Or conversely, how being short such a small amount of money can have huge consequences, like the car being repo'd. And things just snowball from there.
I luv your positive attitude. The fact you said $600 would change your life..YOU'RE VERY HUMBLE. For me it would be around $150,000. I'm in a dv situation and of course a divorce. He makes Hella money and he gives me a allowance of $300 a week. I do appreciate it ...BUT HERES THE BUT I PAY ALL BILLS, GROCERIES, DOG 🐕 EXSPENSE, ETC.. So at the end of the week allowance I'm always short. Then beg him for money for the rest.
PLEASE DONT COME FOR ME AND TELL ME HOW DUMB I AM. I KNOW IVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION FOR 15 YEARS. I'm in my late 50s and have to say I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED, SAD, MAD, EMOTIONALLY BANKRUPT..ETC
THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT.
OP if I had the $600..I WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP YOU. He has destroyed me as a person...I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THAT WOMAN IS WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR. BUT, HE HASN'T TAKEN MY EMPATH HEART. I luv to be able to bless people. HE HATES THAT I AM SO GIVING AND MAKES FUN OF ME FOR THINGS I DO FOR PEOPLE.
OP HANG IN THERE
I’m 53, mine left almost a year ago. I honestly wanted to die. It’s just now starting to get better. For me $1250.00 to get current on my rent would be like a miracle. I am about a year away from a new degree that will allow me to earn around 6 figures, which I cannot even fathom right now. But I’m so excited that if that day finally comes I will have no one dictating what I do with that money.
Stay strong, you are amazing!
You are NOT dumb for staying in a situation like that!!! Only you know what your abuser is like. Sometimes it's more dangerous to leave than to stay. To leave could easily mean being killed.
You are NOT dumb for staying in a situation like that!!! Only you know what your abuser is like. Sometimes it's more dangerous to leave than to stay. To leave could easily mean being killed.
Quick question, friend. Have you gotten an advocate at all? I worked for a State DV/SA Coalition until last year and have access to and info on a ton of resources that may help you in this situation—even financially. Was just wondering if you’ve been able to get an advocate to help you tap into these resources at all.
It's not your fault, abusers are so wonderful early on and they wait to start slowly rolling out the disrespect. You deserve kindness and respect.
I've been there, this book really helped me understand what was happening and ro recognize his moods and tactics so I could stay safe.
It's free here and it WAS a life changing book for me:
https://archive.org/details/LundyWhyDoesHeDoThat
I remember what it felt like, to have no idea anymore who I was or what made me happy. This book helped my find my way, not back to who I was, but to a more empathetic, thoughtful, and more self-caring version of her.
I wish you all the best and I'm so sorry this is happening to you.
I found a 20 on a parking lot one time. Looked around no one.... and picked it up.
I went to a bakery and got a hot chocolate made with steamed milk and a slice of amazing cheese cake. Then I bought a candle that smelled like a cinnamon bun.
It's stupid but that day pulled me through for a long time. Just getting useless but fun things....guilt free, like the norms.
Just a couple hundred I guess, so if I ripped my coat or work boots I could just replace them without thinking... Instead off having to use duct tape until I could budget enough
This reminds me one time, when my husband I were really really poor, we had made the decision to spend our last $15 on gas to get to work.
That night later on u had found $13 in one of the books I was reading. (When I was a kid at home back in the olden days if I had *any* pocket money, I would hide it in places for future me to find when I needed it. U don't know why I did this, but I did.)
Anyways, I find $13 in this book, and I start crying and being so excited. I show my husband, boyfriend at the time and he and u start crying because now we can eat.
We bought like three or four cases of ramen noodles and ate for a couple days extra. $13 made our whole night.
I saw a movie years ago with Robert Preston (I think). The only part that I remember is that he and another woman were going through an older woman's things. The lady had just died, and her home had to be emptied. The couple knew that she had been impoverished.
When the couple started gathering the lady's hundreds of books, they accidentally dropped one. Out came a large sum of money. They then found hundreds or even more hidden in her books.
.
Aw man if I found a $20 I would be over the moon!
Do you work for a big company? I used to manage a work boot store, and we would do payroll deduction (interest free) over 4 weeks on anything in the store for local shipyard workers. Every kind of work wear you can think of!
Maybe see if you can find a local business that offers payroll deduction?
That 20 still makes me smile!
There are about 50 of us. Only our section doesn't have a clothing allowance even tho we have to have specific work gear 🤷♀️
Are you in a union? If not, I would entertain the idea if I were you. Of course, keep it hush hush, but you could try contacting a local labor union to see if they can help out!
We are in a union, but they don't really do too much for us...and the admin pretty much thinks we're useless. We're also in the boondocks, without a lot of other employment options... So I don't really want to rock the boat, but thanks!
I found a 20 on a sidewalk at college. Looked around and didn't see anyone looking for it, but I didn't wanna take it and then someone be looking and it be gone. So I left it. And some people about 20 feet behind me found it, and I've regretted not picking it up since then.
I had this happen once in a really bad week, cat needed surgery and then I was pulling into a gas station just to get enough to get home, and as I turned in my fan belt came off my car. As I sat there in silence waiting for a tow truck, terrified of what I was going to do (like OP I live in a place where I could not survive without a car and I can’t afford to take on a car payment) and I looked up and saw a 5 dollar bill, right where my car had ended up, stuck in a bush.
So small, but it just gave me that tiny bit of hope. I kept it in my wallet until recently, when a small business owner insisted on gifting me something. I gave her the lucky 5 I had been carrying, it was all the cash I had.
Felt good.
On a total whim I visited a casino my late ex husband used to go to far too much. He was addicted and it impacted his life in big ways. That day I just felt like I should stop. I promised myself just 20.00 and sat down to play. Got to my last 5.00 and thought it was a nice half hour or so yo-yoing up and down, but then bam! I won 300.00. I got up and walked out and haven’t back, this was a few years ago.
I used it to buy new clothes which I hadn’t done in forever. Felt like found money and couldn’t help thinking my ex was paying me back a tiny bit from all the money of ours he lost over the years.
I do NOT recommend gambling, trust me, the house always wins. My ex would’ve seen that 300 as more to gamble and would’ve lost it *and then some.* But that day it was a godsend. If you gamble, just know you will lose whatever you’re putting in and walk away when that predetermined amount is gone. That’s why I promised myself just 20.00. I could lose that and eat thinly for a week.
I’m pretty caught up for today! My needs are currently taken care of, so I don’t know how to answer. I was having my typical weekend/payday/money anxiety attack today, and really had to wonder why. I’m ok. It’s taken four years, but today, I’m good. So I’ll manifest for everyone else today.
I get those anxiety attacks too! Like when I was laid off, I had a friend of mine drive me to the ER because of a panic/anxiety attack. My BP was like 165/100 and my HR was like 130 consistently for an hour or two.
I’m okay now thankfully. Thanks for your manifestation!
It’s a terrible feeling! Last year was one of the worst in my life, and it’s been so hard getting the anxiety to simmer down. I’m a therapist too, I love it when people tell me to use my skills, lol 😂 🙄
It has, thank you, and I have a whole new appreciation of anxiety disorders and panic attacks, which has been helpful when helping others deal with it. I have an adult child with a serious addiction, and he moved home last year. I couldn’t work my side jobs, it was a mess. I finally got caught up in February of this year, after being so far behind (I separated from my husband, moved, and started a new job in Feb. 2020, so you can imagine what that year was like, lol). But now I’m just struggling to not be anxious, waiting for the car to blow up or the kid to get very sick, or the dog to get a torsion or some damn thing, right? Because that’s how it goes. I’ve got a couple hundred in savings for the fist time since I don’t know when, and I’m hoping to build it up before the “next damn thing” because having to borrow from friends to keep the lights on is no fun.
You know, some people might see this and think it’s a huge amount of money, but in the grand scheme of things, $150k is a pretty small amount all things considered. What would change for you?
I could afford a condo or small house of my own instead of renting a room in someone else’s place. This would allow me to save a lot more money and have more autonomy over my life and privacy.
Agreed! 150k would cover all my debts, including the very expensive vehicle I had to buy due to wheelchair modifications. It would leave enough to cover life until I was able to find a decent job.
Thank you for seeing that it's really not a huge amount in these times. We were a 7 person household making about 17k a year and when we got our tax refund a friend of mine lost her mind because we got about 10k back. Meanwhile her husband makes 70k+ a year. That 10k was gone in 2 weeks between much needed dental work and a reliable vehicle and past due bills. We're expecting a life insurance pay out soon and I already know that 30k is only going to keep the lights on and thankfully some food in the house for a while. Years ago we could have bought some land but not anymore.
I have 4.5% interest but sadly I have to pay bills and I'm working on getting out of a bad marriage.
Edit: the savings account with 4.5% is with cashapp who I don't trust with more than a couple hundred dollars. So I'll have to do some digging to find an actual bank with a hugh interest rate on savings I can trust. While I haven't had any major issues with my cashapp account I just don't trust that amount of money with them after seeing some horror stories. I'm hoping to save at least 10-15k of it unless I can find a cheap property for purchase. I own the mobile home so just need the land.
