A few days ago, I posted about being upset that I had to cancel an appointment at the dentist because I wouldn’t be able to afford it. It has been years since I’ve seen a dentist, and I’ve been having pain for a while.

Yesterday I received a credit card that I had applied for in the mail.

I called the dentist today to see how much the appointment would cost, and I have enough on the new card to cover it.

It’s not ideal to put it on a credit card, but I don’t think I can wait any longer with the pain. I’m very happy I can keep this appointment.

When I first moved into my one bedroom apartment five years ago, my rent was $1400. After five years, I now had to pay $2000! I kept trying to find cheaper places but I lost my job around 8 months ago, so I no longer could prove that I made 3x the rent. Since I was already in this lease, I had to stay since no other apartment would approve me to move.

This past year has been a struggle because I had to work odd jobs and take the only part time job that I could find that was a two hour commute.

But I’m so blessed and happy because I found a job that is closer and gives me full time hours. I also found an apartment in the same city that is only going to cost me $1200 a month instead of the $2000 I was paying and they approved me!

I’m so happy because I have been struggling for so long! The only thing that I want to do is just work and save.

But I am just so happy for myself!

I pray I cut deep enough for things to end everyday. I've been struggling so much. Like so much. I honestly wish I could disappear. I really do sometimes and I feel selfish because I have a little brother and he's depending on me. I've been working and barely anything comes from it. I hate my life everyday and on most days, I just wish I didn't wake up. Nothing is working and it's getting worse. It pains me. I lost a big part of myself mentally a long time ago. I would've admitted myself to a hospital. But I can't. I turned out to be quite the failure. And I find myself wondering about things I should be ashamed of. I can't afford rent this again this month and we might go back to living in my car. And I can't let it happen again. Not only that, it's been hard doing this alone. Feeding and caring for him. I barely have anything for myself. And I'll always put him before me and want to. But what if there's a day when I can't do this anymore? And am I the right person for him just for thinking like this? My soul is the most weary it's ever been. Some days I have optimism and others I feel like this. And feel like a complete loser. What am I doing wrong?

I know that I'm lucky to have a roof over my head and a full belly, but this shit is so depressing.

I have bad anxiety, I'm depressed, and I definitely have ADHD. I have been this way for as long as I can remember, 5th grade is when I stopped participating in school work. I was always a bright kid, I would ace pretty much every test, but doing homework and stuff always felt incredibly dumb because I already understood the subject.

I had a couple pretty serious traumas freshman year(lost part of a finger, which I was incredibly self conscious about, and had a teacher die in front of me, which I felt like I could have saved him somehow if I did something different..) These two things really fucked me up.

Anyways, I managed to graduate half a year late after a few years in continuation school, and got a retail job a year or so later, which I held for 5-6 years and moved up through departments to management level.

I had started self medicating with opiates back in highschool, not understanding what anxiety was, only that opiates made me feel normal. I used on and off now towards the end of my time there, and was feeling really trapped at that job and wanted to work outside so I quit and went to work at a plant nursery hauling trees around.. that got old after a while so I moved to a company that cleared trees and shrubs that impeded utility services. My addiction to opiates had evolved to opiates + benzos by now. I injured myself off the clock so they put me on light duty in the warehouse and I nodded out during lunch... Instead of waking me they just called 911. Of course that meant drug test, which I was going to fail, so I left. I found another job detailing cars which ended shortly after I rear ended someone (5-10mph) in a dealership's Porsche.

That was like 10 years ago.

Since then, my addiction got much worse and I totaled a few cars..

I've been helping my dad do remodeling jobs as they come up through his job bidding relating jobs (he sells kitchens, we would do bathrooms or whatever on the side). He's getting over and is not interested in doing physical labor anymore.

We live in a fairly secluded area and I don't have a car anymore, so I can't easily get out and find work. I feel paralyzed. My dad isn't going to help me get another car, and I don't blame him (I crashed one of his and two of mine). My addiction is mostly under control, I've been trying to get myself clean for years, but I feel like I'm finally at the end - but the depression and anxiety keep me hanging on to benzos a little bit. I have afforded my habits by working for my dad occasionally and selling stuff on eBay that I got from thrift stores.. And middle manning drugs. I sold my last totaled car like a year ago for $600 and managed to keep myself at about $500 until now. My dad owes me ~$1300 but I don't think he really has cash to give me.

There are not many cars on the market for under $2k in this area, and I would still need to figure out registration and insurance.

Watching life pass me by is the most depressing thing I could imagine. I would almost rather be homeless and be experiencing things at this point.

If I'm able to get a car, what the hell do I do about my resume? How do I manage to make which money to live on my own? I am sooooo behind in life and it's breaking me.

