Well this may be it...

Been a long time coming. Times are tough for my family. My step dad has been out of a job since August, and his unemployment has ran out. I'm the bread winner now for real, with my job with limited hours.

We're expecting to be evicted soon. We already have some things packed up in boxes. I don't know where I'll end up. Our family may split. Tough times.
But the way I've been looking at it, I know we'll survive. I hope so at least. I've been through some rough times, but now I'm really scared.

I don't want my family to split. My mom and step dad have been real good to me. How ever we're getting pounded on every side. Bill collectors, land lord, those interviews that my step dad drives 40+ miles to, just to not get hired.

I just wanted to let my family here at ATS know, that if I vanish for a while, I WILL be back. We may last another month, but then we'll be out of money, and our land lor.... slum lord, is getting real mad at us. Like I said, I'm real scared right now, but you know, I've done my best.

I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me, I just want your well wishes. This is reality, and it's hitting me real hard right now. What will I do with my stuff? What will happen to my 2 beloved cats?

I'm sorry folks, I just needed to vent. Thank you all for reading.

Are any of you going though this crap? I'm really stressed right now.

Much love to you all!

Slash

[edit on 3-3-2009 by Slash]

Much love to you and yours Slash. I truly hope you can pull through even stronger than you are now. I'm fortunate to not be in this boat, nor will I be. (house is paid for) But I fully expect to be housing my sister and her family when they go belly up. It's going to happen to alot of people. It will get to a point where people just take back their houses. When the banks collapse and have no holding over them any more. (my opinion, not fact unfortunatly)

keep fighting the good fight, and stay strong for you and yours. Try not to worry too much though, as the act of worrying confimrs the dire situation that you may be facing and will make it stronger. Stay together for as long as you can, you will give eachother strength.

Stay safe Slash.

Dont worry. God is there. He will definetely help you and get you back in one piece.

This is not a time to be scared. It's a time to be prepared. Get your ducks in a row, and make some choices. If you are worried about your stuff... and don't want to get rid of it. You can get one of those cheap storage units and pay in advance. If it were me, and things were about to get tough. I would see what I can sell. Stuff is just stuff.

If you and your kin are looking for extra money, you can go give plasma. It typically pays around $50 for the first visit, and then around $35 for each visit after wards. You can typically go every other day, so start Monday if you want the most for the week and go early. There will be lines.

That could be food money, or maybe a shower at a truck stop, a wash at the laundromat, or who knows a room for awhile. And if all of you went that's a nice chunk. Ramen noodles, peanut butter, potatoes, and onions are all cheaply purchased and full of protein if things get real tough. If it gets real hairy, make sure you have lots of underwear and socks. This is important.

Stay strong and be like a duck... let it roll off your back.

Thank you for your comments folks. They help a lot. I really need my spirits lifted. I love this site.

Good luck to you. I am sending lots of positive energy your way. The plasma suggestion was a good one. It is one good way to get money when times are desperate. Take care and let us know how things go.
Here is hoping something good changes for you soon.

I'm right there with you pal.. I am losing the lifestyle I worked so desperately to maintain. Now I still work 70 hour weeks and have nothing to show for it.

My awesome apartment... Gone in 2 weeks.
My cats... Sadly, need to adopt them out.
My studio I've spent years building with technology.. Well I might lose it, but my mind will be gone far before that.

What do we do? Well, we have to unify. People who find themselves in good situations will have to allow for friends to crash at their place. Find a house, and rent it cheaply with another family.

Do I have hope for America? No, that went away a long time ago when the first season of "Real Wives of Orange County" came out.

Do I have hope for the few who are willing to deny ignorance? Hell yes.

reply to post by Slash


I'm sending all my positive energy and well wishes to you mate.
It's certainly tough at the moment and i have lost a few things too.

I'm hoping people will stick together and help one another out... at least something positive may come from this...human beings may start to look after one another again and start caring about their fellow beings.

peace and hope to you my friend

[edit on 3/3/09 by blupblup]

reply to post by SantaClaus


Well said my friend.

I'm sorry to hear about your apartment and especially your cats. I would be crushed if I had to give mine up.
Luck shined on us today, as my step dad found out he was able to get an extension on his unemployment, not sure on all the details but I'll talk to him later about it. I do know that we won't see a check for about 4 weeks...:bnghd:
I wish you the best man, we gotta hang in there.

[edit on 3-3-2009 by Slash]

I think we are all feeling the economic pinch.

The plasma thing is a good idea.... I did it for about a year, ten years ago. It did not make me wealthy but did put some extra cash in my pocket for not any "real" work.

Not sure if you have anything of value to sell but you might want to put some stuff up on ebay.

There might be some "food" pantries in your area that give out free food.

Hang in There.

May we all come through this unscathed.

Focus on what you can control, release what you can't. It may sound oversimplified, but life can be that way. Simple. It's terrible to be stripped down nearly bare. I've been there before and struggled for quite a while to regain my (our) feet. But tough times can bring you to realize what you do have and to worry less about what you don't. Hold on to what's important.

