@BuffaloNY101 wrote:
F and L
First I am not judging. I am only saying this to offer advice.
1st did you talk to your bank and see if they could waive the overdraft fees as a courtesy. They may do it, especially if you have a long relationship and have never over-drafted before. It does not hurt to ask.
You should set up overdraft protection. There are many kinds including a line of credit which if your credit is good as you say maybe your best bet.
2nd although it seems hard and I know as I am in a similar situation albeit a single man you need to save a $1000 in an emergency account. Any financial advisor who is worth anything will tell you this.
3rd I can't speak for the state of Georgia but Medicaid is a federal program managed by each individual state for that state's residents. It simply has income requirements to qualify. If you make less than a certain amount per the size of your family you qualify. I suggest you talk to your state office here is a link: [
medicaid.georgia.gov]
You may also be able to qualify for food stamps (SNAP) and Disability.
4th and Lastly Take care of yourself and relatives before worrying about any animals. You can't afford a stove and proper Fridge but can afford food and medical treatment for cats and dogs.
I do wish you the best of luck and hope you can get your situation improved.
I have been with Suntrust for over 5 years. They would only courtesy refund 1 overdraft fee. I'm still out $72. I have overdraft which would have cost me 12.50 each, except that I had emptied out my Savings account and hadn't replenished it yet. Since Suntrust only pays .01% interest I won't keep more than say $100 in it. I have another Savings account with Robins Financial. I have not applied for another credit card with Suntrust because they denied me last year for being no more than 2 months shy the 23 month minimum that they require for a credit account (not including my student loans). Suntrust does not offer a line of credit. Their loans are managed by an outside company and require a MINIMUM OF $5000. Suntrust is no good except for rich people. It will be alright the money is gone now. My check went to the credit union for over $500 and L's check went to Suntrust for almost 400. (Both sets of accounts are joint accounts but I handle the finances. I opened the credit union accounts about two months ago and have some direct deposits moved over but not all as of yet.) I've actually been holding out to see if BB&T's takeover of Suntrust improves them at all when they become Truest.
On your 3rd point. He is not eligible under Georgia law no matter what our income is. IN the state of Georgia a man must have a minor child in the home or be disabled. It does not matter what your income is. Even if I list him as my caregiver he still would not be eligible.
I'm not saying that I don't want an emergency fund. What I"m saying is I want more income, rental properties, etc. and I'm not willing to sit back and wait another two or three years to get started. There will always be another crisis. I am disabled. I have been on disability and my medical is totally covered except that United healthcare keeps upping my prescription copays. Being Disabled does not solve my problems. Passive income that I can earn whether I can walk out of the house or not is the one thing I see that will change my life.
Everyone thinks they know how to help. No one can live on $818 a month. I live in a 4 room house and pay $350 a month for rent. But I will not even try to live on $818 a month. I've thought this through. I'm guaranteed at least a 20% return on my k. (If the owner redeems the tax deed he has to pay me 1200 /20% return). If not I forclose and spend $4500 and gain a house worth 12,000. No other investment guarantees a return like this. Stocks average maybe 7% if you have a good portfolio. No Savings account, CD, Bond, anything pays 20%. So I gave a k, it was worth it and I would do it again. I checked several properties on the list. I went and looked at the house, more than once. It is a brick/concrete block. It is not trashed. So it is a temporary sacrifice for a greater gain by a woman who has never owned property in her entire life. NO one can convince me I did anything wrong. so people please stop trying. I'm not going to wait forever to start investing I'm 47 and don't have much time left to change my life. I can sit back and save a $1000 over and over and there will always be another hiccup or problem to take it. Trust me I'm looking at my debt, income and bills and what I can and can't do. I can buy paint and sheetrock with a credit card. IF it sits empty, I can pay the $400 a year taxes. But I doubt it will stay empty. And I'm not dumb enough to let my homeowner's insurance lapse. That's why I picked such a cheap house because I could afford to pay the annual costs even if it was empty. Now that would be stupid to buy a house worth $50k knowing that if it was not rented I could not afford to maintain it. After it's fixed up and rented it will be worth about 18k. So trust me I've analyzed this situation. With the equity of one home, I could borrow the money to buy another one and do it again (if it's rented). I will continue this process over and over again until my rental income supports my real estate ownership entirely upon its own and begins to make me a monthly income. It's a gamble true. But what's the worst that can happen? that I fail and remain impoverished? Maybe but hey i've been impoverished for 47 years already. And maybe just maybe I will succeed and become middle class in ten years or twenty.
Point 4: Yes you sort of have a point about the animals I grant you that. But all of my animals are rescues who are loved, spoiled and well taken care of. It's who I am and how God made me. I love animals and one day hope to own a farm with cows, goats chickens, etc. If you are not an animal person you would not understand. I need them as much as they need me. When you come home and your pets are so happy to see you no matter how hard your day was is a great feeling. I've been able to take care of them just fine. Maybe I don't have a stove but I have a big turkey oven, a big crockpot, a multi 3 small crockpot, a griddle, a microwave, a steam pot (deep fry or boil rice etc). I'm used to it. Besides who wants to cook after coming home from a long route anyway???