Jan 6, 2011
Talking about:
12 posts
1,351 visits
1,351 visits
money for food
Nov 29, 2010
I have spent the 5 hours trying to find some place that will give me a loan so that my husband I can move. My husband is a member of the military, so we can't do the payday loans, but we both have bad credit, so we can't do a regular loan. I'm trying to get up enough money so that I can pay the deposit for electricty ($240) and deposit for our new place ($350). Can anyone tell me of someplace that could help us out? We have 30 days to get out of the place that we are in now, so I need this asap plz!
Dec 5, 2009
Well, I guess I'll get right to our story. My family and I were living in the interior of Alaska, where I was armed access control for a missile defense base, until April of this year. We felt we had saved up enough money to get us here to the warm sun, sand and surf, to pay the bills until I could find a job. I have an associates degree in Advertising and Graphic design, and am a published illustrator/ designer, and I didn't think Finding a job was going to be as hard as it was. I eventually found a job as a private contractor being an illustrator and designer for a children's website. The pay wasn't great but all of the money we had saved was gone, our bank accounts had closed, and living paycheck to paycheck was the way it had to be. Until, the project ended unexpectedly, and I was given 2 days notice before I was laid off. I was laid off in mid October which left no check to pay Novembers rent. Now with rent 2 months behind I'm very lucky to have an understanding landlord who's willing to work with me around our situation. I'm not this kind of person. I pay my bills. Its hard enough to worry about where the next meal is coming from, much less providing a Christmas for our 2 year old daughter Island. She is our life. As if the above isn't enough, while in Alaska, on top of the loss of my grandparents, my wife, through many miss diagnosis was informed that she had Ulcerative Colitis and gastritis, to ad to living with psoriasis. Just one month of one medication for UC is nearly $400. She is a stay at home mom right now because of daycares being so expensive and the fact that we only have one vehicle. She has a glow about her, filled with Christmas spirit, hope, and a positive attitude and I would love to at least give her a nice tree. It breaks my heart to have the feeling of not paying my way or pulling my weight. But, the I've had to take the stance that the food and roof thing is more important than the tons of medical bills. On the bright side, our homes rent includes our utilities and I feel like only a relationship like my wife's and mine could have survived these times. I know there are many families out there that have it worse, I just haven't met any. I did finally find a job working at an auto parts store just this week, but am only making $8 an hour and that doesn't cut it, so I've been doing everything I can to prove myself to get a promotion (I spend several years as a manager for another parts store while in college). I have exhausted efforts borrowing money from good friends to get gas to find work and a few meals. We just need all the help we can get.
Nov 4, 2009
Find Your Local Catholic Charities Agency
Catholic Charities agencies serve people of all faiths. They provide a wide range of services — housing, emergency services, health care, child care, adoption, and other critical services.
For information on how you can get the help you need or to learn about local programs and services, volunteer opportunities, job openings, media contacts, and other information, please contact your local agency.
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=292
Please note that many Catholic Charities agencies have branch and satellite offices throughout the area they serve. So while the main office that is listed here as your contact may seem far from where you reside, the agency may have other offices closer to you that they could refer you to.
If you are unsure of which agency serves your community, contact one of the offices within your state for information on other locations
1) Check the weekly sales flyer. Usually the items on the front page is where you’ll save the most. I mostly try to shop the sales and for a few things that I really need. It seems when I shop this way, I don’t need as much stuff because I’ve stocked up when the items were on sale.
2) Make a list. Include the sale items on your list. Making a list will help keep you focused and help you not to splurge on other things that you don’t need. If I don’t make a list, then chances are I will forget something. When I forget something I end up going back to the store to get that item and then I spend more money.
3) Eat before you shop. If you shop on an empty stomach you will more than likely spend at least $20 (maybe even $50) more than you had planned.
4) Go alone. You know you’ll spend more if the husband and kids are with you.
5) Use coupons. Some people are embarrassed to use coupons and I can’t figure out why. It’s like cash in hand. I remember times when I went to CVS with my manufacturer’s & CVS coupons and saved more than I spent. Use coupons!
6) Buy store brands. There are some name brands that I must have. I must have my name brand ketchup and tea bags, but for other things, such as crackers, buy store brands. I buy the Wal-Mart brand graham crackers for my kids and save over $1 a box!
7) Avoid buying check-out items. Those magazines and candy are there to entice you. Don’t spend 85 cents for a pack of gum when you can get a multi-pack for just a little more.
