Hello All,
I am a single mom of 2. I have a 16-year-old daughter, and an 18-year-old daughter, but I still pay for her. We were living off of one income of only $2000/month with me working full time at 50% above minimum wage. Our bills alone take up that entire amount, not including food, gas, car insurance, or a car payment. Needless to say, we were already struggling. Our 2 bedroom apt with utilities averages $1450. Rent has increased nearly 50% in the last decade. They just keep moving the bar. I feel like I will never catch up.
To make matters worse, just before New Year’s, as I was walking home on the slippery MN sidewalks after work (as my car needs $2000 in repairs I can’t afford), I fell and broke my wrist in 2 places. Now, I am a book processor, and that requires the use of 2 hands. I am on 6 weeks personal leave, as they don’t want me back until I can produce 100% of what I was producing before my injury. I’m not even sure if I will be able to go back yet at that point. In fact, they told me I’m not guaranteed my job back at all.
I currently have $19 in my bank account. My phone service ends tomorrow, my daughter’s ended today. I had been trying to improve my credit by taking out multiple small cards, but even those are now maxed out and I haven’t been able to pay them in 2 months. We are fortunate enough to have been granted temporary food assistance, but no help with our bills. Our landlord begins the eviction process almost immediately if you have a late payment. My oldest daughter has been looking for her first job but was going to school full time up until recently. She even managed to graduate with her associate’s degree already as she was able to take advantage of the PSEO program at her Community College! I’m just really trying to raise my girls right so they don’t end up in the position I am in.
How did I get here? I got married and had children too young. My ex-husband subjected me to 11 years of abuse, including financial, emotional, and physical. I was unable to work or go to school as he barely let me go to the grocery store. Over the last 10 years since leaving him, I have been struggling just to survive. Per our divorce decree, he gets to claim our youngest this year and has been receiving the child tax credit monthly even though he only has the girls 4 nights a month. I am getting $49 back this year.
I don’t know where else to turn. Please, if you can help at all, it would be most greatly appreciated. Payments can be sent to https://paypal.me/melissa891443?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
Thanks for taking the time to read this all the way through,
Melissa
https://paypal.me/melissa891443?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US