The Beacons are Lit; We Call for Aid.
Life seems to be continuously beating me black and blue, and just when I think I have my feet under me, I am knocked down once more. Bills are piling up, our main vehicle has broken down, and any avenue we generally have to ask for assistance is not available. I keep being told we will be okay, that we will survive. At this point, I fear we will drown.
The Heat at Home
We live in a home built in 1901. It does not contain central air, so when summer approaches, we rely on window units for air conditioning. Our home is a 2-story with a South side that has absolutely no shade, so it heats up fast. When trying to find help, we have been consistently told that air conditioning is a privilege and not a necessity. I know older generations and other countries go without, but I don't want to risk my children's health by allowing the possibility of heat stroke.
So, we rely solely on window air conditioning units to keep our house comfortable. This causes our electric bill to double or more. Generally, during the winter months, our electric bill will be around $150. During the summer months, our bill will jump to $300-$400+. We have done well to try and stay on top of the change, but this year we slipped and are now behind by a month and constantly facing disconnection.
The Added Expense
While attempting to improve our home, we had ordered a dumpster service. Generally, when getting this service, you provide an advance payment. We were thrown a curveball when one wasn't demanded this time. We set aside the money in savings to pay towards it when we were done, but it was dipped into for other bills. Now we are facing the issue that they refuse to retrieve the container until the balance is due.
We had paid nearly 75% of the due fees and had planned on finishing it so the dumpster can be retrieved after the 14th of August, but another charge has been placed on the account. With the other struggles we are currently facing, I fear that we will not be able to get the balance paid and the container removed before more charges accumulate. To further worsen the matter, it seems our city officials do not like the length of time we have had the container and, given our past issues with them, I would not be surprised if they attempt to fine us for it as well.
The Death of Transportation
To finish off the trifecta of suffering, our main familial vehicle, the only one we had to transport our household and groceries, has completely died. About a month or so ago, the radiator blew in my 2005 GMC Yukon, leaving my husband stranded 6 miles from home. We were able to get him and the vehicle home and started pricing what it would cost for a new radiator. Finding that the part was cheapest at $200, which we did not have, we attempted looking at salvage yards and contacting friends, family, and acquaintances that we knew would possibly have stock. All in all, no one had the part, and we had to ask for help paying for it.
After finally receiving the part and my husband installing it, we thought we were in the clear. My husband used it to commute to work only to have excessive smoke out the exhaust and the smell of burning oil. When returning later that day and attempting to find the new issue, the vehicle would not start again. Thus, us believing we now had a starter issue. We were horribly wrong, though.
Upon further inspection, my husband found water in the engine. So you could literally say our vehicle was "dead in the water". At this point, she has nickel-and-dimed us, and there is no point in attempting to fix her. Even if we attempted to, at minimum it would cost us an additional $600-$800. The only logical choice would be to sell her for scrap and acquire a new, more stable vehicle.
A Plea for Help
With everything going on, with everything we are struggling with, we would need at minimum $10,000 to get on our feet. To catch up on bills would be $1,000. Minimum for a used vehicle in a 200-mile radius from us is $8,000, and that's not including taxes and fees. Whatever would be left of the remaining $1,000 would be used for groceries since we have not been able to shop for any in nearly a month.
Every penny matters. If you would like to help, the links to donate are below. If you cannot help financially, your presence through this difficult time is more than enough. Check out my schedule so you know when to catch me, and join me on Twitch to lift my spirits.
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