HELP!!!

[kisskiss876]

Okay, where to start. I have ust over $18,000 in debt. Ill list it all here so it makes sense.

Student Loan #1: $3,226.88
Student Loan #2: $1,747.31
Student Loan #3: $457.21
Doctor bill #1: $80.00
Doctor bill #2: $716.56
Doctor bill #3: $30.00
Doctor bill #4: $118.00
CC #1: $1,071.03
CC #2: $2,424.07
CC #3: $2,270.24
CC #4: $1,944.30
CC #5: $2,212.55
Store CC #1: $270.24
CC #6: $1081.79
Other: $435.00



I know I didnt need to break it down like that, but somehow it makes me feel better, lol. I dont make very much money, Im in a really rough spot right now, I have no car, and theres nowhere within walking distance for me to get a job, so here I live with my mother. I babysit two children full time, and I make $110 a week. I send a majority of that away, but I still get collections agencies left and right, and Im pretty much way in over my head. My credit is screwed, that much I know. I dont know my credit score, I dont have the $ to pay to see it. Im pretty much just overwhelmed and terrified. I NEED to take care of this. My love gets back from Afghanistan in 7-9 months (have to be vauge per OPSEC) and I need this under control by then. Why? Because he says he's going to pay it off the day we get married. I cant have that happen. It is my responsibility, not his. Dont go thinking I ran up a bunch of debt on nonsense. 99% of the credit card debt is tuition, books, and late fees. The only thing thats not tuition is the store CC and the Other and the medical bills. THe medical bills is because I had no insurance and ended up in the ER. Im sorry if im not making any sense, im freaking out. ANYTHING you can sya to me is more than appreciated. Even a smiley hug would help right now, lol. Any advice you can give, i would more than love you for it. Thanks in advance

[sarathom]

Hugs first. Just a suggestion...is there any way you could get a job where you would pull in more money a week? If you could make 2 or 3 times that amount, you would be able to pay off more at a time.

Wishing you all the best...hang in there!

[guest32]

No expert here... so I'll just throw a few things out here. First....here's a {{hug}} cause you deserve it.
You have a college education? So you are able to get a better job....just no car, right? Since you are living with your mother, can you borrow hers? Maybe get a night job so she can have the car during the day if she needs it. Does your SO have a car you can use while he's gone? (I know my dd put everything in storage when she was deployed to Iraq.) Can you find a friend to car-pool with by paying for gas, etc?
I'll keep thinking...things are not as hopeless as you think.

[kabin63]

Well first off . You need that. Now on to more ideas. Have you contacted the creditors to try to work something out? If they still don't want to work with you at least you know you tried, but never ever let them mistreat you. You do have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. Do you have anything you could sell on ebay? Could you babysit more kids? I suggest that you run, not walk to your local library and check out "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. If you can listen to him on the radio then that's even better. Usually on an AM station. He also has a web site. You can google his name and get the site, but I think it's www.daveramsey.com. Maybe you can listen to him or read his story and find some peace and know that your situation is not hopeless. Most of us have been in or near your position at one time or another.
Best Wishes!

[my4littlebuffaloes]

Big hugs! This has to be so hard! Is there a bus route nearby you? Can you borrow your parents car in the evening to work an evening job? Delivering papers? That actually pays well and your parents will be asleep, so not driving right? You could just help pay for gas and oil changes periodically. Also $110 for 2 kids full time is not very much, can you raise your rates? How old are the kids? Where I live it runs around $25-50 a day per child! If that truly is your only option then I think you need to raise rates AND take on more kids. It would help if you listed minimum payments and such. Good luck!

Jennifer

[my4littlebuffaloes]

Another thought is to put your student loans on hardship deferal - that would stop those payments for I think 6 months.

jennifer

[kisskiss876]

I cant raise my rates, because $100 of that is for one child, shes 7. I should probably state now that my mother is evil. I know a lot of people say that, but it really is true. She says anything she can think of to be mean, and wont stop until Im in tears. She makes me babysit my 7 yr old brother for $10 a week(and rarely actually GIVES it to me...) until 5pm as well as keep the house SPOTLESS and the lawn mowed(shes one of those people that htinks it needs to be done every day) And even when the house is spotless, she will walk around until she can find something to scream at me for. Today it was because the vent on the oven wasnt cleaned. The little 2 inch tall 8 inch wide vent. RIdiculous? I think so. Anyway, I think I may have found two children to watch today, which very well may double my income. A 2 yr old little girl and a 6 week old baby, there mother is looking to go back to work. Keep your fingers crossed for me ladies, I really need it. Ive tried to convince her to let me use her car at nights and what not, and she says that unless I care to make her $400/month car payment, Im not to touch it. Chris has a car, but it's in storage until he gets home. It doesnt exactly run, lol. You know how men like to keep the hunks of junk around. I live literally in the middle of NOWHERE. Theres no place I can work within walking distance (at least 8 miles away) and not a bus route for 30 miles. Thanks for your responses ladies, and the hugs as well. Youve already made my day better

[Valerie in WA]

Here's another

Do you have any friends you could room with? Ones who live near businesses or bus routes?

You - not me - said what you did about your mother, and I am saying that she sounds somewhat toxic, by your description. It would do you well to take a step back from that relationship. We can love and respect our mothers (or other relatives) without becoming their victims.

$110/week x 39 weeks (equivilent to 9 months) = $4290. On this income, there is no way you can eliminate your debt before your Hero comes home (please give him my respects). You've got to find a way to a better job.

I'll be praying for you and if you'd like to PM me, feel free.

[kestrel91316]

8 miles is a nice bike ride. Could you get a bike and ride to work in town? Until you can get a clunker??

[i.m.cheap]

Do you have a college degree? If you enjoy childcare, why don't you sign up with a nanny employment agency? You would earn a nice salary, and get to live in a nice home. Some employers even furnish a car for their nanny. They would probably pay for your plan or bus fare to come to their location. I had a friend who needed to hire a nanny, and they had to pay her plane fare, furnish a car and insurance, a private room, and a salary of $300 a week.

[i.m.cheap]

Here is a link to one such agency: http://www.nanniesplus.com/

[kisskiss876]

Im afraid I dont have a college degree yet. The bills got so bad I had to leave school.

[MandiDawn]

Just remember all this is only temperory!! It will get better someday. You say you live out in teh country - is there anyone around there that needs their lawns mowed/pets watched/mail brought in/gardens weeded? Anything that you can do to earn a little extra here and there?

[Telephus44]

Here's another

$110/week x 39 weeks (equivilent to 9 months) = $4290. On this income, there is no way you can eliminate your debt before your Hero comes home (please give him my respects). You've got to find a way to a better job.

I'll be praying for you and if you'd like to PM me, feel free.

Yeah, I was thinking about this math, too. I think that your goal is beyond what you can accomplish in the given time frame.

In addition to sending many hugs, prayers, and well-wishes your way, I also want to consider that just because you have taken on this debt, it isn't necessarily a black mark against you. My DH had a lot more problems with CC debt than I did, and last fall he came to me asking for help. I gave him $4000 that I had saved up to put towards "his" debt, but I don't feel in anyway that he was skipping out or shirking his responsibility. Especially when you get married, you have to think like a team. Even now, he pays a significantly higher portion of my student loans - but we've agreed that the past is the past. Not to mention that student loans can be considered an investment in your future (I consider mine to be!). If it is guilt that is bothering you, I'd set a smaller goal of having the store CC and and "other" paid off before he comes home.

[dwallyfam]

Congrats on paying off 1 debt.

Kellie