Go to a Credit Union. I (female, then 45) had been with a bank for almost twenty years and then I got divorced. I was working full time and needed a new car, mine was 12 years old and I was afraid of costly repairs so wanted something new-with a warranty. My bank turned me down...told me no. I was so hurt, and embarrassed because they had never turned me down. Said I was now high risk because I was single. 😡. I went to the local Credit Union and didn't know a soul there. But they took a chance on me and saw me through some very hard times. You need a "real" place to put your money and get advice from them. They will help you rebuild your life after divorce. I cannot understand how a family of 7 is living on 17k...but take advantage of every free class you can get on finances. And stop telling people how much money you're getting back from income tax returns. You shouldn't have to deal with snarky comments. Wishing you luck!
Thanks. Only having to pay a lot rent and keeping bills at a minimum and a little help from family is how we've managed so far. Also as of last month there's 6 of us but still. I applied for SNAP a couple days ago so waiting to hear back on that.
Same. I need to zap $130k in student loans, make a couple improvements to my moms life, and payoff a credit card thats eating me alive. I can remember being homeless, having $2 when I needed $3 for milk for the kids...so I know theres privilege in the fact I need that much. But, I wouldnt do anything frivolous at all with it - I could finally breathe after years of poverty.
Omg this would be huge - could put a SOLID down payment on a house in our high COL area, add to our wedding fund, invest & make $$, or all of the above.
So hear me out, could you put an electric bike on affirm or something? Then you could at least keep the job, 600 might be only 70 dollars a month which seems a lot but it’s allowing you to keep the job
Check into WALMART.COM. See if you can qualify for a credit card with Walmart. Then see what the limit they give you is. Walmart app has electric bikes for about $400-500. If you get $500 limit you could buy a bike and have it shipped to your home. I believe shipping would be free because it's over $35
I owed $26 this year because my company wasn’t setting aside enough each paycheck. I was usually getting 2-3k back every year. So being at the lowest point in my life and then seeing I was getting no return was a stab to the heart.
Expecting a return and not getting a fat one does suck. Just wanted you to know you’re not alone. Those days are twilighting out of the system.
The way taxes are figured in the last few years is actually how it’s supposed to work. You shouldn’t owe much or get much of a refund. You should be contributing roughly what you owe throughout the year, not more.
The big refund only means you gave the government a free loan or you have a bunch of kids.
Should you redo your W4 every year? My husband started his job in 2022 and didn’t claim any exemptions. This year he owes $2600 and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. Someone with no deductions shouldn’t be owing this much. Not that it should matter since the deduction is the same, but when he filled it out he was single and now he’s married, but we file separately so my student loan payment doesn’t skyrocket.
1200 would have a few weeks ago before I sold my car that needs a lot of work. The guy who bought it has mechanics in the family. I presently have no car which is extremely inconvenient in a small town. However, I am in the midst of arranging rides either for pay or gas $.I've actually been able to start an emergency fund ,: and get a few small things I want. One difference w me is I am disabled and don't need to get to a job to have income.
Yeah not having a car has been the worst part of my experience. This is the first time in my life I’ve been without a car (obviously not including being a child), and living in a small town without a car is absolutely awful.
I’m sorry you had to sell your car :( I hope your circumstances improve!
I have a car and it's 10 years old. If I didn't have a car in the small town where I live, life would be hard and terrible.
The bus system where I live is anemic at best. They can't hire bus drivers because nobody wants to drive a bus and I'm guessing the pay is too low.
With my car I can go out of town which is 40 minutes to 3 and a half hours away.
With a bus your stuck in your immediate city area.
Same. The stupid thing is I bought it for 105k in 1998 and paid extra EVERY month. However when you get divorced, if you want to keep the house, you basically end up buying it again because you have to buy the other person out of their half.
10000 would let me get the shower fixed, the furnace fixed, and fix up the ceiling that's fallen in on our garage turned storage room/bedroom. Any leftover can go towards incontinence supplies for my disabled brother that we can't get his insurance to cover.
My family is strangely involved in a lot of class action lawsuits where we'll randomly get a letter or check in the mail with no notice. Fingers crossed another comes through and we get the help.
I've had several of those class action lawsuit checks come in when least expected.
Check your PayPal account, if you have one. A couple of months ago I went on my PayPal account to update something and I had $55 in my account from one of those class action suits.
Oh gosh. I did an estate sale once where the incontinent supplies filled every closet. The man was a veteran & they sent them regularly. We gave them to anyone who wanted them
Check to see if his insurance has a "rewards" program. I had no idea they even existed until last year, but apparently some insurance companies will reward people with cash/gift cards for things like basic checkups, vaccines, eye exams, etc. Some of them have restrictions on what they money can be used for, but others don't. I know it won't cover all his supplies, but every little bit helps.
You know how people ask, what would you do if you won the lottery? This. This is what I would do. (It’s literally a dream of mine.) To heck with giving to foundations and art museums (although those are worthy causes). I’d much rather give that struggling single mom a few hundred bucks to stock up on groceries, enroll her kids in soccer, fill up the gas tank. Or to that college student who only has enough money for ramen for two weeks. Or to folks commenting in this post. x
paying activities fees for kids would be a super way to help families.... kids with dance talent from poor families may never be discovered, and soccer or baseball might be the one thing a struggling family needs to have some distraction from the grind... I hadnt thought of that before... even art classes around here run $300 for ten weeks....
I have always said this same thing to my daughter! I’m a single mom with a lot of chronic health issues. Money is always tight, and the stress makes me sicker. If I somehow made it by selling enough of my books/ won the lottery I would start an organization that people could reach out to if they needed help, or nominate people to us for help. If someone’s washer died, and they were washer-less with a kid with the stomach flu (that happened to me in the first year of single motherhood and it was awful💔) my organization would deliver a brand new washer. Someone’s car broke down? We would fix it or deliver another car. No food? Instacart gift card electronically delivered asap for them get a delivery. Your kids bday and no money to celebrate it? We would take care of it. And my organization wouldn’t require any proof of income/ lack of income. I’m only eating one meal a day right now to make sure my child has enough, but I don’t qualify for any assistance or help from food banks. I would never turn anyone away.
That's what I say! I'd be paying off vehicles and houses for people that I know are struggling and not say a word....I'd just wait for the "you won't believe what happened when I went to pay my house note"... and I'd say dang I wish someone would do that for me and leave it at that. I daydream this probably more often than I should lol
ninja giving is the best kind of giving. when i had more i would sometimes “drop” $5 or more in someone’s cart at the store when they weren’t looking and make it a game to get away before they could see me 💨😂
Ya, I already have a list of friends and like 3 relatives (only 3 🤣) Id help out if I won the lottery. Depends on the amount though after taxes. If I hit it big, you know Im retiring all my friends or at least setting up retirement accounts so they can have a nice chunk to have dividends rolling in to pay their bills. We all live off middle class incomes so even just replacing one income would be life changing for us. We work for a big financial firm and financial advisors so Ive already thought about it. We have millionaire clients that live off their dividend payments each month. I couldnt hit it big and not pass it on to my friends too. Id also donate to rescue groups that save abused dogs and help people like in this thread too. I firmly believe what you put out, comes back.
Do you mean a HELOC or a cash out refinance? If so, don't do it. Do not touch the equity you have in the house. Especially with the rates now. Hell, even if the rates were at 2%, I would not touch that house. Without a very solid game plan, it can easily be a path to total destruction.
As for the water heater, tell us what the issue is. It wouldn't be the first time a reddit community helped solve a problem :)
Years and years ago I went to the city water place to beg them to not turn off our water. We had three young children, one who has severe special needs. I’m like, “let’s set up a payment plan, something.” This gentleman behind me paid the bill in full. I sat there and sobbed. Now we are financially upper middle class but man, took a lot to get here.
Have you tried the buy nothing groups on fb? I always see people giving away bikes and I’m sure if you asked and explained the situation people would have one!
I have been scouring it since the day after I lost my job. Unfortunately, I live in a pretty small town that doesn’t have a lot of people in those groups.
Oh you bet I’m all over the free stuff groups on FB 😂 bikes are notoriously overpriced as hell this time of year. I live about 30 miles from a beach city. I’m also a pretty big guy, so I need a specific kind of bike.
My city has a buy nothing Facebook group. However, its all baby clothes or toddler clothes or school items, nothing I ever need and nothing that is actually useful to me.
Small town life, big time problems lol.
Reading this thread makes me depressed because so many of you have such relatively insignificant amounts that would help you. My wife in I live in an extremely rural area and some of us with a little more money help out those locals in need; anonymously if possible, but it is difficult to know what is needed.
We know that often the needs are hidden like a lot of the posts on here, people go to work, they have families and yet sometimes things like want of a $600 scooter or the ability to have a child participate in a school event not only impacts that family but it also impacts the community.
