BIG EDIT: Uh, a single person sent me $200? I don't think I even know them?
. . . thank you. Is not sufficient, but it's all I got.
Original post below
Prescript: I 100% understand if you're about to skip past this post. I would humbly ask that you consider reading about my problem, even if you choose not to engage afterward. Thank you.
Summary:
- I have been borrowing against my paycheck to make ends meet.
- I planned/hoped for it to only last a few months.
- It has lasted for a year now.
- I have to admit that I need help to get out of this hole.
Please read on for a better explanation:
For about a year, in order to (barely) keep up with bills, I have been using several apps to collectively borrow several hundred dollars every two weeks, pay it back when I get paid, then borrow it again. If you picture my funds on hand as a sort of sine wave, this has the effect of moving it forward a bit (so more payment deadlines can be met) but making it have more precarious valleys between the peaks. (And, of course, slowly draining it with monthly fees and interest.)
If this sounds like a not-great plan, believe me, I agree. But it was all I could come up with at the time. I was hoping that a combination of paying off one of my bills (car loan) and getting a promised raise at work would eventually allow me to ease myself back off of this roller coaster. But the raise hasn't happened, and the car bill got almost entirely replaced by higher car insurance bills and an increase in the rent + utilities I have to pay out this year.
So, to be honest, what I'm trying to gain is an off-ramp. (Can roller coasters have off-ramps?) Enough money that I can A) pay bills on time, leading to B) not having to do any more borrowing to artificially bump up my bank account. I am asking for your help because I'm tired of calculating late fees and grace periods and interest rates on short-term loans. I just want to be able to go back to being able to budget my life expenses without panicking.
I am shooting for a target of $200, but any amount would help me dig out of this hole. I pledge to update this post with (anonymous) accounting of all funds raised. If you aren't able to help with money, a share is appreciated. But regardless, thank you for reading all the way through.
My Paypal: paypal.me/ertchin
My Venmo: Robert Hutchinson, @ertchin