8) Check the prices per pound on items. Just because it’s a larger size doesn’t mean it ends up being cheaper. FYI, I get really annoyed when some grocery stores tell you the price of Heinz ketchup in ounces, but the Hunt’s ketchup price in pounds. It certainly makes it hard to compare.
9) Don’t buy toiletries and health items at the grocery store (unless they’re a good deal). Sometimes medicines, hairsprays, razors, etc can be a couple dollars more per item. Sometimes you can find toiletries buy 1 get 1 free, but that is the exception.
10) Stay away from convenience foods. Prepared foods can be very costly.
11) Look below eye level. Usually the cheaper brands are on the lower shelves.
12) Buy meat when it’s on sale and store it in the freezer. About once a year I pay full price for meat and about makes me sick. I buy my boneless chicken breasts when they are less than $2 per pound. All my meat is bought on sale and frozen with the purchase date written on the freezer bag.
13) Get a raincheck for out-of-stock sale items. I probably have 10 rainchecks in my purse right now. I have one for hamburger for 99 cents/lb. I’m waiting to use the raincheck for when I need it.
14) Check out the dollar stores. Sometimes you can find some pretty good stuff in there. I found some really great volumizing shampoo and conditioner at our local Dollar Tree. Later, I saw the same brand at a drug store and it was expensive.
15) Shop during off-peak hours. I get so annoyed when the grocery store is busy. I can’t find what I need, I can’t seem to comparison shop because of all the people, and then I usually forget something (which means another trip to the store which costs more gas and more buying).
16) Buy produce from local farmers. These are usually cheaper unless your local store is having a good sale. Check the sales paper.
17) Check sales papers on-line if you don’t get the paper. I do not subscribe to the paper, so I check the weekly CVS flyer on line. (I’m looking for a good diaper sale.) I also subscribe to the weekly Food Lion flyer.
18) Try to buy your produce when it is in season. Yes, I know there are some things that you have to have, but otherwise buy the produce when it’s the cheapest. If strawberries are buy one get one free, then freeze them for a cake.
19) Pay attention to the banners/signs above each aisle. Avoid aisles that don’t have something on your list. I’ve been trying this one lately. It seems to be working for me.
20) Make mental notes. When shopping I make mental notes of how much my regular items cost. I know that at Food Lion the applesauce is $1.99, but at Wal-Mart it is $1.35. I avoid buying applesauce at Food Lion and then when I make my rare trip to Wal-Mart I buy 3 packages of applesauce. (FYI – Food Lion is my store of choice. They have great sales.) Making mental notes keeps you aware of what a “good buy” really is.
21) Check your receipt before you leave. As soon as I check-out I look over my entire receipt before I leave. I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I have been overcharged. I try to watch as my stuff is being rung up, but with all the MVP stuff, sometimes it is hard to know what’s going on.
22) Buy your candy and chocolate after a holiday when it’s really cheap. Stock up so you have enough until the next after-holiday sale. Who cares if the M&Ms are red and green?
23) Check to see if your favorite store offers price matching.
24) Look in the discontinued or reduced carts. Sometimes you can find some really good deals there. Sometimes the store manager will make a deal with you if you buy all of the cereal that is in the reduced cart. Recently I had a grocery store manager offer me a deal on some things he saw me buying from his cart of reduced items. Usually, they just want to get rid of the stuff.
25) Freeze leftovers and use them for lunch. I’ve done this with pintos, spaghetti sauce, soup, etc. You can freeze a lot of things.
26) Look for double and triple coupon sales. If your store has one, then make sure you go at the beginning of the sale week before they run out of the items you have coupons for.
27) Pay attention to expiration dates. Sometimes you can find an item that has a shelf life of 6 months longer than the others.
28) Buy store brand milk. I can’t imagine paying 50 cents or more per gallon for a name brand milk. Check your gas station for milk prices. Sometimes gas stations have the best prices on milk.
29) Keep your emotions in check. Sometimes people buy things just because it feels good. Stick to your budget and your list. If you have to, find an accountability partner.
30) Try to limit your grocery shopping to only 1-2 stores. Driving around costs money. If you’re only saving a few dollars, then it’s probably not worth your gas and time to go to another store. Plus you know if you step foot in another store you’ll probably buy some other things not on your list.
