Hang in there- it always gets better!

Re: Is there anyone that can help me out of this mess...
anonymous

Question:
 

I know this is not really a parenting question as such, but then again it is affecting my family greatly, and things are getting so bad and I don't

know where to go for help or how to get out of this mess.

.

Basically, I am a single mum of four children.
I have had a difficult year financially and that along with other bad financial decisions, I have got into so much debt I feel I have no way out.

I am not good with money anyway, but this year I was off work for six months due to injury which has made my money issues worse and I am now in a serious situation with no light at the end of the tunnel.
I am back at work now, but all my money goes on credit card payments that just seem to be increasing instead of decreasing, despite no longer using them.

I don't even think I can file for bankruptcy as I am not an Australian citizen. I get so low sometimes I think the only way out of this mess is suicide. But, I have children, and my children still need me around.

I have no one to turn to. I think about my money problems all day everyday and get more and more depressed.
I just feel totally lost. Life has become unbearable. I don't know how much longer I can cope with this before I do something really stupid.

My Advice:

hey, first of all you need a big hug! I wish I could be there to put an arm around you and tell you you're not alone, that there are so many in similar situations! And myself have felt that same lowness, where you think dying might be your only option.

First of all talk to someone with Financial knowledge. I know Centrelink had a free financial-counselling service, and that Lifeline does, both have helped me in the past when I was a single mum in debt. They looked at my situation and advised me on ways to clear the mess up. The best way is always slow, but you do get there in the end. At least the pain of massive interest charges and overdue fees helped me to never go there again. And get someone you can be accountable to for your spending and savings/repayments - I know from experience that as a single mum it's too easy to mess up when you're only accountable to you.

Then talk to someone else about how low your'e feeling - again Lifeline, or the Salvo's are brilliant!!  I fronted up to a local church and asked tor help, counselling, and there was a lifeline for me there. The christians there have an obligation to help the community around them, it's in their bible, so if you don't get the help you need, try somewhere else! (If they don't like what I'm saying - theyre not really christians) Do you live in or near Brisbane? the local family radio station, 96.5FM have a counselling line, theyr're in the phone book.  Please consider talking to a counsellor - they are FANTASTIC, there's no shame in admitting you need help. We're all just mistake-ridden human beings, we all need help.

But most important - never, ever give up!! When I think on all I would have missed out on had I listened to the darkness and killed myself - well I can't think about it. I've seen my children grow and mature so beautifully, I've remarried and had another baby - these were my dreams come true but I can tell you there were times I thought I'd never see another bright day. It will get better - you're in a storm right now but it WILL pass!