What a day to be a broke girl.
I just need a job with benefits. I am killing my eyes with these ill-fitting contacts, and I am pretty sure I have a mouthful of cavities. I have to say I really like my teeth so this cavity thing bothers me a lot. I’ve decided to book an appointment at a local college to get my teeth cleaned and fillings done for cheap.
A broke girl’s gotta do what a broke girl’s gotta do.
Any dime I spend is an investment because it needs to be used with a lot of consideration. Thank God I am lucky enough to live at home and contribute whatever I can, whenever I can. I feel for those who are broke like me and don’t have that sort of backing. I mean, it’s embarrassing in both ways: no money and no home. The most important lesson for broke girls and guys is not to let your pride be your demise. If you’re truly destitute, then maybe you should look into some government assistance or other financial help. Not to the point where you’re stuck on it forever, but long enough so you have the time to regain some sense of independence again.
Now that I am in this situation, I see more clearly why people go on welfare and I am not as opposed to it as I was before. I was the type to think I’d rather sit on a sidewalk and beg for money before excepting welfare. And hey, you’ve probably been paying taxes towards it before you were broke, so why not seek out help now if you really need it? The whole world doesn’t have to know and obviously it shouldn’t be your long term goal (plus it’s tacky as hell to boast about your government checks.) Don’t be short-sighted and say I don’t want a better paying job because my welfare checks will go down, and don’t go crazy and rack up more credit card debt when all you need is some temporary assistance.
Yesterday I was babysitting my little cousin who stayed home because she was supposedly sick, even though I saw no evidence of it (can’t say it’s something I never did when I was younger.) She had me thinking though; it must be hard as hell to be a broke girl parent. The fact is while our common denominator might be that we are broke, we have such varying situations that can make our lives feel worse or easier in different ways. Taking care of that little girl forced me to set aside some financial business I was going to work on that day as well as some phone calls I was going to make. She became my focus, constantly asking for things, seeming to be permanently hungry and wanting to talk non-stop. Even when I gave her some activities to do, I ended up helping her with them. My cousin, bless her little heart, was sucking the life out of me! The fact is she is 5 years old and she wasn’t asking for anything out of the ordinary or acting crazy; she was acting her age. And she is probably one of the easiest kids to babysit!
So my advice to parents is if you don’t have the support of a spouse or family members, MAKE FRIENDS! You need someone. Stop thinking you can do it all because you are probably doing a crappy job all on your own. No one likes to hear that. Instead we say “Oh, she is an independent female, she does great all by herself.” Well, I am here to tell you that’s bullshit! When you are dealing with your life and the lives of others, plus you’re broke, you tend to get burnt out and probably do a half ass or even quarter ass job of everything. The point is, don’t go it alone. Maybe it’s a social worker; maybe it’s a nice family in your neighbourhood or building; maybe it’s a daycare service or even a church group. The point is, ask for help.
Asking for help doesn’t mean becoming too dependent on other people or organizations; there’s a balance. At the end of the day you are the parent and you need to own that role. However, be gentle on yourself. You’re only human and you will need help. Don’t be too proud, too lazy or too busy to do what needs to be done in all areas for yourself and the people in your life.
Good luck folks, and remember: being broke won’t last forever.
Photo Credit
Photo by hotblack at morgueFile
A version of this post was originally posted at Broke Girl
Guest Author Bio
Keithan Alexis
I am a broke Toronto based University graduate who started blogging initially as a way to release some of my own stress. I soon realized how much people were not getting relatable honest opinions from young people that wasn’t about selling any products.
Blog / Website: http://kthatslife.blogspot.ca/
Well said! Articulate and honest….
Thanks