May 15, 2012
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I have less than $2 in my checking account
And I don’t qualify for food assistance.
Apparently it’s because I’m a student at a higher education facility. In order to qualify for food assistance, I would have to be working a minimum of 20 hours a week, OR get a job at the school as a work study. She said, “well, you can take out additional loans.” Yes, because that’s what I really want to do. Besides, I can’t. My loans are maxed out right now. I applied for a student loan at my bank and was denied. I won’t be getting any student loan money until the middle of September. What am I supposed to do until then? Starve? I get $1,312 a month in unemployment. Bills ALONE total $1,143. That’s not including gas or food. I have 4 months until I get loan money. If ever I’ve felt utter despair, this is it. I balled my eyes out on my way home. I guess if I have to, I can take all my shit to the pawn shop again. I vowed to never do that again after I got all my stuff out in January. I can borrow $500 from the bank with the advance checking account feature and pay it back at 10% interest.
She gave me a list of food banks in the area. Other than that, I really don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I would sell my car and get a clunker where I don’t have a car payment, but I owe more than it’s worth. I can only miss two car payments before it gets repo’d, and then I would be really fucked because I need a car to get to and from school. Oh, plus, I have to pay $2.50 a day for parking at school.
I feel like drowning myself in the toilet, because that’s what’s happening here.
Comments (13)
*Hugs*
Maybe you could carpool with a friend to campus- chip in with the fee or take a bus, maybe?
The food banks are a good idea and there’s nothing wrong with using them.
You’ve got this.
I have gone through this exact same thing..
My husband made $300 one month (the ENTIRE month) and they took our foodstamps away..
that 300 didn’t even cover the house payment that is ON that paper work they have,
but yet they took away our food? I was shocked.
Check with the foodbanks, they really are amazing.
You may even check any local churches or anything like here we have a thing called Prairie Land
its just an orginization that has like packages/boxes of food for $25 and under.
It wouldn’t hurt to try and sell your car for a little over what you owe,
I’m in that exact same spot too actually, we owe a little over 2000 more than
what is books for so of course we are having a difficult time but hey it doesn’t hurt to try.
Until then I would see about what the comment above says, carpooling or maybe a bus if you have them?
There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes just a little further back than we can see at the moment.
Yeah, save gas any way you can. Find roommates or move to a cheaper place. Cancel newspaper subscriptions.
Don’t they have job training subsidies for people on unemployment where you live?
Good luck! I’m proud of you for making good use of your laid-off time.
@dingus6 - lol I pay $400 a month for rent. It doesn’t get cheaper than that in MN.
There are some costs that can be cut. For example, there are prepaid cell-phone plans that are very affordable. I don’t know how much your cell bill is per month or what level your cell use is, but there are some unlimited talk/text 30-day plans that are $50. Or, get cheaper plans and limit your cell use.
As for food, check churches. Many have Silent Pantries and I know that the one at my church is used frequently by people in the area.
It absolutely sucks that you can’t get food stamps. Hugs, and I hope things get better for you soon.
@Cestovatelka - Can’t do that cell phone thing. My sisters are on my plan, there are 5 lines on it. It would cost at least $1,000 to dissolve all the contracts.
I had to use food pantries many times and also bus and it was not easy on my pride but it worked. Can you bus?
Do you not qualify for work study?
I understand- a lot. I went to a private university in Kansas City and I had a lot of financial issues, too. But it’s possible.
Scholarship sites:
http://www.cappex.com
http://www.scholarshipexperts.com
Those two sites offer a variety of scholarships and it’s really helpful.
And for pawning, there’s no shame in that, either- I’ve had to do it to get by.
<3
Hang in there
I know how you feel. I can’t get any help bc i’m living with my mom and she makes too much. Even though I’m only applying for me and the little one. As for parking maybe you can car pool with people from school? Maybe change up weeks to save on gas money and having to pay for parking.
@crazy2love - Are they paying their share of the phone bill? I don’t want to step anywhere I shouldn’t but that seems only fair. My family has been is this situation in the past. Ramen Noodles and boxed mac and cheese, beans and rice really starts sucking after awhile.
It Is an election year. Why don’t you contact your local senator or congressman? It can’t hurt & just maybe you can bring about a change. Nobody should be told to take out loans just to eat. If they could only walk a mile in your shoes…
@crazy2love - http://www.biolifeplasma.com/html/getting_started/getting_started.html