Back to back panic attacks due to needing a car & no way to pay for it

[lostforgottensoul]

I don't know why I'm writing this here. Whenever I even type about it, it starts a series of back to back panic attacks and I can't stop them. I can't calm them and I don't know what to do.

I had 2 grand saved. I was in a good place. Then my dad abandoned the lease (then came back, long story) which cost me $750 and then I had a car accident. Fixing my car (because I didn't have money to buy one) was $500, and 2 traffic tickets were $300 and then I made an idiot move and backed into a car at work due to not looking (I'm not usually this absent minded) and that was settled between us for another $200. 2 grand gone in a matter of about 3 months. So, that's no longer an option.

I can't afford to finance a car. Even if the car payment is low (and without a good down payment and a credit score in the 400s due to medical bills I cannot see that happening) the forced full coverage insurence would take it far beyond my reach. I mean the lowest I can see is $300 a month for car payment and $200 for insurence (which full coverage in my name is going to be way more then that. Even with having car insur back in my name - as it wasnt in my name for over 8 yrs - its only been 6 months that it's been back in my name. It would be at least $300), I dont have that extra per month.

But, I make $14.25 an hour. About $900 take home every two weeks. Which is too much to qualify for any low income assistance. And I don't have kids. I am disabled but not by huge things like MS or cancer. And Im not a veteran. Huge doors slammed in my face yet again by donation car charities due to not being a veteran.

I can save. But not quickly. If I squeeze I might be able to save $300 a month. That's what I'm trying my damnest to budget for. My f*cking rent is over a grand a month and nothing cheaper. I cant find a damn thing cheaper. Not even in the real bad parts.

I did spend money on service dog stuff but we use most of it and even if I sold all of it, it would go for maybe $10 here and $10 there. I dont have anything worth much. And we use most of it anyway.

I make videos on youtube but dont have the time to edit so i make crappy videos directed to a small audience (service dog handlers). I think part of the reason my channel hasn't gotten bigger is because i havent felt ok being in any of the videos so people find it hard to relate. I also don't have the time I need to edit and do all the social media stuff.

I can make paracord stuff and start an etsy shop but how much do i have to invest and will that even make anything?

I cannot figure out what else I can suppliment my income with. I can't physically work a 2nd job and I don't know what online jobs would be available. No overtime at work. They have voluntary time off everyday right now. That can and likely will change but no way to plan around overtime that could be available.

I just want to cry but instead I have back to back panic attacks because everywhere I look I come up empty on a plan. I need to make a plan as my car will die eventually. Something else will go wrong likely sooner then later as so much has gone wrong and been replaced in this car and eventually it will die again and I will be stuck. It's a 2001 Chevy Caviliar with 195,000 miles. I have no one! I am so completely alone! My dad is at least half way local but he lives 45 mins away and I dont know if he would loan me his car but if he does, what then?

A bus would take at least 2 hours to get me the 5 miles to work and then I dont think I can walk from bus stop to bus stop. I'm physically disabled. And doing that 10 times a week to get to and from work twice a day? I know no one at work. I don't talk to my coworkers so i have no possible car poolers.

I don't know what I'm asking here. Maybe a bit of help with coming up with some sort of plan and a bit of help managing this panic because right now its affecting every single part of my life. Its crippling me. I cant move. Im starting to loose it at work. Im a mess at home. I cant seem to do anything. I just don't know what to do! Someone please help!

 

[LuckiLee]

A roommate? Someone to share expenses with? I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. J and I share a car right now. And I'm in walking distance from work so that helps too.

Can your Dad give you the $750 back?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Can your Dad give you the $750 back?

