Serious help only please?

Question

I have no money and I work 3 part time jobs to make ends meet yet I never have enough. I have tried to get a full time job but with kids I just can't afford the day care on the 10 an hour it pays. Now my car broke and I need cash fast what can I do besides not pay my bills? Because once I do that then I can never catch up unless I get an extra month of pay somewhere. Please Help what can I do??

Ok Thank for your help let me add some details. The kids father does help some he has all the medical insurance on the kids and watches them while I'm at work but after school vacation there is still a 3 hour gap of time for my son and about 4 hours for my non-schoolaged daughter. I'm not religous so no church and other than the kids dad my closest family is an hour away. I already don't have a cell phone, my computer goes in a month same with cable and a cheaper place would be great except there are no apartments for cheap any where around here. I shop with coupons as much as possible I even get clothes at Goodwill. It's not like I don't try I just can't make it work. Thank you for all the help I truly appreciate it.

Answer 1

You can make it work, you are a thinker...

I was a single parent of 3 for 9+ years and paid $160 per week in childcare and did not get ANY child support...those were the days....macaroni and cheese with a can of tuna for dinner, washing all the clothes in cold water, and driving my cars until they stopped running.....I made it and you can too! Now my oldest daughter has three kids and married and the other kids work and live on their own....oh yeah, a story of recreation: We had a Toyota hatchback and wanted to go camping but had no tent, so we brought a sheet, lifted the hatch, at made a tent out of the car, they tell me about the 'good old days' all the time....

for now, your in a trying position and feel the heat under your toes..."If it is to be, It is up to me"

Answer 2

wow. sounds like a real pickle. i take it a family member is unable to watch the kids....at least once in a while? when do they go to school? any more info?

anyways, does that full time job you mentioned have any sort of childcare assistance? how about a flexible spending account where you can put money aside tax free if used for qualified child care? that could certainly help that $10/hr go a little farther. also, that full time job probably has a medical/benefits plan which is something else to consider.
and is it possible to cut your expense at all? is there a cheaper place to live? cut out the cell phone? anything like that?
finally, an off the wall idea i heard about......some company pays people a couple hundred dollars amonth to drive around with advertisements on their cars......not sure of the place though. perhaps you could do some online searching. hope some of this helps!

Answer 3

Wow! This sounds unbelievably stressful! I don't know where you live, but here in the Chicago area, we have the Head Start program, which offers a nice preschool program for low income families. Also, we operate under a township system here which is always available for low income families, even sometimes providing transportation to a job. Another possibility would be Catholic Charities or the St. Vincent DePaul Society, which operate in all sections of the country. Even if you're not Catholic, these agencies are there to help.

Good luck and God bless! This is a trying time for you, but it sounds like you're a resourceful woman and have the ability to make things happen for yourself.

Answer 4

If you need the car to get to work, then I suggest getting a loan from a friend or a family member. You need to get that car on the road. Also do you have anyone in your family that is willing to babysit for free, grandparents? I know that your husband is helping but is he paying child support, that little extra can really help you through the tough times. You might not want to worry about him paying for healthcare right now because there is a lot of programs out there that will help with healthcare. I don't know what state you live in but try to find out if they have child health plus. You can contact your public assistance office and inform them of your situation, they love it when people are actually working, they may be able to pay for a babysitter for you. I know that they have vouchers for such things. You might also qualify for foodstamps which will free up some of your money to help with car maintenance. Finally, just to let you know, you dont have to belong to a church to get assistance. Most churches collect money for these things anyway, so you might as well go to get help. I know that cars are donated to churches and they fix it up and give it to those in need. I know this because I was a case worker for some time and I worked with the state helping people in your exact position. The most important advice I can give you is that you won't get anything if you start counting things out. Desperate times, leads to desperate messures so as uncomfortable that it may seems, to go to welfare for help or a church, it might be just what you need. I hope I was helpful

Answer 5

Damn.....i guess i would go through all the bills, and try to assign a weight to each to see which was most important....like the rent, and food, and electricity would be near the top...the cell phone and stuff like that near the bottom.
See if your credit is good enough to get one of the 0% introductory credit cards, but only to pay the car repair....
If you belong to a church, maybe you can network with another woman in your stituation and you can take turns watching each others kids.....
Can you take in a family member to help pay the rent?
good luck

Answer 6

Priorities first. Do you have cable? Turn it off-save money. Phone? Basic service only-no extras & no long distance-save money.Internet? turn it off-save more money. Which is more important, a running car or being able to read these answers??? Once you figure out which is more important -you will have more money to pay basic NEEDS. Been there myself with 2 kids making $5/hour 20 hours a week and I did not get welfare.

Answer 7

I would recommend that you think about several options:

1. Consider going to your local church and asking for assistance. Many churches have relief funds for people who are financially needy. They may also be able to help you with a job and/or inexpensive/free babysitting services.

2. See a financial counsellor. I don't know where you live, but many areas have free financial counsellors to help you get yourself organized and lay out a plan for getting back on your feet.

3. Contact your state welfare department. Sometimes they can help.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Are you living over your means? Are the children's father helping out?