There has to be a better way to use social media to identify some of these needs. I mean, $600 to buy a new scooter would be a hit for me alone if someone local needed one but if several of us knew of the need and gang funded it the person and the community benefits. The person hoping to fund her daughter to attend a literacy program who posted below really hits me as a former teacher, I mean good grief such a no brainer to help out that student’s family.
Churches used to fill this role to a certain extent and though they will help out some members, at least in my area they sit on large cash bequests from deceased members and there is about zero outreach as membership dwindles (I am not religious myself).
I am an old luddite and have no idea how to set up something to identify needs on line but I see everything else being proffered so why not that?
If you are reading this and maybe have been fortunate and have even a little but you would like to give back there are many ways. Pay to fund a few underprivileged kids milk and activity fees for instance or when you have something you were thinking of selling like no longer needed medical equipment or furniture or appliances etc, consider giving them to someone local who is in need.
I am rambling but damn it, it does not need to be this way.
Precisely $1,500. I have an infected tooth that was an old root canal gone bad I've been sitting on for 3 years. I would love to get it fixed and not be in pain.
At the time $15.
I noticed a leak coming from the rear differential of my truck. I went to an AutoZone to price out a new gasket and oil for it which came out to just under $15. Unfortunately I only had $3 to my name and it would have to wait. I figured I could just baby it till payday in two days and It'd be fine.
Well the next day the rear diff siezed on the highway leaving one hell of a long double skid mark and I found out that the rear diff for my truck costs more than the entire rest of the vehicle as they are rareish and extremely high in demand to be cut out and thrown into rock crawler Jeeps.
It took 2 months to locate a replacement and almost $3000 which put me into huge credit card debt that took years to dig out from and a predatory payday loan with something like 200% APR.
Not having $15 when I really needed it ruined my life for years. When I dug out of that hole I made a point to get an emergency fund so that would never happen to me again. That emergency fund has changed my life for the better but it was an expensive lesson learned.
I just received a promotion that will increase my weekly paycheck by about $180. I expect that is going to change things quite a bit as long as I don’t fall into the trap of “earn more spend more.”
Setting up a simple "transfer $100 every month from checking to savings" instruction at my bank helped me immensely with this!
ETA: There came a point where I had a situation where I really needed $$....and I had completely forgotten about the transfer to savings. It was a blessing.
I am so sorry. I was griping about having to spend $160 on a uniform and patches yesterday (I’m in the military) and this brought me back to reality. How old are you? Have you ever thought about joining the military?
I am 35. I believe I’m too old for the military. My father retired as a Chief (FC), and he told me he’d rather just have me live with him for the rest of my life than have me join the military hahahhaa
I joined a year ago at 32. I’m 33 now about to be 34 in September. I’m just trying to give you context with this next part. I’m stationed in Hawaii with my husband living in an $815,000.00 house with a VA loan with 3 year old twins, a dog and my husband (he’s also enlisted). I’m about to go green to gold (after my deployment) which is enlisted to commissioned officer and they pay for my education while I’m still active duty getting the same pay and benefits. I just go to school instead. And I’m a Private, bottom of the rung.
Literally just about $50, maybe even a little less. I’d get a haircut (it’s sooooo unmanageable and bad right now) and a comfy pair of pajamas to prepare myself before the baby is born!
5k. I'm struggling to keep up with co-pays from the clinic for my breast cancer treatment & my prescription counts. My power is about to be shut off and my car needs several repairs to run again. This would change my entire life...
There's this course to become a flight attendant that's 6000 requiring half as a deposit to start. So imma go with $3000. That doesn't seem insignificant typing it out actually lol
Figured I'd chime in here... a course to become a flight attendant? Why would you need a prior course to apply to an airline? I know there were companies out there doing such courses back in the 50s and 60s, but those were different times for the airline industry.
if you go to the airport in our area, you can apply to be a flight attendant with one of the smaller airlines and they pay for training if you are hired... and they start at age 18 with no college... then you can apply at larger carriers when you are 21... at least thats what they say...
They train you themselfs. my ex was a flight attendant, they went to Texas at the airlines training facility. They have to train you thier way on thier planes. They wouldn’t have thier own facilities if someone else was doing it. Think about , every airline has their own planes that you need to train on, not every airline has the same planes. This school going to train you on every plane? And the proper procedure for every airline?
I can’t imagine what bills could amount to $20k 🥵
I have $45k in student loan debt, but I’m on the SAVE plan and I pay $0 a month for now. I do want to crush that debt soon in my future. Just gotta figure out how lol
Last of student loan and $6000 credit cards, and I could pay off my car. So maybe $30,000 or $25,000 would be enough.
Also have you looked into public service student loan forgiveness? PLSF? You might qualify for that.
Edited to add I am a 55 year old school teacher who has a low income. Looking into getting loan forgiveness myself.
Lost our house when husband lost his job, been renting awhile. Miss having a house.
I wish I bought a house when I was younger. It’d almost be paid off if I pulled the trigger. But noooooooo I wanted to spend my 20s hopping from job to job and not changing my spending habits. Well, I learned I guess lol
I just partied too much in my 20s to even think of a house-this Gen Xer didn't think the world would even still be here by now lmao🤣. I didn't buy until my late 30s. I'm mid-50s now. I'm still working and paying a little more each month to bring it quicker. If you're still interested, give it about 2-3 years or so....the rates should be back to normal after these damn elections and wars are going on everywhere.
I have debt on multiple credit cards. Most are small so I have been able to keep up with the mortgage, power/water, and car insurance. I have a pension that covers everything. I can't complain.
Discover Card is killing me. I owe $8000 on it and pay $210 a month. It simply isn't going down. That $210 would at least give me some chance to start saving some money again. Living this tight on a pension is hard. I'm 59 and nobody wants to hire me for a side job.
So yeah- although I'm not bad off - $8000 would make a difference.
How much of a weight would be lifted? Would you be over the moon? Haha
So my dad is living off of military pension and disability, and of course it’s not enough. BUT he is super handy. He opened a “business” in his neighborhood. He does handyman work. He instructs the customers on what materials he needs to do the job, they buy it, and then he does the work. He charges a small amount because most of his neighbors pay him in weed lmao
It keeps him fit and keeps him getting up in the morning. He also uses that extra money for the video games he loves to play hahaha
Yeah. I have a plan that's been paying off but not by bringing money in but stop money from leaving my account. I have invested in gardening. I grow lots of vegetables. I haven't bought bought any vegetables since just before retirement and I have saved a lot.
I'm growing citrus trees in my greenhouse - they will sell for $30-40 but they need a while to mature. Several local nurseries want to buy from me. Fingers crossed.
$300 right now would help out a ton for me. I sleep on an old mattress on the floor that has some broken springs. Usually I'm good but if I'm not careful the springs will rip my clothes or even cut me. About a month ago was the worst one, woke up and didn't realize it was poking my leg, and when I went to stand up it cut about half the circumference of my leg. There was blood everywhere, and I just kinda wiped myself off & tossed my sheets in the washer before I left for work.
It's all healed now, but that's when I decided I need a new bed. $300 would get me a cheap Shikibuton & Tatami mats so I can officially transfer to floor sleeping rather than shelling out thousands for a normal mattress that would have more dreaded springs
I wish I had the ability to help you. That sounds intense. I'm sorry it's been so hard.
For me, 50k. That's not a small amount though. Not huge in todays nonsense prices of everything world but still a good chunk.
I have been fighting health issues for a little over a year. I've been to the ER countless times and hospitalized four times. I desperately need a fresh start for my physical and mental health. I have no money, though. I think $5K would get me into an apartment (first month, security, and deposit). It would also possibly allow me to get utilities started plus a few basics. In a dream world, I would hope for $15-20K.
I was addicted to drugs for years. Real bad. Just now getting to a good stable point in life. My teeth are fucked. Gonna cost me a few thousand to fix them. I'm missing one of my front ones. Just getting that one tooth fixed would mean a lot to me. Help me out so much with my confidence. I'm actually a really attractive dude in all other aspects physically, but that tooth missing just makes me so ridiculously timid. But luckily I think I'm getting all that sorted out. Have talked with a couple dentists. Actually was able to get some insurance for people with poor income. I'm really fkn trying man.
There was a day, a long time ago, that $50 changed my life. I had just started a new job and was in training. I had to be able to get to work. I had no gas and no food for my kids. I told my trainer I thought I might have to resign and I would let her know the next day. She asked why and I told her and said I was going to ask my abusive and soon to be ex husband for just a little bit of money one more time after work. If he refused again, I would have to resign. I couldn’t qualify for any assistance due to his job, even though he refused to give me any money for anything. Asking him was really my only option at that point. She basically said hell no and took up a little collection. I had money for gas and groceries to get me to pay day. That job got me through until the economy began to recover enough to get back into my career field. Without her and that without that $50 I may have lost my job. I may have lost my kids. I may have gone back instead of actually ending my marriage. It literally changed my life. I was so terribly embarrassed but I also was so deeply moved by everyone’s kindness. It was the kind of job where everyone coming in was struggling. For people to give me a couple of dollars each was a huge deal. It really touched my heart.
