Yes, It's Wednesday...
...and here's the deal.
As anyone who's read this journal (or my personal journal, whyspered moments) for at least 6 months knows, we live in a money pit. We pay over $900 for rent, and there's no insulation and a problem with a water pipe under the house (which has flooded the place two or three times over the last 8 years), so we pay $300-400 just for water, gas, and electricity. I've also complained a bit on whysper about the "repairs" that are (not) being done, and how the house has become something of a health hazard for all of us. The water issue is just one example: the water leaked into the house for well over a week. The landlord never had it fixed but had us put this sealant on around the baseboard instead. Then it took him another week to do anything about the carpet, which was to tell us to tear out half of it. In the meantime, my carpet steamer finally broke because we had to use it to attempt to pull up as much water as possible, and I was dealing with mold and mildew, which I'm allergic to. That's just one of many problems that has resulted from his spit and duct tape method of repairs. We've stayed for two reasons: we couldn't save enough to get out (biggest), and he worked with us on when to pay rent. Because of him, we didn't land on the street.
I've mentioned in previous posts that our hope has been to use the tax return this year to get out of here. Also mentioned that if it wasn't possible, we'd hang on one more year and try again next tax season, but we weren't particularly happy with that. We found a place, but didn't qualify for the traditional RTO because some of our income (a rather large chunk, actually) isn't documented: my son's child support has never been court ordered, my husband's second job is on 1099s for the moment. Yet, somehow just by being polite, I impressed the man (D) we've been talking with about this house, and now he's going out of his way to try to help us buy the place. He's found a person who will get us the loan, and he's working with us on the down payment. We're going to pay $2000 up front, and our first month's payment will be added to that. This leaves us $750 short.
We have some time to get this money together, so I'm doing a ChipIn. I know I've done 2 or 3 of these over the last few years to get us through some really rough spots, so I know people are probably tired of them. I'm not even expecting the full $750 with this, but anything would help. When we move, we can't take half our furniture with us: the house hasn't been bug bombed in the 8 years we've been here, so the mattresses are bug motels. We have to check for water damage and other issues with everything else. We will almost be starting over, only most people don't start over by buying a house.
The house is almost $200 less in rent, it's insulated (newly so) which should significantly reduce utilities (since the heat and air won't be evaporating out the walls), it has wood floors (which will help with my dust allergies), and lots of windows and natural light (which will help with the SAD). And we DON'T need to pay pet deposits (which is good since our tax return was less than we'd hoped and that was going to be the biggest challenge). This house will help us financially and put us in a healthier environment. And we'd be BUYING it.
So, if you can help, you'd be putting us in a much better place. I have no way to repay anyone any help they give, but I can tell you I'd appreciate it more than anything.
We are looking into other options for the money as well, so we're not just begging for help. If we get anything above that $750, it'll help replace furniture (though we already know we won't have anything for the living room at all for awhile, lol), starting with those bug motel mattresses. We're putting most of our next few paychecks into it as well.
I really want this house. Even more, I want out of the nightmare house that's been making us and our animals sick, and making it impossible to get on our feet even when Chef has a job.
And to anyone who donates: thank you so very much. I can't even begin to tell you what this will mean for us and how much we appreciate it.
And please, feel free to pass the word along.
(And if you can't see the ChipIn, please let me know! Thanks! I already know it either has trouble updating or the updating is really delayed. Think I had problems with that before.)
(Originally posted Feb. 15th.)
~~~
most recent
whysper bumpety-bump :: journeys Writing In Crises
the chef's wife Cranberry Sauce
As anyone who's read this journal (or my personal journal, whyspered moments) for at least 6 months knows, we live in a money pit. We pay over $900 for rent, and there's no insulation and a problem with a water pipe under the house (which has flooded the place two or three times over the last 8 years), so we pay $300-400 just for water, gas, and electricity. I've also complained a bit on whysper about the "repairs" that are (not) being done, and how the house has become something of a health hazard for all of us. The water issue is just one example: the water leaked into the house for well over a week. The landlord never had it fixed but had us put this sealant on around the baseboard instead. Then it took him another week to do anything about the carpet, which was to tell us to tear out half of it. In the meantime, my carpet steamer finally broke because we had to use it to attempt to pull up as much water as possible, and I was dealing with mold and mildew, which I'm allergic to. That's just one of many problems that has resulted from his spit and duct tape method of repairs. We've stayed for two reasons: we couldn't save enough to get out (biggest), and he worked with us on when to pay rent. Because of him, we didn't land on the street.
I've mentioned in previous posts that our hope has been to use the tax return this year to get out of here. Also mentioned that if it wasn't possible, we'd hang on one more year and try again next tax season, but we weren't particularly happy with that. We found a place, but didn't qualify for the traditional RTO because some of our income (a rather large chunk, actually) isn't documented: my son's child support has never been court ordered, my husband's second job is on 1099s for the moment. Yet, somehow just by being polite, I impressed the man (D) we've been talking with about this house, and now he's going out of his way to try to help us buy the place. He's found a person who will get us the loan, and he's working with us on the down payment. We're going to pay $2000 up front, and our first month's payment will be added to that. This leaves us $750 short.
We have some time to get this money together, so I'm doing a ChipIn. I know I've done 2 or 3 of these over the last few years to get us through some really rough spots, so I know people are probably tired of them. I'm not even expecting the full $750 with this, but anything would help. When we move, we can't take half our furniture with us: the house hasn't been bug bombed in the 8 years we've been here, so the mattresses are bug motels. We have to check for water damage and other issues with everything else. We will almost be starting over, only most people don't start over by buying a house.
The house is almost $200 less in rent, it's insulated (newly so) which should significantly reduce utilities (since the heat and air won't be evaporating out the walls), it has wood floors (which will help with my dust allergies), and lots of windows and natural light (which will help with the SAD). And we DON'T need to pay pet deposits (which is good since our tax return was less than we'd hoped and that was going to be the biggest challenge). This house will help us financially and put us in a healthier environment. And we'd be BUYING it.
So, if you can help, you'd be putting us in a much better place. I have no way to repay anyone any help they give, but I can tell you I'd appreciate it more than anything.
We are looking into other options for the money as well, so we're not just begging for help. If we get anything above that $750, it'll help replace furniture (though we already know we won't have anything for the living room at all for awhile, lol), starting with those bug motel mattresses. We're putting most of our next few paychecks into it as well.
I really want this house. Even more, I want out of the nightmare house that's been making us and our animals sick, and making it impossible to get on our feet even when Chef has a job.
And to anyone who donates: thank you so very much. I can't even begin to tell you what this will mean for us and how much we appreciate it.
And please, feel free to pass the word along.
(And if you can't see the ChipIn, please let me know! Thanks! I already know it either has trouble updating or the updating is really delayed. Think I had problems with that before.)
(Originally posted Feb. 15th.)
~~~
most recent
whysper bumpety-bump :: journeys Writing In Crises
the chef's wife Cranberry Sauce