31) Stock up on paper items while they’re on sale. I never buy my toilet paper or paper towels from Sam’s. I get those items when they go on sale at the grocery store. I buy enough to last me a while.
32) Look your cart over before you leave to make sure you’re not being excessive with your purchases. Do your kids really need a bag of chips, pretzels, and Doritos?
33) If you’re only shopping for a few items then get a basket and not a cart. It will be hard to overshop this way.
34) Plan your meals according to what’s on sale. If taco shells and lettuce are on sale, then you know we’ll be having tacos.
35) Plan your meals ahead. Put your meat in the refrigerator to thaw 1-2 days before you need it. If your meal is already planned then you avoid stopping by the store and paying full price for something.
36) Call food companies. If you get something that’s bad, then call them and let them know. They’ll send you a replacement coupon. If you get something that’s great, then call them and give them a complement. Sometimes they’ll send you some coupons for that too.
37) Check the produce to see if it’s in good condition. Dented and scratched produce will go bad faster. Also, don’t buy more produce than your family can consume within a reasonable amount of time.
38) Store perishable foods properly to avoid them going bad faster.
39) Shop with cash. You can only spend what you have and you’ll definitely stay in budget this way.
40) Consider how you’re going to use the item. If you’re making a stew, then you can buy a cheaper cut of meat. If you’re making a meatloaf, then you can use the generic brand of crackers or cereal.
41) Know what you have. How many times have you bought a jar of Miracle Whip, but already had a jar at home? Miracle Whip doesn’t have a long shelf life.
42) Try not to shop when you’re tired. Chances are you’ll buy chocolate and other carbs that will make you feel good.
43) Avoid your weak spots. If you have a weakness for junk food, then stay away from that aisle. If your weakness is expensive cheese, then stay away.
44) Avoid pre-packaged snacks. I just can’t bring myself to buy these, even when they’re on sale. I’m thinking in my mind, ‘Oh, these are on sale for $3.99. Well, even at $3.99 that makes these snack packs about 35 cents each. Geez, I can buy several boxes of cheese crackers for that amount and just put them into baggies.’
45) Try to cut back on your beverage bill. Filter your water instead of buying bottled. Make your own kool-aid instead of buying those individual bottles. Add your own sugar to your kool-aid instead of getting the kind with sugar. Buy generic soda. Comparison shop. Buy what’s on sale.
46) Look for reduced meat sales. Most grocery stores reduce their meat the day before it’s sale-by date. Sometimes I use this opportunity to get meats that are already seasoned or things that I normally would not buy. I get a splurge item at a sale price. Of course, I use the item right away.
47) Bigger is not always better. Sometimes economy size packages do not save you money. Even if they are cheaper, you need to decide if it’s worth the extra money. If you’ll use it then it’s a good buy, but if it will go to waste you need to rethink your decision.
48) Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale or because you have a coupon. Sometimes it’s easy to get on a bargain high and buy things that we just don’t need.
49) Shop at bag-it-yourself stores. We just got one here. The stores don’t have to pay baggers and they don’t buy bags, so the food is cheaper. Just remember your mental notes. Always know if something is a good price.
50) Get creative with leftovers. If you have corn left over, then mix it with green beans to have another night. If you have leftover grilled chicken, then have grilled chicken salads
The following in provided by Nana's Find. For more leads, ideas and great articles check out http://www.nanafinds.com/
We all need to find ways to save with the way the economy has been going…it affects us all in some way. One of the first places we can save is at the grocery store. Nana Finds has collected some of the best online sites that offer coupons and tips on how to save at the grocery store with and without coupons. If you find a site not listed here, please post a comment so that others can find the site, too. We all need to help each other find ways to make ends meet, especially for the children.
In-Store Coupons can be printed at home, organized, and used to plan your shopping trip so you won’t waste time or money buying on impulse. (Read additional related posts listed below.) You don’t need to buy a newspaper to get coupons. You can use the sites listed below and pick up your supermarket’s store sale circular the next time you run in for milk. If you plan ahead…make the supermarket sale and coupon circular pick up a routine stop once a week while you are out doing errands nearby. You not only save time and money the next time you are in the store, you’ll also save gas since you won’t be running back and forth for just a few items at a time…the ones you forgot when you were there earlier in the day or week.