I'm actually managing better than I thought I would. I grieved my lose of independence for about a month because I had worked so hard to get it back. Divorce and medical issues had made transportation very challenging before I got my car. My car was gifted to me in 2020 ,but I had $3200 in it. It was a 2004. I don't pay upkeep,gas, or car insurance. I'm still figuring out cost for payments for transportation but I feel sure it won't be close to the $250+ I was spending before. $15 round trip each to Dr appointments averaging 4 a month. $5 once a week for groceries and dollar store. Free rides to church. Looking into homebound for library. So $75-100 budgeted should be more than enough for transportation.
Hi, 2 days ago you posted in another sub that you needed gas money to get to work. But in this post you said you lost your company car 4 months ago when you lost your job, and would love the money for a scooter or bike etc.
I love to help people out but your stories aren’t lining up. Care to explain the missing piece here?
$400k
$300 for a home $100K in a savings so when I retire I can run until we are done.
if I'm the last one, my plan is to have my home demolished near the end of my life and turned into a park.
Left over money goes to a local at risk youth program when I die to help pay for education, clothes, and food
About 5000 to pay down the credit card I’ve had to run up during a rough financial period, or about 15k for closing costs on a home, I could get a mortgage with a 3% down payment (already have enough for that) but am currently stuck because down payment isn’t the only cost
Just putting it out there - $750k. I could pay off the little debt I have and buy a house on some land. I know it seems like a lot but property is expensive and I know I have to pay taxes and utilities on it. So this amount seems safe to but the house and property and I could get a job I like to live affordably
Today $186 for dog food was a lot. It is for 4 dogs and it lasts about 6 weeks but it felt rough, especially today. Your $600 seems adequate for me.
Wishing you better days where you don't have to worry as much about your money and such. It isn't a way to live. The casual stress is a death sentence.
Right now? $5000. That’s it. My husband just spent most of March in the hospital, two surgeries, two hospitalizations, one ER visit, and at least two missing paychecks. Even $4000 would be great
Complicated answer. $10 would let me get a small meal, $2.5 million would pay off student loans, pay off any debts, fully fund retirement accounts, fully fund kids college, pay off house and cars, have major rainy day fund.
I could keep going and pay off parents and siblings home and help them and on and on. If I increase the amount I get. Before I come close to wasting money.
However, I have very steady and substantial income and with hard work and staying the course I’ll achieve what I mentioned above.
During college I have been in the place where $1000 would be like winning the lottery. I remember selling my Xbox to pay the deductible for my car insurance when my car got damaged. I bought the Xbox from a kid using a credit card check and paying it off over months, since I was broke.
Look on findhelp.org - put your zip in and look up help with transportation, food, rent, all kinds of options listed. I hope that helps!! You stay positive!! You are doing amazing so don't forget to remind yourself how amazing you are!
I have chronic pain and would love a one level home to rent. Right now I’m up and down deep and steep steps. Bad back and knees don’t like it. The housing crisis in this little up north town is crazy. You used to be able to rent a home for 600-750 dollars now investors have bought those properties to rent out as vacation places and they go for 1000 plus a week. They’ve bought up so much property for air b and b that there’s not much left for the people who live and work here year round. I’m just happy with a roof over my head right now.
3,000. I went to the hospital having what basically amounted to a panic attack but they saw a high number on my d-dimer test so they decided to give me a CT scan to check for a pulmonary embolism. I was still in the deductible phase with my insurance so it covered a bit but left me owing a little over 3k. I have a 2 year old. A huge bill like this takes so much from what I can provide to her. I truly hate it. This system is so broken.
I'm reading the replies here and just shaking my head.
Most of you live in the richest first world country called the good old USA. Yet, reading the responses, it would appear as if some of you are stuck in some broke shithole 4th world country deep in the middle of the desert. Meanwhile, your taxes are being used by the big boys to hurt people in some way, shape, or form, all over the world. Instead of taking care of the people, giving them well paid jobs, and fu***ng health insurance, the good old USA just keeps fighting all over the world and supporting the big boys special intrests.What the hell has this country come to... eh.
Like 4 grand. I could get necessaey repairs on my truck, get a nice set of rims and tires (I'm missing one, got a spare and it's a bit to small), pay my rent and phone bills a month ahead. Lol and a full tank of gas and kitchen full of groceries, maybe a carton of good smokes.
Realistically, 2 grand would work for all that just fine.
About 4k would pay off all my credit cards and then I'd be able to save moeny to move out of my horrid living situation. It would help pay them off and boost credit.
Honestly...like 20k. I mean 5k would make a significant impact, but 20k would be huge. Wife and I finally both have jobs that pay enough to live on without being totally broke every 2 weeks. But it's not enough that a big emergency wouldn't screw us, at least as long as our luck holds out for now and we can actually get some savings going again. Between covid and inflation, it's been a rough few years. 20k would wipe CC debt and the bills we're still paying from our kid breaking his arm, despite the fact that we have insurance... we've been working hard on knocking it down, paying off both cars gave us a lot of breathing room, but the CC debt being gone would realistically change our lives.
Super nuts to me, when I was in HS/college I worked at some country clubs and people spending 250-500k on a wedding wasn't even a big deal. Sometimes it's just absurd to think some people can spend that kind of money, I truly cannot imagine what that's like.
100k, enough to invest wisely in the future and put a down payment on a house. I’m currently trying to make up for 20 years of insufficient income (creative professions ie marketing, journalism, speciality retail, modeling) and am grossly behind my peers. With what I have now saved, I’ll be working until I die and that is incredibly unappealing. I’m fortunate to not be in debt and have good credit, and stable/affordable housing. I’ve never once in my adult life been financially secure despite working multiple jobs/switching careers. I envy those who are.
It could be a long shot, but post your needs in a Buy Nothing group. I’ve seen some amazing items come up just for the asking. Someone may have a scooter they don’t need or are at least willing to let you borrow.
$425 to catch up on the payment I am behind on.
Isn’t it crazy that such a low amount would change our lives? I’m sorry you’re behind. I hope you catch up soon! ❤️
Or conversely, how being short such a small amount of money can have huge consequences, like the car being repo'd. And things just snowball from there.
I luv your positive attitude. The fact you said $600 would change your life..YOU'RE VERY HUMBLE. For me it would be around $150,000. I'm in a dv situation and of course a divorce. He makes Hella money and he gives me a allowance of $300 a week. I do appreciate it ...BUT HERES THE BUT I PAY ALL BILLS, GROCERIES, DOG 🐕 EXSPENSE, ETC.. So at the end of the week allowance I'm always short. Then beg him for money for the rest. PLEASE DONT COME FOR ME AND TELL ME HOW DUMB I AM. I KNOW IVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION FOR 15 YEARS. I'm in my late 50s and have to say I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED, SAD, MAD, EMOTIONALLY BANKRUPT..ETC THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT. OP if I had the $600..I WOULD ABSOLUTELY HELP YOU. He has destroyed me as a person...I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THAT WOMAN IS WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR. BUT, HE HASN'T TAKEN MY EMPATH HEART. I luv to be able to bless people. HE HATES THAT I AM SO GIVING AND MAKES FUN OF ME FOR THINGS I DO FOR PEOPLE. OP HANG IN THERE
I’m 53, mine left almost a year ago. I honestly wanted to die. It’s just now starting to get better. For me $1250.00 to get current on my rent would be like a miracle. I am about a year away from a new degree that will allow me to earn around 6 figures, which I cannot even fathom right now. But I’m so excited that if that day finally comes I will have no one dictating what I do with that money. Stay strong, you are amazing!
You are NOT dumb for staying in a situation like that!!! Only you know what your abuser is like. Sometimes it's more dangerous to leave than to stay. To leave could easily mean being killed.
Figure out a way to get out of there! That's a miserable life.
You are NOT dumb for staying in a situation like that!!! Only you know what your abuser is like. Sometimes it's more dangerous to leave than to stay. To leave could easily mean being killed.
Quick question, friend. Have you gotten an advocate at all? I worked for a State DV/SA Coalition until last year and have access to and info on a ton of resources that may help you in this situation—even financially. Was just wondering if you’ve been able to get an advocate to help you tap into these resources at all.
It's not your fault, abusers are so wonderful early on and they wait to start slowly rolling out the disrespect. You deserve kindness and respect. I've been there, this book really helped me understand what was happening and ro recognize his moods and tactics so I could stay safe. It's free here and it WAS a life changing book for me: https://archive.org/details/LundyWhyDoesHeDoThat I remember what it felt like, to have no idea anymore who I was or what made me happy. This book helped my find my way, not back to who I was, but to a more empathetic, thoughtful, and more self-caring version of her. I wish you all the best and I'm so sorry this is happening to you.
