I am a single mom with serious financial problems, can anyone help?

Hi I am a single mother who is at her witts end with financial burden! I have a darling 2 year old who needs special attention and care. I use to work when he was younger at a daycare but it soon became impossible for me to work and have my son there with me and I had to be let go. I cant afford a babysitter or daycare for my son and I cant get state or government assistance I dont think. So I am unable to get a job and I would some day like to get back to college as well and finish my education. My bills are all backed up and its only going to get worse come this winter. I owe $15,000 in bills from over the past couple years and I am jst so depressed. I feel everytime I think things are getting better, I get pushed back down :( Does anyone know of anything I can do to make money while also taking care of my son? Does anyone know of any place I can go for some help?? I appreciate any suggestions, and I feel like sucha burden. Thankyou very much...angel_thuget@yahoo.com

You should look into getting government assistance for day care. If you provide your state and county someone can probably even give you a website to get you started. You might also see if local churches can provide support or at least point you in the right direction of getting assistance.

Do you have family or friends that can help out with taking care of your son? Could you watch other kids while taking care of your son?

It sounds like you are in a tough situation and it sounds like you are really trying to make it better. I wish you the best of luck.

I can simpathise with you, I have been in that same position in the past, there ways to make money with no investment but they take time, you can use ebay to sell things from different websites that use dropshipping so you never actually have to buy the item until someone buys it from you, you can go to any search engine and type in free dropshipping wholesale and use the sites that don't have a membership fee or dropshippiong fee. You won't get rich but might be able to pay some bills. Good luck to you & yours. Just remember no matter how bad things look there is always somebody who has it worse and would give abything to be where you are.

I am curious to why you cannot get state or government assistance. If your son has a diagnosed special need, he will qualify for SSI, especially if your income is low. Depending on his diagnosis, I may be able to help you find local agencies that can help. Have you contacted any of your area churches? You do not have to be a member of the church to ask for help, they have funds available. The Red Cross is usually helpful, as is the United Way.

I have an Autistic son, and I have been getting SSI for him since he was 3yrs old. I am also a divorced, single. mom, and one son is Autistic, and the other is ADD. I have NO FAMILY in Alabama, they are 7 hrs away, and I have always done it on my own since they were 1& 3. I have worked full time, the entire time, because I HAVE TOO to support them. They went to day care(and there are agencies that will assist you in daycare costs while you work) Child support does not cover it all. You need to find local support groups in your area, contact Children's Services to see what programs are available to you along with the possibility of gettiong food stamps. YOU also need to get a job even if it is part time, most employers in this day and age understand that some people have children with special needs, and still hire them. Whatever your child's special needs are, there are people out there to assist and guide you when in need. Ask the pediatrician...you will find something.

For whatever reason you are in that much debt, I hate to say it, but you may have to consider filing CH7, Bankruptcy to give you the opportunity to start all over with a clean slate. They cannot take your vehicle from you, by federal law, you are allowed to keep one vehicle....good luck...your child needs you to support him in every way possible.

My answer is going to be more of encouragement than advice.

I feel your pain sistah. We have struggled so hard the last three years and the strain just pulls ya' down. I have been treated for depression and anxiety...and just plain 'ol broke down. I have a 2 year old and it it wasn't for her Grandma, my child would more than likely be naked. We were over $1000 on her daycare and they wouldn't take her back. I don't blame them. Car payments so late, they want the car back. No insurance ot registration. My husband had just lost his dream job, and the 5th one since we moved to the island. The feelings of hopelessness and despair were too much...and I really think I'd rather fall asleep and not wake up.

With everything crashing around us we tried one thing we hadn't tried. We began tithing to the church. I know, I know...churches want your money...blah, blah, blah. Listen, God says in His word to test Him in this. So we did. The church didn't ask for the money, we gave it. Three weeks into being obediant things started turning around. My husband was offered an awesom job with a man who literally mentors people. He advanced the money to get my daughter into a new daycare...which she loves. Our debtors are calling us, literally coming from the wood work...and we are paying them off. I have to say, I belive in the power of prayer and tithing. We have tried everything. Think about it. A two income family literally struggling to survive...that's whack! You may not have much, but God knows what you have and don't. He will honor your giving. Go to your local churh, they have assistance programs. They can help with bills and childcare. They can also help you with your emotional needs to.

God Bless!

If your child has some kind of problem that you need special care for him, he might qualify for social security. contact them and they can help you find a place that can evaluate him and then he can have special care so you can work. Or you can always apply for government assistance(welfare). They also pay for child care and you can get help with food from them. They also have a program that they can send you back to school.

Talk with your parents and possibly move back in with them. After all, they are your parents! Then, See about Work at Home programs.
Contact City welfare. There's lots of programs out there to help those in real need. And your wrong. You can get assistance, maybe more than you think with having a special needs child.
Maybe even look into filing bankruptcy on your bills. That could help you get a new start.

I understand how easy it is for bills to pile up and the stress it causes. My first suggestion is to get alone and pray for guidence.

You could contact your local church and they can certainly help.

Now for what you can control, put your mind to it and make a decision that you will overcome this situation. Making a decision to change is the most important thing you can do that you have control over.

It sounds as though you need to be able to earn an income from home and there are many ways you can do this. Start thinking as a business owner and come up with some things that interest you. Try to see how you can build a business around it.

There is a good article about believing in yourself on this site you may want to read.

May you find your joy and have great success.

You know, I was just getting ready to shut down and get off of the computer when I read your situation. Everything you just wrote sounds like something I would have written just a year ago. Where my finances are still not great, my situation has improved. I acted as a single mother for 6 years (he turns 7 the 28th of this month) of my son's life while his father was in prison (was addicted to pain killers). He is home now and doing very well. I well understand the feeling of a giant thumb pressing you down and the light at the end of the tunnel a very faint and almost invisible glimmer. The best advice I can give you is that you need to keep your faith very strong and also realize that even when the lights are turned off and the water...that you WILL get through it! It is not the end of the world.
I remember it being -10 below outside and not having propane to heat the house for a week with a baby with croup. When I opened the door to leave the bedroom and go to the kitchen...I could see my breath! My son and I stayed holed up in the bedroom with a small heater unit running to stay warm and lots of covers. It was always a struggle from week to week. Never enough money, manipulating the little amount I had the best I could. Humbling myself time and time again to ask for help. You may not realize it now or even feel like hearing it, but the strength and character, survival instincts, and understanding of something that is so hard for others to comprehend is gold. Learn to ask for help. Go and explain your plight to Social Services, to church, to friends etc... Your intentions for college are great...you will qualify for financial aid with no problem. In the meanwhile...e-mail me. I can help you in other ways as well. Perhaps even a job at home.

Contact your local social security office. With a special needs child, you will likely be able to apply for public assistance. You might not get a welfare check, but you'll probably get Medicaid and food stamps for your son which will offset some of your costs. If you used to work but now you don't, you could get unemployment benefits so you should find out. A person at the social security office may be able to point you in the right direction. In addition, what kind of special needs does your son have? You should ask social security if he qualifies for disability benefits based on his special needs.

In terms of your education, you might be able to attend community college for awhile and then transfer when your situation improves. A lot of community colleges have programs for adults, and even have on-campus day care and classes for students who have children.

Angel,

I believe you WILL find the help you need.

You've gotten some good suggestions and I'm sure you'll receive email (since you shared yours here)

I sent you an email myself.

God Bless.