Hello everyone. My name is Amy, and I'm 27 years old. My significant other and I have had a very hard year. We were both laid off from jobs that we had last year, and while I was able to find employment in fast food, my significant other has not been so lucky. Right now, we are 4 months behind on our rent, and struggling to keep up with our utility bills. It's only 2 of us, and we live a very simple/frugal lifestyle. We don't have a lot of debt, either, but we do want to be able to catch up with our rent and pay our landlord, who has been very lenient. The thing is, we don't want to push it with him, because we don't think he'll be lenient for much longer. We don't have a lot, but we do have a cat we really don't want to lose because she's almost 7 years old and has been with us the entire time we've been together, and we both really don't have anywhere to go should we lose our apartment. It's really sad that we have a lifestyle that's really not expensive and we're struggling to maintain it, and failing to do so. Even working full time, I'm only paid minimum wage, and sig. other lost his unemployment benefits. He has been looking really aggressively for work, but the job market, even for menial jobs, in our area is terribly depressing. In order to catch up on our rent we would need about 2,540.00 - then we would be current. My parents and his are in no position to help us out, and neither are any of our friends. We have tried utilizing an assistance program in our area, but they scrutinize every detail of your life, and violate your privacy. We do run a small business from the internet (it has been more profitable in the past, but it's sluggish lately, but we don't want to give up on it because eventually it will pay off, it'll just take a few years to get there), and need to have the internet in order to run it effectively, and they told us that they wouldn't help us with rent unless we got rid of the internet. We don't own a vehicle - I walk to work. We never go out to eat, I only have one credit card with a low limit, and I just pay it monthly, never really use it often. All in all, we are not doing anything frivolous with our money, but the township trustees made us feel about 2 inches tall for needing temporary help with the rent because we have the internet (even though if we got rid of it we would still need help with the rent, it's not that expensive - it's cheaper than what some people spend on their groceries in one week!). So I don't trust the government to help us out. So I'm making this plea to anyone with a little bit of money to chip in to help us out. We are lucky to have not been evicted by now, but I don't know how much longer we can avoid it. I don't want us to lose what little we have, or our little kitty angel who means so much to us (anyone with pets they love will understand what I mean). I can't really think of anyone who would be able to house our cat for us right now. She is honestly my primary concern. I do have some sentimental possesions, photos, and books that I would be devastated to lose, but not nearly as much as if I had to give my sweet kitty away. :( Any help we receive will be appreciated more than words can describe, and will be paid forward in the form of volunteer work in my community. I'm totally serious. Peace, blessings, and love to everyone. Also, I send my love to others who are struggling economically or otherwise right now. Know that you are not alone, and so many people know how you feel! Hang in there, everyone!
