Single Mom with 2 Boys Needing Financial Help!

Have you visited the Boys & Girls Club on Lincoln Road? For only $25/year, the boys can play their, get homework help, access computers, be safe and with other kids, participate in sports and art activities and such. I wouldn't give you income but it does provide some safe inexpensive unofficial "child care".

I stumbled across this website - it is a welth of information - hope it blesses you.
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/2007/09/cvs-101.html

If you have utility shut-off notices, contact the Salvation Army, 9 S. Park St., Ypsilanti, MI 48198.

For help keeping food on the table, seek out assistance from your SOS Emergency Food Pantry, 114 N. River, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 - Phone: ###-###-#### - Fax: ###-###-#### EMERGENCY FOOD HOURS Tues: 10 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., Wed: 6 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Each consumer receives a food bag containing one day's allotment of food (three meals) for each person in the household. This service is offered to each consumer up to four times per year (three times plus one holiday). During the Thanksgiving holiday, food bags include turkeys as available.

Your SOS Emergency Food Pantry also has utility payment resources (gas, electricity & water). This is the main office contact info I believe.
101 S. Huron
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
phone: ###-###-####
fax: ###-###-####
____@____.com

You are only allowed to use them once a year and you must be in shut-off status. As soon as you get a shut-off notice, go to the Salvation Army and SOS with it. See if either of them can help. Both organizations run on "availability of funds", so you may not get help from either if they are out of money.

I hope this helps.
May God Bless You & Your Boys K.

D.

Hi K.; are you divorced or never married, I must say if you can get child support you should. I am divorced and have been since kids were one and the other 9-many times I worked two jobs, and don't regret a moment of it. My kids are tremendous people they are my life now they are 15 and 20 and just awesome good young people. I put myself through college, I believe in the impossible, if you can dream it you can make it happen. JUST DO ONE THING AT A TIME! Don't even think of bringing some strange man into your kids lives, just focus on them and getting where you want to be. You may want to have some one help you with a budget, I did that and it helped. YOU CAN DO IT, be strong and stay focused if you stay on the right path and only move forward not back things will happen, because your making them happen. Cheap makeup-never eat out, rent a movie once month, meal plan, get on budget plan, get food from food bank/churches/etc..it will help, Pray, alot and stay focused!

Check out the website called www.miserlymoms.com. They list some good ways to save money as well as frugal recipes.

I have saved tons of money at the grocery store with www.thegrocerygame.com. There is a free trial and then it's like $3 a month after that. Literally, my bill at krogers last week should've been $230 and it came to $147. It's a service that times the cylical trend of prices with manufacturer coupons. Most items are at least 50-70% off and sometimes even free!
Also, just a word of advice on the direct sales world which by the way I am a very proud part of-make sure you aren't spending money to make money. That's part of the reason I'm with the company I am-we know gals are interested in joining because they need money not because they have it to invest. If you've never done direct sales before be sure to 'test the waters' with one that has a no cost start up. Mine offers that and the biggest starter kit in the industry, for free. My heart breaks every time I hear of women in situations like yourself spending $100 or even $50 to buy a starter kit,pay yearly, monthly or per party fees and push themselves to make all the money they are promised and in the end be out that money plus their time.
other ideas: turn the thermostat down just 3 degrees. Don't run the faucet when brushing teeth, check videos out at the library instead of the video store, paybills on time (avoid late fees) and pay off credit cards asap.
And last but not least, pray, as I and my boys will be doing for you.
A.

K., I'm not sure where you're located, but my church in Westland that distributes Angel Food Ministries food as well. It's CrossWalk Community Church of the Nazarene @ 38600 Palmer Rd. in Westland. You can email me @ ____@____.com and i can give you more information.

a great way to save money is to eat at home.. no restaurant meal- even fast food for your family of 3 adds up.

I think store brand groceries are cheaper than name brand even with a coupon. Shop at walmart- that is the cheapest store around.

I buy all of my kids clothes used at a resalse store.. At least you have 2 boys so clothes can pass down to the younger child. I have a girl then a boy.. so nothing passes down.

Get rid of cable or at least downgrade to the least expensive cable TV.. See if you can get a cheaper home phone rate.. Or get rid ofthe home phone and just use your cell phone.

