were broke scarry broke

[recycledbook]

late on rent, disconnected phone, overdue credit card, uninspected car broke.

Its scary Ive applied to 30 places no joke and still no job we have 10$ for the week very little food what can we do?

dont suggest etsy its harder then you think Ive had an etsy shop for over a year.

and those online surveys SUCK they never accept me.

What else can we do.


I must add we do tons to save money i make our cleaners, we use cloth tp, cloth dipes, bike ride almost everywhere, cloth napkins.....

[KurumiSophia]

Can you see if your county trustee's office can help you? Maybe the unemployment office has a job placement program that you can avail yourself of.

I know it's a little desperate but maybe sell plasma? I've had to do it from time to time. It's not great but at least it's money in your pocket.

ETA: Is selling scrap metal, i.e. aluminum, steel, copper, etc a possibility as a way to bring in some sort of income?

[Amylcd]

ebay, I made $45 last week just from selling a few old clothes.

Food pantry. Selling plasma. Department of Job and Family services might be able to help with the utility bills. www.modestneeds.org will also help with bills.

[bellee]

Being broke sucks. Look into Wic and food banks and food shelves first, you guys need to eat.

Are you partnered up? does s/he work?

I've had great success selling things locally on craigslist. Dig through your house and price things to SELL and people will come banging down your door

[jennlyn]

If you have kids under age 5, call WIC now. Call your local social services office and make an appointment if need be to see what you qualify for in terms of assistance.

[rainbowmoon]

www.associatedcontent.com

they take articles from anyone (and you only have to write 400 words on any subject you wany). you won't get rich, they pay around $4-6 per piece, but if you write alot you could make some serious cash. you can start today! (there are tons of other content writing sites too and AC will lead to more work if you are inclined to take it)

[mamamelia]

i still remember my mum telling me stories of her and dad being absolutely broke and eating nothing but cooked lentils for 2-3 months for breakfast, lunch and dinner. she was 7 months pregnant and they had one very small bed to sleep on (absoluely no other furniture other than a chair) and she used to stay sleeping on the chair for half the night and then swap so that dad could get some sleep for the next work day. hearing stuff like that makes my heartache. we grew up quite poor from a financial point of view but i have no bad memories of mum and dad not providing enough for us.. lots of hugs, smiles and optimism (even when you don't believe a bit of it) go a long way with kids. please keep this in mind when things get tough. it's hard and i pray that you are able to get out of this situation asap.

i would apply for WIC and sell anything i could. delay all payments that can be delayed.. do odd jobs like cleaning homes, delivering mailbox catalogues etc.

[SuzyLee]

You can advertise on CL for housecleaning too.

[Paxjourney]

You goin gto have to eat so that first priorty, Do you have enough food to make it thru the week, 10 days 2 weeks. Next is rent, Are you one month behind or in jepordy of being kicked out?

Contact some local places like catholic charities.

There are some listed suggestions from PP.

Just a side note NOT every state pays for plasma.

[Attila the Honey]

We've been scary broke before, I know how it is.

In my experience surveys and etsy and ebay aren't usually worth the effort in desperate times. I mean, if you can set up and start doing them it will help eventually but most of the time you are weeks or months from getting any $ from them.

Call the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and whatever community hotline you can find. I know it's so hard to do, but they can help.

How about consignment? In our area that is also usually a month or so away from getting money, but we've made pretty good money doing that.

Sit down and write a list of all the fun/stress relieving things you can do that are free. It may sound unimportant in light of not having enough $ for food or rent but it can REALLY help battle the depression that can come along with being broke. Some things on our own list list (to jog your memory on what there is) are walking to the beach and getting beach glass, geocaching, "renting" free movies at the library, walking to playgrounds, dumpster diving, free outdoor movies at a local park, free concerts, free art museum admission on Wednesdays, a picnic on the public dock, a creek walk, going to the YMCA (we have a scholarship there for low income families), the zoo (family buys us a membership every xmas)...

Most aren't strictly free, they cost the price of a bus ride, but we can still usually do them if we scrounge for change.

Good luck.

[Thystle]

211.org


Call every charity you can find in the phone book and online (Google your area).


Apply for everything you can with social services.


