Please, I need your help.

[Concept]

Today my mother lost her job. I really don't know what else to tell you. The only thing I know is that we're in trouble. My parents are divorced so we won't be getting any income from my father. It's only my mother, brother, and myself. She's the only source of income that keeps a roof over our heads and the bills paid. That changed today. She's out filing for unemployment. I really don't know what to expect of this thread. Maybe some kind people. If there is anyway you can help it would be greatly appreciated. My family will be greatful for anything you can donate. Anything helps.

I don't have a paypal account or any fancy stuff like that. I have a mailbox though here at the house. I don't know for how long, though.

If you are interested in donating to help, please PM me or email me at chivas1@gmail.com for an address to donate to. Thank you.

It's no joke. I don't know what else to do. I'm trying anything....

 

[Danoff]

You obviously haven't tried pawning your computer or PS2 yet...

Before you go begging you might try something that would be a little more useful - like trying to find her another job. I assume that your family lived hand-to-mouth so there are no savings to tap into... which would be poor planning.

How old are you? Can you work? How old is your brother? Can he work?

Perhpas you could live with your father to lighten the load on your mother's expenses. Other reatives perhaps? Your grandparents?

Maybe she could get temporary help from other relatives...

Does she have a house? She could sell it and use the equity to move into an apartment...

 

[Concept]

I don't have a PS2. If I did, I would have pawned it.

I'm 17. I work 30 hours a week and attend school. My twin brother is 17 and does the same.

I can't live with my father. He lives in Texas. Plus, my brother and I already give our paychecks to our mother to help out. Moving 1000 miles would do nothing but cause more problems.

All of my grandparents are deceased.

My fathers relatives won't help. My mothers more than likely won't either. Maybe my Aunt and Uncle on my moms side, but I would say thats not a good chance. I can't help that my family isn't like the All American one where we can just fall back on relatives.

We do have a house. We live in it on a month to month basis. We rent it. Sell the equity? Right.

Anything else you want to ask Danoff?

 

[PS]

Maybe you could both get full-time jobs, and take night school? Or get your GED later?

 

[Danoff]

I don't have a PS2. If I did, I would have pawned it.

I'm 17. I work 30 hours a week and attend school. My twin brother is 17 and does the same.

I can't live with my father. He lives in Texas. Plus, my brother and I already give our paychecks to our mother to help out. Moving 1000 miles would do nothing but cause more problems.

All of my grandparents are deceased.

My fathers relatives won't help. My mothers more than likely won't either. Maybe my Aunt and Uncle on my moms side, but I would say thats not a good chance. I can't help that my family isn't like the All American one where we can just fall back on relatives.

We do have a house. We live in it on a month to month basis. We rent it. Sell the equity? Right.

Anything else you want to ask Danoff?

I take it you did live hand to mouth and had no savings.

You haven't pawned your computer yet (not that you could probably get much for it). You still pay for internet?

Do you have cable? How many cars does your family have?

I'm 17. I work 30 hours a week and attend school. My twin brother is 17 and does the same.

Sounds like your family isn't in very much trouble afterall. Does your mom have a drug problem? Because that should be enough money to get by if you're careful about what you spend.

 

[Concept]

I take it you did live hand to mouth and had no savings.

You haven't pawned your computer yet (not that you could probably get much for it). You still pay for internet?

Do you have cable? How many cars does your family have?



Sounds like your family isn't in very much trouble afterall. Does your mom have a drug problem? Because that should be enough money to get by if you're careful about what you spend.

I guess we did then. We have zero savings and lived paycheck to paycheck. Our family has 1 car. We all 3 share one vehicle. 3 different jobs and 1 car. It's pretty hard to make that work, but we have. My mother has no problem with drugs. She doesn't even smoke. Just because my brother and I work doesn't mean we're still doing ok. She was the main source. SHe made more per week then both my brother and I. I make about $90 a week. I can't make more because I have to go to school. I refuse to drop out in my last semester. I've worked to hard for 4 years. You don't know what should be enough, who are you to say that?

I don't understand what you're trying to make this into Danoff. I'm simply asking for help because we're in the biggest rut we've ever been in. I wouldn't make a thread like this and ask for help unless I absolutley felt like I had no options. I'm trying different things. I still have the internet, I don't know for how much longer, but I do. So, I'm going to use it to try and get help from a community I've been with for over 3 years now.

Danoff, you're not helping at all. Just leave this topic alone please.

 

[Danoff]

I make about $90 a week.

At 30 hrs. that's significantly less than minimum wage.

You don't know what should be enough, who are you to say that?

I know how much money it takes to survive, just like most people who have jobs and pay bills.

