Clair de la Lune
January 12th, 2009, 12:53 PM
I know that these are scary times for everybody, pretty much. So why am I asking for help? It is because my rock, my foundation, the ones I have always leaned on and depended on my whole life (I am disabled) are in financial trouble and it is shaking me up, that is why.
My parents are about to be 61 years old. My Dad is working what used to be a very lucrative job in the auto industry which took a lot of training, schooling, and skills to do. He got paid well for it and could work all the overtime he wanted, much of the time it was mandatory anyway, the company was doing so well. Now that the auto industry has taken such a hit, they are saying that there will be no overtime for at least 1 1/2 years! Benefits are being cut back and bonuses dropped. My Mom is disabled too. She is not on Disability because she didn't work to raise me and couldn't by the time I grew up. She will only get 1/2 my Dad's Social Security (and I think that is if he dies). They won't have health insurance if he retires. Worst of all, the retirement fund that he has been working so hard toward is his 401K, and that is nearly wiped out with the stock market the way it is!! He can't sock away the money he was toward building it back up since the paychecks are smaller. It was what they were going to live on when he retired in just a few short years and what they were going to pay medicine costs and medical bills with. Now it's mostly gone!!!
They had to take out a mortgage on their house that was already paid for. If my Dad works until he is 75 years old, they will be able to pay it off. That was certainly NOT part of their original plan! Who wants (or will be able) to do that?! The money has been spent paying their bills that they were going to use to put in a 3 season porch and put in an above ground pool with. They have SOME of the materials for it. Now the material will just be in the way. I have NEVER seen them take a vacation or do anything fun. They have always gone without to do for me. They had always volunteered for my school and made sure I had what I needed, and donated to various charities, needy children, and homeless pets. I wish there was a way I could give something back to them!
Please if you can spare any extra energy for them, please do. They are NOT the kind of people to ask ANYONE for any kind of help.
Thank you,
:hugz:
Clair
My parents are about to be 61 years old. My Dad is working what used to be a very lucrative job in the auto industry which took a lot of training, schooling, and skills to do. He got paid well for it and could work all the overtime he wanted, much of the time it was mandatory anyway, the company was doing so well. Now that the auto industry has taken such a hit, they are saying that there will be no overtime for at least 1 1/2 years! Benefits are being cut back and bonuses dropped. My Mom is disabled too. She is not on Disability because she didn't work to raise me and couldn't by the time I grew up. She will only get 1/2 my Dad's Social Security (and I think that is if he dies). They won't have health insurance if he retires. Worst of all, the retirement fund that he has been working so hard toward is his 401K, and that is nearly wiped out with the stock market the way it is!! He can't sock away the money he was toward building it back up since the paychecks are smaller. It was what they were going to live on when he retired in just a few short years and what they were going to pay medicine costs and medical bills with. Now it's mostly gone!!!
They had to take out a mortgage on their house that was already paid for. If my Dad works until he is 75 years old, they will be able to pay it off. That was certainly NOT part of their original plan! Who wants (or will be able) to do that?! The money has been spent paying their bills that they were going to use to put in a 3 season porch and put in an above ground pool with. They have SOME of the materials for it. Now the material will just be in the way. I have NEVER seen them take a vacation or do anything fun. They have always gone without to do for me. They had always volunteered for my school and made sure I had what I needed, and donated to various charities, needy children, and homeless pets. I wish there was a way I could give something back to them!
Please if you can spare any extra energy for them, please do. They are NOT the kind of people to ask ANYONE for any kind of help.
Thank you,
:hugz:
Clair