Posted on 07/03/2011 6:40:43 PM PDT by cableguymn
Here I sit. I just lost my day job, down almost 800 dollars of income a week. They "forgot" to pay me Friday (the day they let me go) even though it was payday. It's been a rough week at my personal business. A trade deal went south between a sign maker and my landlord. I'm caught in the middle with the rent bill. Wife had a mini-stroke but thankfully is doing well and is back to work.
So I was looking forward to a halfway decent weekend enjoying the 4th.
Then the wife comes home. (no. it's not a joke about her)
She tells me the story about my MIL, SIL, her Boyfriend and their kid. All 4 of them live in a 1 br apartment (Knew this) paid for by section 8 (knew this to), with cable tv, cable internet and each one has a cell phone.
she took them shopping.
SIL/boyfriend buy 200 bucks worth of video games and other worthless electronics. Stock up on high end baby crap and other things my kids never had. Push 2 carts around filling them with brand name foods and spendy meat.
Come to find out between the 4 of them they get 3000 dollars in SSI/AFDC payments And close to 1000 in food stamps while basically living rent free. (even part of the electric bill is paid) They get all this stuff even while state government is shut done.
Here I sit, sweating my butt off because I can't afford to run the a/c, no cable tv (I do have a low cost internet connection, won't support online gaming or streaming) with a wife that just recovered from a mini stroke, has type 1 and fybro, 2 autistic kids with learning disabilities and I was working 90+ hours a week trying to support all this along with paying for medical.
I am so damn close to just joining them on the dole.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:19...
It seems like you need to articulate what is ethical and what is not. Forget about the deadbeat relative.
What would be ethical for you to do right now? Do you really qualify for any of these welfare-type programs? If you do, would your conscience be bothered by utilizing them for a short term?
I can’t answer that question for you. Myself, I’ll take unemployment if I legitimately qualify, because I have unwillingly paid my PREMIUMS for this INSURANCE all my life.
I won’t take food stamps, though. Probably if I were starving, but I’m not. I may qualify but I won’t take them.
I did not take health insurance for myself, although I qualified. But I did take catastrophic care for a young child of mine in a particular, birth defect need. I figured we qualified and it was a real need.
That’s where I have landed. Don’t compromise your personal ethics to get “help.” Decide reasonably what your ethics are. I encourage you to get involved with a good church who can help support you in tangible as well as spiritual ways; where you can also support those who are in need when appropriate. Also, to accept help from family without shame. That is what family is for.
I hear ya, but as others have mentioned the ‘dole’ is a career choice. Everyone needs help at times but that isn’t the dole.
The difference between folks like you and them, is that you know how to work. When they lose their gravy train they will be in deep doo doo. My prayers for you and family.
beats me, china more than likely. they are funding 40% of it now ;)
No advice here. I wish you well.
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Safelink/home
http://www.assurancewireless.com/Public/Welcome.aspx
Enslavement to the state, aka communism.
Why exactly is the reason that none of these people are working? There ought to be some way to report them for fraud.
Mr. cableguymn, you’re no different from the rest of the men on our side, those who are honest that is. Batrachian is absolutely right—you do what you have to do and remember you have done the same for others many times over!
Sure the system is being abused, but that doesn’t apply to you. You do need some time to clear your head and eat some chocolate.
Then, git yer tail down to Texas and enjoy the sun and the wind in your hair. :)
Godspeed, FRiend.
1- Desperate people do desperate things ... and as long as it’s not illegal, unlawful, or immoral ... consider it a temporary option.
2- You have already ‘paid it forward’ and if you need help, temporarily, that’s what it’s there for.
3- The people who take advantage of the system for long periods of time are who have bankrupted this Country. NOT the people like yourself who need temporary assistance until they can get back on their feet.
4- You’re not throwing in the towel ... you’re picking up the pieces you need to rebuild your life.
5- Do it and take notes and tell us about the experience.
6- Take advantage of what’s available while you can ... it’s not going to be available for long, I’m afraid. At least YOU will be able to cope when the support is gone ... many people will not know what to do.
Sounds to me like you’ve been paying your way. I see no reason you shouldn’t take help that’s available to you.
You sound like the type who will do what you can to get back on your feet.
Vent away, just remember, they won’t be on the dole forever and you have the ethic and strength to succeed, it is doubtful they do. Their lifestyle is fleeting.
I don’t qualify for unemployment because I was a contractor. Otherwise I would be all over it as you are right. I paid in to that.
Kids will have health insurance until the end of the year. We’ve never had company provided insurance, however my wife can get it if shes able to keep working 36 hours a week. If not, the kids and her for sure will end up on some sort of medicaid. Type 1 will kill her in no time if we can’t get the supplies she needs.
I’ve been blessed with good health the last 20 years. I just hope that luck continues.
My “family” aside from the already mentioned ones are a bunch of libs. They don’t have any money either.
I’ll get by, like I always do. it’ll be a good 2 months before we are screwed money wise. I’ll look in to the programs needed to keep everyone alive and eating. I’ll also talk to the church we attend this week when I am there for my other job (they are also a client of mine).
I’ll get by, and likely won’t take any assistance until it’s the last resort. Like I said, my head was about to explode. To hear the bitching from our local dem rats about how grandma and what not being thrown out because of the budget.
ah, Minnesota
Not just Houston. Western North Dakota - oil boom. (Winters suck, last from October through March, however.
Thanks for the links. however it says unavailable in my area.
same here
a lot of people simply have no idea what its like. they seem to think the world owes them something.
Hang in there pal. Just let the emotions of today die down a bit and a better outlook for tomorrow. Prayers up for you. Sometimes these little upheavals turn out to be blessings in disguise. Don’t envy the losers—they have their rewards. You’ve got the winners spirit inside of you and keep trusting and speaking Gods word over your life mixed with faith . The tides gonna turn so dont give up or despair!
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