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I did not want to have to do this again, and I know that this is a lot of money. Since moving to San Diego 11 years & 12 days ago, the 2 things that sledgehammered me over the head right away were the Crash of 2008, where I lost nearly everything...and the finding out that San Diego proudly practices rampant AGE DISCRIMINATION in its hiring practices. A couple of inheritance along the way helped me stay afloat, although I would much rather they have gone into retirement funds. San Diego despises its older citizens, and by older, I mean just about anyone over 40. You will get turned down for job after job here unless you're a young pup...older, more experienced, more reliable people here are looked upon as little more than liabilities. So, over the time I've been here, I have been stuck in a series of independent contracting jobs here, barely making enough to keep me from homelessness.
Due to a reckless driver in late 2013, my 2001 Corolla was totalled and I had to try to get a used or new car financed so I could continue working for my medical courier job. There was one place in National City, on their famous "Mile of Cars," that was willing to work with low-income people like me who were also trying to rebuild their bad credit. The payments of $366 a month on a new 2013 Scion XD did not seem bad at the time, because my rent situation was lower, and I was making a more steady income for Orange County Couriers than I do now foe Uber and Lyft. Things were tight, but it was doable.
Then all manner of hell manifested. My housemate decided she wanted to get married & have a child, so I had to move. At about the same time, due to bad work relations at Orange County Couriers and our major client, I and one other guy lost our late night delivery positions. So, in the process of finding a new dwelling and starting work wirh Uber and Lyft, DOWN went my income and UP went my rent, as of September, 2016. It has been a life or death struggle to keep up with car payments, car maintenance, car insurance, rent, storage fees, my telephone, and keeping me and my cat fed. Most recently, as many of you already know, I had a run of bad luck during a 3-week span last month that involved my car getting broken into (smashed window) and THREE flat/damaged tires. This caused me to miss 9 days of work, getting the necessary repairs.....along with several months of low, inadequate income from Uber and Lyft. Both companies have oversaturated their work force and summarily screwed those of us who do ride share work full-time in an attempt to make a living. I knew my car payments were in trouble, I was doing everything in my power to get them caught up, but it was too little, too late. I am limited by the number of hours I can work, due to the cataracts in my eyes that materialized last November. I can only drive after sunset, because driving in the bright glare of sunlight is difficult, if not impossible. I am currently seeking help from HHSA and SSI to come up with some way to have an ophthalmologist do the operation on my eyes. The last time I could afford health insurance was back in Kansas City.
Anyway, my car is gone and as such, my means of living. I had lost track of how much I still owed on it (no amortization chart) and was shocked when I found our how much I still owe. I have until around the 2nd of July to get it back before it's put up for auction (I will know the definite date as soon as I get a letter from Toyota Financial Services). I have had to ask for help like this in the past and it shames me to my core that I'm forced into this position again. I won't be surprised if I lose friends because of this. All I can say by way of conclusion is this: the people in my life who love me--who see me as something much more than the person I've always seen in the mirror--have been my rocks and my guiding lights as I've stumbled and shambled my way through this "existence" that I've drawn little joy from. They are the ones who've picked me up and reminded me of all the things about me that earned their friendship & love to begin with...and the same, of course, goes for my family members who've kept me from sailing into the abyss. If any of you, after all these years, feel that I'm worthy of asking for help yet again, and can find it in your hearts to come through with whatever you can afford...I will be exceedingly grateful. For having my mode of making a living back, and for being blessed with wonderful, caring people. Thank you. ✌ ❤
Due to a reckless driver in late 2013, my 2001 Corolla was totalled and I had to try to get a used or new car financed so I could continue working for my medical courier job. There was one place in National City, on their famous "Mile of Cars," that was willing to work with low-income people like me who were also trying to rebuild their bad credit. The payments of $366 a month on a new 2013 Scion XD did not seem bad at the time, because my rent situation was lower, and I was making a more steady income for Orange County Couriers than I do now foe Uber and Lyft. Things were tight, but it was doable.
Then all manner of hell manifested. My housemate decided she wanted to get married & have a child, so I had to move. At about the same time, due to bad work relations at Orange County Couriers and our major client, I and one other guy lost our late night delivery positions. So, in the process of finding a new dwelling and starting work wirh Uber and Lyft, DOWN went my income and UP went my rent, as of September, 2016. It has been a life or death struggle to keep up with car payments, car maintenance, car insurance, rent, storage fees, my telephone, and keeping me and my cat fed. Most recently, as many of you already know, I had a run of bad luck during a 3-week span last month that involved my car getting broken into (smashed window) and THREE flat/damaged tires. This caused me to miss 9 days of work, getting the necessary repairs.....along with several months of low, inadequate income from Uber and Lyft. Both companies have oversaturated their work force and summarily screwed those of us who do ride share work full-time in an attempt to make a living. I knew my car payments were in trouble, I was doing everything in my power to get them caught up, but it was too little, too late. I am limited by the number of hours I can work, due to the cataracts in my eyes that materialized last November. I can only drive after sunset, because driving in the bright glare of sunlight is difficult, if not impossible. I am currently seeking help from HHSA and SSI to come up with some way to have an ophthalmologist do the operation on my eyes. The last time I could afford health insurance was back in Kansas City.
Anyway, my car is gone and as such, my means of living. I had lost track of how much I still owed on it (no amortization chart) and was shocked when I found our how much I still owe. I have until around the 2nd of July to get it back before it's put up for auction (I will know the definite date as soon as I get a letter from Toyota Financial Services). I have had to ask for help like this in the past and it shames me to my core that I'm forced into this position again. I won't be surprised if I lose friends because of this. All I can say by way of conclusion is this: the people in my life who love me--who see me as something much more than the person I've always seen in the mirror--have been my rocks and my guiding lights as I've stumbled and shambled my way through this "existence" that I've drawn little joy from. They are the ones who've picked me up and reminded me of all the things about me that earned their friendship & love to begin with...and the same, of course, goes for my family members who've kept me from sailing into the abyss. If any of you, after all these years, feel that I'm worthy of asking for help yet again, and can find it in your hearts to come through with whatever you can afford...I will be exceedingly grateful. For having my mode of making a living back, and for being blessed with wonderful, caring people. Thank you. ✌ ❤