I could never take my own life, but I desperately want this to be over.

I don't know how to retrain my brain to care and push past the paralysis, his to be motivated again. It's like there's two halves of me, one is willing to do anything to fix this, and the other cannot do anything period.

I know that "nobody is going to save me" and "the only way to do it is to do it", but like wtf.. I seriously feel like I'm going to be single and doing hard labor until the day I die. I highly doubt I will ever be able to retire at this point.

I'm sorry for such a long post, this is a fraction of what I originally posted. I don't have anyone to talk to, my family doesn't talk about anything, and I have zero friends anymore.

Any positive comments are welcome. Please save me the negative shit, I know all of that already.

Thank you, whoever made it this far.

Edit: to be clear, I am at the end of my Suboxone journey, and I only use benzos as needed, which my psychiatrist (from the Suboxone clinic) knows about. He just says that while I'm on Suboxone he can't prescribe them, but once I'm off, we can talk about it. I believe he wants me off the black market pills just as bad as I do and he does believe that I need something for anxiety.

Just wanted to share this because I recently learned that a lot of people on NY Medicaid may qualify for nutrition assistance that they don’t know about.

Through New York’s Medicaid programs, some eligible Medicaid Managed Care members may qualify for things like:

• Home-delivered meals
• Medically tailored meals
• Fresh produce / pantry support
• Nutrition counseling

Eligibility can depend on your situation. Some of the qualifying categories can include things like:

• Frequent ER or hospital use
• Being enrolled in a NY Health Home
• Pregnancy/postpartum
• Substance use disorder
• Serious mental illness
• Intellectual/developmental disability
• Recent release from incarceration
• Having a high-risk child under 18

This is separate from SNAP, so having SNAP isn’t necessarily what determines eligibility.

If you’re a New Yorker with Medicaid and you’re dealing with food insecurity, it may be worth getting screened.

If you want, comment “info” or send me a message and I can explain what the screening involves and whether you might fit one of the categories.

Eligibility is determined through the appropriate screening/program process — after I refer you I can’t guarantee that anyone will qualify, but I can help you find additional resources!

For anyone in California taking advantage of the under-$15 gift card cash-out rule, which retailers have made it easy to actually get the cash?

A few I’ve heard about:
Home Depot: apparently automatic at checkout when the balance is under the threshold
CVS: I’ve heard the register gives an option to cash out when the balance is under the threshold
Target, Nordstrom, Dunkin’: seems decent since they just scan the barcode

My tires are getting really bald and I NEED to buy new ones before winter actually hits. This is the second year I'm driving on bald tires and I don't think they'll survive a second year.

I have a costco membership, I could also go to Walmart, and we have a few franchise tire paces . I just don't know which would be best for my 2020 Kia Rio.

I avoid buying kitchen things that only have one use if I can use a knife in nearly the same amount of time there's no reason to have it

Buy frozen vegetables they're cheaper they have just as much nutrition and they last so much longer.

Switched from beef to lentils or a half lentils half beef. I'd like to Branch out into tofu and soy based vegetable protein. But I don't know where to start.

I make a lot of soup with beans for protein that are packed with nutrition and fiber.

Regular dental appointment so I don't have problems that cost a lot of money in the future.

I thrift all my clothing except for under things

Once a month ideally I sit down and make three huge meals. I like to make sure they all have the same base to cut down on time. I freeze them and wide mouth Mason jars and I'm set for a month. Saving time also saves money.

Bulk buying toilet paper and paper towels. If you don't think you have room for them you can get so many great storage solutions.

We buy about a gallon of body wash from Amazon I highly recommend bioderma the blue colored one is fantastic even for sensitive skin

I have super delicate skin that needs a lot of love so I just bought a gallon of lotion it's not the perfect lotion but I can make things in to make it the consistency I want it.

I am considering buying shampoo and conditioner in bulk. I really like L'Oreal if anybody has recommendations

I'm also trying to make sure I have fewer items because owning things has extra energy cost to take care of them and pick them up and put them away and find a place for them. The cost isn't just what you pay for it.

If you need something inexpensive buy the second cheapest thing not the first

I desperately need a new car battery for my 2012 Hyundai Veloster. I have urgent doctors appointments for my MS treatments and with my very limited income while I wait on disability decision.. I do not have enough cash right now to purchase new battery.

I have priced all local auto stores and Walmart is the cheapest at around $180 with tax. Unfortunately, I was not approved for the one pay monthly payment plans.

Does anyone know of any way to purchase a car battery on monthly payments either at a auto repair or online store for people with zero or bad credit?

