Having technical difficulties...

Unfortunately, due to the economic melt down & the rising costs of nearly everything, my finances aren't in the greatest shape. So when my monster of a 19" CRT monitor started dying, I did my best to keep it going. It's been over a year now and things haven't been easy.

In the last month it's gotten a whole lot worse. The screen fades out till it's so blurry that nothing can be seen. I don't know what is causing it. I've been told it's my GeForce graphics card that is messing it up (I have an adapter on it to use this monitor.) I've been told that the CRT is just too old and giving out. I've gotten lots of advice...but nothing is working and I need to have a monitor.

I may be getting one since a friend of the family is being very sweet and picking one up to send out.

But till it gets here I'm still going to have to fight with this one. It's difficult to do much of anything on it and I'm thinking I may just find another computer to do my writing on and mail it to myself so I can get it later onto my computer. Monitors are so often taken for granted until they stop working. Can't do much if you can't see what you're doing - right?

It's bad enough that my vision is slowly fading, I don't need my window to the world going the same way. I have been struggling to make some extra money online. To find a way to bring in a steady income flow to supplement my SSI so that when my sight finally does go out, like I've been told it will eventually, there will be money to keep things going here at home. I've been doing every little freelance job I could handle and try to earn enough each year to get my points for Social Security.

That way maybe I'll be able to qualify for both and be able to get enough money to keep my family going after my vision goes dark.

I'm going to miss the visual world, as well as the virtual ones I love to play in. As an artist I love to see all the wonderful graphics and elements that go into the mmo & rpg style games. But I will have to find some way to be productive after I lose my sight, I just don't know what I will be able to do. So being able to have a working monitor so that I can somehow find a way to make some money online, that's important to me. I don't know any other way that I can physically make money right now. Not with my disabilities keeping me grounded and visually limited...

But I am not one to give up...I will find something, some how to bring in some income for my family. Where there is a mind, there is a way to find the answers...

Hope everyone enjoys the extra day weekend - and have fun grilling for those that are able to do it.

Carpe Diem!

Bailing out a Sinking Financial Boat

I've been struggling since last Dec. with things changing drastically for the worst financially. But we're still trying to stay positive and do all we can to keep moving forward.

We've been scrapping metal, gathering cans, metal junk from around the neighborhood to make a bit extra to help with paying the bills. Unfortunately, my disability money covers very little now. With no increase this year and the costs all going up, it's to be expected.

The mortgage went up almost a hundred due to some escrow imbalance. So far the modification I've been trying to get to reduce the 10.84% APR hasn't gone anywhere. I've been told that this is way too high and that I needed to fight to get it adjusted. I admit, it would be easier to pay the utilities, if the mortgage wasn't so high.

I've been searching Craigslist for gigs, free items and putting ads in to get rid of things. My oven died last Nov. and I've not been able to replace it yet. The stove top still works, but I miss baking for the Holidays. Even though we don't have too much, I've been getting things together to give away to other families in need. Especially with the Holidays coming I've been getting together with some people online to make sure that they have a little something for the kids under the tree.

I've been able to keep going with help from family, friends and being very financially thrifty with what money I get. I make a little over 1K a month in cash IF the child support comes in. Last year I got a dollar for Dec. - which made the month even harder to get through. I've used MyPoints for the last year to get Walmart gift cards with the points I earn to help with cash items that we needed. But it does take a while to get up enough points to redeem those gift cards.

I've been a web/print designer for over a decade. I've done wedding packages, funeral packages, business cards and created websites too. But the economy isn't recovered enough to help me out in that area much now. So I have to find other ways to try and earn some extra money online. It isn't easy. There's a lot of things online that are too good to be true, but are very tempting. So you have to keep on your toes and trust that little voice not to fall for all the hype.

I don't know how things are going to continue on from here. But no matter what happens, my family will keep working at moving forward and staying afloat no matter what. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read my posts. 

