Rent emergency!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I'll definitely try that. It's a hard thing to do because I get forgetful but I will definitely try my best!

That's why the notebook is important. Don't try to sit down and night and remember what you spent. It won't work. You need to record it right away. Some people save receipts and do it that way and that can work as long as you are sure you get a receipt for every purchase and you keep track of them.

Another benefit of recording purchases at the time you make them is it starts to become a deterrent to spending. Do you really want to spend this money? Of course, the system only works if both of you are honest and don't hide any purchases or "forget" to write them down.

[mrpaseo]

All great advice, keep up the good attitude and look towards the future, do not wait for the future to happen to you. Apply all these measures and get on track.
Keep asking questions and keep us updated.

Good luck

[minnie1928]

If you write checks, make a note in your register (want vs need). If you use cash, keep it in an envelope and mark the envelope with your expenditures, the same way you would if it were a checkbook.

[skylovessea]

This is all great advice. Thank you so much! I will start right away. :]

[mommyof4]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

My husband and I recently got a new apartment with some will money I received. We thought we would have rent taken care of but other things came up and now we have no money. We had to apply for government benefits just to live. My husband recently became unemployed and is on the job hunt daily while I stay home and take care of our one year old son.

The point is, our rent is due between the 1st and the 5th of January and we don't even have half of it. (rent is $410)

I have tried contacting local charities that assist people with rent and no one has funds available. We also do not have any family that can help us.

I don't know what to do at this point and could really use some advice, quick.

Thank you.

Call your local Catholic Church and ask if they have a St. Vincent DePaul Society in the parishes that could help you. Don't worry if your not Catholic or Christian or anything- they are there for anyone who is facing a problem such as yours. Also, they don't demand that you pay them back. If you can eventually donate back to them, that is great, but there will be no pressure to do so.

Best of luck.

[My English Castle]

Can you see if your landlord will take it in two payments; one on the 1st and one of the 15th? That might give you some more time.


Many people sell plasma for quick cash. Not a fun solution, but maybe?

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by My English Castle

Can you see if your landlord will take it in two payments; one on the 1st and one of the 15th? That might give you some more time.


Many people sell plasma for quick cash. Not a fun solution, but maybe?

I've already asked about that but because she just bought this complex, she is very strict on payments. I'm thinking about calling her again on Monday and asking if there are any other options. She has been away for the holidays but her receptionist said she should be back on Monday.

My husband sells plasma but it only gets us $25 and it's about 30 minutes away, so it isn't really an option anymore because of gas.

We are selling our cell phones through Craigslist and he is selling some guitar equipment as well. Hopefully that will get us on the right path to paying the rent.

Thanks again for the advice.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

IWe are selling our cell phones through Craigslist

There are a number of companies that buy cell phones. That can get you guaranteed money quickly rather than hoping someone buys it on Craigslist. If you Google "sell used cell phone" you'll find a lot of options. If you go that route, be sure to compare a few companies as the payment and terms can vary.

[Staceyy]

You can also check out Craigslist for a job. You may find something on this helpful thread:

BarbaraSher.com • View topic - The $100 Hour - Income Stream Ideas

[SacredFaerie]

Gazelle is good for selling electronics. (It's a website, but I can't post the link. It's a dot com though.)

Everything listed here sounds great. I totally know where you're coming from and it's important to think positive. I know it's hard but you can do it!!!

Try Mint. It works like I imagine Microsoft Money would without taking up space on your pc. It lets you see pie charts of your food purchases or gas and so on and so on. Visuals are really useful to me. What works for me is never carrying cash. It's too hard to keep track of. I write all of my purchases and checks in my register and then I can go online with either my bank or Mint and see where I'm overspending. It helps a lot.

[Hot dog]

I know you say you dont wanna babysit but it is new years eve and people can never find babysitters and it is quick maybe not easy but it is money and people would pay for new years eve

[simpleyme]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I've already asked about that but because she just bought this complex, she is very strict on payments. I'm thinking about calling her again on Monday and asking if there are any other options. She has been away for the holidays but her receptionist said she should be back on Monday.

.

it may vary from state to state but as a landlord i have to follow a set procedure or I lose my rights

If I do not demand the rent paid on time in whole and and charge late fees and deliver proper notices I lose some of my rights and it makes the eviction process more costly and lengthy for me

it sucks that as landlords if we are too nice the law bites us in the butt
that's why I hire a property manager so that I do not have to worry about it its better for my pocket book and my heart not to get personally involved

[vole]

Look to history of your solution:

Rent Party

It's been used many times before and has helped countless people who found themselves in your situation. Hasn't been done lately but was popular many years ago.

-Dave

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by vole

Look to history of your solution:

Rent Party

It's been used many times before and has helped countless people who found themselves in your situation. Hasn't been done lately but was popular many years ago.

-Dave

I don't quite follow you. Could you elaborate a bit?

[SacredFaerie]

You basically throw a super cheap party and pass a hat around to collect donations for rent. Google it and see what you get.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by SacredFaerie

You basically throw a super cheap party and pass a hat around to collect donations for rent. Google it and see what you get.

That sounds like a good idea. Thank you so much!

[mom-from-missouri]

Why don't you list your expenses on here, and we can see what we may be able to offer in ways to cut back further...

Also what part of the country are you in, and what are your husbands skills???

I ask this because there may be temp jobs your husband could do--for example, parts of MO got hit with high winds and many people here are needing help reroofing or cutting trees from the damage.
We may be able to offer ideas that way as well.

Also, have you checked into subsidized rent? Does your landlord participate in the program?

[cptacek]

Where were you living before? You say you just got this apartment. Can you go back to where you were living?

[vole]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I don't quite follow you. Could you elaborate a bit?

The "Rent Party" started in Harlem and dates back to before the Great Depression (as opposed to today's). Neighbors supplied food, a piano player provided the music. Admission was charged. At those parties that didn't charge admission, the guests and friends contributed money.

James P. Johnson, Willie "The Lion" Smith and Fats Waller became great favorites at the parties.

Sometimes the parties were done on a regular basis the week before the rent was due.

Today's rent parties lack the neighborhood spirit but still raise money to pay the rent.

-Dave

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by cptacek

Where were you living before? You say you just got this apartment. Can you go back to where you were living?

We were living in my parent's house while they were away on vacation, but they are actually losing their house now so we have that on top of us as well.

Maybe I should go live in a tipi. Wouldn't that solve everything. :P