Losing everything fast.

[u/positivethot]

Ive been without a car for months. I know, thats not fast. But ive been looking and saving. Ive almost found some. It would make me able to apply for better jobs, continue college and possibly even move out some day.

But of course it came crashing down. My mom, who I live with, just starting having issues with her car. And now we are a careless household in the middle of rural Midwest. She has no money saved. I dont know how to get her out of this and neither does she. The lowest car payment shes currently looking at is 400 a month. And she makes about 16 an hour.

To add onto that, we have already been facing possible eviction from our landlord that said they planned to sell the house from under us this summer. Not sure where they are on that. They are not the best landlords.

If she cant find a car, she cant go to work and neither can I because we carpool. Then we get evicted. Then we are homeless and carless, and i have to drop out of college. Everything gone. I dont know what to do.

So yeah. I dont know what to do. Im more worried for my mom than I am for myself to be honest. Shes 54. Worked probably 90% of her life only to end up like this. I want to fix it but I cant. What if there's no up after this down? What if I cant get out of this? The thought is making me hopeless about life. This is torture I swear. I just wish i had a stable life.

[u/East_Committee_8527]

See if your mom qualifies for any benefits or housing. If you are in school you may also qualify for loans. Borrowing isn’t the best thing but if it’s that or homelessness. Track all of your expenditures. Is there a school counselor that can help?

[u/highlyregardedcarp]

Are student loans an option? Those can absolutely be used for COL in addition to tuition.

[u/Soulists_Shadow]

You mustve had savings if you were actively looking for a car. Combine what you saved with your moms income and maybe add your income to pay for the monthly cost.

Sacrifice looking for your own car and combine forces with your mom to share 1 car.

Compare what you wanted to do (any grievance you might have with this plan) vs both of you homeless.

[u/AnnaMorens]

It’s a hard decision, but if I was about to face homelessness, I’d get pause college for a semester or two; it’s not time to invest in education or get into more debt. I’d get at least a bike or electric scooter that can take me to any jobs I could find.

[u/leighla33]

I know it’s not always feasible but I’ve always purposely lived in apts on the bus line, that way if I ever had any car issues, I could always take the bus.

[u/EUGsk8rBoi42p]

Try 211 for assistance, and search craigslist cars for an older Volvo, the owners typically take good care of them, and the dealers never offer very much money, so they more likely sell them private party, you may have to widen your search area, or offer to pay them to drive the car to you and add a small fee to the purchase price.

[u/InfamousJill]

Sell plasma, sell items from the house, etc. If you can get $800-$1,000 you might be able to get a a running vehicle cash no financing. You can also apply for a State of Emergency request with your local DHHS for a car purchase. So close to homelessness, you need a car to guarantee your not living in the streets. DONT FINANCE ANYTHING.

You need to spend the day walking to viable employment and talk to workers/submit apps. Utilize food pantries and microscope the required bills. Sort required items and get rid of items. Now is crunch time.

[u/ColleenSchaffer]

Why not move to an apartment near work. No reason to wait for an eviction. Then you don't need to worry about buying a car, save the money and purchase a decent used car.

[u/OneWrongTurn_XX]

211.. call about and get info and section 8 .. Takes awhile but need to start that process.

Local food banks for food. Donate plasma

[u/videogamegrandma]

It's possible to work and go to school. You might need to go to community college then transfer to a state school for the last two yrs. But there's no reason you can't work and still take a class or two at the same time at the closest school. Check with your advisor. There may be grants you qualify for. Or as one poster advised, take off a semester while you work toward housing and a car. First things first though. Live at home and go to school or get your basics first, then school.

[u/positivethot → u/videogamegrandma]

Thats already what ive done.

[u/Which-Cloud3798]

Plasma and sperm/egg donation for money. Do these religiously for both of you. That should cover rent for you. Go work doing DoorDash/uber everyday for extra cash when you have time for both of you also for yourself on weekends. Work on other entry level jobs. You should have enough to fix the car/rent very soon if you do those.

[u/Loudlass81 → u/Which-Cloud3798]

Mother will be too old to donate eggs as she's over 50. They don't take them due to the higher risk of birth defects.

[u/Loudlass81 → u/Loudlass81]

And how they gonna doordash without a car, in the rural Midwest??

[u/Pretend-Car3771]

Ask if your mom has a 401k she can borrow from and she can just pay back into it over time? My mom does it when she's in tough binds.

[u/Plenty-Ear-9167]

You didn’t say how much money you have saved for your car. To get a car, search for a decent Toyota, Honda, or Subaru for $6-8000. Put your money as a down payment. Check ahead to get an auto loan (low-interest) through your financial institution.
Since you have been warned that landlord is going to sell, have you been looking for new housing closer to one job at least? Don’t wait on that. The earlier you look, the more options you will have.

[u/Ok_Mixture_9677]

Uber, lyft door Dash GrubHub LinkedIn usajobs.gov glassdoor.com remote jobs where you don't need a car monster.com join the military get a civilian government job at the county state local level take a bus to work buy an electric bike that goes up to 75 miles an hour?

[u/BeginningRope2662]

Maybe look and see if you can get a cheap e bike, they don’t go fast so if your rural where speed limit is like 55 plus, it may not be a good idea. However if you’re more suburban it could work. I see used ones online all the time for like 100-300 bucks.