Looking For One More Single Mom!

So, if you keep up with the blog at all, you know about the Mom2Mom program that was rolled out earlier this month. The program was designed for moms in the Bay Area to connect with eachother to see about becoming roommates or swapping childcare.

Well, through the program I actually met an awesome mom who has two children close to the age of my sons, who was looking to live in Sunnyvale, like me. We both were interested in swapping childcare, and our schedules synced perfectly to where we were available to watch eachother's kids on the times and days that we needed, it couldn't have worked out better!

So we were talking and both of us agreed that if we could find another mom who is looking for the same things as we are, then the three of us could afford a house as opposed to an apartment, and it could just be a great opportunity for everybody, all around!

So, if you are a mom who is interested in living in the Sunnyvale/Cupertino/Mountain View area and looking to move around February 1st, shoot me an email with what you're looking for and how much rent you can afford, and I will get in touch!

Hope to hear from you soon!

mysingleseason@gmail.com

Time For New Year's Resolutions!

New Year's Eve is upon us, and I don't know what that means for you, but for me it means: NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS!!!

I LOVE making my list of resolutions, and I love the feeling of a fresh start at the beginning of the year. I'm really hoping that 2012 can make up for 2011... and especially 2010, which was the worst year of my life...

Four days into 2010 my brother Ryan committed suicide. It was the most awful thing I had ever experienced, and it essentially set the tone for the 12 months that followed. I developed a drug habit as an attempt to cope with the pain and then it was all downhill from there...

So today, just four days away from welcoming 2012 with open arms, I am anticipating my best year yet. Here are a few of my mile long list of things I plan to do differently in 2012:

• Start saving money
• Get back on the diet that I let fall by the wayside as soon as Thanksgiving rolled around
• Have my kids in bed by 9 (or 9:30, if I'm being realistic)
• Have myself in bed by 10:30
• Avoid Drive Thru restaurants at all costs
• Develop and stick to a routine
• Blog at least once a day
• Exercise
• Think about quitting smoking
• Buy a more economical car
• Move out of our one bedroom "cottage" and into a place where we're not tripping over eachother
• Get back into my couponing groove
• Stop buying scratch off lottery tickets

I would keep going but my lunch break is over and I'm already exhausted from realizing the big job I have ahead of me in even reaching three of the above mentioned goals...

Do you have any helpful resolutions that I may have left off my list?

Here's to making 2012 the BEST year so far!!!

A Second Chance at a Bank Account

As I mentioned before, I am in ChexSystems and unable to have a traditional bank account at a bank like Bank of America or Chase. For the most part it's okay because there are other options available, such as AccountNow which I talked about here, but if you ever find yourself in a position where you need to rent a car, for example, it can be nearly impossible without a debit card from a "Brick and Mortar" bank.

If you are in the same position and unable to open a checking account for whatever reason, you should register for Bank on San Jose. The program is run by United Way of Silicon Valley, and if you sign up and attend one of their financial classes you will receive a certificate that you can take to one of the participating banks or credit unions and they will help you open a "Second Chance Account".

Opening an account at a credit union is a great idea, especially if you anticipate trying to get a car loan in the near future. They usually have the best rates on loans, so I would suggest signing up for this program at yout earliest convenience. The website has the class schedule (they are all held in the evenings for the most part), the list of participating institutions, as well as the answers to just about every question you might have.

Make 2012 your year of financial independence!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas! I know my postings have been pretty sporadic (or non-existant) lately, but it's only because of the holiday chaos. I plan to be updating regularly again once things have calmed down. So stay posted, bare with me, and have a great Christmas everyone!

Waitlist Open For Ohlone Court Apartments In South San Jose

If you are looking for affordable housing in San Jose the Ohlone Court Apartments have opened their waitlist. Ohlone Court offers 1,2,3 and even 4 bedroom apartments, and based on the information I found online the rent for a four bedroom starts at just $1,323 a month.

If you are a single mom and feel like you could benefit from living with another single mom, you could probably qualify for one of these units and only pay a very reasonable amount of rent every month. If you want to meet other single parents you can always leave a comment with a little info about yourself on this page and if everything goes as planned another mom will see it and the two of you can start communicating!

