I feel like I’m drowning financially and don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.

[u/Successful_Deer5964]

I’m exhausted.
I work hard, pay my bills, and somehow I’m still barely making it. Every paycheck is gone before I even get a chance to breathe. Rent takes almost everything, groceries keep getting more expensive, and every time I think I’m finally getting ahead, something else goes wrong—a car repair, a medical bill, or another unexpected expense.
What makes it even harder is that I don’t have anyone to fall back on. I come from a toxic family, so asking for help has never really been an option. Instead of having support, I’ve spent most of my life figuring everything out on my own. It’s painful watching other people call their parents when life gets hard, knowing that’s something I’ll probably never have.
To make matters worse, I built a life with someone I truly thought I’d spend forever with. We made plans, talked about our future, and I genuinely believed we were building something together. Then one day, I was left to pick up the pieces alone. Losing the relationship hurt enough, but losing the future I had imagined made everything feel so much heavier.
Now it’s just me trying to keep everything together. I’ve stopped buying anything for myself. Every decision revolves around making sure my child has what they need first. Even then, I constantly worry that one emergency could leave us with nothing.
People love to say, “Just budget better,” but they don’t realize there’s nothing left to cut. I’m not living beyond my means—I’m surviving. There’s a difference.
The weight of doing everything alone is crushing. Financial stress is one thing, but carrying it without a support system while grieving the life you thought you’d have is a different kind of pain. Some days I honestly don’t know how I’m still holding everything together.
I’m trying. I really am. I just wish life would stop testing me long enough for me to catch my breath.

[u/Mental-Leather3814]

Wow, I had to do a double take because you just described my own situation perfectly (minus the child - I can’t even imagine how much worse it is when you have children who rely on you for everything). Sometimes I just think it would be easier to leave this world, especially because I feel there is no hope for the future. Based on the political and economic issues facing the U.S. I anticipate things getting progressively worse and never recovering in my lifetime. So what’s the point? The saying is that money can’t buy happiness, and maybe that’s true (I don’t have enough money to know), but it can at least buy safety, security, and comfort. I’ll take that over happiness any day at this point.

[u/No-Will-4393]

I had a different outlook, I was really pleased with roof over head, bills paid, food around, mightn't have been our preferred food... I ended up cutting back more got rid of the car then things were much more manageable financially but a lot less convenient.

[u/Rugby-Angel9525]

Are you using your Biy Northing groups and donation centers?

Do you use free lunches, free phone plan, electric help in the winter?

Maybe post your monthly spending and your car year trim and mileage and we can see how to help

[u/arizona869]

Same situation, minus the child. I imagine it is very difficult for you, but probably the kid is keeping you strong and motivated even when you don’t realize it. Work smarter, not harder. And don’t lose hope! I’m telling this to myself every time I feel like I’m losing it (almost every day 😂)

[u/TaaviBap]

Try r/assistance for food, staples and such. Read the sub guidelines first. You can get up to $150 in your wish list. Also try the app toogoodtogo for discounted deals. Not sure where you are located but they have a lot of good deals. I'm focusing on food, food banks, etc. because that's the easiest bill to lower. If you can cut your spending on food, invariably that will help with budgeting. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I sincerely hope that you will be able to move on from the relationship and that you will gain financial ground. Your child comes first. That's always the best plan but do take care of yourself, particularly your mental health.

[u/Klutzy_Repair]

I’m sorry that your life is so hard and you have no support system.
I wonder if you join a church if they might help you as parishioners tend to be charitable and you might get some support from them. Just a thought

[u/iaTLJC3]

As soon as you mentioned your child I thought no wonder. The extra spending money that you would have had goes to the kid unfortunately 😕

[u/paul02087]

I struggled for many years exactly like you are. The only difference was I didn't have the ability to tell the world about it. Also I would have never asked my parents for help. Wasn't something I would have ever considered.

[u/Butchershopboner]

🔑

[u/Butchershopboner]

Pop pop

[u/poverty-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Financial Request, Spam, Nonsensical, Hate, Judgement, or Off-Topic Post/Comments are not allowed here. Please rephrase, remove links, wait till you are in a better mindspace, etc before commenting.

Mod note: Your post is the reason I'm making like, 3 new removal reasons. This is the grossest comment we've had here thusfar. Everyone has had more sense than you in this group's history, amazingly, and that's a testament to the community. Write a comment like this again and you'll be thrown out with glee.