down" as they are walking through the living room and come across another human. :-)
Also - Velocistar:
Yes, I looked into the public service forgiveness and should have qualified to have my $20,000 loan forgiven, as I am a school teacher in science. However, after fighting to prove that I qualify because of our district's high need status, (going through re-organization. Finally made headway only to learn...) that because I'd had a $500 loan forgiven about 10 years prior, I didn't qualify. Geez. :-(
Ok, here's my monthly budget (In order of repayment, based on snowball method, not interest rates)
GAL (guardian ad litem - for court for custody) 50/mo, owe 600 total
Attorney (for custody) 100/mo, owe 1500 balance
BECU visa $57/mo, $3012 total, 10.9%
SECUWA Visa $74/mo, 3098 total, 9%
LOC $68/mo, $4345 total, 6%
Student loans:
Husband $80/mo, $5,047, (have to look this one up)
Mine $136/mo, 5525 total (I think this is about 2%, it's Sallie Mae, subsidized)
Mine $273/mo, 22,714 (need to look up, subsidized, I think)
Husband (two combined, paid currently by Father in law, as their way of helping his education - 30 and 25/mo, 6441 total) 7.45 and 3.85%
Husband $271/mo, 48,877 (This is interest only! ARG!!! 7.25%)
*How can I not know my interest rates? All but two have been sold and re-sold recently, and we decided to follow the snowball method, even though it's not interest based, but total-based, so I quit looking at that, so I wouldn't get more frustrated. Lol!
Mortgage: 1592/mo, 209,235 total 5.75%, don't qualify to refinance, have checked and rechecked over and over and over, looked at a bunch of ways of doing this.
Living expenses:
Frontier landline and internet $49/mo
Util: $207 (varies, of course)
Life insurance $29/mo
net flix $7.50
Car insurance $140 (3 cars, about to sell one, then will also reduce one to liability only, will drop cost.)
Food and gas - trying to set this now. Selling truck, and bought Geo metro, for less gas expense. 24 mile commute (about 50 round trip, 5 days/week, at about 12miles/gal) New work schedule starting in one week - working 4 days/week, with Geo metro, (lowest should be about 24 mi/gallon) Should improve gas budget, especially with mom walking all but one day/week, errands and shopping.
Food - 7 people (my "little" kids eat as much as my husband and I. Not kidding. We use Costco and Winco, and together they're cheaper than couponing, we've found after diligent research. Purchasing potatoes, rice etc in bulk, milk and eggs in bulk, freeze bread, etc. I need to determine a monthly budget for food. Started with household budget of $1200/mo, (for food, gas, entertainment etc) and want to get that down to about half, including gas, birthday celebrations, pet costs etc. (Pets are about $75/mo.)