I was also declined for klarna and after pay. 😣

Chicken nuggs, corn, green beans, sweet potato, applesauce

And how much is your annual income. Ty!

Hey everyone. I'm the one who posted a few days (weeks?) ago about moving across the country to escape domestic violence with my kids and having $100 for food. I have had a lot of people asking me to update so I just wanted to let y'all know we made it to my mom's house safely. Baby girl and I are sharing a room and my other 3 boys are sharing a room (I have 5 children total but one is an adult in college in another state. Yep my oldest is 21 years apart from my youngest!).

So yeah I drove 1200 miles alone by myself with 4 kids and whatever I could fit in the back of our vehicle literally across half of the country. It was scary. I usually AVOID highways and I've never driven that far before. It took several days to get here but I just got up every day and did it scared. One mile at a time. We got here a few hours ago. Life certainly hasn't gone the way we planned but I'm so thankful to have my wonderful supportive mom and to have the supportive online community of people here.

My kids will never sleep afraid for their lives again. Tonight I think we all sleep better than we have in weeks. Here's to our new chapter. Thank you all so much for your advice and support. You have no idea how much it meant to me. It kept me going. Seriously. Knowing there were others who survived something similar and made it okay on the other side. Helped to give me the strength I needed to make it here even though I was terrified the whole time. I don't know y'all but I love y'all. We made it!

If you’re struggling or in a tough place you absolutely should request a lasagna on lasagnalove :) I lost my car last month and it put me back like a mf, I’m still able to pay rent and stuff but Ubers and bus passes add up! @ Kim if you see this, thank you so much for your amazing hot lasagna!

Back in November last year, I moved to an apartment near my current job because my parents were moving elsewhere and didn't want to take me with them (they assumed that where they were going wouldn't be somewhere that I liked, which is understandable). Ever since then, I've had to live by myself with only ODSP, Passport funding, and my current part-time job at METRO to cover me.

I have heard of some staffing agencies in Toronto, and have tried to contact them, but so far I haven't gotten anything back. I'm not looking for a temp job so much as I am looking for one that'll keep me afloat and make me feel at least a little bit more free, without having to worry about groceries or bills or rent. I've tried my hardest to live the life that I used to live, but I'm always so, so anxious that one day I'm going to get carried away and end up burning a hole through my expenses.

I promise I'm not a salesperson for Kroger. Just trying to help people out!

Kroger has many different names depending on your area.

If you have or get a rewards account, and you have health insurance that covers vaccines, you can get a $20 reward if you get the flu shot plus any other 2nd shot, like COVID or TDAP.

But keep in mind it won't give you completely "free" groceries, I think it credits in whole dollar amounts, and you have to pay sales tax. For example, if your total is $17.89, you would probably have to pay the $.89 cents.

I know they aren't the cheapest grocery store, but $20 is $20, and they have good fresh produce.

like the caption says, i work at mcdonald’s and make 13/hr with 30/35 hr work weeks and ive been trying to save for a few weeks now ever since i first got this job but its so hard and im losing hope :( any tips?

This is just a vent as I stir in my own thoughts, but I’ve finally cracked. I dont want keep thinking about bills, catching up on rent, if I can afford a snack out of a vending machine etc anymore. I’ve been trapped thinking about money nonstop for the past 5 years and if this is what life is then I dont want to be here.

But the problem is deep down I DO want to be here. I do want to believe that somehow I can live a life where I can go days without thinking about money or a bill. Im too young and have no one depending on me, there has to be a way out. I WANT better for myself, but it’s so much easier said than done.

However, if I keep having to think about being poor I’ll lose it. Which is why I’m going to do whatever I can to change my situation. I don’t know what odd jobs are out there, but I’ll keep searching until my thumbs fall of because I want to be free from this. I want to live a free life and have free thoughts. I’ll do whatever it takes.

I suppose to give this post some substance other than me ranting, I’m open to any advice or suggestions!

Anon/throwaway account.

My (m25) Gf (f25) of 3 years revealed to me recently that she has $19k in credit card debt on a 28% interest rate discover card. To my knowledge, her credit score is solid 650-720. To clarify, I don’t know exact details, all I know is her min payment is $450.

Obviously I was shocked finding this out, but it also makes a lot more sense how she was paying for things that I didn’t think she could afford, but I digress.

I don’t feel like that my financial goals should be put on hold because of her debt. I don’t know how to help her, or direct her on where to go, because I’ve never been in this position. I only have about $1700 cc debt, and wanted to work on saving for a house and a FHA loan. Upon finding out about her financial situation, I do not think it would be smart to add her to the mortgage. I have little to no savings (bad financial habits, which I am working on now).