What I said may not be practical, but I hope it finds a place with you and helps in some way. All the best.

I'm so very sorry for your situation.

May the light shine brightly for you and show you the way.

My heart is saddened for you also Santa. I'm sending positive energy your way also.

Be strong.

Don't depend on God or prayer, from what I hear God helps those that help themselves.

I'm a landlord with many tenants and go through evictions on a regular basis.
I'll help you where I can.

Contact the agencies that can give you immediate help first.


Church of Christ
14601 E Yale Ave
Aurora, CO 80014
303-755-7979

Heart To Hand Resource Center
12332 E Colfax Ave
Aurora, CO 80011
720-859-2513


Contact every service in your area that might help:



Community Development
A Division of the Neighborhood Services Department
Joseph Garcia, Manager

9898 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, CO 80010
303-739-7900 (phone) – 303-739-7925 (fax) – [email protected]

Colorado Foreclosure Hotline
1-877-601-HOPE (4673)
www.auroragov.org...


Be pro-active and ask questions of these people about other services in your area that might help emergency loans to maintain your current housing situation.

Be prepared:

Have important items ready to move if the Sheriff comes to the door.
Have a plan as to where to move items to and friends to help move it.
Make arrangements to have family members housed in a worst case scenario. Even if you need to shelter separately on a temporary basis, it's better than nothing.
Negotiate and be honest with your landlord. Perhaps this will buy some time if you show the intent to pay with a partial payment.


I wish you the best of luck in these hard times, but the best help you will get is the action you take before the knock comes to the door with an eviction notice in hand. After that happens you only have minutes to react.

Slash honey

I am sorry to hear about what is going in your life right now. I can imagine the stress, and I have faith in you that you are all going to pull through. Selling off some items you don't really need is a great suggestion in bringing in some extra money. The plasma thing is also a good suggestion if you aren't adverse to that... I am glad to hear your step-fathers unemployment has been extended, that should make things a little easier on you for a little while longer.

I'm really sorry that this type of stress has been put on you. You are in my thoughts, and I'm always a u2u away my friend, always.



- Carrot

That is rough, and I feel for you. It took me 4 months to find the crappy job I have now. I hate that place but im terrified to let it go because of this recession.

Might I also suggest if your step dad has the stomach for it, go sign up with a day labor place. You often have to show up about 4:30 or 5:00 AM and you probably won't draw a ticket right away but every once and a while you can land a pretty good repeat ticket.

At least it will be some sort of income, and your step dad will also have the moral boost that comes from working. Believe me, when the chips are down and your out of options the last thing you want to do is split up the family unit.

Get in touch with church groups like St Vincint De Paul and the Salvation Army. Sometimes they can help with rent and bills. The Jewish Children and Family Services may also be able to help you.

Times are getting really bad my friend, but your not alone.

slash,
i feel for you. I got layed off monday and felt like crap, I have three kids, two dogs, and a house full of expensive guitars and a sweet collection of junk. I was depressed as hell, and still am. I didn't tell my wife that i got layed off, for various reasons, I just said that i got a couple of days off.This morning I called work to see when I could get my check. Well, long story short, I got re-hired, like nothing ever happened. I guess that I my family and I are lucky. But remember, no matter how bad you think you have it, there is allways someone that has it worse. Hang in there things will get better, I promise you. Good Luck.

Slash and Santa Claus...guys, my heart goes out to you...keep your chin up though...you absolutely must take a deep breath and look this in the eye. I know it's hard, and I'm in this situation too...it's scaring the crap out of me just now, but all I can do is get up and fight. I was made redundant at an hours notice six weeks ago...not good. Whatever comes out of this, it will be an opportunity to improve something in our lives...a better job, a better place to live, space for a garden, something you havent imagined yet.

It's fine to rant and let off steam...absolutely necessary on occasions! So don't feel bad about it. There is always the u2u rant-in-private function to be abused should you feel like it! *grin!*

Much much love


Cait xxx

good luck man. things are tight around here too. there are no jobs to be had. i go to the job link every day for two hours and search and i have found nothing. my plan now is to try and get a loan from the state or try to work fast food or something so i can pay for truck driving school. then i will have medical and dental insurance and i can just basically live out of my truck. i can just rent a 'sleeping room' here local for a couple hundred a month for when i am not on the road.
i can wash up at the truck stops and eat pretty cheap there too. other than that i just plan to be on the road as much as possible, living out of the truck and being alone..
what else is there to do

To those on this thread who are going through tough times,

All of you will be in my radiant prayers. Although am not getting evicted, i feel the struggle too.

My heart goes out to everyone.

Well..

All i can say is you're in my thoughts, mate.
It probably doesn't seem like it now,
but things ARE going to work out..
It may take time
and there will be hard times,
but whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stonger, ey.


Namaste