Random acts of Financial Hardship Kindness

**missmanny** · 12-01-2008, 01:41 AM

I posted the other day in reponse to another thread where a mom was feeling guilty because her children were raiding their allowance money in order for the family to survive for the week.

It reminded me of a time when my parents were both laid off in the early 90's and in order to buy groceries and pay the mortgage they needed to use up my sisters and my bank accounts (I was 12 at the time) total cost to me just over $700 and about the same for my sister) I wanted to let this poster know that as a child I was more then happy to help and although they never paid me back I didn't mind. espeially given everything they did for me and still do.

When times have been really tough for me I have been amazed at the level of support that I have received from my family, I remember my mother one day handing me and envelope (that I just assumed was mail that had been delievered to her house - I had just moved out) when I got home, I opened it up and inside was $250 dollars and a note saying, "I know that times are tough right now, please use this to get you through and let me know next time things get hard. I am here to help".

any one else care to share similar stories about an angel who has helped you out when times were tough and you weren't sure what you would do?

**Jskell911** · 12-01-2008, 06:19 AM

Actually, I do have a recent one. My mother in law. We recently ran across some legal issues that required us to retain a lawyer to defend ourselves against some civil thing. Well, the lawyer was $9K! My MIL took a line of credit on her house to help us out. We honestly did not know where we were going to get that money! Our credit is excellent, but banks are just not lending.

**knotme** · 12-01-2008, 07:56 AM

In 2000, my DH had just lost his job. (his boss cheated the IRS and the IRS shut him down. He also didn't pay us our last paycheque, did not pay UEI so we couldn't collect unemplyment.) We had to live on what we had saved. I also miscarried at the same time. To this day I do not know who gave us the money, but someone from our church annonomously gave us money to help us get through that rough time. We had just built a new home, and still owned our other home alos so we had 2 mortgage payments to make through all of this too. We lived on our stockpile of food for over 3 months. Another generous person went grocery shopping and got us a months worth of food too. My in laws gave us a lot of their extra stockpile too. Another friend gave us a lot of fruit from her fruit trees.

So now I try to pass it forward. I also have given to friends who've lost their jobs. and I always share the bounty of my garden harvest.

**PaulaMM** · 12-01-2008, 10:11 AM

I've always felt that someone was looking after us. It seems that when things look the bleakest is when unexpected money or opportunities to make money arrive. It's proof to me that God takes care of us, not just in big ways but the small ones, too.

Ever since I have opened up my heart to Him, my blessings have been abundant. I bake cookies every Sunday for the Sunday school classes and, out of the blue, was presented an envelope with fifty dollars in it as a thank you. I was so touched, (and little embarrassed) by this act.

I had been discouraged and feeling impatient by the thought of how to fund our emergency fund for our TMMO without feeling too much of a pinch. However, it seems as if small sums of money are finding their way to us for that very purpose. I was able to put $210 into it just this last week!

**forHISglory** · 12-01-2008, 10:22 AM

God has allowed little kindnesses to line our path...... many more than I could enumerate here. But a large kindness came to my son and his family one Christmas. He was out of work and times were tough. Two days before Christmas, someone left a check made out to him on the front seat of his car. It was enough to catch up utilities and some payments. But they didn't have enough to buy any gifts for their children. On Christmas morning, a pile of wrapped gifts was outside their front door. Nothing in the pile was expensive, but what a wonder for the entire family. Although I have suspicions of who might have done this, none of us really know to this day.

**C@rol** · 12-01-2008, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by PaulaMM

I've always felt that someone was looking after us. It seems that when things look the bleakest is when unexpected money or opportunities to make money arrive. It's proof to me that God takes care of us, not just in big ways but the small ones, too.

Amen. So very true.

We too have had miracles show up by some kind person. Some known and unknown. We try to always pass it on in some way everyday.

Awesome thread! :chighfive:

**winner** · 12-01-2008, 11:33 AM

My mother was always there for me financially. When I got divorced I was naive walking out of my own house and slept on her floor with my two kids, waiting for my divorce for two years. Ex, just didn't care he brought himself a new wife and enjoyed his new marriage. There is a saying:"what comes around it goes around"
I am way ahead with my life, re-married 3 years ago and I am very happy, my ex's life turned really nasty and he is still searching for his soulmate. I wish him well, but I am gratefull to my mother who was always there for me.

**peanut** · 12-01-2008, 01:57 PM

I've been very blessed with people taking care of me. My family has been outstanding.