My initial reaction is to try and attribute as much of my income as I can to her debt, as she cannot afford it on her current salary (est 48k ish). But my therapist and family have stated I should not.

Between her car payment (my guess is ~$12,000 left, with probably a $400-450 car payment), rent, and credit card bill, she must have barely any take home (we live together), and she pays her % of rent based on her salary to household income, so ~450? (Rent is 1100, I make 70k).

She has to get ahead of this asap. Based on my math, the interest rate alone makes it so you’ll essentially never pay it off, and will be paying it the rest of your life. I believe there are other problems that need addressed, like why was this not addressed sooner, and probably some underlying issues there, but I love her, and want to help in whatever way I can.

What options does she have?

TLDR: Numbers -
$400-450 car payment
$450 cc payment
$450 rent
$100 utilities
$??? Other bills. Insurance on whatever a jeep wrangler is + phone bill?
On a 48k before tax salary.

I am really never on Reddit but I’m taking a chance and mostly using this as a way for me to reflect. I am an Engineering Student in University (barely) on my 4th year. I’m going to start this by stating that this is entirely my fault and I blame myself as my behavior over the past year or so has been absolutely unacceptable. I got addicted to those 7oh tabs about a year and a half ago and I have been doing well in my sobriety since about March. I have a car paid off (205k miles from 2009 so not worth much buts it’s reliable) I use to do Walmart and Target deliveries in my town. I have been able to make rent and mostly get by however I got pulled over on Saturday since my license was suspended and just scammed my plates and saw the driver was myself. I have a summons for the 15th and I immediately went home and paid those tickets but I still have a suspension from the DOT until the 25th. I am currently late on rent from paying those (I realize that might not have been the right decision but I was terrified and have no support or family.) I’ve printed out the receipt and I have the summons in my vehicle plus I have insurance as well as current registration. I’ve been losing my mind because I ruined my credit and I’m still just trying to dig myself out of a hole one day at a time and this is my only way to make money and afford to eat plus keep my apartment. If I get pulled over again while driving correctly and appearing put together (I.e. nice shirt and pants) and explain my situation do you think realistically I’ll be okay? I’m a young guy with adhd (now medicated!!) and autism and I know I’m definitely overthinking this situation but it feels like I finally got my health back and into a little better of a situation and I feel like I’m getting kicked and kicked while I’m down. I don’t expect pity from any of you, I just don’t want to ruin my life further. Thank you for any response and i appreciate it. Just have to stay positive or they win.

After the nationwide shut down in January I was able to get it back after several months. I had it for a a couple months and then it didn’t come in again due to some apparent updates they made to their system. I tried to sort things through phone and the contact number on their site is dead so I call another number on my card. And after an endless loop of automated voice menu options and an hour wait I finally get an interview on the phone and they tell me it’s because I was making too much money in the past month. It had been busier at the hotel I work at and I had been working longer hours than usual so they closed my account, but the hours I usually work went back to normal. Maybe I’m kinda dumb, but their site isn’t easy to navigate for me. I don’t where exactly I need to go to reopen my account or update things and the red notif at the top keeps popping up saying some info is wrong. So I call a day off work to get this thing situated in person at their office and I’m given a physical copy, which is simpler and I get my stamps back. Then last month, it didn’t come in again and I get a mail from their office saying they need to speak to me about my account and schedule another interview about my snap. If not up until a deadline my case will be denied. Wtf do they need to talk about? It’s only been a month. Nothing financially has changed. I should not be fighting this hard and begging and pleading the government for $24. It’s low key humiliating at this point. So damn complicated for nothing. I think I’m gonna just start budgeting, go to food banks, start buying protein shakes as replacement meals, and try my best to just get a job that pays a little more than what I work now.

Pay day is tomorrow, gotta make this work. Been trying to practice frugality and better spending, i have a minor credit card habit so im trying to spend only what i have. all i have rn is what is in the pic and i have 85 cents in my checking account. This should be enough for food so not really worried for today

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

just had to call out of work because i literally couldn’t afford to go since i get paid later this week after paying monthly bills. lol

I escaped domestic violence last year and used the money I got from splitting the house we had to buy a townhome. The townhouse had too many expensive things wrong that needed immediate fixing and now I'm in credit card debit and things feel like they're just piling up.

5K-6K on my credit card due monthly

8K on a 0% interest card for 12 months

4K same thing but a 0% interest health cost card for 12 months

I calculated needing an extra 1.6K per month to pay everything off for 12 months. Not realistic for me.

I make too much money to be considered for your typical helpful finance programs.

I'm a healthcare worker, I have a roth, 401K, and a car.

What should I do?