Maybe you all can give me some suggestions on how you make ends meet, and afford important things, like health care.

My situation:

I work full time, and get mostly regular child support; which puts my take home income at about $1800 a month. That's too high for most government assistance, although my children do get reduced school lunches and medicaid and I got $300 in fuel assistance. The kids also have health insurance through their dad, but I have none. I also have diabetes and am having vision problems, but can't afford to see a doctor.

My expenses are pretty reasonable; my 10 year old truck is paid for but I have had to replace tires recently. (I bought used ones). My mortgage is only $375 a month; but unfortunately I got stuck with the $200 a month second mortgage when my ex husband moved out (we got it because he quit working and we needed money to pay last years fuel bill and other bills). The good news is that when/if I can sell this house I will get that money back. I use credit cards minimally and have a $600 balance on the two cards I have and am working to pay that off. My only other big expense is LP gas for heating; my bill this winter is up to $1200 even though I keep the thermostat at 65 and have plastic on all the windows.

I do have sewing skills that bring in a little extra money, but it seems that if I'm sewing when the kids are home in the evening, they act up and want attention, so I can't get much done. For the same reason, I really hate to get a second job, the kids already complain about me working weekends and holidays and that we don't have enough time together.

My biggest concern right now is my eyesight.......it has changed drastically; and I just don't know how to afford an eye exam and new glasses when I'm not quite making ends meet already.

I"ve thought of asking my church, but my ex husband kind of burned that bridge with his constant asking for financial help. I also miss church most weeks due to work, and get the feeling they blame the divorce on me (well, I DID insist on it when he refused to work); so I just don't think it's a good idea to ask them.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

I think everyone is different financial situations.
I would have suggested the church, and that may still be an option.
Another option is a local food bank, which may allow you free or significantly reduced purchases. Divorce hits people hard and certain agencies recognize that. When we went to the Rainbows class, it was held at a church with a thrift shop and the pastor said the shop was open for free to those who needed it. That could help with clothing and such for you and the kids.
Perhaps you can search for eyesight assistance. There might be a charity specifically for that.

Also, do you have freecycle in your area? It's a website where people post items they no longer need but don't want to put in a landfill. In our area, you can get furniture, clothing, electronics, and recently I saw fabric and a sewing machine (which could help you).

Good Luck.

I just found this article.....this is my life!

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2005/04/03/news/metro/b66f53d0ac2787b386256fd80003b2d2.txt

Thanks Newly! I am on freecycle, but it seems they've had mostly baby stuff around here. I did get a nice couch for the front room.......which was cool, but not very helpfull financially, lol. I really hate to take from the foodbank when we have so many genuinely poor hispanic families in our county who REALLY need that help. I cook at a nursing home and we aren't allowed to serve leftovers, so my boss lets me bring them home and we often have more food than we need. I buy most of the kids' clothes secondhand and watch sales......I picked up really nice henley shirts at Walmart for the boys last week for $3 apiece! They were thrilled when I gave each of them two.

I'm going to check into eyesight assistance....

Anna,

Honey, I hate to depress you even more but you need to get yourself to the doctor. You are going to lose your vision. You are not going to be here to take care of your children.

If you are having vision issues because of diabetes, this is nothing eyeglasses are going to fix. There is permanent damage being done to your macula by edema in your eyes. You need to see a retinologist. Treatment will probably include a procedure that involves injecting steroid-type medication into you eyes to reduce the inflammation and later probably laser surgery.

If this kind of damage is being done to your eyes, you likely have other series issues...for example kidney damage usually precedes the eye damage.

Do you have a glucose monitor? Do you use it everyday? What are your numbers?

See your doctor. Use your credit card for the first visit. Make certain your doctor knows your financial SIT. He will give you lots of samples. Ask him for an itemized treatment plan. Make certain to include cost of medications, visits, supplies you are going to need for the next 6 mos to a year.

Make a list of retinologists in your area. (You do not need to see a regular eye doctor first. This will only slow you up and cost more money.) Call them all and make an appointment with the one who has the earliest appointment available. Bring your credit card with you.

Once your condition is diagnosed and you have a treatment plan for your eyes, write a letter to all the fraternal organizations in your area...start with the Lions Club. Explain your financial situation and send them each a copy of both your itemized treatment plans.

Have you heard of the Prayer of Jabez? It's a short prayer which boiled down says pray to God for what you want. He may not know.
"Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that Thou would bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast [territory], and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!' And God granted him that which he requested." 1 Chron 4:10

The book's premise is that God is willing to grant our prayers, but we seldom ask specifically for anything. Ask.

I've been trying to pray more in my life for the little and big things and to remember my blessings. You have many blessings and God does have a plan for you. He's providing already.

Have you gone to United Way yet? (www.unitedway.org) They can help you in a variety of ways, especially to help you get medical care.

How old are your kids?

Pieta, thanks for your worries, but I don't think the vision issue is due to diabetes. I still see great long distance, but I can't read unless I take my glasses OFF. Then I see quite clearly close up. Computer monitors are really difficult because they are too close AND too far away! I think it's an age thing. Until 3 years ago I had my eyes dilated and checked every year, and I had no problems at all. However, I KNOW how important it is to keep having them checked and certainly never anticipated I'd be having financial issues when I remarried. I try to keep close control of my diabetes; altho I haven't been able to afford test strips for quite a while. I'm just careful what I eat and take my insulin...I actually have problems with my blood sugars going too low more often than too high. I do have the nurses at work check me when I think I might be swinging too far one way or the other. Unfortunately, I can't use my credit cards......one is a store card and the other is maxed out at $500. My credit is shot after two ex husbands who were really bad with money.

Newly, yes, I have the book. I've been praying that my house sells because I will end up with about $20,000, which would really take care of all my issues. I guess I haven't really prayed specifically about needing an eye exam tho. Mostly I pray that I won't get killed on the way to work at 5 am in a blizzard!

Catperson: I'll check into United Way. My kids are 12, 14, and 16. I think some days they take more time and energy than toddlers did!

well, in that case, my best advice to you, besides United Way, is for you all 4 to get together, and tell them that you want them to help you brainstorm a way for the 4 of you to create a home-based business. They are all old enough to participate, and the benefits they receive - aside from money earned, of course - will be monumental. Learning to help someone else; learning some sort of trade (if they have to learn to do something new); learning the ins and outs of starting/running a business; the discipline required to study for it and to keep it going; the interaction skills required to get along with each other and to deal with customers; the extra 'oomph' it is going to give them to help them become more than just an ordinary teenager who watches tv, plays games, and has fun; the family 'solidarity' they will get from working together and helping out the whole family; and the wonderful addition to their 'resume' when they apply to colleges and apply for financial aid.

This is a perfect time for you to look into this! Just do a web search, or get some books from the library on running your own business. There are just thousands of ideas you can all choose from, all the way from walking dogs to reconditioning used stuff to sell to selling artwork on the Web. Just tons of ideas. If any of you have talent in writing, drawing, photography, etc., there's a website called guru.com where people post jobs they're looking to get done, and you bid on those jobs. I get lots of work there.