No. He doesn't seeing it as owing me money. It was my own expenses. He lived with me for 8 yrs and we all picked something to turn on. His was the electric though I paid the bill every month it was in his name. I never took it out of his name due to needing to pay another deposit and he always said no, leave it in his name. My car was in his name due to 3 back to back car accidents I was in. Yeah, a lot of car accidents. Believe it or not I actually drive safe now. Anyway, I paid for the car out right and we took the insurence off the rent he paid me every month. It was sooo much cheaper as a tacked on car on his insur. $60 a month for full coverage vs $130 a month for bare min liability. When he left he had given my brother power of attorney. Now changed, at the time he left for a vacation to visit my brother and never came home. His wife was dumped on me as an narcotic pain pill addict and unemployed. I also had to pay another deposit to get the electric in my name right away and to get my car in my name right away. My brother was threatening to turn off my electric and take my car away and sell it. My dad doesn't see that as something he owes me. He benefited from me paying the electric on time every month though. He had no deposit because of that. He at least owes me that but still, doesnt see it as something he owes me.

A roommate?

No one would rent the extra room. I do have another room. Cable, internet, all utilities. But my house is disgusting. I have no idea how to tackle this house. When i say disgusting, I truely mean it. Trash overfilling in the kitchen. Some sort of knats flying around. I try so hard to clean it but as fast as I can clean it, it gets dity again. And im trying really hard to eat healthier and cheaper but produce? Invites more of these knats. Especially fruit from Aldi which goes bad in less then a week.

I wish i could video this house for you. Its truely so bad that i was too embarrased to hire help. And now i cant afford to. No one would rent that room with this house this bad. I can put trash cans in each room to help it from not building up. But im physically disabled and alone. Im really not doing well. And that really shows. As embarrasing as that is.

And then my fear of people. Im so scared of people that when i did look on roommate websites it put me in a panic.

And I have a service dog in training who is a pitbull. That, by itself, limits options by a ton.

Just hurdles so big that i cant see a way over...or under.

ETA: I know it sounds like I'm making excuses but I'm really not. If I put that room on a site for rent people would laugh at me. It's becoming unhealthy to live here. But, to clean it up takes way more physical ability then I have but I can't find anyone to help me. I would suck up that fear if I had something someone might want but no one would rent a room here and I don't know how to get it rentable in any amount of time. Even to clean it would take a really long time. And I try and try and try and I cant seem to get it clean or keep clean what i cleaned already.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Annnd I've quickly gotten suicidal. Chopper is now doing deep pressure therapy to help me some so I don't end up self injuring or worse. And its calmed the panic almost fully (and that's the awesomeness of deep pressure therapy from a heavy service dog) but that's where even thinking about it takes me. It started from a call to my dad to advise im at my last $10 in my checking account and to see if he could spare 20 bucks for gas until Thurs if I needed it. My step mom really set my mind on this path telling me she doesn't see how I will make it. Me neither. And other then deep pressure therapy from my service dog in training I have no idea how to cope with it. Most certianly without any sort of plan or even a glimpse of how to make it through this. A roommate would be best but how with a house this digusting and no physical ability to clean it, no money to hire someone to clean it, nor know anyone that will clean it? Or even help me clean it? I dunno.

 

[LuckiLee]

Our house isn't the cleanest either. So what I'm doing is cleaning one room every day. Top to bottom. I started Wednesday and so far I have the bathroom, office and spare room clean. Tomorrow.... The kitchen!!

A thousand dollars is alot for rent. Are you sure there's nothing more affordable? Apartments here are between $500 and $750. We're in a mobile home and only pay lot rent. (it was a handy mans special and only cost $1 believe it or not).

I'm glad you have doggy with you!! Do what he "tells" you to do. ;)

XO

 

[lostforgottensoul]

A thousand dollars is alot for rent. Are you sure there's nothing more affordable?