Coupon Clipping In the News
CNN.com
Economic schock gives rise to coupon cutting. “The rising price of consumer goods is driving shoppers from all walks of life to use coupons for food, beauty aids and pharmacy products at an increasing rate, according to some of the country’s largest purveyors of manufacturers’ coupons.” And it’s not just for the grocery store.
ABC News
Stephanie Nelson interview: ”Supermarket owners know that 98 percent of coupons are thrown away,” Nelson said . “Most people can’t be bothered going through the papers, looking for the store’s sales and clipping coupons. They think it will take too much time and it will be too much trouble. That’s why the markets call people like me ‘ultimate deal finders.’ ”
Smart Money
5 Best Coupon Clipping Sites: “A slew of new web sites offering coupons and online promotions are flooding the Internet. And while these sites offer a wide breadth of discounts, they’re also causing a lot of confusion among shoppers, making it more difficult to weed out the really good deals from the duds. “There are hundreds, if not thousands of coupon sites out there offering the exact same thing,” says Edgar Dworsky, founder of consumer advocacy site Consumer World.”
Coupon Clipping Self-Help Sites
Grocery Coupon Guide
This coupon clipping guide site gives you great tips on how to save money at the grocery store with and without coupons. One tip…re-evaluate your eating habits. You may find healthier ways to save money at the grocery store.
Coupon Mom
Get her free eBook: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half! “With the cost of food rising and moms everywhere cringing over their grocery receipts, one mom has found a way to save her family thousands of dollars. Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com, says she actually looks forward to grocery shopping! Can she buy a week’s worth of food at half the price?” (www.oprah.com)
Free Grocery Saving Tips
For many families, food is the #1 area of the budget that can be cut back. I know this very well because I am the the Founder of the family budgeting Web site BetterBudgeting.com, and I am also a frugal mom of 4 with over 20 years of bargain shopping experience. Whether you need to save $30 a month or $500… I hope you’ll take a moment to sign up for our FREE monthly ezine…to get our newest grocery saving tips delivered right to your inbox every month. Along with many more tips and resources to help you save TIME and MONEY!!! And while you’re waiting for your next issue to arrive, start saving right now with our Free Grocery Saving Tips By-the-Aisle! Shoppers here in the U.S. may also want to check out our special section, What’s On Sale at Your Local Grocery Store this Week to view their weekly sales flyers online and take a moment to print out this week’s Free Coupons!”
Free Printable Grocery Coupons
CoolSavings.com
“Millions of CoolSavings members visit coolsavings.com every day for free grocery store coupons to help them save money on food, baby care, pet care, health and much more—every time they go to the grocery store. Use our printable grocery coupons to save on everything from cereal and snacks to cleaning supplies and makeup. The best grocery savings available are right here, and all you have to do is select the food coupons you want, click print and go!”
The Coupon Clippers
“Getting your coupons from The Coupon Clippers eliminates your hassle and maximizes your savings! Why sort through hundreds of disorganized pages of ads and grocery coupons? Make your list first, then come to The Coupon Clippers and find your coupons fast. You can browse by category, or search for a specific grocery coupon by brand or product name. We have millions of national-brand grocery coupons available for the products you already buy, no sorting or clipping required!”
MySavings
“MySavings is an online community dedicated to bringing together consumers to share money saving tips and offers. We provide a comprehensive directory of brand name free samples, printable grocery coupons, online coupons, free stuff and freebies, and other discounts and deals so that consumers can save money on products they already buy and sample and discuss which products are right for them and their family.”
SmartSource
To you their free coupon service, you must activate their coupon printer software which prevents consumers from over printing the coupons.
Fee-Based Grocery Coupon Service
GroceryCoupons
“We have the world’s largest online coupon clipping and delivery service. We take the time, effort, and expense out of clipping coupons from newspapers and circulars for you. We are truly a custom coupon service. Use our coupon clipping service to receive the exact coupons for products that you already buy. Receive HIGH QUALITY brand name grocery coupons, which can be used at any grocery store nationwide. Or you can Print your own Restaurant coupons anytime!” If you choose to join, you are charged an annual fee of $9.95 plus a 10% processing fee for your coupon order – but they make up the fee by giving you additional coupons of your choice. The coupons are printable – they mail them to you, so you’ll have to wait to do your shopping.
