A New Beginning for Mom and Child

I am just a millennial that graduated college during the recession. I took some risks, followed some dreams, and they didn't pan out. Now, as a single mom in a legal battle for child support, I find myself drowning in debt: attorney fees, credit card debt, medical debt from just a brief 6-month period of being on "affordable healthcare" when I made just a *tad* too much to qualify for Medicaid.

This is a common story; I am not special. But I, like so many others, am sick of it. I, like so many others, went to college, started a career, and never reached a point where I could consistently pay my bills. Between inflation, the increased competition in the job market for even a decent-paying job, hidden medical fees, and just the general cost of living becoming astronomical over the last few years, I find myself wondering if I will ever be able to hold my own.

Seeing this financial cliff coming, I have been exploring all options since the start of the year. Following leads, applying for better-paying jobs. Nothing.

I have just 3 more months of daycare payments before my kid starts public kindergarten. I have a business plan with colleagues that we hope to be launching by next spring. I have a pending court case in hopes of finally getting the money my child's father has been avoiding paying towards expenses.

But the years of underemployment in the gig economy, debts, inconsistent paychecks—being pigeonholed into part-time and temporary work despite being qualified for and applying to full-time positions for the past decade—has caught up with me. I want to erase my debt. I want to be able to start again without destroying my credit for the next decade.

Just $30,000 would grant me a clean slate. It's wild to think of the millionaires and billionaires that spend that without blinking an eye on jewelry, vacations, or even gambling, when that same amount could change someone's entire life.

So, I'm doing something crazy: I'm asking strangers for any amount you can give. Despite the voice in my head that says I shouldn't, I don't deserve it, how dare I? But I know I'm not alone. Maybe you've been there, maybe you're there now.

These donations go directly towards my back rent, my child’s daycare, and getting overdue bills paid. This will keep my child in safe care, with a roof over our heads and food on our table. This will keep my electricity from being shut off. This will keep me from constantly living on the verge of disaster, one uncontrollable event away from losing everything I’ve built.