Is Your Rent Late? Utilities Being Shut Off? Financial Assistance Thread

[KitanaBlades]

Again, here I go! I know this DOES NOT go anywhere in particular...but since we are cam girls and cam girls need help...why not put it here.

So, my last post - in regards to helping offset the cost of your animals is a good one but what about us?

I have seen many threads in the past few days of some of our girls saying they are broke, behind on rent, electric/gas being shut off, etc.

Here is the thread to help with that. Here is what this thread designed for:

- General Assistance and Resources in finding financial assistance for the people who are in need of help or crisis.

- Sharing experiences, knowledge, tactics, and ways to help offset some of the costs and deal with situations that arise from these issues.

- SHARE INFORMATION with one another. Many of us live in different states and around the world. Let's make this support thread worth it and post what assistance programs are out there to HELP our fellow girls that are in need. Everyone knows things have been SO sllooooow lately - money sometimes isn't made over night. So if YOU know of a charity, a program or ANYTHING that can help - POST IT HERE! When posting, please MENTION the STATE or COUNTRY and any information you have about this assistance you are telling about. DETAILS MATTER!

*Again, please leave the attitudes regarding welfare and politics out of this thread. WE ARE ALL HAVING A HARD TIME and it is only right we help each other out, support one another and keep the information pool with choices for all of us. There is no need to put personal opinions aside from bitching that companies won't work with you here...We all feel bad enough with the position we are in when we are broke and have no where else to turn!!

[tropicalust]

I think this is a great treath.
I'm gonna talk a little bit on how to reduce your cellphone bill, I live in the usa so I cannot speak for other countries. I was a customer of Cingular, At&t, metropcs, T-mobile. 3 years ago I used to pay 45 bucks for my cellphone but as time went by I never paid less than $100. There was always hidden fees and taxes were really high, till the point I had to cancel my cellphone. that's when I heard about straightalk. Its basicly a prepaid phone when you pay at the beginning of the month. They have 2 plan $30 1000 txt and minutes and $45 unlimited plus taxes which is like 3 bucks. www.straightalk.com

There is another option called assurance wireless and is especially designed for people with low income or that is receiving social security benefits, food stamp..etc You have to apply first and once you are accepted virgin mobile sends you a cell phone for free and 250 minutes for free every month. If you wanna add minutes you can do that 2 but you have to pay for them if not you never had to pay a dime because every month they give you 250 mins for free. www.assurancewireless.com

I think right now is really smart to get a prepaid phone. I highly recommend this 2 services.

[khakigirl]

^I use Straight Talk and it is amazing! I pay 1/3 to 1/2 of what my friends pay AND I'm not stuck in a contract.

A charity I've used before for financial assistance is Modest Needs (http://www.modestneeds.org/). They have some guidelines on what they can help with but if you're behind on rent, you're likely to get help here. I believe they're for US residents only but I'm not 100% sure.

[Sharenaaa]

I don't really have any tips for financial assistance, but I do know of some ways to get free stuff

One thing is Mypoints, you get points through doing surveys and different things online and you can redeem the points for giftcards. Its legit it can just take awhile for points to add up but once they do they deliver the gcs fairly quickly.

Also instead of paying for movies go to free screenings I use filmmetro.com and gofobo.com, just type in your city and state and it'll list which ones are available. The movies are completely free (you just have to get there early) and you get to see them before they're officially out in theatres.

Theres also wishuponahero.com you post something you want or need and then find a "hero" to grant your wish for you. Its really hit or miss though I've posted a couple wishes and didn't get them granted, but then again I've seen alot of people post who did get theirs granted so its always worth a shot.

And I also do ALOT of freebies and sweepstakes on a regular basis and have gotten some pretty cool stuff through that too.

[The Contessa]

I just got out of a wretched financial situation, and besides the usual (asking family), here's what got me through.

Eat healthy on a budget. I know when you don't have much money you might be tempted to eat ramen, but please PLEASE don't. Your body cannot sustain itself well off junk food, though it may be easier to get ahold of/you think it's cheaper.

Instead, find a little not-mainstream-food market at attack their produce section. You can get fruit and veggies cheap. Get some BROWN rice and learn to make it properly. One bottle of low sodium soy sauce (please don't use too much), some salt and pepper, a few garlic cloves and some ginger are all the spices you need. Grab some veggies-- whatever is on mega sale--- cut em up and make a stir fry. Cook according to density in a hot hot pan with some oil (whatever you've got around). Serve stir fry over rice, and shazam! It's healthy, full of veggies, and you really can eat for under 2$ a meal. If you need protein, grab some chicken and prepare that as well. Drink water with this meal, and every meal. It's cheap and the bet thing in the world for you. For breakfast, perhaps get a cheap but healthy whole grain cereal and put sliced fruit on top

When you have no money and you're heading down the drain, please eat as healthy as you can. It keeps your morale up (read: keeps you from being as depressed) and gives your body the energy and wherewithal it needs to get you out.

