This is not happening ! I keep hoping to wake from this nightmare called my life. My plight started when I was working as a mechanic. I injured my back at work in 92. I was off work for almost a year recovering through pysical therapy. While recovering I was informed that my tool boxes were broken into. Someone at work found an opportunity to steal my tools . I was not able to work and the amount of my income was drastically reduced by workmans comp. I lost my apartment , moved my stuff into a storage unit ( with help from friends ). I stayed with friends for as long as they would allow. I started living out of my car and occasionally got a hotel. I have a 30% permenant disability. After I was cleared to return to work, I could not work as a mechanic without tools. I was let go! I took on different jobs to make ends meet. I never got back to a reasonable income. In 2000 a long term friend of the family took me in. He was 74 at the time. I found a job working for an alarm co. installing residential / commercial burg & fire systems. It was a family owned bus. They had to let go of workers due to money problems within. The elderly man I was living with had rental properties and was growing tired of managing them, so he placed them in my care. This arrangement worked for 10 years. He recently sold the properties and moved into a retirement home. This was not good for me. In a time of economic recession I am sinking fast. I have almost exhausted my savings. This is putting a huge strain on my relationship with my live in girlfriend. I am working 40 hrs a week with some overtime available, but at 10.50 an hour I am not able to handle the load from rent, food, fuel, utilities, insurance, and of course my 15,000 + dollars in credit card debt . I do not want to lose my girlfriend , she is talking about breaking up with me . She is a nurse with a masters degree and makes a good income . She is paying on her student loans of $ 30,000.00 .She also has 2 boys that she supports that live with their father . She has 2 other children from a previous marriage that are overseas in the army . One is a female who got preganant while in the military 2 years 9 months ago . My girlfriend is 44 and has been raising her grandson since his birth . He lives with us and his presence is adding to our stress .She is not able to support all this and me . I need money so bad right now and a break to find a higher paying job / career . I have no one else to turn to . The elderly man is on a fixed income and unable to assist . I used my credit card to purchase the $ 35.00 option to post my story on this site in hopes of getting a faster response . I have read some of the other stories on this site , and yes I know there are other people worse off than myself . If I could help them , I would ! I am not able to keep myself from sliding into a pit of dispair . My mother is my only parent alive and she is on a fixed income from Social Security of 1,500.00 a month . She is very concerned for my well being . If there is anyone who can understand and impathize with my situation and help , it would be greatly appreciated . I have never thrown my troubles on the backs of others , but I am getting desperate now , and I am loosing control of my life . If I lose my girlfriend , I will be devastated . She is the one thing in my life I cannot live without . I have sold everything of value of mine , except my car to help with my debt. I wish I had taken steps earlier in life to ensure a better life in the future. I would like to go to school for a new career , but with my job , mowing lawns , and other side jobs I cannot commit to school. I am so scared. I am a 47 year old male and I am admitting that I am terrorfied of the impending doom and gloom that is comming my way. Someone please help !!!!
