Family Stress Relief Desired

Breifly what is happening.

In August this year, I was awarded primary physical custody of my two children, Gabbey 17 and Zach 14.  I was granted primary custody, finally, becuase after all the years of informing the courts that the children's mother was not providing our son with his prescribed home health care and daily doses of medicine.  Zach did have to have a surgery called cecostomy. Click the link to learn about a cecostomy.  http://www.stjohnprovidence.org/HealthInfoLib/swarticle.aspx?type=135&id=17

Now that I have primary custody, I get the tax benefits, but my rent expenses have gone up to 77% of take home.  I rent two bedrooms in a four bedroom condo.  (Zach and I share one bedroom and Gabbey has one bedroom.)  This leaves very little for other necessities such as food, clothing, transportation expenses and other bills. 

This also means that mother is to pay child support.  However, she is no longer pursuing her very successful career as an American Sigh Language interpreter.  I'm told she is changing careers.  She's moved two times in the past 4 months.  She will be making her third move Thanksgiving weekend, back in with her mother.  In short, she's not paying child support.  I have filed with the Department of Child Support Services.  We are in pending status, waiting for her to turn in her Income and Expense declaration.

Although I have medical insurance, Zachary needs over the counter medicine, Myralax which is not covered by insurance nor my Flexible Spending Account, since it's not a prescription and can be purchased over the counter.  Zachary is also in therapy with a great thereapist.  He also needs new prescription lenses for his glasses.

Zach is a freshman in high school, Gabbey is now a senior.  Unfortunately, they are going to different high schools.  Gabbey is finishing at the same school she started in 9th grade.  It is a 30 minute drive to get her to school  Zach is going to the local school.  He can walk there in 15 mins.

How donations will help.

Zachary: Getting his medicine, new glasses and clothes.  Also his therapist says getting him a bike (and helmet) to get him doing something and back to a normal life after surgery will help him. 

Gabbey:  Get her some clothes.  Get her a varsity jacket and high school senior class ring.  Also with graducation a few months away, there is cap and gown rental, Senior Day, Senior Breakfast, Prom, etc.

Presents for the upcomming holidays are not as important,  clothes will work fine.  They like clothes.  Nothing fancy, but they do have some sense of style.  (They didn't get that from me.)

Both children's birthdays are in March.

My landlord, Frances, is kind and understanding.  She knows I'm not receiving any child support, but she should not have to be inconvenienced.  I am $800.00 behind in rent and utilities to her.

Hopefully I'll be able to get a pillow and comforter since I let Zach use mine.  (Actually he confiscated mine, but what is a daddy to do.)

Car repairs and maintenance.

Seems a bit not important, but need to upgrade the RAM in one desktop and one laptop computer from 4GB to 8GB.

Peace of mind.

Outstanding Debt

No credit card debt.

Less than $470.00 in payments for my recently acquired, pre-owned 1991 Toyota Camry.  ($47.00 month and currently 2 months past due.)

Student Loans: Currently have arrangements to make no payments.

$1,000.00 to a friend and my brother to repay them for their help.

Registration for my 1991 Toyota Camry which is currently past due.

Alternate Souces of Income

Since I recently accepted a promotion at work, I no longer have availability to work overtime.  I also no longer am able to earn commisions nor bonuses.  

I also use to have some positive cash flow that allowed me to bake some Banana Breads and other baked goods and set them at my desk.  I could not "sell" them, but I could set out a jar and accept donations.  Now that I'm in a more isolated part of the building I do not have a large group of people to see what I bring in.  I don't even have the cash flow I use to have to buy baking ingredients.

However, I can bake you some Banana Bread or cookies for you with your doantion.  This way I don't feel like a total mooch and I'm actually giving you something as well as you giving me something.

I've posted on Craigslist to help people set up their TV and audio/video equpment and compontents, and/or show them how to use their equipment, but so far have not received any calls.

 

Conclusion

I truely believe that this is just a bump in the road.  (Actually it seems like a big dip and I'm stuck.) Just a little leverage will be enough to get us through the next several months.

Thank you for your time in reading this and a big THANK YOU if you are able to donate.

Remember anything will help.

Sincerely,

Dean