We have no money for rent this month.

[minkajane]

I don't know what we're going to do. We've accidentally overdrawn several times in the past couple of weeks, so there goes $150 in overdraft fees. We have about $35 in our account, which means we can't pay the $79 due on Saturday for DH's TV and X-Box. If I go sell plasma tomorrow morning and get good tips tomorrow night we may be able to swing it a day or two late. We have no food and no money for food. I can't buy the textbook for the class I have starting at the end of the month.

We asked for a week's extension on our rent, since we've payed our rent on time and in full every month for the six months we've been living here, but they won't give us one. So we have three choices. We borrow money from family and look like the irresponsible young couple who are going to be burdens on everyone, go to a payday loan place, or just not pay rent until we get the GI Bill money and pay $75 for being a week late.

DH is going to temp agencies Monday, but it will be several weeks till he gets any money, which is no help for August's rent. Even if we didn't have other bills, there's not enough time to save up enough money to pay rent. We're going to be lucky to be able to buy food. Ramen noodles and dollar store brand canned soup it is.

I'm so very tired of being poor.

[mamasee]

Wow. I wish I had a magic answer for you. I just read a good book "How to Survive Without a Salary" - they had it at the library. There is a good section about really cutting back expenses. You mentioned overdraft fees. Would it be possible to only pay cash for items in the future? That way, no surprises.
Also, have you applied for foodstamps? Do you have young kids? You might qualify for WIC.
If it was me, I would borrow money from family, cut out all non-essential items (like the TV and X-box). Stop driving a car - walk or bus to work. Etc. and then make darn sure that I paid my family back a.s.a.p. (even just a dollar at a time).
I am not a church-goer, but many churches have soup-kitchens or clothing closets. Also, look under Social Service Organizations in the yellow pages and go down the list and call every one that might be able to help your family until you find support.
I'm sending you good wishes.

[pitter_patter]

Woah. Do you have stuff you can sell on craigslist? Books, cds, dvds, xbox games, outgrown baby things?

Soup kitchens, food pantries, food stamps, WIC, etc. can all provide short term help with your grocery problem.

Your school's library should have the textbook on hold, you'll have to stay in the library to read it, but I had to do that a few times when I was in college and it worked out okay.

It sounds like you need a budget overhaul if you can't make rent but you have an Xbox and expensive TV and are TTC #2. Good luck, the people on this forum are really helpful.

[minkajane]

I'm getting WIC (not that it helps much) and sending in my application for food stamps Monday, but that takes weeks. I do drive to work because it's a dangerous road to walk on and I don't have a bike. It's only a couple of miles. Thankfully, I don't have to drive 30 miles each way to school five days a week anymore, so that will save us lots. I'm going to see some family next week that I haven't seen in months, so I'm hoping they decide to give us some money as a wedding present. Getting cable turned off tomorrow (have to keep internet for school). DH has decided to go ahead and let the TV and X-Box go back. He's had them since before we were together. I know they're expensive. They haven't been a problem till this month. We've always been able to make rent plus the payments until now. They're almost paid off, which is why we were still hoping to keep them (so all that money isn't wasted). Also, we're TTC, but I have PCOS and it took two years and Clomid to get DS, so we're starting now, knowing that it will take a while.

[mamasee]

Originally Posted by minkajane

I'm getting WIC (not that it helps much) and sending in my application for food stamps Monday, but that takes weeks. I do drive to work because it's a dangerous road to walk on and I don't have a bike. It's only a couple of miles.

I think that if you walk in to the food stamp office on Monday with your application, they may be able to process it while you wait and you may qualify right away.

Is there a "back way" to your work that would be safe to walk? Maybe a little longer but on not such busy roads? Gas is sooooo expensive.

[hellyaellen]

maybe you can get the bank to credit the overdraft fees? my dh has done this several times in the past.....

don't know if its thwe same everywhere, but wehere i am for food stamps they generally have from 10 days up to the end of the month (so 30 days? max?) to get you foodstamps to you if you qualify........but in some cases you can get them faster depending on special cercamstances

definately start looking around your hous for things to sell for a short term fix, convert to cas for a while to get the checking back on track, and work on a budget for a longerterm fix....

: sending money receiving vibes your way too

[happyhats]

I think you've gotten some good advice on here so far. I really hope that things work out for you. Also, I want to say that I've been there so I don't judge you at all. It's easy to live beyond our means without even thinking about it, and then having a hard time completely blow the rug out from under us. This is where I am right now. I haven't always been the most responsible with money, I've done the payday loans (don't!) and I have been there with the overdrafts, etc. I'm learning to respect my money, and in essence, respect myself. It's no fun stressing out about how we'll pay the rent, bills, etc. so I'm not doing that to myself anymore.