Another Site Dedicated to Helping Those In Need

If you are struggling with a problem that other services listed on this blog can't really accomodate, you may want to check out ModestNeeds.org.
It is similar to 2hands.org, the site that I mentioned earlier today, in that it offers a platform to express a need to people all over the country who may be willing, and in a position, to help.
I was browsing the site today to get an idea of the types of assistance that they generally help fund, and I saw everything from financial help in order to get utilities restored, assistance in paying next months rent, assistance for car repairs and even purchasing a car altogether. There are also a lot of requests for help with costly medical procedures.
Sites like this always require patience on the behalf of the person requesting help, but if you have a genuine need people will realize that and there are people out there who want to help.

Just In Time For Christmas - This Program Sounds Amazing...

Since I have spent the majority of my twenties scouring the internet trying to find websites with information on programs and resources I sometimes feel like I have seen them all... So I am always really excited when I come across something new that I can share with the people around me.

Last night I received an email from a reader suggesting that I look at 2hands.org. I checked it out and was immediately blown away at this program, along with the fact that I had never heard of it!

The site describes itself as a "platform" for those in need to reach out to those in a position to help them meet that need. I read through some of the success stories and was almost brought to tears. Apparently this website is run by three volunteers, and naturally they are very busy this time of year, but they do say that they are dedicated to addressing every person who contacts them.

So whether you need a little help getting that one toy on your child's Christmas list, or God has really blessed you this year and you are in a position to do the helping, go ahead and take a look around the site, it's pretty amazing!

**A special thanks to Debbie N. who forwarded this information along, I am always open to suggestions!!!***

CoAbode - Interesting Resource for Single Moms

The other day I happened to stumble across CoAbode , a website dedicated to pairing up single moms with the same preferences, lifestyles and incomes to become roommates. The website claims that the program can cut living expenses by as much as 50% and that two single moms raising their children together have a much higher chance at success than those struggling alone...

So I just wanted to throw that out there, it may be something worth looking into!

Tips For Finding Housing on Craigslist

If you have spent any amount of time on Craigslist looking for your next apartment, chances are you have encountered at least one fraudulent ad. These ads are usually believable, in that they provide beautiful photos, and in a lot of cases a legitimate address that you could drive by and look at. They are written in perfect English and can even offer details on school districts that the home is located in.

The point of these ads is to get you to respond expressing your interest in this unbelievable deal. Once you have responded the poster will get back to you explaining that the unit is still available and all you need to do is send them money to some faraway land that they happen to be located in because of some misfortune that they are experiencing. Once you send them the money they will send you the keys and the place will be yours. How AWESOME is THAT?!

Just thinking about the people who post these ads makes my skin crawl. The worst part about it though is that people are falling for this every day! I have actually met people who have sent thousands of dollars to some friendly stranger and then been shocked weeks later when they realize that they not only don't have a place to live, but they just got cheated out of the money that should have gone to finding a real place.

Here are some no fail guidelines to using Craigslist to find your next dream home without getting robbed by these disgusting thieves:

1. If it sounds too good to be true, it is. There is no such thing as a 5 bedroom for $900, no matter how pretty the pictures on the ad are, simple as that.
2. If there is no phone number listed, don't bother. This is one rule that I stick to pretty religiously. Anyone interested in legitimately renting their home out is not going to limit their inquiries to people with email access.
3. If there is a toll free number, I usually don't bother... This one isn't so much related to the scam as it is to another problem on Craigslist which is people trying to get you into a "Rent to Own" property which ends up costing you more in the long run, or they try to sell you a list of foreclosed properties that they claim you could buy with the amount you would be spending on rent.

So yeah, I guess those are my three main tips on avoiding wasting time on Craigslist. It can be a valuable tool in locating your next home, but only if you can dodge the scammers.

Know Your Rights As A Renter

I think that the majority of the people who read this blog probably currently rent their living quarters. Some people have great relationships with their landlords, and some only dealt with them when they were signing their lease and then never had to deal with them again since. Regardless of your personal relationship with your landlord, property management company, etc., there may come a time when an issue arises and you suddenly feel like you're fighting a giant.

