(New developments as of 11/24/2024: Mom got a new job, but they're not giving her enough hours, and they're making her drive so far to get to some of her clients that she's losing a ton of money on gas. Then within a two-week period, our microwave and our internet router died and had to be replaced. Now our water heater is malfunctioning. We're limping it with frequent resets, but it's 20 years old and is probably going to need replaced. The punches really just keep coming. I hate that I keep having to beg for money on the internet but taking cold showers in the winter is a miserable prospect. I'm so grateful to everyone who's helped.)
This is hard. I didn't want to have to ask for help again this year. Here's the situation:
- I'm disabled. My only sources of income are Etsy and Ko-Fi. Because of chronic pain and mental illness, I'm unable to work, but because disability requirements in the USA are bullshit, I can't get disability pay. I'm working on it-- but it'll probably be at least a year-long battle. I make less than $800 most months and most of it goes to bills.
- My ability to earn money this year has also been kneecapped by ongoing chronic pain (major carpal tunnel syndrome flareup, among other things) and mental health problems (months-long deprivation from ADHD meds at the hands of a malicious insurer, depression and exhaustion from trying to clean up the mess after I finally got my meds back). My health has made it difficult to keep up with my shop, keep advertising, and make new products. I don't really have the capacity to take commissions right now.
- My mother was unfairly let go from her job early this year. She had been in a senior jobs program, and had found a temporary position in an industry she's very experienced in. The aforementioned jobs program told her that if the job didn't work out, she could always come back. Despite her great performance and solid expertise, she was not kept on as a permanent hire. She tried to go back to to the jobs program, and they ignored her calls for months, before placing her on a "waiting list," which she is still on. She has since been unable to find another job.
- We do not have enough money to pay rent and bills this month.
I've set my goal high because, honestly, at this point, I need a cushion. Even if Mom finally manages to find a job before the next rent crisis, we're still going to be in the hole with credit card debt and stuff. These months of living off savings and my meager income have been really rough.
I feel terrible asking for this. Even though I wouldn't begrudge anyone else for it. You know how it is, with like, capitalism brainrot. I feel terrible having to ask again, for even more, a couple of months after the last time I needed rescuing. But I'll feel worse if I lose my home.
Please don't give me anything you can't afford to give up. Take care of yourself first.
Here are some posts you can spread to help me out too, even if you can't give me money this SUPER HELPS:
cohost (until it goes read-only i guess)