Positive. The housing market still isnt doing well and hurricane Irma really hurt this area of Orlando in this manner and basiclly apartments are going up because they can. I was a few days from being homeless when my dad left (before Irma). It was so bad that I had to tell my job that I might not have clean clothes or be able to shower but I'll be at work. And I had my savings then. And then the aftermath or Irma was worse then I realized and so apartments are going up on everyone simply to take advantage of those displaced from houses and must rent an apartment. It's only illegal if they go up on just those displaced but if its everyone, every apartment complex in the area, and only at the end of your lease when you renew when the rent normally goes up its easier to hide behind. All apartment went up. I couldn't find a single one cheaper that was much, MUCH, smaller. My current apartment is 850 sq feet. Now some of it as a single person living alone I don't need like the 2nd bedroom but a washer/dryer hook up is a must as I just cannot load laundry in to do it at a laundry mat even if its the apartment complex's laundry mat and thats super hard to come by. Anyway, i found 1 bedroom 650 sq feet (which even without the bedroom is way smaller) over $900 a month. And it was the the cheapest I could find. The one right across the street from work (which my old sup said wasn't even nice) was $1,300 for a one bedroom. Google yourself and you'll see. Its been a few months since I checked and my lease isnt up until Feb anyway so moving anytime soon isn't really an option anyway as its a few grand to break this lease but Altamonte Springs and that area of Orlando, Fl is f*cking sky high to live in that it's become ridiculous. Also must be pet friendly since I have a cat in addition to my service dog in training.

My dad bought a run down trailer for 2 grand but it was 2 grand and my savings is gone and it's 45 mins away and i cant push my car that far. So i cant get too far from work.

And I make too much for low income assistance housing. I applied for those and each one said my income needs to be lower. But, Im struggling. You cannot live in Florida on a single income. It really isn't very possible which is very sad really.

Also, on another note. I need to bring in another service dog prospect to start training soon. Obviously all of this car/living stuff will get figured out first before I will even consider bringing in another dog and will ensure I can provide care and exercise for said dog but I cant go too much smaller as the dog I need for mobility will need to be very large. Im thinking a Golden Retriver may not cut it and may need to go even bigger. Everyone is telling me a Newfoundland but not sure I can house a Newfoundland now let alone going smaller. There are other options such as English Labs but the point is if I cut this sq footage almost in half, it will be even harder to house a 2nd dog at all let alone a large breed. Right now, with reducing the amount of furniture as I plan to, I can house a Golden Retriver along with Chopper. And I can even cut off the 2nd bedroom sq footage as the door stays closed so i dont currently use it. Though, I might if I had a 2nd dog. But, that's possible in a 850 sq foot apartment. Barley but possible given that I keep my current SDiT very well exercised and in shape by running outside which makes up for the lack of inside space. Many would be mad at me for it but I can make it work. In a 650 st foot apartment I'm not sure i can make it work. So, if you google keep in mind pet friendly due to my cat, need a washer and dryer hook up (and space for a full sized washer and full sized drier and not a must to get stackable one), and the need to stay about the same sq footage or only smaller then one minus the 2nd room. Maybe 6 foot by 10 foot room (its a small room so maybe even less then that). That room sq footage minus 850 sq foot and no less.

Basiclly I'm saying that this is more imporant then a 2nd dog as a service dog prosepct but if I could move or can in Feb, I dont want to make it impossible for me to ever bring in another dog to train as a service dog prospect while my current service dog is still working and then will retire in the home with me. I dont want to make that impossible to do, whenever I can do it. But I do see this issue as more important.

Our house isn't the cleanest either. So what I'm doing is cleaning one room every day. Top to bottom. I started Wednesday and so far I have the bathroom, office and spare room clean. Tomorrow.... The kitchen!!

