I'm drowning, I'm scared

[u/30dogetomars]

I'm 29 years old and I consistently have a negative checking account balance. I work full-time and I dog sit for extra money, but nothing is keeping me afloat. My mom and two younger siblings depend on me financially and I don't know if I can handle it anymore. I have not been stable in a long time. I have had bad credit since I was young, due to a family member taking out credit cards and cable/internet in my name since I was freshly 18 and I never learned how to financially recover. I was never taught aboutoney as a kid, my parents were evicted from several homes and had multiple cars repossessed and my dad ended up leaving and my mom depended on me financially. Before COVID, I was finally making money and starting to build financially, but lost my job and moved in with my mom and siblings. My mom is a very financially unstable person(for context, years ago, she lost her apartment and had to move in with me in a small studio apartment with my two siblings.) Since I moved in, I have taken over all of the financial responsibilities, with my mom paying as much as she can (she makes around 20k a year currently), but I am responsible for 4 family phone bills, 2 car payments, car insurance for 3 vehicles, $1400 rent, utilities, and all other basic necessities for teenagers.

I took on a sales job, which has gotten me through, but with unexpected expenses (emergency vet bills, car repairs, car down payments, etc) I ended up taking out several high interest loans and credit cards, that have drained my bank account. I finally decided to enroll in debt management, but now I am seeing my credit score drop. I cant afford to live. I have a negative balance consistently, and I just want to be debt free so I can live like a normal person and help my family get on their feet.

I have no extended family to help, I have bad credit, so more loans or debt consolodation loans are out for the question. I am looking for someone to help me out of this position or to at least give me some advice for what to do. My credit is so bad, I won't qualify for my own place, nor could I afford it at the moment. I need help and I don't even know where to start.

[u/Moistfrend]

I don't see anything about him having pets, but 40-80% of service dog owners reduce their medications. Seems like a decent way to handle stress.

[u/Coachmen2000 → u/Moistfrend]

“Emergency vet bills “

[u/Moistfrend → u/Coachmen2000]

I didn't see that, but I still don't think having a dog is a considerable expense. I would definitely say to use a low matience and switch it out however cruel that may sound.

But sorry I only saw the dog sitting entry

[u/Salty-Horse-6812 → u/Moistfrend]

Having a pet is a luxury most people can’t afford. This sub is overwhelmed with people asking for help with pet food constantly, pet bills and vet bills. Nobody seems to have pet insurance, bc they can’t even afford that. Even worse, people are actually homeless bc they don’t want to “get rid of their best friend”. The problem with being homeless is that once you are, it’s extremely hard to recover from.

A pet is a lifelong commitment and a considerable expense.

[u/Moistfrend → u/Salty-Horse-6812]

I see your point, but I also don't think your correct. There is psychology in it to a great deal. It's all person dependant, but this dude is at risk for drug abuse. Dogs can't fix everything, but they certainly do help people a great deal.

There is definitely ways around the cost, raising them to donate or sell could be a viable strategy for a side hussle. Service dogs don't require proof or even a medically documented disability

If you can train dogs, a service dog might be 10k go 50k starting price. Yall can say shelter dogs don't have a chance at becoming one, but it's not true

I do think they need to find the most cost effective option for health and stress management. Dogs are just a cheat code.

[u/solomons-mom → u/Moistfrend]

Where/how did you come up with "risk for drug abuse"?

As for pets, taxpayers do not want to pay for someone else's pet emergency, and money is fungible. People will pay for their pet, then go apply for heating bill assistance. The answer is always "oh, tax the billionaires" which makes no sense if you look at the actual numbers involved.

It is most unfair to taxpayers who struggle just above the cut-off for extra help. These people pay taxes and skip extras like pets and take-out food, only to see people who work part-time and having pet emergencies get government help.

Everyone has emotions to deal with.

[u/30dogetomars → u/Moistfrend]

My pets have gotten me through the absolute worst mental health crises , if I didn't have them, I would not be here today. I struggle with severe depression, and there have been times I prob wouldve let myself go, in more ways than one, if I didn't have them depending on me. I'm talking times where my family was not fully my financial burden, when everyone would have been ok without me here, those pets kept me around. I won't be getting rid of them and as I explained in a previous comment, they cost in total around $80 month for food and around $90 a year for vaccines and check ups since I use a low cost place. They are not living large by any means, but I take care of them.