I am so overwhelmed. I am a 22 year old single mother to my 2 year old girl, Jyliannah. When she was 9 weeks old, her father left me. We were together for three years and engaged to be married. I was devestated, and I had to move back into my parents' house after living on my own for three years. It has been a long hard road. I stayed home for 14 months and I breastfed for 15 months. I receive child support and I have a part time job hairdressing, but it is very slow right now, and my bills are at least three times what I make at my job and with child support combined. I have my daughter in daycare and I have that bill also. I have the dilemma of if I get ANOTHER job also, I will have a bigger daycare bill that I cannot afford. I am just completely overwhelmed. I have a BIG credit card debt, a car payment, and all kinds of other bills. My parents and I have a horrible relationship, and I feel bad 99% of the time that my daughter has to live here. I have no self esteem, my parents put me down all the time, it's just not the best situation. Everyone tells me I have it so good that I don't have to pay rent, but noone knows how nuts I am over all this. I just can't even deal with life right now... I need a strong support base, and I am trying to find it here...

Hey...you've come to the right place. I'm a single mom with a 13 year old and I've been out of work since September 2001 (almost 1 year). I'm close to bankruptcy and had to apply for welfare last week...which was devastating because I have been self-sufficient all my life and made a lot of money at my last job...so I have incredible credit debt and had to reduce the type of lifestyle we were use to dramatically. I understand the depression and the self worth issues...been there (still am at times.) This is not something that you are going to get through quickly or easily...it's going to take time, strength and a lot of patience. I am here for you...if you need to talk, share ideas (I have made a lot of money selling stuff on the internet and amybe can give you some ideas), or just vent. Do you have AIM or Yahoo Messenger? We can share buddy names if you'd like...or contact me and I'll forward my email. I know how rough and depressing it can be...I was afraid to be alone with myself for a while, for fear of what I might do...but I had good friends and great family, so I am lucky. You've come to a place where your luck might change because there are some nice, understanding people here. Welcome...and if you need to talk...I'm here.

I beleive that we all are, or have been where you are. It's a rough world out there and it's hard to ba a single parent. I am 21 with a 2 year old boy. I just moved out of my parents house, finally. I also had a hard time there, one thing parents don't realy understand is that you are an adult now, you are a mother and a woman. parents tend to think that your always young and stupid. My parents were hard on me, I didn't have to pay rent, but i still payed a price. The biggest thing that has helped me is the state. I get help with day care, food stamps, and housing. I also work 40 hours a week. I still struggle and I stress, but keep trying. Don't let your parents get the best of you, prove THEM wrong. there is help out there, you just have to know how to get it and be firm on what you want. You can do it, and best of all your daughter will know that you always did your best for her and she's always there for you. that's the best...a childs unconditional love for their parents!

Hey guys....your stories sound familiar. I'm 20 with a 3 yr old.....and it sucks sometimes. The bills, the debt, the long-endless hours.... I've gotten myself into a financial rut that I'm having a hard time getting out of....bouncing checks left, right and center. I'm feeling pretty frustrated both with my situation and with myself. Hang in there. We've got a lot on our plates. We can't let it make our lives miserable. I would love to chat with any of you online....maybe we can get some sort of support group going. Let me know what you think.

I know what you mean. I am a 24 year old mother of a 22 month old boy. My mom recently kicked us out. Because of the added bills (rent, utilities, etc) I can only afford to feed my son cereal. I have applied for all kinds of assistance, and they tell me that I make too much money. Things are going from bad to worse. My car just failed emissions and I am told that the whole engine has to be replaced ($5000 minimum). If I do not find another car by the end of next week, I will have to quit my job and quit school due to lack of transportation. THe only way my family is willing to help me is to pray for me.

I know just how it is, and trust me, it does get better.

I am a 30-something living with my mom now so I can go to school. I'm lucky in that she's pretty good, but even she can drive me nuts. Still, I've been through the wringer, and looks like I'm coming out of it now.

If I can offer any pointers on getting aid, creative budgeting, or resume preparation, etc, drop me a line at naebear99@yahoo.com. After seven years of marriage to a total bum, I've learned just about every trick in the book for making money and sanity stretch.

Hey guys,
All this sounds so close to home. I am 30-something and am having a major financial situation. I already work 2 jobs, one full time, one part time, but this only seems to overwhelm me more. No matter what I do my girls always need money for this or that. I am broke most of the time, just streching my paychecks so I can make ends meet. They aren't meeting anymore, if you know what I mean. Someone told me to just claim bankruptsy, but that would just kill me to go to that extreme. Does anyone have any advise? I mean there has to be something out there that can help single mothers get by, or is that just wishful thinking?
To those of you still living with your parents, I lived with mine until I was 28 years old. My parents were heaven sent! They have continued to help me as much as possible. I am lucky in that. You do not need the hassle from your parents, you already have enough worries. Isn't there low income apartments you can utilize in your area? They go by your income. We have lots of those in NM. A lot of people are saved by those. You should check into that. Don't ever let anyone put you down. You are going to make it. Be STRONG!!

Although it seems like women are always against eachother, we have so many things in common. I like the rest of you are, a single mother of two (one boy and one girl). I work about 30+ hours a week ( so i can be home to help with the homework) plus go to school parttime myself. I make a decent amount an hr. but after rent (even with sec.8), car note, bills, daycare, food, credit debt, i live from check to check and barely that. The child support orders are out there but not being taken care of. If makes me so pissed that some of these men can wake up in the morning and look at themselves knowing they have children out there that they're not taking care of. How dare they smile up in our face with their new shirt, new sneakers/boots and our kids pants have the faded knees, why cuz they have to wait till we have the extra money to buy them new clothes. I bust my ass to take care of my kids and your right, its not even worth getting an extra job, because the more you gotta pay the babysitter/daycare, the rent goes up and you still don't have enough to get by. It just plain out SUCKS! But I have to remind myself, well at least I have everything that I need. Don't got no extra money to splurge, but I got that roof over my head, clothes on the backs, food on the table and the car to get to work and them to school. Its tight, but it'll be aight!

Hi girls...yes I am going through the same issues.I am a 22 yr old single mother to a 2 yr old boy, I am trying to put myself through school work and pay bills all at the same time..its so hard I know. does anyone live in the minneapolis area?? it would be nice to have some friends to go out with who are in the similair situation. Its really hard to try to talk to my girlfriends about this since they are in a differnt time in there life with no kids and all. They are all in the party mode! well thanks for listening -nicole

Dont forget that the government offers benefits such as welfare, food stamps, child care assistance...these are programs that need to be used by people who will utilize them responsibly (as im sure most of you would)..i received welfare for the first year of my sons life and he is still on medicaid while im attending school...i figure, if youre doing everything possible to get yourself into a better situation, you are using the system as it was intended to be used...just another quick tip...single parents will usually receive enough financial aid to cover school plus have some extra left over...free education is probably the best thing uncle sam offers to solo parents...hope this helps...email me if any questions...
~ashleigh~

I spent the first 2 and 1/2 years of my son's life in the same situation all of you are in. I have met a man and now live with him and he won't allow me to pay any bills (how wonderful is that?) I buy the groceries. So, now I am trying to pay off old creditors and get myself back to square one. I am one of the lucky ones. I do have money put back in case something happens to us. That I learned from past misery. Always have something to fall back on. I hope that things look up for you. I hope you find happiness. It is out there.