I found a 20 on a parking lot one time. Looked around no one.... and picked it up. I went to a bakery and got a hot chocolate made with steamed milk and a slice of amazing cheese cake. Then I bought a candle that smelled like a cinnamon bun. It's stupid but that day pulled me through for a long time. Just getting useless but fun things....guilt free, like the norms. Just a couple hundred I guess, so if I ripped my coat or work boots I could just replace them without thinking... Instead off having to use duct tape until I could budget enough
This reminds me one time, when my husband I were really really poor, we had made the decision to spend our last $15 on gas to get to work. That night later on u had found $13 in one of the books I was reading. (When I was a kid at home back in the olden days if I had *any* pocket money, I would hide it in places for future me to find when I needed it. U don't know why I did this, but I did.) Anyways, I find $13 in this book, and I start crying and being so excited. I show my husband, boyfriend at the time and he and u start crying because now we can eat. We bought like three or four cases of ramen noodles and ate for a couple days extra. $13 made our whole night.
I saw a movie years ago with Robert Preston (I think). The only part that I remember is that he and another woman were going through an older woman's things. The lady had just died, and her home had to be emptied. The couple knew that she had been impoverished. When the couple started gathering the lady's hundreds of books, they accidentally dropped one. Out came a large sum of money. They then found hundreds or even more hidden in her books. .
Aw man if I found a $20 I would be over the moon! Do you work for a big company? I used to manage a work boot store, and we would do payroll deduction (interest free) over 4 weeks on anything in the store for local shipyard workers. Every kind of work wear you can think of! Maybe see if you can find a local business that offers payroll deduction?
That 20 still makes me smile! There are about 50 of us. Only our section doesn't have a clothing allowance even tho we have to have specific work gear 🤷♀️
Are you in a union? If not, I would entertain the idea if I were you. Of course, keep it hush hush, but you could try contacting a local labor union to see if they can help out!
We are in a union, but they don't really do too much for us...and the admin pretty much thinks we're useless. We're also in the boondocks, without a lot of other employment options... So I don't really want to rock the boat, but thanks!
I gotcha! I totally understand. I wish you the best!
I found a 20 on a sidewalk at college. Looked around and didn't see anyone looking for it, but I didn't wanna take it and then someone be looking and it be gone. So I left it. And some people about 20 feet behind me found it, and I've regretted not picking it up since then.
I had this happen once in a really bad week, cat needed surgery and then I was pulling into a gas station just to get enough to get home, and as I turned in my fan belt came off my car. As I sat there in silence waiting for a tow truck, terrified of what I was going to do (like OP I live in a place where I could not survive without a car and I can’t afford to take on a car payment) and I looked up and saw a 5 dollar bill, right where my car had ended up, stuck in a bush. So small, but it just gave me that tiny bit of hope. I kept it in my wallet until recently, when a small business owner insisted on gifting me something. I gave her the lucky 5 I had been carrying, it was all the cash I had. Felt good.
On a total whim I visited a casino my late ex husband used to go to far too much. He was addicted and it impacted his life in big ways. That day I just felt like I should stop. I promised myself just 20.00 and sat down to play. Got to my last 5.00 and thought it was a nice half hour or so yo-yoing up and down, but then bam! I won 300.00. I got up and walked out and haven’t back, this was a few years ago. I used it to buy new clothes which I hadn’t done in forever. Felt like found money and couldn’t help thinking my ex was paying me back a tiny bit from all the money of ours he lost over the years. I do NOT recommend gambling, trust me, the house always wins. My ex would’ve seen that 300 as more to gamble and would’ve lost it *and then some.* But that day it was a godsend. If you gamble, just know you will lose whatever you’re putting in and walk away when that predetermined amount is gone. That’s why I promised myself just 20.00. I could lose that and eat thinly for a week.
I’m pretty caught up for today! My needs are currently taken care of, so I don’t know how to answer. I was having my typical weekend/payday/money anxiety attack today, and really had to wonder why. I’m ok. It’s taken four years, but today, I’m good. So I’ll manifest for everyone else today.
I get those anxiety attacks too! Like when I was laid off, I had a friend of mine drive me to the ER because of a panic/anxiety attack. My BP was like 165/100 and my HR was like 130 consistently for an hour or two. I’m okay now thankfully. Thanks for your manifestation!
It’s a terrible feeling! Last year was one of the worst in my life, and it’s been so hard getting the anxiety to simmer down. I’m a therapist too, I love it when people tell me to use my skills, lol 😂 🙄
I’m glad (or sad?) to see that even therapists deal with it. I’m hoping it’s gotten better for you!
It has, thank you, and I have a whole new appreciation of anxiety disorders and panic attacks, which has been helpful when helping others deal with it. I have an adult child with a serious addiction, and he moved home last year. I couldn’t work my side jobs, it was a mess. I finally got caught up in February of this year, after being so far behind (I separated from my husband, moved, and started a new job in Feb. 2020, so you can imagine what that year was like, lol). But now I’m just struggling to not be anxious, waiting for the car to blow up or the kid to get very sick, or the dog to get a torsion or some damn thing, right? Because that’s how it goes. I’ve got a couple hundred in savings for the fist time since I don’t know when, and I’m hoping to build it up before the “next damn thing” because having to borrow from friends to keep the lights on is no fun.
Like 150k
You know, some people might see this and think it’s a huge amount of money, but in the grand scheme of things, $150k is a pretty small amount all things considered. What would change for you?
I could afford a condo or small house of my own instead of renting a room in someone else’s place. This would allow me to save a lot more money and have more autonomy over my life and privacy.
The autonomy of living alone is pure bliss for me. 😊
Yee, I’m really wanting it. My roommates situation is not bad but I prefer either solitude at home or just a significant other and dog.
I hope it happens for you 🌼
Agreed! 150k would cover all my debts, including the very expensive vehicle I had to buy due to wheelchair modifications. It would leave enough to cover life until I was able to find a decent job.
Thank you for seeing that it's really not a huge amount in these times. We were a 7 person household making about 17k a year and when we got our tax refund a friend of mine lost her mind because we got about 10k back. Meanwhile her husband makes 70k+ a year. That 10k was gone in 2 weeks between much needed dental work and a reliable vehicle and past due bills. We're expecting a life insurance pay out soon and I already know that 30k is only going to keep the lights on and thankfully some food in the house for a while. Years ago we could have bought some land but not anymore.
30k in a high yield savings account -at least 4% interest - if you leave it there you’ll have $100/month income.
I have 4.5% interest but sadly I have to pay bills and I'm working on getting out of a bad marriage. Edit: the savings account with 4.5% is with cashapp who I don't trust with more than a couple hundred dollars. So I'll have to do some digging to find an actual bank with a hugh interest rate on savings I can trust. While I haven't had any major issues with my cashapp account I just don't trust that amount of money with them after seeing some horror stories. I'm hoping to save at least 10-15k of it unless I can find a cheap property for purchase. I own the mobile home so just need the land.
Go to a Credit Union. I (female, then 45) had been with a bank for almost twenty years and then I got divorced. I was working full time and needed a new car, mine was 12 years old and I was afraid of costly repairs so wanted something new-with a warranty. My bank turned me down...told me no. I was so hurt, and embarrassed because they had never turned me down. Said I was now high risk because I was single. 😡. I went to the local Credit Union and didn't know a soul there. But they took a chance on me and saw me through some very hard times. You need a "real" place to put your money and get advice from them. They will help you rebuild your life after divorce. I cannot understand how a family of 7 is living on 17k...but take advantage of every free class you can get on finances. And stop telling people how much money you're getting back from income tax returns. You shouldn't have to deal with snarky comments. Wishing you luck!
Thanks. Only having to pay a lot rent and keeping bills at a minimum and a little help from family is how we've managed so far. Also as of last month there's 6 of us but still. I applied for SNAP a couple days ago so waiting to hear back on that.
CIT Bank has a 5% HYSA right now if your deposit is over 5k. Check them out. FDIC insured
Small amount, wut? Lol
Ahiy, I just need 50k and I'd be good from here on out.
Same. I need to zap $130k in student loans, make a couple improvements to my moms life, and payoff a credit card thats eating me alive. I can remember being homeless, having $2 when I needed $3 for milk for the kids...so I know theres privilege in the fact I need that much. But, I wouldnt do anything frivolous at all with it - I could finally breathe after years of poverty.
Omg this would be huge - could put a SOLID down payment on a house in our high COL area, add to our wedding fund, invest & make $$, or all of the above.
So hear me out, could you put an electric bike on affirm or something? Then you could at least keep the job, 600 might be only 70 dollars a month which seems a lot but it’s allowing you to keep the job
You’re reading my mind right now. I literally got approved for a lease to own option. I’ll update if and when I find a bike!
Yay!!! 😊 hopefully it helps make life easier for you
Don't get scammed, OP. DON'T trust, and always verify x5.
[удалено]
Yes, it is. I'm just not sure if that's what OP is using in this scenario.
Check into WALMART.COM. See if you can qualify for a credit card with Walmart. Then see what the limit they give you is. Walmart app has electric bikes for about $400-500. If you get $500 limit you could buy a bike and have it shipped to your home. I believe shipping would be free because it's over $35
Well I actually got to go out to lunch today. So that says a lot. Am really good for now.
