Friday, May 1, 2009

Venting for a moment...

A little while ago, I spoke about going to apply for food stamps.  Well, I did, and was denied because I was 30 bucks over the maximum amount of income you are allowed to have.  Since then, I found out Mister has lost his job and was operating on severance, my hours have continued to be cut with an occasional week of reprieve, meaning I would get a week of extra money.

Well, the rent is paid through the end of May through a lucky, yet manipulated the system kinda break. *whistling real hard like*

On average, I am operating on a 150/week budget.  Most of which I have to either pay a household bill and try and pay on MiniMe's tuition.  She still in school on the good graces of the principal.

Last week, the child support suddenly stopped.  I say suddenly because Mister claimed he had another job within the same company at a lower position and now claims that their was a payroll screw up.  Well, I kinda bought that for the first week, cuz the employer has reduced their staff by about 25%.  But two weeks???? Payroll glitches in companies that pay weekly are usually absolved by the next payday.  I had asked about a month ago about if he could contribute to MiniMe's tuition, which is how I found out about him being laid off in the first place.

So this week, I was forced to charge my debit card on Wednesday for food and bus fare, hoping it wouldn't clear until today, but it cleared yesterday. Sooo, i got 4 overdrafts pending and the extra hours I got last week is now for the banks enjoyment and I am finding myself facing the never ending circle of having to use my card for food and bus fare for next thus risking the potential for being in this same hole next week.

My child support isn't 50 bucks a week, which is usually what use for the $28 bus card and the rest for food for the week.  I have asked him what is going on, and I am only getting vague responses and really, I am fit to be tied at the moment.

it is funny though, because up until today, I have faced every obstacle in a pretty upbeat fashion.  I haven't been feeling down and as I sit here fight tears, I am deteremined not to get too terribly upset about this. 

I guess what is really chapping my hide right now is that  I worked those extra hours (during finals week no less) only to be left with 40 bucks for the week.  and what else is getting me is that Mister seems to not be concerned.  I mean, if he could be honest and upfront about this and his scenario, maybe I would feel a little bit better about this.

Oy vei.

in other news, I got my hair to curl up this year, but I am looking a little moppish. LOLOL

41 comments:

  1. I think him being honest would at least allow you to formulate your next move. I just can't believe they are denying you food stamps for making 30 stinking dollars over. I'm so sorry about your hrs getting cut sweetie but i'm glad you're not allowing this to get you in a funk either. Know that if you want you have a prayer warrior right over here.

    Oh love the curly look it's so cute on you...now just smile. :)

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  2. All i can say to you right now is to pray the lord never gives us more than we can handle. In a month or so yu will see that things will come together, you may get back money from his child support fees or some where. We all go threw these obstacles it shouldn't last to long just keep praying, it wont happen overnight but things will change soon.

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  3. Queen I was at my desk crying this morning over the same ish. I got paid 628 and my rent today is 625. Need 13 to get to work next week and have no food in my fridge. We been eating rice, beans and mash potatoes for the past three days. No child support whatsoever. And to top it off I have to go to the store and buy food against my debit card and incur a 35 dollar fee towards my next check in my bank account. I don't know what to do or what I'm going to do. Oh and guess what this morning as if shit couldn't get worse....They pulled us in the office and said you are going to 35 hours a week. Well thank you. And people walk past me and say what's wrong ...when I tell them they look stupid and walk away. I am so in the leave me the fuck alone mode I don't know what to do...Then you have those who say let me know if I can help. I'm not asking for money..I asked for ride to the store because at this point I can't afford a cab ride...do you think I got the ride. NO well I have something to do..Once again leave me the fuck alone is what my face is saying.

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  4. i'm so sorry to hear that sis. it's incredible how that can happen. i will keep you prayed up. i was reading online about a site you might want to use where you can get food for a lil cheaper than the stores; www.angelfoodministries.com which basically charges for the same food things you need but it's cheaper than going into the stores. They have ministries in the Chicago area and a few different sites. I hope that at least (HIM) could do the right thing by his child. No court should have to tell a man to be responsible (financial) or otherwise where they wouldn't try to dodge the bullet. Stay fast. Be blessed irregardless.

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  5. I'm hate to hear that you've hit a snag with your child support. Is there a way that you can call his job and find out what can be done to get you your money? That would be my first step...the courts ordered him to pay, so the job is responsible for paying. I would call the human resources department to find out who would be in charge of that and let them know what he's told you...because ultimately they are responsible for getting the cash to you.

    Now that your hours have been cut, go back and reapply for the stamps again...this time, with smaller income and in absence of the child support you should not be over the allowed amount and they should approve you, as well as give you emergency stamps for the same day. In addition to that, ask for transportation assistance...they offer that as well if I'm not mistaken. Also, you need to ask the intake workers what other assistance you qualify for...get all that you can girl...because the funds are there...you just have to ask!

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  6. @sakispeaks that is great advise! try try and try again.

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  7. I so sorry you and others are going through this. (((hugs)))
    I hope there's a way to get back on track soon.

    I second saki, try reapplying.

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  8. I am holding on to those thoughts for dear life.

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  9. Agree with Saki and I'm so sorry you are dealing with this!!! Just stay strong, and prayerful.

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  10. I have been on there site before, but the trouble I have, I don't want to buy food picky ass MiniMe won't eat!!! Last month, the menu was something she was not going to be eating! LOL I had thought about getting the chicken and the fruit which is separate, but, you have to order the main order for the month.n (i think that is why i didnt get it when I looked.) but i am going to look for May.