TheGroceryGame
“The Grocery Game is a website that can save you hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill each month. Log in, spend a few minutes with a pair of scissors, and you’re off to win The Grocery Game!When you play, you’ll get a weekly list (called Teri’s List) of the lowest-priced products at your supermarket matched with manufacturers’ coupons and weekly specials — advertised and unadvertised. The Grocery Game does all the hard work and research, and presents it to you in a straightforward format. For a dollar, first-time members can try Teri’s List for four weeks! After that, it’s is just $10 every eight weeks for one store. Most areas offer only one store list. But if you happen to be in an area where more than one list is available, for each additional store list you choose, you’ll be billed an extra $5 every eight weeks.” Not all supermarkets are included.
Jan 15, 2009
I am a mother of 2 beautiful girls. I have always worked hard and gave them everything I could under the sun. I lost my job a month ago, the money has run out completely and now my landlord is evicting me in 2 weeks. I have exhausted every ave I know and am completely out of answers....bills, food , gas to take my girls to school..searching for a job..and now a place to live. I have always been on the other side of situations like this, helping others whenever I could.... and have only my faith now in Jesus that he will take care of my needs in this dire hour. I came across this site almost by accident( well, actually ,..nothing is by accident...I hope and pray some kind of answer..some miracle ,..whatever form it may come is here...
Nov 21, 2008
Hi everyone.
I am a 31 yr old single mom (recently divorced) and have 2 wonderful children. My son is 10 and my daughter is 8. They really are the best kids ever. They are kind, loving and compassionate kids! I am struggling right now to provide them with any kind of christmas. My ex is unemployed, I lost my job 6 months ago and have not been able to find ANY kind of work since!! I am trying so hard, I never thought in a million years my life would be like this and I do not know what to do!! My house is being foreclosed on (December 5th), I can't pay my utilities, I am just living 1 day at a time..... I could go on and on about the events that have happened this year. I just don't know where to turn! I am desperate for some help for my 2 beautiful children this CHRISTMAS...they deserve it and any kind of help would be greatly appreciated. PLEASE HELP!
Oct 28, 2008
Today my five year old told me his four year old playmate mentioned to him that his family doesn't have any food. I know they are struggling, but don't know how much. I don't know if don't have any food means they don't have money to buy food or just need to go shopping. I'd slip them some $$ or a giftcard, but I don't want to offend them. They work very hard!! Probably people that struggle but don't qualify for help. Should I let it go,or slip something in their mailbox (anonymously)? maybe just keep my ears open for more clues, which just feels nosy?
Jun 11, 2008
Hi, I dont know where to start but I will try to be brief as possible. I am a mother of four children and in the past 6 months it seems that no matter where I go or what I did to find work it will not come, I lowered my standards for the sake of my children and was trying to get even cleaning jobs but not even those would come, at times I cried and ask the Lord why, I told him that I have been ever humble and keep staying fast to Him through this storm in my life and yet the storm wont stop. What has amazed me the most is that jobs that I knew I should have gotten never happened and for example I went to kohls department store and they hired me for the cash office I did all their testing even drug testing and background testing for a part time postion and still nothing absolutely nothing, the manager told me he will call me to give me my work schedule after he returned from vacation and he never did even though I called him continously to ask if I will be able to get a schedule this week but he keeps telling me that right now it is not wihtin the stores budget, so I keep praying and praying and having faith that God will send me the help for my family. One thing that hurt so much is that I am a skilled cake decorator and pastry maker and my family knows this very well because in the years ago when things were good with me they all came to my home for every special occassion because I was the cook and baker in the family and they all know my abilities and I have gone to them now to ask for help and I even went as far as to ask them to help me by co-signing for a loan so I can open my cupcakery and no one, no one will help. I got so low one day when I called them one after the other to ask for small help in food for my children and no one answered, I was so hurt I cried and ask why they all abandon me when I have always been there for them then I consoled myself and said that it is written that it is never who you help will help you, it will be strangers to come to the rescue. Everyday that goes by I take it one day at a time and each day the Lord send me something or someone to bring me food for that day to take care of my kids everyday I get a little fix that is well received sometimes I would go to bed and no that in the am I might be without a home and worst yet I know there is nothing in the pantry to feed the kids when they awake but I pray and leave it in Gods hands and he has not failed me. I come to you beautiful people on the net and I ask you for your help, In january of this year I had to pawn out the only thing of value I had which was my desktop computer and now I urgently need it back from the pawn shop, please let me