Well, what needs cleaning in each room is real bad. I mean I haven't mopped in like a year. Yes, its gross. So each room top to bottom is a lot. I could, I suppose, cut each room in half. But I tried like just the table or just the desk and its ridculous how hard it is to keep clean. I think putting trash cans in each room would help. Actual full sized ones. At the moment I have a trash bag in each room but that gets filled and then I struggle to take the trash down to the dumpster and so some how it all gets dirty again. But im not doing a room a day. I cant do a room a day. I work fulltime, and even if I dont train my service dog in training at all, working takes everything out of me. Im struggling to just do some of the more basic things. So, I could maybe do 30 mins a day. But to do one entire room would take all day. And then when I ask for help from those that help the disabled everyone seems to be wanting a diagnosis as to why in physically disabled and i dont have one. Its damage from falling off a ladder. There isnt a dignosis from that. Or each form seems to have drop downs of diagnosis and damage from accident or injury isnt on there. It is for veterans. Those injured in war. People seem to be lining up for veterans. And i mean no disrespect. I'm glad that everyone has a heart to help veteran and veteran families. We need to take care of our military. But, it seems to me that everyone is so hyper focused on helping veterans more then they then ignore the rest of us that were simply injured because we were and maybe thats not a sacrifice like our military gives but it doesn't make me in need less. But theres a ton of dignosis and then "veteran - injured in war" or however they worded it. And then if I opt to email these charities to explain they either ignore me and dont return my email or return it to tell me to fill out their application. But, Im trying to find help. Most of the help ive found for the disabled there is a requirement to already be on government asaistance. And i make too much for any sprt of government asaistance or for "low income families". And not having kids usually strikes me out of the "families" part of that.

T-Mobile has a advertismemt out about helping veteran and veteran families. Im on a Sprint seperated employee cell phone plan but I was looking at trying to lower it even more. I was also told there by each company that even allowed a lower plan that i would have to be a veteran or already be on governemt assistance.

Im trying. I really am. Just finding so many hurdles and so many closed doors. It just seems like a loss cause.

So, I could maybe do 30 mins a day.

Ok, so thought about it the entire time taking a shower and getting ready for work and I can do 30 mins a day. Its better then 0 mins a day. It will also allow me to continue training Chopper now that service dog training isnt as intense. And i can pick up a small bit in the morning and add to that 30 mins but i can do 30 mins.

What normally happens is trying to do a room a day and then becoming quickly overwhelmed. So whatever can keep me from overwhelming myself to the point of a complete crash will help. And then if I can add more time without overwhelming myself, I can. But I think 30 mins a day is reasonable and doable. Not sure how long it will take to get this house in shape enough to rent but i cant look at that as then i get overwhlemed again and boom, crash. Its likely my biggest issue. Preventing the crash that happens when my body is overwhelmed.

ETA: I re-read this and it sounds like a bunch of whinning and complaining and "I can't" when I am a "I can" and "I will do it" person but I'm just drowning and I feel so hopeless. I'm sorry! I really don't mean to whine! I was wondering if applying for food stamps would be worth it or not. Even if I get a small bit. Anything will help. I was driving home thinking $14.25 an hour and $1,800 a month take home seems enough until you consider my rent is over $1000 and then "enough" becomes WAY smaller!

To be exact for anyone googling apartments (if anyone is); as my actual rent isn't a grand. It's $929.00.

My last month's rent bill break down:

May rent $929.00
Sewer $20.76
Trash $10.00
Water $16.20 (they take the entire complex total and divide the apartments forced)
AUM charge $3.66
Pet ret $10.00 (I still have my cat)
Renter's insur: $10.00 (they force you to have renter's insur. It's cheaper to add it on the rent)

Totaling $999.62 but normally it's between $1,008 and $1,010.

I broke that down because what they would advertise is $929. When I'm actually paying a grand. They don't advertise all the other stuff. And $929 and $1,000 a month is a big difference.

One bedrooms here at this complex was $980 when I renewed. I asked about them. And I am on the road next to what's considered the getto on this part of town. Lots of drugs here.

Anyway. I really don't mean to whine and complain. I know so many here can't work. I just have no idea how to control these panic attacks. That's one of the biggest issues. I did do 30 mins of cleaning when I got home so hopefully I can keep that up and get this place rentable? If not soon though?

