Rent emergency!

[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.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Can you have a "yard" sale? Sell some stuff on craigslist or ebay? I think that would be your best bet...

[disneysteve]

Ten days to come up with $400 is pretty rough. Clearly, you need to do something drastic and fast. Another 30 days after that, you're going to have to pay that $410 again, and 30 days after that. Even if your husband finds work quickly, and I hope he does, can you really afford to be a stay-at-home mother? Could you find work with an alternate shift from your husband so that one of you is always home with the baby? Anything you could do from home? How about babysitting? You're already watching one kid. Find one or two more to join him. Do you know any working moms who would like cheaper childcare? Could you start walking dogs for neighbors?

[minnie1928]

Do you buy chance have anything that still has the tags (or whatever) on it that you could return to the store of purchase, aka "unshopping"? How about cleaning houses for friends/neighbors/etc?

[maat55]

Try a few of the local churches.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by ScrimpAndSave

Can you have a "yard" sale? Sell some stuff on craigslist or ebay? I think that would be your best bet...

I have sold almost everything I own just to live off of. We now have food stamps which makes it easier but we really don't have anything left to sell. We don't even have a phone anymore because we couldn't afford it. So I don't know but thank you for the advice. It is definitely better than none.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Ten days to come up with $400 is pretty rough. Clearly, you need to do something drastic and fast. Another 30 days after that, you're going to have to pay that $410 again, and 30 days after that. Even if your husband finds work quickly, and I hope he does, can you really afford to be a stay-at-home mother? Could you find work with an alternate shift from your husband so that one of you is always home with the baby? Anything you could do from home? How about babysitting? You're already watching one kid. Find one or two more to join him. Do you know any working moms who would like cheaper childcare? Could you start walking dogs for neighbors?

Thank you for your advice. It all sounds ideal but sometimes things that are ideal aren't exactly close enough to reality to achieve. I would love to do all of those things but I simply can't.

I can't find a job because I cannot drive a car. I have an immense fear and where we live there isn't anything within walking distance that is actually hiring. (Mostly law firms and banks, which I do not qualify for) We have tried public transportation but there is nothing in our area.

I can't do anything from home because quite frankly I have no skills. I have tried a few at-home projects but they have all failed.

I can barely get things done around here with my own son, I could never hold myself accountable for someone else's.

It would be very hard to walk dogs for neighbors with a baby to take care of.

Don't get me wrong, your advice was great. I'm not trying to shut you down or sound rude by any means. I really am trying as hard as I can. I'm getting my administrative assistant certificate but I have yet to pay them so they have yet to give me my certificate. But once that is done, I will be making a great chunk of money. Hopefully.

[scfr]

1. Don't hold your breath on this one, but you could talk to the apartment management and ask them if there is any work you or your husband could do around the apartment complex to work off some of the rent due. Odds are slim they'll go for it, but it certainly couldn't hurt to ask.

2. If your husband is eligible for unemployment benefits, has he already applied for them?

3. Do you have a vehicle that you could sell? (If you have good bus service where you live, you probably don't need a car at all. But even if there is no bus service, you can probably get by with just 1 car if you currently own more than 1.)

4. Once you figure out something for the January rent, you will need to have a serious discussion with your husband about what you are going to do long-term. Were you living with family previously? If so, you may need to break your lease and move back in with them. Wait to go out on your own again until one or both of you have steady work AND you have at least 3 months' worth of expenses in savings (6 months would be better).

Good luck!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I can't do anything from home because quite frankly I have no skills.

It would be very hard to walk dogs for neighbors with a baby to take care of.

I don't believe for a minute that you have no skills. The problem is if YOU believe that. I'm willing to bet that there is something that you could do, perhaps some type of craft work, that could generate some income for your family. It might not be enough to pay the rent in a week, but it could help going forward.

As for walking dogs, why couldn't you do that with a baby? I see people out with their baby in a stroller and a dog on a leash all the time.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by scfr

1. Don't hold your breath on this one, but you could talk to the apartment management and ask them if there is any work you or your husband could do around the apartment complex to work off some of the rent due. Odds are slim they'll go for it, but it certainly couldn't hurt to ask.

2. If your husband is eligible for unemployment benefits, has he already applied for them?

3. Do you have a vehicle that you could sell? (If you have good bus service where you live, you probably don't need a car at all. But even if there is no bus service, you can probably get by with just 1 car if you currently own more than 1.)

4. Once you figure out something for the January rent, you will need to have a serious discussion with your husband about what you are going to do long-term. Were you living with family previously? If so, you may need to break your lease and move back in with them. Wait to go out on your own again until one or both of you have steady work AND you have at least 3 months' worth of expenses in savings (6 months would be better).

Good luck!

Thank you for the advice, but I don't think we would be able to do any of that.

