Couple looks for second jobs
FOOTING THE BILL | "Maybe I'll lose weight from all the walking"
Quincita Reed, who has watched her monthly costs rise roughly $800 in the past year, says the family has taken advantage of freebies, gotten rid of one car and a dog and focused on boosting their income in their efforts to deal with tighter economic times.
"We can't afford to send our children to programs because the bills have gotten out of control, so we have found local services that are free," said Reed, a South Side resident.
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Her two sons, Richard and RaShaun Phillips, ages 13 and 9, take free karate classes two days a week at Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church.
"The class is two hours long, so I sit outside and read until they are done" to cut gas costs, Reed said.
The boys will be attending a month-long summer camp on scholarships, but there are out-of-pocket camp costs.
"We took up a family collection to pay the co-payment," she said.
She and husband Arthur Reed are hoping to obtain a scholarship that will allow nine-year-old daughter Diamond Appelton to attend summer camp as well.
Arthur is a security guard. Quincita works full-time as a secretary for the state of Illinois and bartends occasionally part time. She's hoping to find a steady bartending gig for the summer to supplement the family's income, and Arthur is also looking for a second job.
The Reeds previously owned two rottweilers and a rat terrier. They gave one of the rottweilers to a family member, and Arthur volunteers at a dog training school when he gets off work to get free training and medical care for the two remaining pets.
"I have learned to do my own hair, nails and pedicures to save money," Quincita added. "We share a monthly bus card between all of us, and we walk (home) from the train on 47th and Western to 71st everyday."
She notes today's economy puts a big strain on families and especially marriages.
"The bright side is maybe I will lose weight from all the walking," she said, "and can cancel my Bally's membership."