It's a furnished room, I have a small desktop like fridge I can put in there. I have all cable channels with all the premium stations, 100mg internet and wifi I will include with an ethernet cord going in there (I work at the cable company so i don't pay for it), all the utilities all included and can even throw in a Netflix profile. I'm canceling Amazon Prime for now.

But I cant see many wanting a room in an apartment. A house maybe but a tiny room in an apartment?

Anyway, just wanted to appologize for whining and complaining.

 

[joeylittle]

You cannot live in Florida on a single income. It really isn't very possible which is very sad really.

You mentioned that your therapist is thinking about retiring; I know you said he would keep you on, but is it also an opportunity to consider moving to a cheaper state? It doesn’t sound like you can live in the lifestyle you’d like, from where you are. Lower rent and more/better access to public transportation would lower your overhead significantly.

And then when I ask for help from those that help the disabled everyone seems to be wanting a diagnosis as to why in physically disabled and i dont have one. Its damage from falling off a ladder. There isnt a dignosis from that. Or each form seems to have drop downs of diagnosis and damage from accident or injury isnt on there.

This sounds curious to me. What gets listed as diagnoses? You broke your back - there’s no diagnosis you’ve got that applies for that? Or, spinal damage isn’t listed?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

You mentioned that your therapist is thinking about retiring; I know you said he would keep you on, but is it also an opportunity to consider moving to a cheaper state? It doesn’t sound like you can live in the lifestyle you’d like, from where you are. Lower rent and more/better access to public transportation would lower your overhead significantly.

Been thinking about that, a lot, lately. My issue with that now is how to get there, and how to not be homeless when I do. Will need some money to get a place that I just don't have. Will need to also find a pain dr that fills Medtronics Drug Infusion pumps and those are very hard to come by. I've looked in quite a few states. And no money to have a surgery to take it out. Also, I'm in the middle of this seeing the neuosurgeon and with all that's going on physically, moving States would scare me. It's not like just being on pain medication. My pump can't go dry. So not only would I have to madly call around and figure that out (which I've actually done and all the places tell me "we don't do that" plus have the money too as its hundreds of dollars a month to just fill and scan) but then will need to figure out insurence and a month waiting, usually, if not 3 months, to get on an insurence (which would be impossible with the pump to wait 3 months to be covered on insurence as its so much different then pills) and then pay another deducable. Which historically have been $500 at my last job and $750 at this one. Which I don't have.

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ETA: Oh, and if he turns it way down (which he would do if I left) to make it last for months, I wouldn't be able to work. Or drive.
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I have a car that's on it's last leg that cannot drive to another State, no money for a plane ticket, or a UHaul nor the physical ability to drive a UHaul to another state. Then we have the no money situation.

I don't see it at all possible really. They aren't easily figured out hurdles. These are just huge hurdles.

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ETA: Oh, and to add to all of that, my lease isn't up until Feb anyway. So, money to break a lease.
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What gets listed as diagnoses?

I have to look on the last prescription he wrote. It's something like lumbar disc something. It's one of those stupid diagnosis just for the insurence.

You broke your back - there’s no diagnosis you’ve got that applies for that? Or, spinal damage isn’t listed?

No, not really. Not that I know of anyway. I can ask him though. I can also look up medical books I suppose but most of the current damage is from nerve damage and a shot disc but it's from the surgery, not the fall. Or so he says. It's the last thing that happened so it's what gets the blame I guess but other then saying lumbar disc issues, there's not really a name for it that I know of. But, again, need to look. The surgeon will help with some of that though. That kind of stuff a neurosurgeon can do better then a pain dr. to be honest.

ETA:

A roommate?