As far as our living situation, he might have a job by next week through a staffing company. We are just waiting. Once that happens, we will be alright, but due to having to eat into our savings for some family emergencies, we have no rent money. We thought we would have it figured out by now but that wasn't the case.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I don't believe for a minute that you have no skills. The problem is if YOU believe that. I'm willing to bet that there is something that you could do, perhaps some type of craft work, that could generate some income for your family. It might not be enough to pay the rent in a week, but it could help going forward.

As for walking dogs, why couldn't you do that with a baby? I see people out with their baby in a stroller and a dog on a leash all the time.

I have tried utilizing my skills before and it simply has not worked out. No one buys what I have to offer. Plus, with the economy being so bad, I don't think anyone would buy even if my items were amazing. Even if they would, I simply can't afford the tools it would take to make things. I would lose money.


And walking a dog with a stroller would be impossible for my tiny frame. I would get pulled straight to the ground. I just don't find it safe with my baby.

[skylovessea]

I have just listed the following services on Craigslist in hopes that I could make some extra money.

Cleaning, organizing, babysitting, pet/housesitting, budgeting, cooking, etc.

Hopefully I'll have some takers, and my town is small enough that I could walk to most neighborhoods in the area.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I would love to do all of those things but I simply can't.

I can't find a job because I cannot drive a car.

I can't do anything from home because quite frankly I have no skills.

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I don't think we would be able to do any of that.

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I have tried utilizing my skills before and it simply has not worked out.

Originally Posted by skylovessea

I have just listed the following services on Craigslist in hopes that I could make some extra money.

Cleaning, organizing, babysitting, pet/housesitting, budgeting, cooking, etc.

Hopefully I'll have some takers, and my town is small enough that I could walk to most neighborhoods in the area.

Your last post is the first that actually showed some positive thinking.

First you said that you have no skills. Then you changed and said that when you've used your skills before, it hasn't worked out. Finally, you actually came up with a list of skills that you do have and figured out a way to advertise them. Good for you!

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Your last post is the first that actually showed some positive thinking.

First you said that you have no skills. Then you changed and said that when you've used your skills before, it hasn't worked out. Finally, you actually came up with a list of skills that you do have and figured out a way to advertise them. Good for you!

Thank you! I realize now that I sounded very negative before, and that is only because of the stress I am under. Thank you for helping me try harder. It was inspiring to know that people had ideas and I didn't have any reason to lose all hope. :]

[minnie1928]

I am a HUGE believer in positive thinking. Keep up your spirits and it will get you through this rough patch!

Please let us know how things work out!

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by minnie1928

I am a HUGE believer in positive thinking. Keep up your spirits and it will get you through this rough patch!

Please let us know how things work out!

Thank you. Your positive attitude helps me keep one as well. I will definitely keep everyone up to date.

[minnie1928]

You should really use this as a kick in the pants to look at your finances. Think of it as starting the new year on the right foot. Look at ALL your expenses (I'm sure you've been doing this anyway) and compare that to your income (when your DH finds a new job and/or you get something too). You need to re-establish some sort of savings so that you don't get stuck in this position again.

If you post some of your expenses we might be able to help you come up with some guidance for a budget to work with. I've been helping my mother stretch her money until it screams, I may have some ideas to help with your expenses if you give me an idea of where your money goes.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by minnie1928

You should really use this as a kick in the pants to look at your finances. Think of it as starting the new year on the right foot. Look at ALL your expenses (I'm sure you've been doing this anyway) and compare that to your income (when your DH finds a new job and/or you get something too). You need to re-establish some sort of savings so that you don't get stuck in this position again.

If you post some of your expenses we might be able to help you come up with some guidance for a budget to work with. I've been helping my mother stretch her money until it screams, I may have some ideas to help with your expenses if you give me an idea of where your money goes.

That sounds like a great idea. Any ideas on how to accurately track them? I've tried it before but I always seem to fall behind. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I could use all the tips I can get.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by skylovessea

That sounds like a great idea. Any ideas on how to accurately track them? I've tried it before but I always seem to fall behind. I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I could use all the tips I can get.

I think the best way to track expenses is the old-fashioned way: paper and pencil. You and your husband should each carry a little notebook in your pockets and write down absolutely every penny you spend on anything. Do that for a month. Then add in any recurring bills that don't get paid monthly, like insurance premiums, car registration, magazine subscriptions, etc.

Once you've done that, make a new list with 2 columns, Wants and Needs, and assign everything on your spending log into one of those columns. Then review the list. Cut out as many of the wants as possible. Try to find a way to minimize the cost of the Needs.

[skylovessea]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I think the best way to track expenses is the old-fashioned way: paper and pencil. You and your husband should each carry a little notebook in your pockets and write down absolutely every penny you spend on anything. Do that for a month. Then add in any recurring bills that don't get paid monthly, like insurance premiums, car registration, magazine subscriptions, etc.

Once you've done that, make a new list with 2 columns, Wants and Needs, and assign everything on your spending log into one of those columns. Then review the list. Cut out as many of the wants as possible. Try to find a way to minimize the cost of the Needs.

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