For me this was the case back in March when my roommate moved out and we no longer had the number of occupants necessary to stay in the three bedroom apartment that we were renting. There were other issues as well and long story short I came home one day to find a Three Day Notice to Vacate.

Three days is not enough time to do ANYTHING, let alone find a new place, pack up your old place, and get everything moved from one location to another. I was so stressed and I had no idea where to turn for help.

I contacted Project Sentinel in Sunnyvale and went in and talked to them and explained my situation. They explained that one of the services that they offer is "Tenant-Landlord Mediation". They contacted the leasing office of the apartment and managed to get them to give me until the end of the month (an additional three weeks in this case) to find somewhere else to live. Not only that, but they also negotiated the whole incident not to be reflected negatively on my credit report. They helped me out a lot!

So regardless of what the issue, if you are having a problem and you are a renter, contact Project Sentinel to find out if you are being treated fairly and see how they suggest you resolve the situation.

Got Free Time?

If you like to help people and have some free time on your hands, volunteering is great. Not only does it give you a great feeling, but it can actually benefit you during a job search because volunteering can (and should!) be added to your resume.

While I was between jobs I spent two afternoons a week volunteering in the kitchen at CityTeam Ministries in San Jose. They always have plenty of spots available, and the people there are absolutely amazing. I don't think it's possible to leave there in a bad mood!

So if you are looking for a constructive way to pass your time, could use some more "meat" to add to your resume, and like to help people in need, CityTeam Ministries is a great volunteer opportunity!

Another List of Affordable Housing Providers in Santa Clara County

I came across another list of affordable units today while I was browsing around online. You can look at the list Here .

If you haven't already taken advantage of the original list of available housing resources in our area, you can see the first post about it Here .

Need a New Car?

Who doesn't? I am definitely in the market for a new car... I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I love, but it's pushing 250,000 miles and it's a V8 which means gas alone costs me about $100... Ugh, I don't even like thinking about it...

If you are looking for a newer model car and can commit to pinching your pennies until February 8, 2012 then the California State Vehicle Fleet auction might be the answer! These auctions are held in Davis, CA every six weeks (except the next one is a little ways out, two months, but it gives us time to save up!) and they feature "retired" state vehicles. They are mainly American made cars (Chevy's, Ford''s, etc.) and the majority of them are pretty recent models... These cars were once owned by such departments as the Department of Fish & Game, correctional officers, and other state agencies.

Here is a list of the cars that are going to be available at the auction in February, and to give you an idea of the unbelievable prices that these cars go for I've included the list of the results from the most recent auction Here .

A 2002 Chevy Cavalier for $2,100? I'll take it! A 2009 Dodge Charger (once owned by the CHP no less!) for $4,800? Can't beat that!

Not many people are aware of these auctions, but they are open to the public and anyone can go! Just show up at 7:30 on the auction day with your money in hand and be prepared to drive home your new awesome ride!

Another Random Deal You Should Get In On This Week...

I drink a lot of coffee... Like a LOT... So any time a good coffee deal presents itself, I just have to share it in case there are any other coffee fiends that might benefit from it.

Right now at Target, if you buy three bags of Starbucks ground coffee in one transaction you get a $5 Target gift card. What makes the deal even better though is that you can go online and fill out a redemption form Here and you will get a $5 Starbucks gift card in the mail! $10 in gift cards for buying some great coffee...

I bought three bags of the Caramel coffee and have switched it for our regular coffee here at the office... Just my way of doing my part to brighten the day of my coworkers!

My Video Debut - Why I Tithe

As I've mentioned about 500 times, I love my church. Without them I might be laying in a gutter somewhere, I honestly believe that. So when they asked me to shoot a video on the topic of Tithing, I was honored!

Below is my viral video... Check it out!



Adria Testimony from South Bay Church on Vimeo.