[KariM]

Do you have any temp agencies that have daily work? Here they have places where you work and paid in cash that day. (I forget what they call it)

Can you look for a checking account that has overdraft protection? $150 is a lot of money to waste on overdraft fees!!!!

[dolcedaze]

Absolutely call the bank! For some bizarre reason banks love to charge fees all over the place, but are usually happy to refund them if you just ask.

[Ellien C]

I second the idea to call the bank. Or walk in there with your baby. Could you pay part of the rent on-time? They might not charge you the complete late fee if you do.

[MamaChel]

Agencies that specifically provide emergency assistance may include: St. Vincent de Paul (usually out of your local catholic parish but not always), food pantries, Salvation Army. Do a search in your county for "emergency assistance" or "housing assistance". It is very rough for many people right now, I am so sorry. Some states have an emergency assistance application that may help with rent as a one time thing as well.

[Denvergirlie]

Can your DH work day labor? It's not much money, but it's better than none.

[Siennaflower]

Go to Gamestop or your local video game place and sell your X-Box games. If you don't have many, sell the X-Box too. It can be replaced down the line when you have the $$ for it.

ETA I just saw your reply, somehow I skipped over it before. Glad to hear he's taking them back. That should free up a little $$.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

Are the TV and x-box rentals, like from rent-a-center or something? I'm not sure how he can take them back otherwise if he's had them since before you were together? In the future, you're much (MUCH!) better off avoiding those rental places at all costs. If your DH really wants something like the xbox, you're better off putting that $79 or what have you into a savings account for several months and then buying it outright. But frankly, if you're struggling to meet rent, that sort of thing shouldn't even be a thought on the priorities list.

((((hugs))))

[DaMajha]

Originally Posted by FlutterBee

Go to Gamestop or your local video game place and sell your X-Box games. If you don't have many, sell the X-Box too. It can be replaced down the line when you have the $$ for it.

ETA I just saw your reply, somehow I skipped over it before. Glad to hear he's taking them back. That should free up a little $$.

Sounds like she is renting to own the x-box, so selling it is a criminal offense, because it is not hers to sell at this point.

OP, have you tried to make a budget, I know you don't have much to make a budget with.. but the bank fees from 'accidentally' bouncing checks is eating you alive!!! I would call the salvation army, your local food banks, and churches. See if they can help you with your rent this month. Most of them will give you something, if not much, a little can still help.

Call the place where you are renting hte xbox and ask if you can move this weeks payment to the end of the payment plan. If it is nearly paid off, there is no reason to not try to save it at this point.

Try selling and and all games, movies, cds that you and DH don't LOVE. Get up enough to get through this rough spot and make a budget asap that is realistic to your needs. Post if you need help doing it. I also have a really good computer check book register that really helped me if you need me to send it to you.

[Siennaflower]

Originally Posted by DaMajha

Sounds like she is renting to own the x-box, so selling it is a criminal offense, because it is not hers to sell at this point.

Yeah, I figured that out from her reply. I'd never heard of renting an X-box before so I assumed she owned it at first. Sorry about that, I definitely wouldn't advise selling something you don't actually own.

Originally Posted by DaMajha

Try selling and and all games, movies, cds that you and DH don't LOVE. Get up enough to get through this rough spot and make a budget asap that is realistic to your needs.

Great advice!

[jennlyn]

If you've had a problem with overdrafts before, I'd like to pose a question. Do you and your Dh have debit cards? If so, it is very , very easy to create overdrafts. Husband and wife both have a card, they use them, but forget to write down the transaction and whoops, they've overdrawn again, now the bank charges their fees. If this isn't your situation, disregard the suggestion. If it is, I would suggest using cash only and leaving the cards at home.

[AnalogWife]

Just don't get a payday loan, I've read those tend to snowball and are impossible to get out fromunder. I pretty much agree with everyone else.

[CarrieMF]

Do NOT go to a payday loan place, you end up owing double or more in the end.

How much is left on the tv & xbox? If this is the first month you've had problems then I"d consider keeping them if they only have another couple of months left.

[Benji'sMom]

Yes please borrow from family rather than go to the payday loan place, you'll just end up borrowing from family to repay the loan anyway, they charge "fees" that are really like 400% interest just disguised as "fees."