made it with 88 bucks left and rent due tomorrow.
of course it's set up to mess with you and put you in a position where you really don't have any options. getting a $9 an hour job cut back by half to below minimum wage isn't legal.
but that's what happens in the real world- people who can't fight get pushed around by employers who cut their wages and take retaliatory actions. sure you can file a claim but those can takes months to process and you need a roof over your head.
there's food banks if you need them- and churches that help with food distribution even if you aren't a member. St Vincent DePaul Society (Catholic) gives food, clothing and home goods to anyone who needs them (they also operate thrift shops), regardless of religious affiliation..or lack thereof, one of the reasons I give to them whenever possible.
there's friends you can stay with. I've never turned down a place to stay to anyone I knew, and needed a place a few times myself when things were very bad for me. you can find a room mate and in addition to keeping bills down you can share babysitting to give the other parent much needed time off.
schools will work with you to arrange meetings before or after school hours if you ask, meaning no lost time from work.
we're on one income right now and no idea how long that will take...I've got self employment leads int he works again, meaning I lose time with my family but you gotta do what you gotta do. with a little luck that wil pan out in the next few weeks. thought I was told I was hired at a job I recently interviewed for, they later offered positions to others, went ahead and started them and had no ability to bring me on board anymore...turned into a "we'll call you when we can get you on the schedule" thing- so I have a "job" I just can't actually perform it. no other resumes or interviews have paid off and it's not for lack of trying. I've got at this point six versions- bc I have to dumb them down for some positions I'm applying for. it's frustrating and demeaning to be told over and over again that you're overqualified for a job. I want to work, I'm willing to get my hands dirty, to put in the hours, to work my way up if there's an opportunity for it but when you can't even get a foot in the door it hurts.
the game is biased in that way in that you immediately get a job. out here it's harder. and it wastes time and resources looking.
we cut back on everything we could, packaged and bundled things we needed into the most practical and affordable ways possible, one adult has health coverage. we have a small but comfortable home, nutritious meals on the table every night, and no debt. we manage all this on a household budget of 1700-1800 per month (including fuel for travel to work and job seeking, laundry off site, all utilities, food, pet food, car renters and life insurance- I will NOT be without these) with NO outside assistance or public programs.