Finding a Job in 2012

Unemployment is a huge problem right now, and not to mention one of the most stressful and frustrating situations to ever find yourself in. Below I have outlined a few of the resources that I found to be valuable during my time in the "unemployment line":

• The first thing that you should always do is apply for Unemployment, I know a lot of people who assumed that they weren't eligible, only to find out that they actually were once they applied. The easiest way to start a claim is online.
• Get registered for Job Seeker Services. I know I focus a lot on programs and things that are available in Sunnyvale, it's because not only am I a current resident, but even when I lived elsewhere in the Bay Area I would make my way out to Sunnyvale to take advantage of the great programs that they have available. One of the programs is the Job Seeker Center . It's located at 505 W. Olive (by the library) and the programs that they have are awesome. They can help you resolve issues with the Unemployment Office, they have classes on interviewing and other skills, they have a bunch of computers available to make a resume and search for jobs online, and you can meet with a job search counselor who will review your resume, assess your goals and help you determine a plan of attack in finding a great job that makes you happy.
• Get registered with a temp agency... Actually, let me just be completely honest, don't register with a temp agency, register with Kelly Services. When I was unemployed I literally spent hours registering with every staffing agency that I could find online and in the Yellow Pages that I kept in the passenger seat of my car. And out of all of the companies I registered with, Kelly was the only one that provided me with steady work, which ultimately ended up resulting in the full time job that I currently have. You can start by emailing your resume to: 1421@kellyservices.com , once you've sent it to them give them a call and set up a time to go in and register. Their phone number is: (408) 392-9369. (All of the contact info that I provided is for the San Jose location, since that is the office that helped me out so much.)
• Look into other free programs available. For instance Goodwill has some great programs available, and CalWORKs has a great program that helps get people back to work.
• Find out if you're eligible for CalWORKs. CalWORKs is a state program for people with children. They provide childcare resources, job seeker services, and will help you with college. To find out if you are eligible, you will need to meet with a worker at the Social Services office. Generally if you call and set up an appointment it can take at least a month before you are seen. Your best bet is to arrive at the office by 7:30 one morning and ask to get on the waiting list, you could be seen that day. The best Social Services office, in my opinion, is the one in Mountain View (100 Moffett Blvd.) the staff is friendly, I've never seen a line out the door, and they just seem to have it together. You can also reach them by phone at: (650) 988-6100
• If you are considering applying for college and think that you might be eligible for financial aid, you can find out by filling out and submitting the FAFSA

I know there are things that I'm forgetting, and I will continue to add them as I remember, but the bottom line is just stay busy! Don't let yourself get into a funk because it's going to set you back. The best advice that I read about getting employed was from someone who said that "being unemployed needs to become your new job, you need to spend eight hours a day working on it, the same way you did at your previous job. You need to keep the same 8:00-5:00 hours, dress to impress, and just always be on the lookout for a potential opportunity."

If anyone has anything else to add, please don't hesitate to share!

Sunnyvale BMR's - The Waitlists May Be Shorter Than You Think!

Today I spent my lunch hour dropping off applications to put my family on the waitlist for Below Market Rate units in Sunnyvale. I was really surprised to hear that there were only a couple of people on the waitlist ahead of me, so I'm really happy I got them turned in when I did!

If you want to get on the Sunnyvale waitlists you just need to go by the properties and drop off the filled out application. It's only two pages and you can pick one up at the any of the participating complexes leasing offices.

If you aren't able to go to the complex I can email you a copy of the form and you can print it, just email your request to: mysingleseason@gmail.com .

The easiest thing to do is print one application out, figure out how many of the complexes you want to apply for, fill out one form and make that many copies of the filled out form. It's a real time saver! Then just drop them off and tell them you'd like to be added to the list!

You can find the list of properties, the income guidelines, and any other necessary info Here .

Good luck and let me know what you find out!

Pretty Much the Best Idea I've EVER Had...

So this Christmas is going to be my first Christmas as a single mom where I am not relying on my mom to make it magical.

Usually on Christmas Eve my brothers and I bring our kids over to my mom's house and spend the night there. Once we manage to get the little ones to go to bed we all stay up and fill stockings, arrange presents, etc. Then in the morning all the kids get up at the crack of dawn and wake us up and run downstairs and there is a big Christmas fiasco with shredded paper flying up in the air and fights between them over presents, and then a huge Christmas breakfast courtesy of St. Grandma.


