Hi, I’m Michele. I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but here I am. After 16 years in the IT department at the same company, I was laid off five months ago. Now I’m a single woman in her 50s, watching my whole life fall apart because of mounting debt. I really need your help.
You know how they say, “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? Well, I guess I did exactly that with my job. I really thought I was set – good benefits, steady paycheck, even got an award last year for my 15th anniversary with the company. Then one Monday, my boss called me into his office. Just like that, 16 years gone. “Restructuring,” they called it.
At my age, finding a new job isn’t easy. I’ve been applying everywhere I can think of, but it’s always the same story – “we’ll keep your resume on file” or “we’re looking for someone with different experience.” I think what they really mean is “someone younger,” but nobody says that out loud, do they?
I had some savings, but it’s amazing how fast money goes when you’re trying to keep up with:
– Credit card payments: $49,000 (I know, it sounds awful – some of it was from taking extra classes for my last job)
– Student loans: $7,000 (still paying these off… who knew they’d follow me this long?)
– Regular bills: about $1,000 a month
The worst part? The phone calls. Debt collectors call morning, noon, and night. I’ve started leaving my phone on silent because I can’t take the stress. Last week, I got a certified letter about a judgment against me. I had to Google what that even meant – turns out they can take money right out of your bank account. I’m terrified to even deposit money now.
I’ve added it all up a hundred times. To get the collectors off my back and give myself a chance to breathe, I need $57,000. Typing that number makes me feel sick to my stomach. It’s so much money, I know. But if I could just get out from under this debt, I know I could get back on my feet.
I’m not sitting around feeling sorry for myself. I’ve:
– Applied to 67 jobs (yes, I’m keeping count)
– Sold some old jewelry
– Cut every bill I can – canceled cable, using the cheapest phone plan
– Even started working on a farm part time but the cold weather is coming and there’s not much more work.
If you can spare anything, it would mean the world to me. I set up a PayPal account for donations: PayPal.me
Even $5 helps – I know times are tough for everyone. And if you can’t donate, maybe you could share this with others? Or if you know of any job openings for an IT Network Administrator, I’d be so grateful.
Getting this debt off my back would change everything. I could:
– Sleep at night without waking up in a panic
– Answer my phone without my heart racing
– Focus on finding a good job instead of just worrying about money
– Be able to pay my mortgage without wondering if I’ll be able to keep paying it.
I promise, when I get back on my feet, I’ll find ways to pay this kindness forward. Maybe that’s what life is about – helping each other through the rough patches.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Just knowing someone took the time to hear my story means a lot. I keep telling myself this is just a bad chapter, not the whole book. With a little help, I know I can turn the page.
Thanks for considering,
~Michele