explain what I am trying to accomplish right now, I prayed about this and I know it will be my ticket out and and the ticket out for my family from this famine, I need to make up flyers and business cards for me to hand out door to door and every where I can get to give it out for the one skill I know very well that is home made baked goods and even making of wedding cakes, I know if I can get back my computer and order free business cards that I only pay the shipping and the flyers for from vista print then I can get somethings going one cake or pie or so at a time, but please to be very honest with you, I have but $1.25 right now and I have no where to turn or to go to, I need help to feed my kids that is immediate need and then I will need help to be able to stay in my apartment right now at least for one month and then I need help for my computer and the small investment capital I need to get the basic bare necessities, I calculated everything and know it roughly $5,000 dollars for everything. I am not sure what the limit is here on this website but as I was browsing trying to type in all the search words I beleived possible for People helping People this site was the #1 on the list therefore i strongly believe that the Lord led me to this site with true people. also I did try to make a loan but I have no credit and with no job it is even worst, but I promise from my lips to God's ear that I will be sure to pay it forward once I am back on my feet again. I believe the Lord sent me here and it is a place where He knows I will come back to when I am back on my feet again. If I am able to keep my apartment for one month and cook, bake from home and sell it then I know I will be able to stand back up on my God given talents. Thanks to all of you who assist in whatever way you will and even with the prayers for where there are two or more gather that prayer is then more powerful. Thanks again and may the light of God continue to shine through you and everyone you touch, I live in Winter Garden, Florida. I dont have a bank account only a paypal account right now. I only walk to the library once a day while it is safe to walk here so please note if you send me a message please know I will answer soonest.
Mar 16, 2008
My fiancee, one month old daughter, and I will soon be homeless. I am a 26-year-old U.S. citizen who is currently residing in Calgary on visit. My fiancée Portia is a foreign worker here from the Philippines. We met a little over a year ago, and fell in love at first sight. The best way to describe it is when you are putting a 1000 piece puzzle together, and you are working on the sky section. You sit there and stare at two hundred pieces that are all the same shade of blue. Finally you find a piece that fits with the piece in your hand. It’s a great feeling, almost magical. That’s what happened to our souls. At the time I was living in Ohio and Portia was here in Calgary. We knew that we had to see each other on a regular basis, but an airline ticket from Ohio to Calgary roundtrip is a small fortune. That’s when I had a stroke of genius. Knowing that airline employees get free flights I left my job at the time and started working for Northwest airlines. Now that move had considerable pros and cons. The pros being that I could fly to Calgary, or anywhere for that matter and pay nothing for my flights. On the other hand the cons consisted of a considerable drop in income, going from a white collar profession to a blue collar, getting my shifts covered to even go to Calgary, flying standby, so when flights are full or oversold (which they usually are) then I don’t go or was left stranded in the airport. Still the job gave me the ability for Portia and I to see each other each month. In about May of last year we decided that Portia would come and stay with me for three weeks. During the three weeks we would drive down to South Carolina to visit her aunt and celebrate her grandparents anniversary. So Portia found a service here in Calgary that would help her file for her tourist visa. She paid three hundred eighty dollars for them to file her application and another hundred dollars for her appointment with the U.S. embassy. During the weeks before her appointment our excitement grew. I couldn’t wait for her to meet my mom and Portia couldn’t wait to introduce me to her family. On the day of her appointment I waited anxiously for her to call and tell me the good news. But the call wouldn’t be good news. The U.S. embassy denied her for a travel visa. They did not feel that her grandparents’ anniversary was that important of an event to grant her access to the U.S., nor did they think that she would return to Canada. So she was considered “high risk” due to her age, single status, and her ties here in Calgary. The news hit me like a sack of bricks dropped from a ten-story building. That was our first taste of how the border between the U.S. and Canada would affect our love. With the denial of her travel visa I decided to go to Calgary instead. That trip to Calgary last May change both of our lives. The next month Portia felt different so when I came up to visit we went to the doctor. On June 18th we found out that Portia was pregnant. At first it scared both of us. Were we ready? Did we make a mistake? What’s next? We knew that we loved each other. We knew that we wanted to be together. We decided that we would make this work. Our plan was bringing Portia back to the U.S. and we would start our family together in Ohio. Even though we thought that this was a good plan the U.S. government felt different. There is this long drawn out process that has fees attached to every form you have to fill out called U.S. Immigration. I started calling every immigration lawyer I could find. One would say