Unfortunately, this year Grandma is having surgery on the 22nd and the rest of us are being forced to pull off Christmas on our own. At first I was kind of bummed... Our "house" is about 500 sq ft and barely holds the three of us, let alone a Christmas tree and presents. I was racking my brain trying to figure out where the kids would hang their stockings and how I would make Christmas morning any different from every other chaotic morning of the year...


Then it hit me! We could stay in a HOTEL! Not just any hotel of course, a hotel with a fireplace for them to hang their stockings, and a separate bedroom where I could put the kids to bed and then sneak out of to leave proof of Santa's visit.


So I called The Grand Hotel in Sunnyvale and booked one of their "Bungalow Suites" which is like a one bedroom apartment, complete with a kitchen, a separate bedroom, and of course a fireplace! Not to mention a complimentary breakfast buffet, which beats having to cook and then do dishes! It did cost me $129 for the night, but that actually isn't that bad and plus, can you really put a price on a great Christmas?


I'm going to get there an hour or two before I bring the kids over and set up a little Christmas scene, with a pre-lit tree, some garland, etc. I'm so excited about it and I think (depending on how well it goes) that this may be a tradition that we keep... At least until we get our own place with a fireplace!

Great Deal on a Wii!

If your kids are clammoring for a Wii, and you are one of the four people (including myself) who don't already own one, you can get a great deal on the black one at Best Buy right now, and if you go through Ebates you can make the deal even sweeter cause you will automatically be qualified for the $10 gift card offer that is going on through 12/31/11. The bundle includes the Wii console, the new Super Mario game, and a CD! Here's how to score on this deal:

• Go and sign up for Ebates (it literally takes 15 seconds)
• Search for Best Buy
• Click on Shop Now
• On the BestBuy.com website, search Nintendo Wii Mario Bros
• The first item to come up in the search should be the Wii bundle, click on it to open it in the window
• Look for the line item “FREE $20 Gift Card: Find Out How” under the price of the game; click on it
• Add both the system and the $20 gift card to your cart
• Select in store pick up or ship it to your home (the gift card will automatically be shipped)
• Your grand total is around $162 including tax (since we live in CA). You will get $1.62 in cash back plus a $20 gift card. And if you are new to Ebates, you'll get the $10 gift card for signing up!

If You're in the Market for New Foundation...

I always have to get new foundation in the Winter, because that is about the time my sun kissed glow wears off and I go back to being the pasty pale girl that God intended for me to be.

So yesterday I went into Walgreens, and as I was walking in I noticed they had a little Christmas catalogue over by where they keep the ads, and it said that there were $25 of coupons inside. So I grabbed one, naturally, and looked over all of the coupons which are mainly for cosmetics and hygiene products.

I noticed there were several neon orange clearance tags all over the cosmetics department, so I went over to browse around for some good deals. I was shocked to see Almay's Clear Complexion Make-Up for $3.29 (down from $13!). What really made my day though was the fact that there was a $1 off any Almay product coupon in the back of the Walgreens coupon book I had just picked up!

So I grabbed two bottles (the Walgreen's coupons will automatically take $1 off for each one that you buy, even if you just use one coupon!) and got each one for $2.29. Imagine if you found an Almay manufacturer coupon to stack on the Walgreen's one, we could be talking $1.29 for a bottle of $13 foundation!

I found this sale available at both the Milpitas Walgreen's (on Calaveras) and the Sunnyvale Walgreen's (at El Camino and Sunnyvale). You may want to move fast before they're all gone!

Don't Make Me Call Santa!

One of my favorite things about December is that my kids only need to be reminded once that "Santa is watching!" to whip them into shape real quick any time their behavior is less than desireable. I can't tell you how many times I have texted one of my brothers a heads up that "Santa" was about to get a phone call to report bad behavior. Two minutes later their phone would ring and they would know to answer, "North Pole, Santa speaking" in their jolliest old man voice...Right now there are some free Santa communications available that you can use to get your kids in the Good Behavior Spirit:

• Go Here to download your free letters to and from Santa
• Go Here to send a free call from Santa to your phone (you can send three calls a day, and you can choose from three different messages. My favorite is: "You better watch out!")
• This site lets you upload a picture of your little angel and then it creates a free video to show your child where Santa lets them know whether they've made the Naughty or Nice list this year!
• And Here is another free video builder

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, and a month of well behaved children!