If you really want to save $4 -- every time you go to spend any amount of cash.. ask yourself if you really need to buy the item.

I quit my job after the second child.. and I have really learned to cut back.

good luck.

A great book to read that willhelp you get on a positive finacial path is "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. Check it out at the library :)

I really hope this helps! I am a single mom too, and know how it feels to struggle.

R.

there are the churches in your area, and in wayne, there is saint marys' out reach center. ###-###-####, they have a closet(clothes bank of used but useable clothes,free) and the food depot
God bless and Good Luck ^_^

Hi K.,

I understand about trying to make some extra money to make ends meet. I was also looking for a way to make extra money and still have time for my family. Have you ever considered direct sales? I have been an independent jeweler for Premier Designs Jewelry since May and I just love it. Premier offers me the chance to make great money and work as much or as little as I want. In fact, Premier pays 50% commision on every piece of jewelry I sell. They are a company that focuses on servicing not selling to thier customers. I would love to share this opportunity with you if you are interested. Please contact me for further information. I hope that this helps a little bit. I look forward to hearing from you.

The only other things I can think of to downgrade, (if you have) is downgrade your phone service, home and cell. Cut cable if you have it, internet too. At the grocery store, clip coupons, buy store brands and no treats. These are just general things. Do you stop for coffee before work? Invest in a travel mug and make your own at home. Take a lunch or buy one? They have free lunch programs at school, can you take advantage of that. I can't think of anything else right now. Good luck

Angel Food Ministries offers an great program where you can purchase a large quantity of good quality food for only $30.00. The program is offered at Williams Lake Church of the Nazerene in Waterford. ###-###-####.

Good luck!

OMG...... you are ME !!!!!!! Im having all the same troubles.... it breaks my heart.. have you found any help? are there any resources or websites that you have learned of that you could share?

M.

I am interested in starting a group that will help single moms and those who are looking for more financial information. For free!! We are located in Grand Rapids. My husband and I both went through the Dave Ramsey Course and taught it in our former church. We have the materials available and a wealth of information on helping out those in need. I used to run a daycare and heard from many moms that I worked for having difficulty with the FIA...because every chance they had to get ahead or move into a better place..it seemed that they were penalized for it. Let me know which area you wish to address first and walk you through it....then the next, etc. I'll be praying for you and hoping to hear from you soon.

Blessings.
H.

Hi K. M - I know how hard it is (through my own personal experience) to find financial help as a single mom.... it is really really tough but hang in there. Help is out there.

Anyway, my own personal struggles inspired me to start my own website for exactly this. It is basically a lot of the research that I had done myself. http://www.singlemothersfinancialhelp.com

I hope this helps

The best advice I can offer is Financial Peace University. You can find it online and look up to see where it is offered locally for you (most likely at a church). My husband and I took this class and it changed the lives of every person who took the class with us. It's lead by Dave Ramsey (via VHS/DVD classes & mentioned below as author of Total Money Makeover) who takes a real no-nonsense approach to finances. There may be a fee depending on where you take it...but I promise you if you find a way, you will NOT regret it! There is a lot of wonderful advice you've been given for the short-term, but if you really want to make lasting changes AND pass healthy financial attitudes on to your children...you have to find this class, http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/home/

Best of luck to you; but with Ramsey you won't need luck!

try the Salvation army for a one time major heat bill, or water bill or electric. If you need any major appaliance that may have gone on the blink and you can not afford to buy that and pay bills they can possibly assist you along those lines. Call Focus Hope or go to the Light House on Gratiot in Roseville and sign up for Focus hope to help with meeting some of the food needs so to free up some money to pay bills. If I think of anything else I will let you know. Oh if you are abused or have been in the past you may wish to check out Turning Point for raising above and getting back the power to feel as though you deserve the best in all aspects of life! Not saying this is the case or that you don't believe this, just know that there is alot of stuff out there that has helped us women to be where we are and I just put that in there. Best Wishes

Dear K.,
I am looking for this same information, as I am in the exact same position. Please pass the information onto me too if you can.
K. A.

Find another single mom and move in together. Share expenses.
Ask dad to pay more child support if he has so much money.
Good luck!
C.