My boyfriend told me to post here because my situation is pretty bad and I definitely need help. Bear with me, this may be a long post, there's alot going on.
Some background: I'm a 23-year-old female. I live with my mom and brother. My mom recently started going to community college for photography and my brother is a high school drop-out with aspergers, bi-polar, and anger issues. Neither have jobs. Every month it's a struggle to get enough money to pay rent since I only have a part time job (that normally gives me 30-40 hrs/wk) and we get my mom's alimony. Between the two, we barely cover rent, let alone other bills like internet, cell, and utilities. In fact, we've gotten a three day notice every month we've lived here, except for last month.
When I graduated high school, I got a full-ride to my local university based on my ACT score (31, first try) with one rule, I had to keep my GPA above a 3.25. Due to the abusive relationship I was in at the time, that didn't happen. So I was forced to quit college and my dreams of being a music teacher within a year of college. I had a full time job at a daycare but due to some false claims of child abuse, I was fired (CPS dropped everything, I have paperwork proving it). From that job, I got my CDA for Infants and Toddlers. Currently, I work in a grocery store's floral section. I haven't been happier with work, but I took a price cut and I'm not guaranteed hours. In fact, this next week, on the rent check, I was cut to 12 hours because someone else who worked there before me (who is never there) is home for the week.
My family, on the other hand, lives like nothing is wrong. My mom and brother sleep all day, play games (my mother has a World of Warcraft subscription), and generally goof off. More than once I'll come home to my mom excited to show me new fabric she bought for costumes we have planned for the future. I have approached both of them several times about getting jobs.
My brother has applied at alot of jobs, but due to his bipolar and anger issues, has walked out of so many, it's hard for him to keep one. He has had several interviews, but no success. He had one for a company that's local that a family friend works for, but we haven't heard back, so fingers crossed there. He helps my step-dad (divorced from my mom because of her money issues) with refurbishing the house we all lived in for 60-80 a week when they work on it. He's working on saving up for a camera, and has helped us pay bills in a jam more than once.
My mom, however, quit her part time job right before Christmas because "She couldn't handle working Black Friday". Just quit, with no backup. I confronted her a few times about getting a job and she always gets so sad and says "I'll do better". For Christmas, she was given an $1000 gift card to Target from my step-dad because he wasn't able to help take care of the car at the time. With it, she bought a $300 camera, odds and ends we needed around the house (bath mats, trash cans, some cleaning supplies), clothes for my brother and herself, and some things my brother wanted for Christmas, like a cheap headset and mouse. From said giftcard, I got 2 pairs of work pants. A VERY similar thing happened with her windfall tax return, she bought a new $500 camera (because her classes required that specific one), clothes, anad books for her classes. We made rent that month, only because I reminded her to pay it before the 5th.
She promised me she would apply at a store near her school, but she hasn't yet. Whenever I bring up work, she says I'm taking my frustration out on them. I feel like the life is being sucked out of me so my family can lead their carefree lives.
I get a bare minimum healthcare package with no dental or vision. With part of my (tiny) tax return, I got a checkup at a dental school because my teeth are in terrible shape, partly from my own negligence, and partly from my family's negligence as a kid (I only saw a dentist once as a kid, even though we had dental insurance). I found out I need 7 teeth extracted and many MANY cavities filled. The student who is acting as my dentist has offered to take care of the cavities for free because he needs them for credit, but the extractions will cost me $860...nearly as much as my rent. I can't do them in multiple pullings because they want to sedate me (some wisdom teeth are in the bone I guess?) and the school does NOT take Care Credit. The extractions need to be done ASAP, because a few teeth are in danger of becoming infected, and that's incredibly dangerous. Both my brother and mother have state healthcare, which I don't qualify for because I make too much. I have other health issues I can't take care of because I can't afford them, like my PTSD (unmedicated), my knees (I was supposed to have physical therapy), along with PCOS (without my medication there, I'm at a pretty good risk for ovarian/cervical cancers.)
I am currently looking at a new job, but it's difficult to find anything I can do. It's also hard because I REALLY enjoy my floral work now, but they won't offer me full time. I have terrible knees due to a few accidents on a bicycle and bad genetics, and I have mild PTSD due to an abusive ex. So labor intensive and call centers are out. I also don't have a license or car, partly because of my family's laziness, and also because I'm honestly terrified of driving. I can't live on my own yet, I know I can't afford my own apartment with bills and I'm cosigned to the lease of this apartment until July. I also am worried about leaving due to my mom's severe depression, I'm worried she'd do something to herself. Plus my brother would have nowhere to live, my step-dad can't take care of him. I have no idea where to start outside of the jobs, and I feel like my life is being sucked from me. Any and all advice would be helpful.
Edit: a word and wanted to add that even with my birthday tomorrow, I didn't feel like I could ask for anything for my birthday - I felt guilty even asking for gift cards to buy some clothes. I've been feeling like I should have asked for money for rent.
Submitted March 19, 2018 at 11:02PM by intervia http://ift.tt/2IEN7qO