I promise, it's really not that hard to cook your own food. It's cheaper, you're treating yourself better, and it doesn't take as long as you think it's going to.

Contessa's 0.02

[KitanaBlades]

I have Cricket. I pay $55 bucks a month for EVERYTHING. I also have an Android phone...it kicks SERIOUS ass. I also know that Cricket has a LIFELINE program in some states already.

You can find out about Cricket LifeLine services here...


I also know Verizon offers Linkup America and LifeLine programs. It's for cell service and home phone...




I also know that Sprint has one too where you can get a phone, a $75 credit too...I attached the document to apply. It is for PA - but I know they have them in other states.

[bubblegumbitch]

http://plans.boostmobile.com/blackberry.aspx

if you get the blackberry curve from boost. for unlimited use, you can stay connected to your internet business with the use of your smart phone and only pay $60 per month and the longer you use it, your bill can shrink down to $45 per month. it runs off the sprint network so, it uses the sprint towers and works like a sprint phone. i am switching to this as soon as i am in the position to get the phone, which will be soon. it is like $180 but well worth it after you buy it. you can even tax it off for your business.

EDIT: you can even keep your old number when you switch over, which you cannot do with other boost phones.
also this for the US, i don't know if boost will do for outside of the US.

[sweetheather]

I don't know if you have it elsewhere, but here in AZ our electric/water supplier SRP gives the option of having a pre-paid electric box. you load money onto and it doesn't get taxed like a traditional bill is. Me and my boyfriend have saved a ton of money since switching and it made us much more conscious of our power usage.

[Zinaida]

+1 on Cricket, I stuck with my little Cricket flip phone for a couple years. Unlimited texting and minutes for under $50 a month! If it weren't for the fact that I had virtually NO service in my home I would still have it.

+1 on not eating out. This was probably my biggest money drain. Would you rather spend $40 on one meal or 5?

Stop shopping!!! Before you buy something ask yourself if you'll still be just as crazy about it two years from now. Ask yourself how long it will last, is it overpriced, is it a cheap POS that will fall apart within a year..... And stop buying work supplies! Like clothes and toys and shit.... So many girls spend their paycheck on cam outfits and toys.... Get a wishlist and have the guys buy you shit.

Downsize. If you live alone do you really need more than a studio or a one bedroom?

A big one I think is realizing that just because you have the dollar amount for something does NOT mean you can afford it. If you have $800 dollars to your name you can NOT afford a $100 purse.

Live austerely until you at least have a decent-sized emergency fund. You will feel so much better.

[KitanaBlades]

Well - I HAVE to have a house...like not a big house...a small house...I can't do apartments. lol.

But I am simplistic...I do like small 1 BR or small 2BR even a duplex.

[Zinaida]

You CAN'T do apartments or you WON'T?

[Arialandre]

Really? Why do you HAVE to have a house, i find that interesting. I CAN'T do basement suites. Can't and won't. They are too dark, not enough natural light and trigger my depression. Plus the idea of living in someones basement would make me feel like shit about myself. So I'm interested to know why you have to have a house.

[laurielegs]

For me, focusing on making more money has been what has helped me.

Controlling your spending is great, but by far the thing that has helped me the most is realizing no matter how much I tightened my belt, no matter how much I downsized, I needed to be bringing in more money, period. Run multiple sites at the same time if you have to (I highly recommend it if you can), try different sites, try different strategies, whatever you need to do to get more per hour worked and more total $.

Also realize that your total money you have left when bills are paid is what counts, so don't let yourself slack off if you make a lot in one day - concentrate on your weekly total or monthly total.

[ShellyConnors]

Atlanta, Georgia Utility Bill Assistance

I believe it is once every calendar year, if you can prove you are broke and your electricity or other utility bills are shut off or at risk of being shut off, you can get them taken care of. Same day service is available. It might be state wide, I don't know for sure, but I know it works for Georgia Power.

http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.or...%20Assistance~

[bubblegumbitch]

Really? Why do you HAVE to have a house, i find that interesting. I CAN'T do basement suites. Can't and won't. They are too dark, not enough natural light and trigger my depression. Plus the idea of living in someones basement would make me feel like shit about myself. So I'm interested to know why you have to have a house.

i know, that i HAVE to have a house cuz an aparment wouldn't do for me. i live in michigan and they make apartments so damn cheap here, that my neighbors would get a great audio show. but i have found that for a standard 1 bedroom house, it isn't much more than a 1 bedroom apartment if not the same price. so for me, the house option works best.

