My name is Riyaz. I am 61 years old, and I am asking for help at a point in my life when I never imagined I would have to.
About 10 years ago, I lost my job. I believed I would find another one. I kept applying, kept hoping, and kept telling myself that things would eventually improve.
They didn’t.
As the years passed, finding work became increasingly difficult. But everyday expenses did not stop. Bills still had to be paid. Food still had to be bought. Life kept moving even when my income had stopped.
To survive, I began using my credit cards.
At first, I thought it would only be temporary. I thought I would repay everything once I found work. Instead, the interest kept growing, the balances kept increasing, and what began as a way to get through a difficult period slowly became a burden that has followed me for years.
Today, I owe approximately $20,000.
Living with this debt at 61 is frightening. There are nights when I wonder how I will ever get out from under it. I do not want to spend the years ahead of me carrying this weight every single day.
I am not asking for luxury. I am asking for a chance to breathe again.
A chance to wake up without this debt hanging over me.
A chance to rebuild my life with some dignity, peace and hope.
I know everyone has their own struggles, which is why asking strangers for help is not easy for me. But I have reached a point where I cannot overcome this burden alone.
If you are fortunate enough to be in a position to help, $100, $250, $500, $1,000—or any amount—would bring me one step closer to becoming debt-free.
And if you cannot contribute, sharing this appeal could be just as valuable. It may reach someone who can help.
PayPal: https://paypal.me/Riyaz989
Thank you for taking a few moments to read my story.
Sometimes one person’s small act of kindness can become another person’s reason to hope again.