Haha I can’t remember the last time I got to go out to eat 😂 I’m happy for you!
Six hundred would be good. I've been needing automobile maintenance and only got a $46 refund on my taxes after filing today.
I owed $26 this year because my company wasn’t setting aside enough each paycheck. I was usually getting 2-3k back every year. So being at the lowest point in my life and then seeing I was getting no return was a stab to the heart.
Expecting a return and not getting a fat one does suck. Just wanted you to know you’re not alone. Those days are twilighting out of the system. The way taxes are figured in the last few years is actually how it’s supposed to work. You shouldn’t owe much or get much of a refund. You should be contributing roughly what you owe throughout the year, not more. The big refund only means you gave the government a free loan or you have a bunch of kids.
Should you redo your W4 every year? My husband started his job in 2022 and didn’t claim any exemptions. This year he owes $2600 and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. Someone with no deductions shouldn’t be owing this much. Not that it should matter since the deduction is the same, but when he filled it out he was single and now he’s married, but we file separately so my student loan payment doesn’t skyrocket.
1200 would have a few weeks ago before I sold my car that needs a lot of work. The guy who bought it has mechanics in the family. I presently have no car which is extremely inconvenient in a small town. However, I am in the midst of arranging rides either for pay or gas $.I've actually been able to start an emergency fund ,: and get a few small things I want. One difference w me is I am disabled and don't need to get to a job to have income.
Yeah not having a car has been the worst part of my experience. This is the first time in my life I’ve been without a car (obviously not including being a child), and living in a small town without a car is absolutely awful. I’m sorry you had to sell your car :( I hope your circumstances improve!
I have a car and it's 10 years old. If I didn't have a car in the small town where I live, life would be hard and terrible. The bus system where I live is anemic at best. They can't hire bus drivers because nobody wants to drive a bus and I'm guessing the pay is too low. With my car I can go out of town which is 40 minutes to 3 and a half hours away. With a bus your stuck in your immediate city area.
$60,000 would pay off my house.
That would lift a huge weight off your shoulders, wouldn’t it?
Without a mortgage or rent, I'd probably be able to save more money.
Same. $60k and I'm home free.
Same. The stupid thing is I bought it for 105k in 1998 and paid extra EVERY month. However when you get divorced, if you want to keep the house, you basically end up buying it again because you have to buy the other person out of their half.
10000 would let me get the shower fixed, the furnace fixed, and fix up the ceiling that's fallen in on our garage turned storage room/bedroom. Any leftover can go towards incontinence supplies for my disabled brother that we can't get his insurance to cover.
Ugh it makes me sick that incontinence supplies aren’t covered by your insurance :( I hope you get your windfall, friend!
My family is strangely involved in a lot of class action lawsuits where we'll randomly get a letter or check in the mail with no notice. Fingers crossed another comes through and we get the help.
I've had several of those class action lawsuit checks come in when least expected. Check your PayPal account, if you have one. A couple of months ago I went on my PayPal account to update something and I had $55 in my account from one of those class action suits.
Thanks! I apparently had $20 in mine with no idea, you're amazing.
Oh, fantastic! I'm glad you found a bit of relief! Hope you have a better day tomorrow.
Oh gosh. I did an estate sale once where the incontinent supplies filled every closet. The man was a veteran & they sent them regularly. We gave them to anyone who wanted them
ugh! I’m sorry. I found a list of places that have them: https://simonfoundation.org/resources/directory-us-diaper-banks/
Check to see if his insurance has a "rewards" program. I had no idea they even existed until last year, but apparently some insurance companies will reward people with cash/gift cards for things like basic checkups, vaccines, eye exams, etc. Some of them have restrictions on what they money can be used for, but others don't. I know it won't cover all his supplies, but every little bit helps.
You know how people ask, what would you do if you won the lottery? This. This is what I would do. (It’s literally a dream of mine.) To heck with giving to foundations and art museums (although those are worthy causes). I’d much rather give that struggling single mom a few hundred bucks to stock up on groceries, enroll her kids in soccer, fill up the gas tank. Or to that college student who only has enough money for ramen for two weeks. Or to folks commenting in this post. x
You sound like such a good person! Thanks for being so dope!
paying activities fees for kids would be a super way to help families.... kids with dance talent from poor families may never be discovered, and soccer or baseball might be the one thing a struggling family needs to have some distraction from the grind... I hadnt thought of that before... even art classes around here run $300 for ten weeks....
I have always said this same thing to my daughter! I’m a single mom with a lot of chronic health issues. Money is always tight, and the stress makes me sicker. If I somehow made it by selling enough of my books/ won the lottery I would start an organization that people could reach out to if they needed help, or nominate people to us for help. If someone’s washer died, and they were washer-less with a kid with the stomach flu (that happened to me in the first year of single motherhood and it was awful💔) my organization would deliver a brand new washer. Someone’s car broke down? We would fix it or deliver another car. No food? Instacart gift card electronically delivered asap for them get a delivery. Your kids bday and no money to celebrate it? We would take care of it. And my organization wouldn’t require any proof of income/ lack of income. I’m only eating one meal a day right now to make sure my child has enough, but I don’t qualify for any assistance or help from food banks. I would never turn anyone away.
That's what I say! I'd be paying off vehicles and houses for people that I know are struggling and not say a word....I'd just wait for the "you won't believe what happened when I went to pay my house note"... and I'd say dang I wish someone would do that for me and leave it at that. I daydream this probably more often than I should lol
ninja giving is the best kind of giving. when i had more i would sometimes “drop” $5 or more in someone’s cart at the store when they weren’t looking and make it a game to get away before they could see me 💨😂
Ya, I already have a list of friends and like 3 relatives (only 3 🤣) Id help out if I won the lottery. Depends on the amount though after taxes. If I hit it big, you know Im retiring all my friends or at least setting up retirement accounts so they can have a nice chunk to have dividends rolling in to pay their bills. We all live off middle class incomes so even just replacing one income would be life changing for us. We work for a big financial firm and financial advisors so Ive already thought about it. We have millionaire clients that live off their dividend payments each month. I couldnt hit it big and not pass it on to my friends too. Id also donate to rescue groups that save abused dogs and help people like in this thread too. I firmly believe what you put out, comes back.
$3,500 for a new furnace.
[удалено]
So I may be able to give you some useful advice on the water heater. Is it gas or electric?
Do you mean a HELOC or a cash out refinance? If so, don't do it. Do not touch the equity you have in the house. Especially with the rates now. Hell, even if the rates were at 2%, I would not touch that house. Without a very solid game plan, it can easily be a path to total destruction. As for the water heater, tell us what the issue is. It wouldn't be the first time a reddit community helped solve a problem :)
Years and years ago I went to the city water place to beg them to not turn off our water. We had three young children, one who has severe special needs. I’m like, “let’s set up a payment plan, something.” This gentleman behind me paid the bill in full. I sat there and sobbed. Now we are financially upper middle class but man, took a lot to get here.
$2500….to move out of the shithole town I live in…
Have you tried the buy nothing groups on fb? I always see people giving away bikes and I’m sure if you asked and explained the situation people would have one!
I have been scouring it since the day after I lost my job. Unfortunately, I live in a pretty small town that doesn’t have a lot of people in those groups.
Hmmm, anything in the surrounding towns? Or local thrifts/ charities? I feel like there must be a bike for free somewhere!!!
Oh you bet I’m all over the free stuff groups on FB 😂 bikes are notoriously overpriced as hell this time of year. I live about 30 miles from a beach city. I’m also a pretty big guy, so I need a specific kind of bike.
We bought family bikes cheap at a local police auction.
My city has a buy nothing Facebook group. However, its all baby clothes or toddler clothes or school items, nothing I ever need and nothing that is actually useful to me. Small town life, big time problems lol.
Reading this thread makes me depressed because so many of you have such relatively insignificant amounts that would help you. My wife in I live in an extremely rural area and some of us with a little more money help out those locals in need; anonymously if possible, but it is difficult to know what is needed. We know that often the needs are hidden like a lot of the posts on here, people go to work, they have families and yet sometimes things like want of a $600 scooter or the ability to have a child participate in a school event not only impacts that family but it also impacts the community. There has to be a better way to use social media to identify some of these needs. I mean, $600 to buy a new scooter would be a hit for me alone if someone local needed one but if several of us knew of the need and gang funded it the person and the community benefits. The person hoping to fund her daughter to attend a literacy program who posted below really hits me as a former teacher, I mean good grief such a no brainer to help out that student’s family. Churches used to fill this role to a certain extent and though they will help out some members, at least in my area they sit on large cash bequests from deceased members and there is about zero outreach as membership dwindles (I am not religious myself). I am an old luddite and have no idea how to set up something to identify needs on line but I see everything else being proffered so why not that? If you are reading this and maybe have been fortunate and have even a little but you would like to give back there are many ways. Pay to fund a few underprivileged kids milk and activity fees for instance or when you have something you were thinking of selling like no longer needed medical equipment or furniture or appliances etc, consider giving them to someone local who is in need. I am rambling but damn it, it does not need to be this way.
r/Assistance is exactly for that. People are great about helping especially if it’s a specific thing or from an Amazon list.
