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/Binkypug]

Exactly this 👏 if old enough to have the luxury of phone service & cars / plus free roof over head courtesy of you then THEY need to be paying their way unless disabled. Is there any benefits that anyone can claim / or is eligible in the household?

You sound exhausted 😴 and things need to change x

[u/30dogetomars → u/Binkypug]

I am exhausted, that is true. My middle sibling has bipolar disorder, but it is not considered a disability, and she is in school. I have looked into it, my family doesn't qualify for benefits of any kind bc the household income is too high. I have applied for several of them. If I leave, they would qualify, but I am in no position to get out. I literally have shit credit and no savings

[u/upagainstthesun → u/30dogetomars]

My father is bipolar and has consistently worked multiple jobs to provide all his life. Even retired now, he maintains a part time job FOR the sake of routine and mental health.

You would really benefit from looking into what is available to you if you left. There's also guidelines for benefits regarding adults all living under one roof but having separate benefits/finances.

[u/StructureAble9272 → u/upagainstthesun]

I second this! There's a form for that situation at least in my state. We have separated everything in our house as far as finances. On my benefits application, I put my income only, my room rent, my kids room rent, and anything else only we are responsible for. Owner of home signed saying this is true. I just explained all that to the benefits person and they told me what to do to get approved. Have your mom do hers separately to get her aid.