When I woke up this morning, this was not how I planmed to end my day, but I am out of options..so, here goes. If you're reading this, at the very least, you must be interested in how I got in this financial bind. In 2017 I was fired from my job suddenly, with no warning, no savings, no severance pay, lost my medical coverage for me and my 2 daughters in 3 days...I worked there from 28-43. I lost it - I felt as if I had lost a part of my identity...all of a sudden I went from being a powerhouse single mom of 2, director of operations making 6 figures at a job i loved for 15 1/2 years, owning a townhome in Marlton, both kids in private school/sports/etc, driving my dream car, social party girl to - not being able to take care of anything, my home, my car, my kids or myself. Earlier that same week, my winner husband of 3 months (who subsequently died in 2022 of fentanyl overdose) was put in the psych ward, then a week after I was fired, I lost custody of my daughter, who was 10 at the time. So needless to say, the next almost 2 years was epic, but not in a good way - between the depression from losing everything and my choice in "extra curricular activities" I was arrested 7-8 times, stacking up 42 charges in 6 cases. I pled to 2 drug distribution chafges. (My lawyer was/is the MAN!) After 16 months of jail then prison. I was released to my family's condo down the shore (I lost my house in 2019) on ISP, Intensive Supervision Program, which is an 18 month program where I had a curfew, was drug tested randomly (and a lot!), had to have a job, attend therapy/counseling, intensive outpatient, relapse prevention, and had a parole officer come to where I live whenever she felt.like.it. I was released from prison in Sept 2020. I realized that all my charges, even though 4 whole cases were dismissed, were all online, and very specific. I couldn't get a job at Instacart. I couldn't get a job at ShopRite. I couldn't get a job ANYWHERE. I ended up working at Ace Hardware for $12/hr 8:30am -5:30pm 5 days a week - and the bitch supervisor knew how much I loved football and how I had missed last season and had me working every Sunday...but I did it. I jumped through every hoop known to man and got custody of my daughter back, mended my relationship with my older daughter and amazingly they live with me to this day. My younger one graduates from high school next month and my older one is a college graduate with a full time job.
Anyway, my mom has let us stay here which has been a blessing. My husband came home from prison in 2021, we separated 6 months later and 3 months after he walked out the door, on May 1 2022, the police knocked at my door to notify me of his death. By the grace of God, I ended up completing my program May 26 2022, exactly 5 years to the day I got fired from my job. I graduated ISP with no infractions, I will always be extremely proud of that accomplishment. After Ace, I ended up getting a job working from home in the awning business - I handled the marketing, and I was the only employee who did sales AND diagnosed (and sometimes actually performed) service calls. I enjoyed helping people, making a $25/hr 40 hr/week and living at the shore. My boss had even helped me get a car but with my trash credit, i have a RIDICULOUS car payment but I made just enough to get by... I loved my customers and I took a lot of pride in my work - I was there for almost 3 years, until I was laid off last October due to my employer's financial situation. After 6 months of unemployment at $600/week was exhausted, I ended up getting hired selling awnings again for another company, but now I am paid commission only (no mileage/toll reimbursement - which was how I was able to pay my car payment at the last job). Now because Im the new guy, my income is not consistent yet (Ive gotten 1 paycheck in the last 3 weeks. I was already in the hole but I am at the point that my car may be repossessed (almost 2 months), I may or may not have lost my car insurance my kid is graduating high school next month, I have medical bills from a frustrating unknown skin condition I've had since January of 2024, and am just sad that I came so far and fought back and here I am asking for help, feeling defeated. I am just trying to get back on my feet and not feel like a failure. Obviously I am looking for another job with the goal to get back to enjoying my life again. Im embarrassed my kids keep seeing me get knocked down. I can't even buy cat food because im not getting paid this week. Yuck. This is to help me get through this tough time, so thanks for reading.