For example...when I was homeschooling the girls I usually hit burn-out around March. We never had money for me to go alone anywhere for a break, which I badly needed. So my family took turns inviting me the 'help' them sometime in February/March. It was nice to be immersed in someone else's problems for awhile.

One visit to my mom really stands out. She'd try to have me come once a year for a week long visit just on my own. That one time she decided to really entertain me. She took me to symphony, opera, live theatre, swimming, lots of restaurants, the university...just really lived it up with me. I was feeling bad about how much it all cost her. She told me I was forgetting, she was a senior, plus she got these incredible frequent customer deals. The entire week cost her $500, and that included the air fare!!! I sure miss Mom!

Jean

**fixer** · 12-01-2008, 03:31 PM

As time goes by, I believe more and more in karma. It can mean what you want. To me it is simple, you get what you give. I think every act of kindness I have done has been repaid tenfold. I guess mom was right when she said " treat everyone like you would like to be treated".

**baronmom** · 12-01-2008, 05:25 PM

I too have a recent one. We have a friend who is the sweetest person in the world. She helped us out twice so far in the last couple of months. I hate to take money from her, but we really needed it. My dh told her no at first because he told her that we could not pay her back, and we didn't know if we ever would be able to. She just told him that she wants to help, and to just take it. Without her, we would have lost dh's car for sure, and now I can breathe a sigh of relief because I won't have to worry about them shutting the electric off.
I only wish I knew what I could do for her.

**Momto2Boyz** · 12-01-2008, 05:32 PM

Last year, DH was not working at Christmas. We had explained to the kids that times were lean and Christmas just wouldn't be as they hoped. They were great about it, and told us they understood.

Well, Santa showed up at our house that night...literally. When we woke up, there were 3 packages for each boy and one package for DH and I. There are only a few people who have keys to our house, a neighbor, one friend and a few family members. We know one of them must have done it, but still to this day, no one will admit to it. When my kids ask me if I believe in Santa, I don't have to lie when I say yes, I do!

**momof42003** · 12-01-2008, 05:33 PM

My sister has been battling her colon cancer since April of this year. Her husband is an electician apprentice, and work can be sparatic... Any how she is having surgery in January and DH is taking the month off to take care of her... Problem is that their property taxes were due... She stood up at church during the praise and celebration/prayer and concern time, and stated she hoped that some how they would get it payed, and she knew God would be there... The next day she was visited by an elder and his wife and they handed her an envelope with the receipts for her taxes, electric, phone, cable, water all PAID IN FULL!!!!! Most of the utilities had a credit on it. Now she can deal with Christmas and save money so that January won't be so stressful when she is needing all her energy to recuperate from the surgery.... Just to let you know she is expected to make a full recovery and have all cancer removed.... The community she lives in is AWESOME!!!

**Michelle68** · 12-01-2008, 10:49 PM

When my father passed away in April, my co-workers in my office ( about 15 employees) handed me an envelope with $150 they had collected amongst themselves. It was totally unexpected and so sweet and it helped pay for the cremation and services.

**treeluva** · 12-01-2008, 11:15 PM

It always seems that whenever I think I wont have enough money to pay the bills that week, something happens and I have the money. Sometimes its a great week at work. Sometimes it is the fact that I have the money in savings. Sometimes it is my mother just sending me a gift. And sometimes it is just left in my mailbox in an envelope. God does make sure that I have what I need and I am so thankful to him.

**Palooka** · 12-01-2008, 11:29 PM

Years ago when I was married to my first husband he had a big ER bill and we had no insurance at that time. We were not very well off at all. I called the hospital to set up payments with them and they said our bill was payed in full! I said what? It was one of my ex husbands good friends that payed it off. We were in shock.

When I had my 3rd child my mom at least spent around 700 hundred dollars of food for us at Sams Club. They have done this a few times.

Also she bought most of the formula, diapers, and wipes for almost a year to help us out. She knew we had doctor bills to pay.

Another time was when we made a bad move to another state for a job and it didn't work out and we needed money to move back home.(this was the ex) This couple came over to our house to hang out with us for an evening. It was just a small home we rented. A couple days later there was a personal check in the mail from her. The crazy thing was it was almost the exact amount we payed for the Uhail to get there, gas, etc. She had no idea about anything. A week later she died in a car wreck. I still think about her and I really didn't know her that well. She was just giving.

I am sure there is many more.