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  11. already reapplied. waiting for my letter to come in the mail with an appointment.

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  12. Yes we definitely are. Waving my hand in the air.

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  13. I had to come back to address this cuz this too chaps my hide. It has mostly only been through the kindness and generosity of strangers that I have gotten this far. Isn't that funny? It is a shame that that is how that always seems to go.

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  14. annnd uhhhhhhhhhhh, that pic of me is a riot! LMAOO Allergies have mny face swollen.

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  15. cool. i thought at least some of it might be useful. I think May might be a lil better though. I just peeked it at a few days ago (it had April's posted). Keep strong sister!

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  16. oh sissy.....smh.....(SIGH and BIG HUG!) i so feel you on this but i feel much more grateful these days given that my situation has not gotten to the point that you have been dealing *knock on wood and praise Jesus* BUT lord the obstacles have been a plenty and i'm struggling to keep it together.

    so you know what, if you gotta cry, just go head suga....sometimes it just clears you up and you feel a hell of a lot better.

    so have you hit up some of the online customer agent companies to see if they could you use you here and there? i have some links in a blog a couple of months ago that a few others contributed to.....

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  17. with the little bit you are getting by, hell even for a household of two, you should get some food stamps...GIRL go back to that. oh and Teal posted a great website several months ago about a great food resource, don't know if it's in your area though.

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  18. ((hugs))
    youre a fighter... i told u this b4... you will get by!
    ~nothing comes easy for sum of us!
    time to beg borro and steal!


    lol ok... dont steal!

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  19. I don't know if they do this were you are from or not...but here...there are churches that help. They help with groceries and utility bills. You don't have to be a member of these churches. It might be something worth looking in to.

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  20. Sis... I KNOW your pain and stress... I have been in this situation myself... and situations even worse... but the thing I DO know is that God WILL supply... trust and believe that...

    I remember days when all we had was bread... I would pay bills, put gas in the car (enough for half the week..) and all I had was about 5 bux... I bought bread from the day old bread store, margarine, and jelly... and we would eat that. My kids USED to be picky... but when REAL hunger comes, a kid will eat anything you set before them.

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  21. ya know, I've been thinking about this all day... I'd give serious consideration to getting FIRED... you have a master plan, and the bottom line is that you need to survive NOW... get fired, get unemployment, and get food stamps...

    sounds harsh... but it's the reality of the situation... not to mention, you'll probably make more money drawing unemployment...

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  22. i agree... i think you have to adjust your way of thinking, even if it's temporary... this will all pass... but, this is also a great life lesson for Taylor, i know it's hard Lisa, but you will come out ahead of the game and a much better woman and mother...

    stay focused...

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  23. I don't think you are alone in your thinking...

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  24. Holy shit you need a break :(

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  25. yanno, i have been trying to get fired at least since december for this same reason. damn job wont cooperate. LOL

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  26. go to work late... return from your breaks late... be rude to some customers... don't go to work, and forget to call in... but, only do this if it will be worth your while collecting the unemployment, and getting food stamps... do your research and activate a plan...

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  27. wow girl....now that is some REAL talk and i remember days like that when i was coming up.....THANKFULLY we haven't had those days, me and my chap/ but best believe if we did, i know his lil picky ass would eat what was in front of him.

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  28. you know i don't know the umeployment laws but seems like you ought to still be able to get something if your hours are cut that far back. i know with my job, they have ordered furlough days for us and you take them depending on how much you make. if you have to take more than one, you can't take them in the same period because they would have to pay you unemployment. i didn't know that but apparently we could collect umeployment if that was allowed but they won't allow it for obvious reasons.

    i STILL find it hard to believe that on that little bit of money a week for two people, they still won't give you even a few dollars in food stamps....smh

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  29. i agree but my only concern would be if this employer could potentially be a reference for future employers and though they can't say much about your termination what they could tell the potential employer is whether or not they would hire you back or something general about your performance that could cost you a REAL job. you have to think hard about how to do this but you could do it, maybe lay out too many days and claim you have a sick child or illness and i'm sure they would let you go.

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  30. i agree... and this is true for DC and MD, and i would assume across the country...

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  31. i see where you're coming from... but, it's a retail job, she's been with the company for years, and she has worked her way up, she's now working on certification as a para-legal, she doesn't need them, her grades and her honors in the program and the professor will speak for her... and if worse comes to worse, she can always get a letter of reference from previous managers she worked with.. also, most national stores refer reference checks to corporate... i think that's the least of her concerns...

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  32. I'm sorry you're having a rough go at things lately. I hope and pray they turn around for you soon ((((huge hugs, sis))))

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  33. oh well if that's the case, why hasn't she just quit and gone on and claimed that unemployment because being on ly a few bucks above the pay maximum to get food stamps sounds damn near like unemployment and plus having cut hours.......i'd be all on that shit.

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  34. God got U boo, I know it seems that it's all bad but believe me the storm is at it's worst before it ends!!!! Be patient and faithful. I know this is a load of crap when U sittin in the middle of the muck but I'm just encouraging U sweetie. If I had it to give it would have already been mailed sweetie!!!
    Keep ya head up!!!!!!

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  35. Are there food pantries in chicago? The ones here don't give you mess people don't want, they actually give you a good selection of things.

    I hate to hear any mother struggling to feed or take care of their kid, but there has to be a way to cut your costs and make do. Ask God to show you and believe HE will and watch HIM work.

    ((hugs))

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  36. It's funny cuz yesterday, I was able to sell my books back and got enough money to make it through the week and pay my phone bill! God is INDEED good!

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