I also remembered in my diary. A roommate means I have to sign a new lease meaning my rent will go up again when it just went up in Nov when I signed this lease making it go up twice in a year and then will never be able to live alone again and will always have to find a roommate as I can't income qualify. And it makes the possibilty of my income equaling out with the cost of rent even more out of reach. The issue with my dad leaving all over again. Can't find a roommate and I'm out on the street with an eviction or a 3 day notice.

 

[scout86]

I don't know how useful this is going to be, but I'm going to share how I've handled similar situations. (I don't have any physical disabilities, but that hasn't always meant I could find a job.)

First, forget all the "how I got into this mess" stuff. At the moment, it's not useful at ALL, it just makes things seem more complicated and impossible. None of it matters. One thing that DOES matter is you were able to save up some money before, so you know you can do that. And you're paying your bills NOW, so this isn't a crisis, it's just a problem.

Then assess exactly where you are, financially. Sounds like you've already kind of done that, but do it in a way that's pragmatic. Leave all the drama out of it. This is probably going to be harder for you than it would be for a lot of people. Near as I can tell "drama" and BPD are closely associated. But, right now, drama is NOT useful, if just leads you to freaking yourself out and running around in circles, convincing yourself that everything is impossible. That is NOT true! It might seem like it is, but all that means is that you haven't found the way through it yet.

Cut everything you possibly can from your budget. Do you have cable? Can you stop it for now? What else can you cut out that's not a total necessity? This isn't a "forever" thing, it's an "until you get some money saved up" thing. Anything like that you can cut, cut it for now. Any kind of extra, even if it's a cup of Starbuck's coffee, cut it and save the money. If you have trouble hanging on to money, put it in a separate account and forget you have it. Or put it in your sock drawer and forget you have it. Or, put it in your checking account and don't add it to the ledger so it will look like it's not there.

You are managing to pay your bills right now. That's the main thing. Anything you can cut from the current budget you can save up. BTW, I'm not talking about stuff like not eating. All that will do is make you sick. Just eat as cheaply as you can. I'll admit, when my finances aren't good, I don't eat very healthy. Lots of M&C, peanut butter, pancakes (very cheap), etc. But it's not forever. It's until you get things straightened out.

I am disabled but not by huge things like MS or cancer.

From what I know, you live in kind of a tough state. But, I'd say the long term consequences of breaking your back are right up there with cancer. I'm not actually sure cancer would count as a disability, unless it affected your ability to get around, etc. It's a disease. A lot of people get it, get treated, and get over it. YOU have trouble walking. Not so long ago, you were thinking "wheelchair". How are mobility challenges like that not a disability? How do you qualify for a service dog, if you don't have a disability?

I have no idea what kinds of programs are available in your state. My own experiences have lead me to think that it can be pretty hard to gain access to the system. Personally, when confronted by a pile of paperwork, my brain kind of shuts off and I can't do it. And I go from there to talking myself out of doing anything at all. What helps is to find a person who is willing to walk me through the steps. But, there have been a lot of times when I've learned, after the fact, that there was help available, if I'd just been able to find a way to access it. It's possible that your state is just SO conservative that there isn't much help available. And, you're right, moving takes money.

One other thing. Think about things you can do to set yourself up for a job that pays better. You're smart. You're hard working. You should be able, down the road, to get a better job. What does it take to qualify for something better? Going back to school? Be thinking about what you want to do for the rest of your life. If you don't do that, you're going to be stuck in this situation and it's not a situation anyone wants to be stuck in. I'm not saying you have to do anything right now, other than plan. (And if that's too overwhelming right now, then don't do it. But be aware that it's something it would be helpful to do.)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Do you have cable?

Yes but its free because I work for Spectrum. Internet is as well. The only thing they charge is $4 for the 3rd set top box which I can give back as no one is in that room and $15 for Netflix. Im already canceling Amazon Prime. Likely will cancel Netflix but thats only $20 a month.

What else can you cut out that's not a total necessity?

