How hard can it be to live in America?
Very hard. Now more than ever, it is hard to even survive for most people in our country. Those people who are struggling to make ends meet, to pay for heat, food, gas for transportation, rent or a mortgage, on top of overwhelming medical bills, insurance, clothes, etc. The list goes on and on and each person suffering is not feeling a pinch, but a stabbing realization at the possibility of homelessness. How dire a situation can be that attempted suicide is an option like the 90 yr old woman from Akron Oh?
But know that there are resources out there to help. I am not talking about support groups, hotlines, and therapy. I mean financial assistance. Not only from the government, but the private sector as well.
All it takes is a little legwork- on your part to seek these support systems out to help ease the financial burden of living in America.
Remember one thing-begging is neither demoralizing nor something to be ashamed of. Everyone is doing it and when you think about it- what is more important, the health and well being of you and your family, or your pride? Sometimes, you just need to suck it up and ask for help. And help is there.
Here are some important sites, tips and benefits you can access to help you during this tough time- and this is coming from experience by the way.
Heat and Power:
Check out your provider's website for many programs to help keep your power on and lessen the burden on your wallet.
Financial Assistance with medical bills:
"Free Bed" programs. Money is donated from many sources and set aside for just this reason. Almost every hospital in the US offers this program. This is for people who even after their insurance pays little if any towards their hospital bills, will help forgive most of the outstanding debt you may hold after a medical procedure, emergency room visit or treatment like dialysis or chemotherapy. Go to your hospital's website and find the contact to the "free Bed" programs and get on the phone! Apply. The worst they could say is no, right???
Tax Burdens:
Do you pay back taxes to the IRS? Are you receiving bills from them asking for payment? You have a few options here, a simple repayment plan is always offered by the IRS. Read through the literature they give you. If you notice, there is a little paragraph that says "Interest and Penalties". Of course the IRS will charge this on any back due amounts- BUT, if you feel they should waive your interest and penalties, you can request it. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/n433.pdf. If you have a reasonable cause as to why the fees should be waived, you can request it. What is a reasonable cause? That is for you to decide.
Heavy Mortgage payments?
Loan modification or hardship programs are offered now by most mortgage companies. What mortgage company would be better off with an empty house and no payment, than at least some form of payment from the homeowner? Something is better than nothing right? Go to your mortgage company website or call the customer service number on your statement and ask to speak to the hardship department or the mortgage modification department. If the rep says there is no such department, hang up and dial again to get someone else who knows the truth. Be prepared to fight.
Clothing:
Salvation Army, consignment shops, co-ops within your town, Free Cycle, Craigslist and backpage are all wonderful places to go and get free of not really cheap clothes and other household items. Perhaps start your own co-op in your town to do trading for clothes.
Food:
Cutting coupons may be great if you are used to buy the really expensive brand of detergent or cereal. But for the rest of us who forgo name brands in lieu of savings find it ridiculous to by a $5.00 box of Captain Crunch when a $2.00 tub of store brand oatmeal is much more nutritious if not economical. So give up the name brands, stop wasting your time clipping those useless coupons and by cheap. Better yet- try 2nd hand!
- Dollar Stores for really cheap food stuff
- Pricerite, http://www.priceritesupermarkets.com (NO not Pricechopper) is a terrific way to save on your grocery bill. They are they stores that take the overflow of produce and foodstuffs that big chain stores have no room for and at a fraction of the cost.
By local! Go to your local farm for seasonal produce, meat, eggs milk etc. This is a wonderful way to not only support your farmer and keep him in business- BUT the prices can be tremendously cheaper than Mega Marts groceries.
Grow your own! Got a bit of land, a pile of dirt, or even a windowsill? You can grow food. Seeds can be bought at dollar stores or ask for some from your local farmer!
Food pantries: find one in your area and contact them. They are set up to help you, you just need to ask.
Miscellaneous things: www.modestneeds.org this is a wonderful site to visit. It could be your lifeline to keeping your power on, or helping with a medical bill.
US Government: They are there for a reason, and not to make you mad about our economy either. There are so many programs offered by your state and the Federal government that can help you with almost anything.
I hope that these tips will help you get through the tough times. Nothing is permanent and with a little legwork, you can pull through this and come out on top. If you believe you will.
Know that it will be okay and it will be okay.