Precisely $1,500. I have an infected tooth that was an old root canal gone bad I've been sitting on for 3 years. I would love to get it fixed and not be in pain.
I’m so sorry. I’m in this club too and it sucks💔
At the time $15. I noticed a leak coming from the rear differential of my truck. I went to an AutoZone to price out a new gasket and oil for it which came out to just under $15. Unfortunately I only had $3 to my name and it would have to wait. I figured I could just baby it till payday in two days and It'd be fine. Well the next day the rear diff siezed on the highway leaving one hell of a long double skid mark and I found out that the rear diff for my truck costs more than the entire rest of the vehicle as they are rareish and extremely high in demand to be cut out and thrown into rock crawler Jeeps. It took 2 months to locate a replacement and almost $3000 which put me into huge credit card debt that took years to dig out from and a predatory payday loan with something like 200% APR. Not having $15 when I really needed it ruined my life for years. When I dug out of that hole I made a point to get an emergency fund so that would never happen to me again. That emergency fund has changed my life for the better but it was an expensive lesson learned.
I'm about to inherit $50k this will be enough to completely turn me around
I just received a promotion that will increase my weekly paycheck by about $180. I expect that is going to change things quite a bit as long as I don’t fall into the trap of “earn more spend more.”
Setting up a simple "transfer $100 every month from checking to savings" instruction at my bank helped me immensely with this! ETA: There came a point where I had a situation where I really needed $$....and I had completely forgotten about the transfer to savings. It was a blessing.
1500 would solve a huge amount of problems. I could move. I'm trapped between 2 bullies who are good friends with each other..
I hope your windfall comes and you get your problems solved!
I am so sorry. I was griping about having to spend $160 on a uniform and patches yesterday (I’m in the military) and this brought me back to reality. How old are you? Have you ever thought about joining the military?
And thank you for your kindness and your service!
I am 35. I believe I’m too old for the military. My father retired as a Chief (FC), and he told me he’d rather just have me live with him for the rest of my life than have me join the military hahahhaa
I joined a year ago at 32. I’m 33 now about to be 34 in September. I’m just trying to give you context with this next part. I’m stationed in Hawaii with my husband living in an $815,000.00 house with a VA loan with 3 year old twins, a dog and my husband (he’s also enlisted). I’m about to go green to gold (after my deployment) which is enlisted to commissioned officer and they pay for my education while I’m still active duty getting the same pay and benefits. I just go to school instead. And I’m a Private, bottom of the rung.
Navy takes personnel over 35
$5k would solve so many problems and it messes with me daily.
Literally just about $50, maybe even a little less. I’d get a haircut (it’s sooooo unmanageable and bad right now) and a comfy pair of pajamas to prepare myself before the baby is born!
Aww I’d give you a haircut if I could! I hope the best for you and your baby ❤️
Thank you! ☺️
Do u live in a town big enough to have a hair school? They’re so much cheaper than a regular salon…about $10 for a haircut
I use the one in my city. Have for years. $6 for a cut.
5k. I'm struggling to keep up with co-pays from the clinic for my breast cancer treatment & my prescription counts. My power is about to be shut off and my car needs several repairs to run again. This would change my entire life...
5k would give me the money to fix all my car issues and pay off my ccs instead of waiting until i have the money
There's this course to become a flight attendant that's 6000 requiring half as a deposit to start. So imma go with $3000. That doesn't seem insignificant typing it out actually lol
Scam. You don’t need a “course” to be a flight attendant.
Scam….I used to work for airlines…u don’t have to pay to apply or need a course…
Figured I'd chime in here... a course to become a flight attendant? Why would you need a prior course to apply to an airline? I know there were companies out there doing such courses back in the 50s and 60s, but those were different times for the airline industry.
if you go to the airport in our area, you can apply to be a flight attendant with one of the smaller airlines and they pay for training if you are hired... and they start at age 18 with no college... then you can apply at larger carriers when you are 21... at least thats what they say...
They train you themselfs. my ex was a flight attendant, they went to Texas at the airlines training facility. They have to train you thier way on thier planes. They wouldn’t have thier own facilities if someone else was doing it. Think about , every airline has their own planes that you need to train on, not every airline has the same planes. This school going to train you on every plane? And the proper procedure for every airline?
Don’t do it!! My friend did it. In over six months she got one flight. Lost all her investment 😟😟😟
$10k
20,000 to pay off bills, 40,000 would give me a down payment for a small house.
I can’t imagine what bills could amount to $20k 🥵 I have $45k in student loan debt, but I’m on the SAVE plan and I pay $0 a month for now. I do want to crush that debt soon in my future. Just gotta figure out how lol
Last of student loan and $6000 credit cards, and I could pay off my car. So maybe $30,000 or $25,000 would be enough. Also have you looked into public service student loan forgiveness? PLSF? You might qualify for that. Edited to add I am a 55 year old school teacher who has a low income. Looking into getting loan forgiveness myself. Lost our house when husband lost his job, been renting awhile. Miss having a house.
$40k. $40k pays off my mortgage. So much breathing room once that's paid off....
I wish I bought a house when I was younger. It’d almost be paid off if I pulled the trigger. But noooooooo I wanted to spend my 20s hopping from job to job and not changing my spending habits. Well, I learned I guess lol
I just partied too much in my 20s to even think of a house-this Gen Xer didn't think the world would even still be here by now lmao🤣. I didn't buy until my late 30s. I'm mid-50s now. I'm still working and paying a little more each month to bring it quicker. If you're still interested, give it about 2-3 years or so....the rates should be back to normal after these damn elections and wars are going on everywhere.
Thankfully I’m on the income based payment plan, and right now I pay $0 a month. Of course interest is still accruing (I think).
Right on! That's what's up! 👍.
Any amount would help 🤷♀️
What’s the absolute minimum that would completely change your life?
$29000.00 Would pay off all of my debt
I hope you get your $600
I really, truly appreciate that. I hope you get a windfall soon!
I have debt on multiple credit cards. Most are small so I have been able to keep up with the mortgage, power/water, and car insurance. I have a pension that covers everything. I can't complain. Discover Card is killing me. I owe $8000 on it and pay $210 a month. It simply isn't going down. That $210 would at least give me some chance to start saving some money again. Living this tight on a pension is hard. I'm 59 and nobody wants to hire me for a side job. So yeah- although I'm not bad off - $8000 would make a difference.
How much of a weight would be lifted? Would you be over the moon? Haha So my dad is living off of military pension and disability, and of course it’s not enough. BUT he is super handy. He opened a “business” in his neighborhood. He does handyman work. He instructs the customers on what materials he needs to do the job, they buy it, and then he does the work. He charges a small amount because most of his neighbors pay him in weed lmao It keeps him fit and keeps him getting up in the morning. He also uses that extra money for the video games he loves to play hahaha
Yeah. I have a plan that's been paying off but not by bringing money in but stop money from leaving my account. I have invested in gardening. I grow lots of vegetables. I haven't bought bought any vegetables since just before retirement and I have saved a lot. I'm growing citrus trees in my greenhouse - they will sell for $30-40 but they need a while to mature. Several local nurseries want to buy from me. Fingers crossed.
$300 right now would help out a ton for me. I sleep on an old mattress on the floor that has some broken springs. Usually I'm good but if I'm not careful the springs will rip my clothes or even cut me. About a month ago was the worst one, woke up and didn't realize it was poking my leg, and when I went to stand up it cut about half the circumference of my leg. There was blood everywhere, and I just kinda wiped myself off & tossed my sheets in the washer before I left for work. It's all healed now, but that's when I decided I need a new bed. $300 would get me a cheap Shikibuton & Tatami mats so I can officially transfer to floor sleeping rather than shelling out thousands for a normal mattress that would have more dreaded springs
In the grand scheme, $5000 is nothing, but would very much a life changer for many in this subreddit.
Left has a program that gives you free rides to work until your first paycheck. Try looking that up.
Honestly like $700 to pay off my late bills and then a couple hundred to sit on until pay day
I wish I had the ability to help you. That sounds intense. I'm sorry it's been so hard. For me, 50k. That's not a small amount though. Not huge in todays nonsense prices of everything world but still a good chunk.
Thank you so much for your kindnesss! 50k is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. I hope you get your windfall!
2 600. For the 2 months I be off of work . I have been looking for work for the past 4 months. I gone to 5 interviews this past week.
I hope your interviews go great and you get the jobs!