Already done. Rent, elect, car insur, cell phone (cant cancel that as i see that as a necessity and its a seperated employee plan with Sprint. I would never get it back), food at Aldi (cheapest), vap I'm doing my best to cut but instead of an addiction to cigs I have an addiction to the nicotine vap, dog food im also trying to cut and thats it. I have nothing else i can cut other then Netflix. I have Amazon Prime until June then Im canceling it but other then that and the other set top box thats it.

How do you qualify for a service dog, if you don't have a disability?

PTSD is my disabilty for that but I'm being turned away so I'm just advising that charities dont see it as enough or not diagnosed with enough.

What does it take to qualify for something better?

CCNA. Which cost a lot of money. And I'm already studying for. But it's not a cheap test. And there are many certs after it to get a nice job in Network admin or many other areas but CCNA is first. And it's a very hard test. Made harder recently I hear from coworkers. Being we are all IT folk, many have CCNA and other certs or are studying for them.

ETA: Also, to add, I have explored everyway to make income online and all have failed. The only option that looks a bit promising is Amazon MTurk. Anyone w/ experience with it feel free to comment about it. I am not sure, though, if that will even pan out as Amazon canceled my Affiliate account and when I tried to set it back up they stated that I couldn't add my banking account. They stated "we cannot use that account" so I don't know if it's because I didn't claim the whopping 16 bucks they gave me on my taxes or what but they canceled it right after I did taxes so probably. I'm not sure how MTurk pays you so will have to figure that out and also need to call Amazon about the Affiliate site.

Youtube is a big failure and now monetizing is much further from reach thanks to the idiot Logan Paul. I can make merch but money needs to be paid out for that. But, have explored all of additional sources of income online. I cannot physically work another job and no OT being offered at work right now. I was able to save because I had more income. Without the additional income I can make it but barely and I cannot save. When my car goes I'm stuck. And no money to even take a bus if I somehow could walk from bus stop to bus stop....

ETA: Waiting for the email from Amazon MTurk. They have to review it. f*ck! f*cking email me! They are called HITs and you don't get the higher paid ones until you've completed 100, 500, 1,000 like $0.25/each HITs which I can do between calls at work to get the count of HITs up fast. Some take 2 mins. But I can't do anything until they email me! Some have reported a few hundred dollars a week if you can get on during the week in business hours to do hire paid HITs. Which I can. It's at least something. Some money coming in. Anything helps! But I can't do jack until they f*cking email me! Amazon takes f*cking forever to review shit!

 

[scout86]

It sounds like you're doing what you can do. I'd say keep up on the maintenance with the car, it could last a long time. Doesn't hurt to plan ahead, but it doesn't help to panic ahead either.

Is there any sort of freelance IT work you can do? For example, when I need something done with my computer, I take it to a kid who has a one person shop & I'd bet is on the autism spectrum. He's done a great job and I prefer him over something bigger. I know, dealing with people is a challenge. Unfortunately, they're everywhere!:bawling:

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I know, dealing with people is a challenge. Unfortunately, they're everywhere!

Yeah, right!

Is there any sort of freelance IT work you can do?

Not without getting my name out there and certs help. Done it once but was all word of mouth advertising. It would take me a good while to generate any income or really any clients. I can advtise on a site. Just would useally need proof that I know what I'm doing for strangers to trust the entirity of their info on their PCs to me. Especially today. But, can try.

It sounds like you're doing what you can do. I'd say keep up on the maintenance with the car, it could last a long time. Doesn't hurt to plan ahead, but it doesn't help to panic ahead either.

Sure. It can last another year. But, how in the hell can I save another 2 grand in a year when my finaces are strapped this low? That's the panic. I need some sort of plan that Im working towards. A 2001 car with 195,000 miles on it that has had everything in the world go wrong on it isn't gonna last forever. Or really a long time. I need to figure out how to generate more income! What am I gonna do in the beginning of the year when I have to pay out $750 of medical expenses for my deductable? See! Im f*cked no matter what it is!