Love For My Parents

My parents have been struggling financially for several years now. They are getting close to their 60's and have very little savings or any other retirement provisions. As I was growing up, it was evident that they had tried their best to provide my family with all they could. Along with taking care of their daughters they were also left with the responsibility of taking care of their elderly parents. Taking care of them was no easy feat as their parents had major physical and mental health problems. They bought a beautiful home in a safe neighborhood in an effort to provide the best possible environment for their girls and eventually one of those elderly parents. However, after some time, their finances got the better of them and they could no longer afford the home. They were forced into selling the house in a short sale, taking a huge loss on their investment in the home. In this, they were soon left with no choice other than to file for bankruptcy. Ever since, they have continued to struggle financially because the bankruptcy did not forgive the student loans they took out for my oldest sister, which now amounts to over $70,000.

They just have not been able to catch a break. It's understood that they made financial mistakes, and since then they have learned how to budget and create a safe spending plan. However, with their income and age, it is seemingly too little too late for them to clear up their debt and save for retirement. My parents are desperate. They are trying to make and save more money any way they can. Consequently, they are working harder, more exhausting, work hours by taking on any job they can find. These jobs pay very little and have little impact on their financial status. At this point in their lives they should be winding down and looking forward to retiring instead of struggling in an un-winnable battle with debt. In addition to their added work stresses, they also help raise my four-year-old nephew while my youngest sister is working and attending nursing school, who, like her parents are just trying to provide a better life for her and her son. My parents are always helping other people. They do this through their church, and their family and friends. It is time they got a miracle of their own. With the help from others, I am hoping we can pay off their debt so that they can begin to save for retirement and breathe a little easier. They don't know I'm reaching out for help, so this will be a totaly suprise for them.