Carpe Diem!

Moving forward can be difficult sometimes.

There's some road blocks keeping me from moving forward and it's getting harder to deal with them. One of the road blocks is my servicing company, Litton Loan. Not only have they raised my mortgage payment, they are doing all they can to deny me a modification on that mortgage.
Despite HUD councilors and other financial aid workers stating that I definitely qualify for a modification.
The trouble is it could get even worse if I don't get this mortgage reduced and the 10.84% dropped soon. I will be losing some of my income in just a few more months, if I'm lucky, it may not happen for a few more years. But I am going to lose $355 in income soon, with only my SSI of $674/month left to live on.

The mortgage payments for now are about $570/month which leaves very little to pay for the utilities. It's also got to cover the basics - tp, foil, wrap or bags, all soaps, sponges, health care items, etc. Which I can't always cover right now.
Later it's going to be impossible unless I have that income replaced or I find a way to reduce or both. Currently, Litton says I'm 2 months behind on the payments - I say 1 payment, but it doesn't matter, they are always right. Even when they are wrong - they make you pay for it anyhow.

So that would be a total of $1,140 plus fees that I will have to pay. I'm trying to find some freelance work I can do via the computer online. I've done many things over they years, I've many skills and knowledge to tap into if I could just figure out how to use it online to make some money.
There are so many scams and so called "ez money" programs. There are guru's making fortunes online and offering tons of systems for others to learn. It would just be nice to have someone tell me one simple way to make money online and it actually work. Without waiting months, without studying ebooks and videos, without having to set up some complicated system that might make $10 in a few months. I want something that I can do a couple hours a day, that will bring in money regularly.

I don't want to be another scammer selling junk to newbies either. I want to feel good about what I offer and what I'm doing.

Another way that I could get out of this pickle I'm in with Litton Loan, is if someone buys the mortgage. That way I pay them and not Litton anymore. Hopefully I would get someone that will be fair and allow me the much needed funds to fix up the place. Right now, I can't afford to even fix the leaky sink faucet.
The amount owed would be more than what is listed on my paperwork, but the principle that's listed is $39,899.87 - the appraised value is in the $40's - though in 2008 it was appraised at $60k - at least its not "underwater" as so many other home loans are today.

I would love to get some property up north, VA, TN, WV, in the area of the Blue Ridge Mts. Something I have always dreamed of doing is getting a piece of land, have a place on it and live off the grid eventually.
I wouldn't mind having a DW put on and then set up a garden, creating a pond to stock and setting up ways to collect green energy. Wind, water, sun and thermal...hydroponics, water catch basin and more.  I've missed living off the land and yet I know I'll still have to be somewhat close to some kind of store and bank.
Five acres would allow horses, which I'd need for a wagon or buggy. Mules would do too, but they tend to have some attitude issues. Chickens, goats, rabbits and a cow would be nice - if the bills are low enough then I could afford to hire a person to help out. I've a lot of knowledge on how to grow crops, comb wool and make money from the products and by-products produced.

Right now, the stress involved with living here and trying to scrap by just to survive is making me ill. It's also complicating other health issues. I know that somehow, I have to reduce the stress and make changes in my life that won't be easy. The problem is that I know I can't make them alone. I am going to need help to do the things that need to be done.

I'm thankful for all the help I've received already from very dear friends and from those online that are my cyberpals. Their encouragement and support are very helpful to me. This part of my journey has been very bumpy and rough. But I trust that somehow, someway that I will get past it with a little help from those who decide to step in to lend a hand. No one gets anywhere all on their own, we all need someone at some point to give us a hand up.

If anyone has any ideas, suggestions or advice - pass it on. I welcome any help of any kind, when it comes to helping my family get by, there is no reason not to ask for help when you need it.

Hope that your journey is clear of blocks or bumps, may your path be one of sunny days and warm breezes.
Take care and safe journey to you...Carp Diem!