[KitanaBlades]

You CAN'T do apartments or you WON'T?

I won't...they aren't feasible with me...I like to be alone without anyone around and feel private with my conditions.

Only because I get really paranoid with people around and with apartments I don't like the fact some walls are paper thin.

Not to mention I did the apartments and dorms in school...I hated it.

In PA - houses that are small go for around $400-$450 and that's the same as a studio or a 1BR apt if you like so, you just have to keep your eyes peeled and get on it when they come up. Right now I have a COZY HUGE 2br for $450 and its just awesome.

[KitanaBlades]

Really? Why do you HAVE to have a house, i find that interesting. I CAN'T do basement suites. Can't and won't. They are too dark, not enough natural light and trigger my depression. Plus the idea of living in someones basement would make me feel like shit about myself. So I'm interested to know why you have to have a house.

I won't have one because I DO NOT like to have other people around. With work, I like to have privacy...I do not like my walls paper thin and I like to be able to just have that privacy and not be paranoid...I like MY OWN space and not be c claustrophobic when I am in the middle of a building with 8 other apartments around me...I guess its preference and the part of won't and can't...lol. but I can do it financially to because of where I live. The place I am moving too is a small 2br mobile home and I am getting that for $300+ and that thing is a HILTON in the country.

Besides, I have found plenty of small houses in the middle of nowhere with no neighbors, on alleys, that are super simplistic, all one level and the cutest and cozy...so, you just have to jump on them.

[roast]

....

[roast]

Also HR Block does not always know WTF they're doing - check out local nonprofits for tax assistance. Those places usually get CPAs, IRS retirees or current IRS workers to help, while HR Block... who knows their qualifications

[minniesoporno]

http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/resources.html

[blkschoolgirl]

I second Contessa's post. I have been going through some tough financial times myself lately and it definitely helps that I've been eating healthy. It's stressful and shitty enough not being able to make ends meet, but so much more so with extra weight gain and bloat from convenience meals. I would recommend stocking up on dried beans. Compared to canned, they are insanely cheaper, better tasting, and healthier. Also, freeze, freeze, freeze! I know you know this, but still. Meat is expensive, so whenever I see good deals I buy and freeze for later. Here is a link to the USDAs chart for how long to freeze:http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/...zing/index.asp

I've cut cable out completely and use Comcast's $20/month internet. When I started it was $20 for a year (it may be for six months now) and whenever that time was up, I'd call and bitch about switching providers and they've continued to let me pay $20. YMMV. I have an upload speed of 4.12 mb/s and I rarely have connection problems. Now I torrent all of my shows and stream them from my PC to TV using Tversity Media Server through my Xbox 360. Now I can watch HD content for free!

[BeautifulDisaster]

If you do cut out cable, but NEED your movies/tv shows then I highly recommend checking out Netflix. I pay $8/month and it connects from my fiance's Xbox 360 all the movies/tv shows we want to watch.. sure you won't be able to watch things as soon as they come out, but you should be able to eventually and you are saving lots of money. I believe for $2 more/month you get DVD's as well, so if you're looking for the latest season of your tv show and it's not available through your xbox/playstation/computer, etc then it might be available on DVD through Netflix.

[tropicalust]

In PA - houses that are small go for around $400-$450 and that's the same as a studio or a 1BR apt if you like so, you just have to keep your eyes peeled and get on it when they come up. Right now I have a COZY HUGE 2br for $450 and its just awesome.

Whattt?? lucky you! where I live I can get a bathroom for that price lol.

[bubblegumbitch]

if you absolutely cannot get a bank account cuz you are on the chex systems then get an accountnow card. it is a prepaid debit card, that works like a bank account and helps build your credit up again. your can pay your bills online with it and receive your checks on it as well. i just got this card and it is really awesome for those who cannot get a regular bank account.
http://www.accountnow.com/

[tropicalust]

if you absolutely cannot get a bank account cuz you are on the chex systems then get an accountnow card. it is a prepaid debit card, that works like a bank account and helps build your credit up again. your can pay your bills online with it and receive your checks on it as well. i just got this card and it is really awesome for those who cannot get a regular bank account.
http://www.accountnow.com/

Sounds interesting, what about the fees?