Surviving on Social Assistance:confused:

[WiccanSpirit]

Hello everyone. I was not too sure if i should post this here. If it is not meant to be in this section, to the admin i am sorry.
I have a question about living on social assistance (better known as welfare)
I have a husband and 3 kids. I only get $600 per month on this and an extra $420 for baby bonus. Any tips on how i can stretch this out to live? By the time i pay my rent and bills there is just only enough to get groceries!
Any advice?

[Melizzy]

I have sent you a private message. Anyway, it seems you are doing some things already to stretch your dollars. I'm not sure what your husband is doing, but if you have a baby, think about yard sales or flea markets with baby clothing and toys.

Obviously coupons and have you tried food pantries? And if you eat veggies, perhaps you could plant a patio garden? You'd be surprised what you can grow on a small balcony or little piece of backyard.

[aquariancore]

Also there are online deal sites where you can get rebates and discounts to make those dollars stretch.

[Calypso]

WiccanSpirit, I'm a social worker and I run into *so* many clients with exactly your problem. They system simply doesn't provide enough for a family to live on.

I don't know about your living situation, but some utility companies have programs to lower the monthly bills for families in need. In the states, they also have public or subsidized housing, which can lower your monthly rent.

As to making a little extra money, just from what I've seen of you here, you seem like a good writer. Have you ever checked out doing online writing jobs? (Just make sure you find the good ones and not the scams. THEY should pay YOU, not the other way around. If they want you to pay them for training, or start up fees, or whatever, just surf on by!)

I also know people who are able to make some extra income selling items on eBay or another auction site.

Good luck! I'm sorry things are stretched so thin right now.

[Melizzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calypso

WiccanSpirit, I'm a social worker and I run into *so* many clients with exactly your problem. They system simply doesn't provide enough for a family to live on.

I don't know about your living situation, but some utility companies have programs to lower the monthly bills for families in need. In the states, they also have public or subsidized housing, which can lower your monthly rent.

As to making a little extra money, just from what I've seen of you here, you seem like a good writer. Have you ever checked out doing online writing jobs? (Just make sure you find the good ones and not the scams. THEY should pay YOU, not the other way around. If they want you to pay them for training, or start up fees, or whatever, just surf on by!)

I also know people who are able to make some extra income selling items on eBay or another auction site.

Good luck! I'm sorry things are stretched so thin right now.

I can attest to this. I write for some online sites that do pay me and I do some other online things that pay me as well. There are a lot of scams, but there are also reputable things as well.

[LyricB]

I'm just wondering if you are on assistance for a disability, or if you are simply temporarily out of work?

[Melizzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LyricB

I'm just wondering if you are on assistance for a disability, or if you are simply temporarily out of work?

I don't want to be nosey, but is your husband also disabled? If not, perhaps he could solicit cleaning services or yard work?

[WiccanSpirit]

Hello everyone, and thank you so much for all of your comments. I am on Social Assistance because in 2005 i dislocated my knee and that caused a chain reaction of health problems. Suffice it to say that i have already been through surgury to correct it. As for my husband, he was in a car accident in 2004 and has had problems with his back every since. So we are literally falling apart!
As for the suggestions of low income housing, don't even get me started! I was in a low income house for 5 years, living in MOLD! I have since moved but the price of utilities and the rent i am paying now..it's hard. I had to get my kids out of that house, it was messing with their breathing. They are both on puffers for it.

[WiccanSpirit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calypso

WiccanSpirit, I'm a social worker and I run into *so* many clients with exactly your problem. They system simply doesn't provide enough for a family to live on.

I don't know about your living situation, but some utility companies have programs to lower the monthly bills for families in need. In the states, they also have public or subsidized housing, which can lower your monthly rent.

As to making a little extra money, just from what I've seen of you here, you seem like a good writer. Have you ever checked out doing online writing jobs? (Just make sure you find the good ones and not the scams. THEY should pay YOU, not the other way around. If they want you to pay them for training, or start up fees, or whatever, just surf on by!)

I also know people who are able to make some extra income selling items on eBay or another auction site.

Good luck! I'm sorry things are stretched so thin right now.

Hi and thanks for your reply. I can't sell anything on ebay, i have considered it but to tell you the truth, whatever i do have that is worth anything can't be sold due to the fact that they were given to me by family. Also, you need a credit card to sell on ebay.

[Melizzy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiccanSpirit

Hi and thanks for your reply. I can't sell anything on ebay, i have considered it but to tell you the truth, whatever i do have that is worth anything can't be sold due to the fact that they were given to me by family. Also, you need a credit card to sell on ebay.

Actually, you can sign up with a debit card. How about baby sitting? Or doing laundry for others? Or pet sitting?