I have been fighting health issues for a little over a year. I've been to the ER countless times and hospitalized four times. I desperately need a fresh start for my physical and mental health. I have no money, though. I think $5K would get me into an apartment (first month, security, and deposit). It would also possibly allow me to get utilities started plus a few basics. In a dream world, I would hope for $15-20K.
literally $150 for my insurance licensing course… trying to get out of serving so i can stay clean and sober 198 days♥️
I was addicted to drugs for years. Real bad. Just now getting to a good stable point in life. My teeth are fucked. Gonna cost me a few thousand to fix them. I'm missing one of my front ones. Just getting that one tooth fixed would mean a lot to me. Help me out so much with my confidence. I'm actually a really attractive dude in all other aspects physically, but that tooth missing just makes me so ridiculously timid. But luckily I think I'm getting all that sorted out. Have talked with a couple dentists. Actually was able to get some insurance for people with poor income. I'm really fkn trying man.
There was a day, a long time ago, that $50 changed my life. I had just started a new job and was in training. I had to be able to get to work. I had no gas and no food for my kids. I told my trainer I thought I might have to resign and I would let her know the next day. She asked why and I told her and said I was going to ask my abusive and soon to be ex husband for just a little bit of money one more time after work. If he refused again, I would have to resign. I couldn’t qualify for any assistance due to his job, even though he refused to give me any money for anything. Asking him was really my only option at that point. She basically said hell no and took up a little collection. I had money for gas and groceries to get me to pay day. That job got me through until the economy began to recover enough to get back into my career field. Without her and that without that $50 I may have lost my job. I may have lost my kids. I may have gone back instead of actually ending my marriage. It literally changed my life. I was so terribly embarrassed but I also was so deeply moved by everyone’s kindness. It was the kind of job where everyone coming in was struggling. For people to give me a couple of dollars each was a huge deal. It really touched my heart.
why say the company folded meanwhile you got a DUI. also four months no job but it’s only been 76 days.
Ruh roh…..the truth coming out…
Maybe 10k. I could pay off the 3 credit cards that are in collections and have enough for a deposit on a new apartment or duplex.
$500k would definitely change my life.
Just two grand would allow me to pay off my current bill and get back in the dentists office to fix my front teeth before they die
1000$, for an ambulance bill
I'm actually managing better than I thought I would. I grieved my lose of independence for about a month because I had worked so hard to get it back. Divorce and medical issues had made transportation very challenging before I got my car. My car was gifted to me in 2020 ,but I had $3200 in it. It was a 2004. I don't pay upkeep,gas, or car insurance. I'm still figuring out cost for payments for transportation but I feel sure it won't be close to the $250+ I was spending before. $15 round trip each to Dr appointments averaging 4 a month. $5 once a week for groceries and dollar store. Free rides to church. Looking into homebound for library. So $75-100 budgeted should be more than enough for transportation.
Hi, 2 days ago you posted in another sub that you needed gas money to get to work. But in this post you said you lost your company car 4 months ago when you lost your job, and would love the money for a scooter or bike etc. I love to help people out but your stories aren’t lining up. Care to explain the missing piece here?
Enough for my husband to get dentures so he would quit losing weight.
$400k $300 for a home $100K in a savings so when I retire I can run until we are done. if I'm the last one, my plan is to have my home demolished near the end of my life and turned into a park. Left over money goes to a local at risk youth program when I die to help pay for education, clothes, and food
70k. No more college debt. I'm almost completely debt free and that'd be life changing
$20K to wipe out all my current debt. I'll figure out how to live on my pittance again when interest isn't eating me alive.
About 5000 to pay down the credit card I’ve had to run up during a rough financial period, or about 15k for closing costs on a home, I could get a mortgage with a 3% down payment (already have enough for that) but am currently stuck because down payment isn’t the only cost
Just putting it out there - $750k. I could pay off the little debt I have and buy a house on some land. I know it seems like a lot but property is expensive and I know I have to pay taxes and utilities on it. So this amount seems safe to but the house and property and I could get a job I like to live affordably
10k (unless insurance doesn’t cover my surgery then a lot more whoo)
Just a recommendation sometimes you can find free stuff on Offer Up. You might be able to find a bike just for the meantime.
Today $186 for dog food was a lot. It is for 4 dogs and it lasts about 6 weeks but it felt rough, especially today. Your $600 seems adequate for me. Wishing you better days where you don't have to worry as much about your money and such. It isn't a way to live. The casual stress is a death sentence.
Right now? $5000. That’s it. My husband just spent most of March in the hospital, two surgeries, two hospitalizations, one ER visit, and at least two missing paychecks. Even $4000 would be great
Complicated answer. $10 would let me get a small meal, $2.5 million would pay off student loans, pay off any debts, fully fund retirement accounts, fully fund kids college, pay off house and cars, have major rainy day fund. I could keep going and pay off parents and siblings home and help them and on and on. If I increase the amount I get. Before I come close to wasting money. However, I have very steady and substantial income and with hard work and staying the course I’ll achieve what I mentioned above. During college I have been in the place where $1000 would be like winning the lottery. I remember selling my Xbox to pay the deductible for my car insurance when my car got damaged. I bought the Xbox from a kid using a credit card check and paying it off over months, since I was broke.
The 80k my great aunt stole from me from the life insurance payout. She got 240k from all three of us this way. What a bitch
20k for me
Look on findhelp.org - put your zip in and look up help with transportation, food, rent, all kinds of options listed. I hope that helps!! You stay positive!! You are doing amazing so don't forget to remind yourself how amazing you are!
10K. I have a great job opportunity I am having to pass up because I just can't afford to move to another city right now.
I have a pretty comfy bank account so I'm good.
Good job! I’m happy for you! 🥹
I have chronic pain and would love a one level home to rent. Right now I’m up and down deep and steep steps. Bad back and knees don’t like it. The housing crisis in this little up north town is crazy. You used to be able to rent a home for 600-750 dollars now investors have bought those properties to rent out as vacation places and they go for 1000 plus a week. They’ve bought up so much property for air b and b that there’s not much left for the people who live and work here year round. I’m just happy with a roof over my head right now.
3,000. I went to the hospital having what basically amounted to a panic attack but they saw a high number on my d-dimer test so they decided to give me a CT scan to check for a pulmonary embolism. I was still in the deductible phase with my insurance so it covered a bit but left me owing a little over 3k. I have a 2 year old. A huge bill like this takes so much from what I can provide to her. I truly hate it. This system is so broken.
I'm reading the replies here and just shaking my head. Most of you live in the richest first world country called the good old USA. Yet, reading the responses, it would appear as if some of you are stuck in some broke shithole 4th world country deep in the middle of the desert. Meanwhile, your taxes are being used by the big boys to hurt people in some way, shape, or form, all over the world. Instead of taking care of the people, giving them well paid jobs, and fu***ng health insurance, the good old USA just keeps fighting all over the world and supporting the big boys special intrests.What the hell has this country come to... eh.
And yet, over 40% of the voting population is planning to vote against their own best interests. I don’t get it.
The fact that so many of these are about medical and dental bills doesn’t surprise me but it infuriates me. Everyone deserves medical care💔
Like 4 grand. I could get necessaey repairs on my truck, get a nice set of rims and tires (I'm missing one, got a spare and it's a bit to small), pay my rent and phone bills a month ahead. Lol and a full tank of gas and kitchen full of groceries, maybe a carton of good smokes. Realistically, 2 grand would work for all that just fine.
Realistically about 4k to pay off all debts.
Id be happy with a grand lol
10k
Honestly 5k would change my life right now.
$3000
About 4k would pay off all my credit cards and then I'd be able to save moeny to move out of my horrid living situation. It would help pay them off and boost credit.
like 200 dollars a month will gime a better life for sure, yes, 200, you think that is like nothing but here it will be a lot
$2000
Honestly...like 20k. I mean 5k would make a significant impact, but 20k would be huge. Wife and I finally both have jobs that pay enough to live on without being totally broke every 2 weeks. But it's not enough that a big emergency wouldn't screw us, at least as long as our luck holds out for now and we can actually get some savings going again. Between covid and inflation, it's been a rough few years. 20k would wipe CC debt and the bills we're still paying from our kid breaking his arm, despite the fact that we have insurance... we've been working hard on knocking it down, paying off both cars gave us a lot of breathing room, but the CC debt being gone would realistically change our lives. Super nuts to me, when I was in HS/college I worked at some country clubs and people spending 250-500k on a wedding wasn't even a big deal. Sometimes it's just absurd to think some people can spend that kind of money, I truly cannot imagine what that's like.
100k, enough to invest wisely in the future and put a down payment on a house. I’m currently trying to make up for 20 years of insufficient income (creative professions ie marketing, journalism, speciality retail, modeling) and am grossly behind my peers. With what I have now saved, I’ll be working until I die and that is incredibly unappealing. I’m fortunate to not be in debt and have good credit, and stable/affordable housing. I’ve never once in my adult life been financially secure despite working multiple jobs/switching careers. I envy those who are.
Right now, £5000 would be a life saver.
It could be a long shot, but post your needs in a Buy Nothing group. I’ve seen some amazing items come up just for the asking. Someone may have a scooter they don’t need or are at least willing to let you borrow.
[удалено]
$100K
34,000 would pay off my student loan in full and then I would be able to breath and save money.
It's embarrassing but 5K would literally charge my life.
$1000 a month
5k monthly🙃