[Lorrie0592]

Hi Ladies,

I am looking for some guidance and I don't know where else to turn. Both my husband and I am unemployed and we are broke. I have been having a hard time trying to pay the morgage. I have tried for assistance but we make are over by $10 a week to qualify. Yes, $10 a week. I need to cut our grocery/ house hold items bill drastically and I just can't figure out how to do it. I have been going to the food bank here but it is only open once a month.

Can anyone give me some guidance? Since I know that some of you have and are going threw this?

[jenniferd131]

have you applied for unemployment? if so and that is were you are over by $10 that is the governments fault, by raising benefits by $25 a week but did nothing to off set the food stamps which I think was just a way for them to kick everyone off assistance by giving $25 a week, which is neither fair or right. I have been looking for work for a year and half now, can't find any. My credit cards are maxed, I owe over 40 grand now with interest and fees and it is rising, I cashed in my retirement to pay up the house for a year, now when January comes I will start to stress big time because if I do not find a job now I will lose my house, next house payment is due Feb 2010. Put your faith in God,he always will look out for you and provide for you. I know it has worked out in my house not sure how or why but I am grateful for now that I still have a roof over my head. As for food check out angelfoodministries.com they sell food cheap just for people like us. It is $30 to feed a family of 4 for a week, they sell rest. quaility food and the packages seem pretty good. let me know how things turn out for you. You are in my prayers. God Bless you

[kimmyann123]

oh yes times here in michigan are very gloom,i really hope things get better soon....

[dythia99]

You can also try the salvation army and church food banks...I know when I was younger I had to stand in church foodbank lines with my mom....not fun, but you will have something to eat. Just call around and find out if there are any in your area.

[kmeiding]

I know around here, there are a couple places where you can get a free meal once a week. It's called the Banquet or the Welcome Table around here but I'm sure that there are different names for it. I've helped out at a few of them. Anyone can go. Check with a local church and see if there are any in your area.

[Lorrie0592]

Originally Posted by jenniferd131

have you applied for unemployment? if so and that is were you are over by $10 that is the governments fault, by raising benefits by $25 a week but did nothing to off set the food stamps which I think was just a way for them to kick everyone off assistance by giving $25 a week, which is neither fair or right. I have been looking for work for a year and half now, can't find any. My credit cards are maxed, I owe over 40 grand now with interest and fees and it is rising, I cashed in my retirement to pay up the house for a year, now when January comes I will start to stress big time because if I do not find a job now I will lose my house, next house payment is due Feb 2010. Put your faith in God,he always will look out for you and provide for you. I know it has worked out in my house not sure how or why but I am grateful for now that I still have a roof over my head. As for food check out angelfoodministries.com they sell food cheap just for people like us. It is $30 to feed a family of 4 for a week, they sell rest. quaility food and the packages seem pretty good. let me know how things turn out for you. You are in my prayers. God Bless you

Yes, We have applied for unemployment. Since I have a little one I signed him and myself up for WIC. I went to DHS they are the ones that we don't qualify because we are over by $10! I have been going to the Baby pantry to get diapers. I get 10 diapers every two weeks. It's not much but it helps.

Angel food Mininstries well, the closest one is an hour away and I can't afford gas to get there.

The is only one food bank a month around here and I have called every where to see if there are any.

[Lorrie0592]

Originally Posted by kmeiding

I know around here, there are a couple places where you can get a free meal once a week. It's called the Banquet or the Welcome Table around here but I'm sure that there are different names for it. I've helped out at a few of them. Anyone can go. Check with a local church and see if there are any in your area.

I have never heard of it so I will have to see if they do anything like this. Thank you for the tip.

[arupe001]

What local grocery stores do you have near you? I will keep my eyes open for any free coupons if you let me know what stores are near you.

[joshmamabear]

since both of you are unemployed, have you tried putting up ads to offer to clean houses or babysit for other people? if your husband has other skills like repairing PC, handyman skills, mowing lawns/weed eating/etc, you can put these ads at your grocery store bulletin boards, if they have any. that may give you extra cash.

I know times are getting hard. Good luck!

[lisa73]

i am unemployed at the moment and with my checks I get info to call the NJ foreclosure mediation program. It says it is for anyone in danger of foreclosure or in need of mortgage assistance can call. If you call the NJ # they may be able to direct you to one in your state; 888-989-5277

[Lorrie0592]

Originally Posted by arupe001

What local grocery stores do you have near you? I will keep my eyes open for any free coupons if you let me know what stores are near you.

We have Spartan stores, Walmart and K-mart. I have been doing the kmart doubles and have gotten a few things for free or for very little out of pocket.

[andinic_83]

I don't know if there are any Catholic churches near you, but it so, have you tried those? I was the church secretary for our church for several months (June '07-November '07) when I was expecting my little one and we had a St. Vincent de Paul Society which was a group of older ladies that handed out food vouchers for one of the local grocery stores. I don't think the vouchers were for much--about $20 or so, but I'm sure any little bit could help. During the last couple of months I was there, they also started a food bank, so as people came for food vouchers they could get a sack of groceries for free. There were stipulations--you could only come for a voucher every 90 days or so and you had to live in the parish.

If you have any Catholic churches around, give them a call and see if they have something like this. Not all do. I grew up in a small town in Texas and I know our church didn't have a St. Vincent de Paul Society, but they seem to be a pretty common thing at churches here along the Mississippi/Alabama Gulf Coast.

[Lorrie0592]

Thank you ladies,

I can't believe how kind everyone has been. I will look into all the information that everyone has posted and pm'd.

Thank you very much!

[Lorrie0592]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still around. We are still struggling but I am taking it one day at a time.
I have been having yard sales and selling anything and everything we don't need. It sounds terrible but we have even done a little bit of dumpster diving to get things to sell.
My parents lent us some money to get us by for a little while. I am hoping that things will turn around. We have cut everything out that we don't need cable, internet, and cell phones are on the smallest plan possible. So that is helping out a little. I use the internet at my moms house.

I have been going to the baby pantry when they are open and getting a few of the things that I need for the baby. Diapers, wipes, baby cereal, and they even have shampoo! I went to the food bank last week and got some food items. (I want to say THANK YOU to everyone that donates to them it really helps out when you are down on your luck. I know I can't say it enough but honestly THANK YOU)

I am hoping to maybe make a little bit of money this fall selling craft items at the craft shows and bazaars. I have been making a lot of stuff that I used to make to try and bring in so extra cash. So we will see.

Once again Thank you everyone and please keep me in your thoughts.

[kmeiding]

What kind of craft items do you make? I was part of a group in college who crocheted items and made tie blankets for Project Linus and other charities and we often made little things to sell so we wouldn't have to pay for all the yarn out of our own pockets. It was fun, but a lot of work. Hope you have a lot of luck with it.

[bodacious]

You could participate in the H1N1 flu shot study. They will pay $375 per person so if you and SO sign up. . .375+375= $750

you could donate an egg (It was $1,200 a few years ago when I checked into it)

[Lorrie0592]

Originally Posted by kmeiding

What kind of craft items do you make? I was part of a group in college who crocheted items and made tie blankets for Project Linus and other charities and we often made little things to sell so we wouldn't have to pay for all the yarn out of our own pockets. It was fun, but a lot of work. Hope you have a lot of luck with it.

I make fleece hats & mittens, pot holders, barbie doll clothes, soy candles, cold processed soaps, plastic canvas snowflake Christmas oranaments, scarves, wash clothes, Tied blankets. You name it, I make it.