Great Toilet Paper Deal on Amazon!

I know this is super random, but my household goes through toilet paper like it's water, so I am always looking for a great deal on some high quality TP!

Right now on Amazon there is a great deal on 24 MegaRolls of Charmin Ultra Strong (which is the equivalent of 96 regular rolls!) for $21.80 when you clip the 25c coupon on the page and select Subscribe and Save at checkout. That works out to about $0.23 per regular roll which is a great price!

New to Subscribe and Save? Amazon often offers discounts if you sign up to receive auto shipments (which can be canceled at anytime). I often select that I want to receive the item every 6 months and once I receive it, I go to “My Account” and click on “Manage Subscribe and Save” to cancel it. Don’t forget!

Great Starbucks Deal Going on NOW!

Right now if you order four gift cards from Starbucks and pay with a Visa card, you get a $5 Starbucks gift card free! So buy four $5 gift cards and get a free $5 gift card! These are good to give as gifts to coworkers, or if you're anything like me, spend to feed your own coffee addiction!

Don't have a Visa? Sign up for an AccountNow and get a prepaid one with no credit check! I have used AccountNow for years and can't say enough great things about them!

Got My Free Target Gift Card From Ebates Today!

Now through December 31st, if you sign up for Ebates (it literally takes 15 seconds) and spend $25 through one of their participating stores you can get a free $10 gift card to the store of your choice! You just have to sign up by December 31st, and as long as you spend the $25 by February 2012 you get the gift card!

I was a little skeptical at first, but I needed to get some Christmas gifts for my coworkers at the Body Shop anyway, so I went through Ebates to the Body Shop website and bought my gifts just like I would have if I had gone to the stores site directly. Not only did the purchase qualify me for the gift card offer, but I also got 10% of my purchase back and free shipping when I used a free shipping code I found on the Ebates website.

That was all I needed to do, easy as that, and today I got my $10 Target gift card in the mail! I'm going to hang onto the card until January when just about everything in the store is on clearance...

Let's Coupon Together in 2012

Since the Christmas season is pretty hectic I've been giving a lot of thought to the best time frame to start posting coupon deals for all of you to use.

When I first started to familiarize myself with couponing, through the use of the millions of blogs that are dedicated to the topic, it was frustrating because in the beginning so many of the deals that they mentioned involved using coupons that I didn't have because they were distributed prior to me starting to collect them. I think that deters a lot of people from trying it because they don't know where to jump in and start.

I know there are lots of people in the Bay Area interested in utilizing coupons as a means of saving money, and I know from first hand experience that when you're first starting out you need to start with baby steps until you get more familiar and comfortable with the process. Since lots of you may not have a coupon stash on hand, I want us all to be able to start on the same page so that all of us can get in on the hundreds of deals available every month without anybody feeling left out.

So I decided that my "Weekly Deals" section will begin the first weekend of January 2012 and will only involve deals that use coupons that become available that week and then going forward all you have to do is keep up with the coupons as they are released.

I hope you'll all join me in making 2012 a year of penny pinching! In the mean time, here are some things that you can do to prepare:

• Sign up for Sunday Delivery with the Mercury News by calling: 1-800-870-6397 (for whatever reason I can't seem to find a way to do it online) - OR - Familiarize yourself with the stores around you that sell them (Walgreens sells them at a discount)
• If you don't already have one, get yourself a cheap printer to print coupons on (they have Deskjets at Walmart for less than $40 that come with the ink)
• Download any of the coupon printing software that you will need in order to be able to print any online coupons that I mention
• Keep checking this site weekly, and make room in your house for the stockpile you're on your way to building!

I don't know about you, but I for one am excited! I guess I will mark this down as New Years Resolution #1 of about 500 that I make for myself every year!