I wouldn't make a thread like this and ask for help unless I absolutley felt like I had no options.

Your mom got laid off and you immediately started begging. I wouldn't say that you turned there as a last resort.

Danoff, you're not helping at all. Just leave this topic alone please.

Ok.

 

[Concept]

At 30 hrs. that's significantly less than minimum wage.



I know how much money it takes to survive, just like most people who have jobs and pay bills.



Your mom got laid off and you immediately started begging. I wouldn't say that you turned there as a last resort.



Ok.

I just know that now that my mother doesn't have a job, things are going to be more difficult than they've been and that's pretty bad. I asked for help, I'm not begging. $90 because I have to take breaks at my place of work. It's not an option, it's a have to thing. I've been sheduled for about 20 hours but this week is 30. Last paycheck I made was $79. Before that was $89 and $89 before that.

You know how much it takes to survive for you Danoff, not my family.

 

[Carl.]

Don't you have federal unemployment insurance in the US, or is it private?

 

[pimp racer]

When did she get fired? If its been like 2 or 3 days then just give it some time and just hope that she gets another job. If you dont mind me asking what did she do before? What kinda job do you and your bother have? And if you really need the money that badly then I would suggest you try selling some of your things such as TV and so on. Oh I would also suggest you cancel your internet and cable since you really dont need at a momment like this. BTW if things are really looking bad then maybe she car try to get a loan or morgate or something? Then re pay it later on?

 

[Purple Platypus]

Well...I can't say that I really know much anything too useful about this...but here's my 2 cents. Finishing up high school is definitely a good idea. The pay level with a diploma will always be better than without. But...out of school, I'd suggest checking out unions that will be able to put you to work quickly and consistently. Here in California, I know that the laborer's union (construction) will put you to work for $20+ per hour fairly quickly. I don't know what industry's like where you are, but I'd suggest checking that out. Electricians, plumbers, something that will always be working.

Next stop would be government work. I don't suppose that getting a job straight out of school here would be that easy, but it's definitely the best-paying, most consistent job you can get.

You've probably already considered most these things, and they won't come around until some point in the future, but as I said before, I don't really have much to offer here. But...it's March now, and school's over by June. The next 2 months won't be much fun, but things should definitely work out when you and your brother can hit the work force. Best of luck to you and your family.

 

[Thealosia]

Concept,
I know your issues very well. When I was only one breath short of being homeless I designed a "Babysitter" flier and posted it all over the subways for $19 per hour. It worked and now I do it only part time.
THINK OF IT THIS WAY. INSTEAD OF WORKING FOR THE MONEY, LET THE MONEY WORK FOR YOU! THIS IS THE DIFFERIATION BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE!!!

 

[Famine]

danoff is right. Straight up.

Also, if I'm right, minimum wage in Georgia is $5.15 per hour gross and the maximum income tax rate is 6%, meaning that for 20 hours a week you should be taking $96 home, to $148 for a 30 hour week, ignoring the fact you aren't in the highest income tax band and any non-taxed allowance (and you're below the minimum level of single filer federal tax).

That's a minimum of $192 a week between you and your brother, or $864 a month.

Ignoring mortgage repayments - which should be insured against unemployment (and if not, danoff is right again) - that's enough for my girlfriend and I to survive happily. And we have two different meals every mealtime because she's a faddy little bint (vegetarian, but will eat fish).


You may think you're out of options, but you aren't. You may have to forego some luxuries - and make no mistake, your computer IS a luxury - until such time as your mother can find employment elsewhere. There's ALWAYS jobs out there, but it depends on your willingness to do them. Working as a junior flipper at McDonalds may be a menial and demeaning job for your mother, but it's a lot less demeaning than begging on the internet.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

A great start (and this is a polite way of saying it) immediately get rid of your internet bill by turning it off. You dont need to be online if you need to save money. Depending on your internet company you could be saving anywhere from $20-$60 a month. Thats a start.
Next option is anyone of your 3 family members could donate plasma. That gives at least $120 extra a month for each member.
$120 x 3 = $360
Just a start.. Good luck. Her unemployment checks should be around 70% of what she originally made so that will help too.

 

[Mark T]

When times get hard, you have to work harder. You say you have a part time job because of college. You could try looking for Night Shift work, filling shelves etc. It's usually good pay and although you will be very tired doing all three, it will bring in an extra income.

If your renting a property you could also try negotiating with the landlord. Maybe he will reduce the rent for a few months until you're sorted then you can pay the remaining balance. Also try looking for cheaper rented accomodation. If your in a three bedroom now, try going for a two bedroom and you and your brother can share.

As for asking for money on the intenet, I wouldn't bother.