two years, the other would say nine months, and another would say twelve months. On top of all the confusion about processing times the lawyer fees were in the four-digit bracket. It was then apparent to Portia and I that we were going to be in for the struggle of our lives trying to make this work. Don’t get me wrong; there was no problem with our love for each other, just the borders that separated it. It started to feel like a modern day Romeo and Juliet story. I could not accept the fact that it would take a year to bring my new family back to Ohio, and I would not accept it. I continued searching every day for hours on end trying to find a loophole in the system. There had to be a way to get around a year of waiting. But after a while the match of hope and optimism started to flicker and then eventually went out only leaving a faint trail of smoke behind. For once in my life I felt defeated. There was no way around the process, the wait, and the fees. I continued to visit Calgary each month, and in September of 2007 I started coming twice a month. The constant traveling made a huge impact on my bank account, and I wasn’t getting enough hours at work to make ends meet. That is the time when money problems would enter the equation and has been a constant factor to this day. We found out that the best way to get Portia to the U.S. would be through a K-1 visa, or the fiancée visa. It has the shortest processing time of nine to twelve months. The other option was a spousal visa, but that would take two years at least. I found a lawyer that would process and file our K-1 visa for sixteen hundred dollars. That was the best price I could find, and that particular law firm specializes in K-1 visas with a money back guarantee. Portia was nearing her sixth month of pregnancy and was having problems taking the bus and train back and forth. Only hearing about the development and growth of my daughter, and not actually being there to experience the pregnancy with Portia and my daughter was depressing me more and more. I knew I had to be there with my family. I had no work or no means of money, but I had to be there. In November of 2007 I drained my bank account. I paid the sixteen hundred dollars to the lawyer, fourteen hundred for a small bachelor suite in southeast Calgary, and had eight hundred dollars for the drive to Calgary. I left Ohio on November 10th and made it to Calgary on the 12th. I have been here with Portia and Miyah (my daughter) since then. Things have been tough. With so many jobs in Calgary, I can’t work any of them. And it has been an impossible task for me to find an employer who will go through the process of getting me a work permit. I could marry Portia, but that would mean that all the money I paid the K-1 lawyer would be for nothing, and it would take the two years to process the spousal visa. Portia cannot collect any form of unemployment of maternity leave either. I started putting a home theater together at the beginning of 2006, but now I’m having my friend back in Ohio sell it piece by piece so that Portia and I have money to live on. This past week we received a bit of good news. The lawyer called and said that the California processing Center is running ahead of time so he expects our approval to come at the end of next week. That means that we will be going home in a litlle over two months. That news made us smile, but only for a moment. Two months is a long time away and we are currently sinking fast. We haven't paid rent since January and I am out of money and things to sell. If it weren’t for Portia’s support I’d have already been on the strongest anti-depressant on the market. People tell us all the time that this is the happiest time of our lives, but it truly doesn’t feel that way. We worry for Miyah, for her well-being. People say things aren’t that bad, that we should be happy that we have each other and Miyah. It’s been hard to make people understand our pain. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of both Portia and I. We’ve made it so far, but there is still a rough hard road ahead, and both of our feet are sore. We pray for strength, and we hope for miracles. We live day to day, and give thanks every night for making it through each day. We are desperate for any type of help to get financially caught up, and to have money for our bills, rent, food, and for the future trip home. Thank you for reading.
If you can help please check out my main web page....
http://members.aol.com/xfrjeannie/help.htm
I am a proud person, and this is something I very much hate to do, is ask for help.
I will go without before asking for anything, hence why i have lost more weight this last summer.
As some of you know, The children and I have been having a very rough go of it, the last few years,
and this last week has been the week from hell.
My hours at work have been cut, and I found out this month my pention has been cut off.
I have been looking for a second job, but have not had much luck.
We really need some help, as my check this week wont even
cover the cost of gas to go to work, let alone anything else. I very much hate to do is ask
If
anyone to help us out, you do not know what this would mean to me,
I even went down to try an file for FIA
(federal aid, just to get enough for food, and found out yesterday I was denied).
If there is anything you can do to help us out, you do not know what this would mean to the children and me.
Even if you can't help us
could you please keep us in your prayers.
Or if you know of anyone that you could share this website with, please do
I could really use these, and I feel I am on the last rung of my ladder.
Oct 4, 2005
single mother of two going through finacial ruin any assistance would be help-ful for utilities or just a job