CC's will have to be paid last, call and warn them you will be late.





Anyone you can live with?

Can you move to cheaper area or apt/house?

Can your SO get a 2nd job?






Is this a one time problem or ongoing?




{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[Smokering]

I'm sorry. That's tough! We've been broke, but not *that* broke.

Do you have any space (spare room, garage) that you could rent out for storage, or for a student to sleep in?

Could you cook for friends? Make them bring the ingredients, or at least the expensive ones (say, the mince for a lasagna), and you cook it and charge them? I've done that before.

Please, please use what the government is able to offer you. And don't be afraid to ring around churches or food banks. The systems are there for situations like yours!

I make money by writing articles for Suite, but while it can be lucrative long-term it isn't a quick fix. I get around $50-$60 a month, and earned pennies the first few weeks... if I ever want to get a decent second income out of it I'll need to put a LOT more time in. AC might be a better 'quick fix' option. Print mags are much more lucrative--you're likely to get a couple of hundred per piece--but the standards are higher, the research and writing will take longer, and it does require dedication.

What about childcare? Delivering leaflets/papers? Ironing? Medical transcription? Secretarial from-home work you could do for someone you know? Data entry?

[Mountaingirl79]

I've been there too.
First off, I would get food and some extra cash by a. going to social services, with my lease agreement and my bill statements, as well as checking account balances, etc. take a number, prepare to spend the afternoon there, and a case worker will get you immediate help. And B. the salvation army in my city always has free food bags and free veggies. All you have to do is walk in.
C. To make immediate extra cash, take all your good books to a book dealer for cash and take any musical instruments/ gold and silver/ electronics that you can part with to the pawn shop to sell, not pawn.
Then go get a library card and check out as much entertainment as possible.
Hope I helped a little

[newcastlemama]

: s
I just signed up at www.care.com...you can get babysitting, nannying, cleaning,elder care, errand ect jobs now in your area. I need to make some cash too. I advertised babysitting on craigslist and on local boards at cafe's. I am working on selling stuff this week (craigslist, garage sale, consign, selling gold jewelry).

The church/food bank is a great idea for meeting your immediate basic needs.

[texmati]

s mama! you've gotten some great advice here.

I just wanted to add-- you can post your budget/ monthly income/monthly expenses here and these wise ladies will have great ideas to make ends meet.

Also, you've gotten a lot of here and now tips-- might I suggest thinking big after the basics are taken care of.

[_betsy_]

I know it sucks, but is there any family you can ask for help?

Can you babysit - maybe offer around your neighborhood, put up a flyer at the grocery store, ask around church?

Gold is record highs still, I think, anything you can sell?

[reece19]

Maybe some babysitting or pet walking/sitting. If you can get emergency day care (if that's something you'd need), you could go to work for a temp agency.

If you have anything to sell, you could craigslist it.

[hellyaellen]

used books, cds, dvds, games any of these if you have a store in town that will take them will put a few dollars in your pocket

yard sale maybe?

anything around the house thtas still new enough to return to walmart or the like?

[Poddi]

Stick out some flyers in the neighborhood, for baby sitting, cutting grass, house cleaning, pet sitting, running errands...etc. You never know who might need some help. We don't usually hire people to do yardworks, but our lawn mower just broke and we need to order parts for it. We'd gladly pay a neighbor to cut our grass once or twice until we can fix it. Somebody might have guests coming and need help with cleaning; or might be looking for someone to look after their pets for a weekend...etc. Many of them will probably pay cash.

Good luck finding some money!

[Norasmomma]

I would be going to you states DSHS office immediately and also to the local unemployment center to see about job training and such.

IDK about your state but in WA with what you have going on you could get help for your phone, possible rent assistance and food stamps, plus other programs. Heating assistance is available through some federal grants. There are quite a few programs available-I know because my mom is a social worker and is in charge of many rent assistance, heating and other programs. GO do it.

Also many other have said it but food banks, and charities could help with the food.

I know many people who have been trained to do a different job through Worksource in my community. I remember when I was going to school as a hairstylist that there was a man who was a displaced timber worker he got trained to be a barber-he now owns a successful barber shop. There are things out there-although so many programs have been cut .

Good luck.