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I would caution against any type of short term loan through "check advances", etc. Those types of agencies generally charge an interest rate that is even above your bank. If you have direct deposit, a great many banks will allow a check advance for a small fee (smaller then most loan companies). It can be great for covering bills that come outside of your pay area. Meaning, you know you have monies for the electric bill but your check won't be in for 5 days. So, you advance the amount you need on a direct-deposit amount, pay the bill, and pay a small fee when the bank takes out the monies. (You don't want to do this all of the time, but it will help in pinches).

The other thing to do is budget. I know that this is something that most people don't want to hear when they feel "I don't have enough monies", but chances are you probably have a lot of money that is hidden. Meaning, eating out three times may have taken $60 dollars before you knew it. That same $60 could have been spent at a place like Aldis (we have them here in this state and I'm pretty sure they are making their way across the United State) bringing in enough food for two or three weeks. It's all on how you decide to spend your monies.

I agree that everyone needs time out, time away, but you have to plan for it. The thing that should be in your mind is "Pay my bills first" and whatever is left over is for you.

I also agree with Helpinghand, that you need to learn to take care of yourself. It doesn't mean you can't ask for help, but if you are constantly relying on other people to take care of you-you never learn to be self-reliant or self-sufficient. It can also cause issues for the agencies you are relying so heavily on. Meaning, if you are always going to your church each week asking for monies for things, they may begin to wonder if you are doing anything to help yourself, and that can ruin the relationship or put a bad taste in it.

I also believe though that we should take care of our neighbors, meaning those that are well off should help their local community members who are not. If we did that across the nation/world we'd not have hungry people, homeless people,etc. It's an idealistic view, as I know full well that there are those unwilling to share, but it's a small view that each one of us on here could take to start changing the society around us. Meaning, if you see a neighbor that has children younger then yours you may ask them if they mind hand-me downs. If they don't, you could bring your clothing from your children to them. We all know children grow so quickly that most of their clothing is in perfect condition. I've even done some long-distance mailing to help those out with clothing before, because I had no one local to give used baby clothing to that needed them at the time. If you know of someone near you whose spouse just lost a job or such you may go over and find out if they need some help getting back on their feet. It's not enabling them, it's helping them through a rough patch. It may mean scouting your offices to see if you have any openings. I've known people before who networked such as this and helped other people find jobs.

It's a chance in perspective. It's getting past always wanting to put yourself first (those who are well off), and starting to put others first. Sometimes this is difficult because society has told us that we should be competitive and not try to help others be successful, but if we change this conciousness we can enter into another way of living.

Just my thoughts for now. Anora

There is a distinction between grant and micro-loan.  I think my point is that everyone, no matter how good or bad things are, should fend for themselves.  Can you get money for free?  Maybe.  But I believe that without responsibility, giving free money away will not help a person.  Are there people who genuinely need and can't survive without welfare or charity?  Yes.  Society should help those who can't help themselves.

But if you can help yourself, you should.  A micro-loan is a small amount of money (it's all relative),  maybe 100 to 1000 dollars but is given for a specific purpose and underlying that is a plan for how to use that money to improve your situation.  Namely, you have to figure out how to dig yourself out of a hole and how and why this money will improve your family's situation.  It should be a longer-term thing, not a short-term one-time I need to pay my electric bill type of thing.  Because you pay your bill this month, what about next month?   So, if things are tough,  there needs to be a change in your game plan.  What is the plan to make your life better?  I can only help so much but you have to take action.

You know the saying about giving a man a fish or teaching him to fish?  I could give you a fish and you wouldn't be hungry today.  But if I help you find your own fish, you can self-sustain yourself.

Thanks for your comment.

I have read your letter. I am happy to know that you are willing to help if only they can prove that they deserve. I am Gars from the Philippines 46 yrs old single parent with 3 kids to care.I am a part time teacher teaching Bar management. Would you believe if I tell you I don't own a house to live in? We only rent a room. 3 days ago Water & electricity was already cut off. My salary is not enough for us. At night I sell foodstuf I sew curtain if someone order. My son is in his third year Nursing tuition fee is high but I tried to find means so we could survive. I am writting you today with tears because yesterday is time for tuition payment I don't have yet the full amount of ten thousand (PH 10,000.00) I went to the Bussiness Office of the school but they will not recieve my Five thousand pesos(PH5,000.00)My concern is my son's education if nsomeone could help him in condition that as soon as he finished school and find job he said he is willing to return the amount extended to him.This internet cafe is my friends bussiness so is free. helpinghand thank you for your concern if you want to check you can con- tact me to this mobile no. +63 09107208716. Thank you for your time reading this long letter. Until next time.

I was waiting for someone to say how can you afford to be on the internet if you have it so bad? First of all, the internet is my main source of entertainment, and hopefully a business in the future! I am a homebody mostly and need to connect to the world somehow! I do NOT have cable tv, just what they call basic minimal cable tv, less than 10 channels I think. I am not a tv watcher much. The internet is my sole means of hopefully getting out of this mess I am in and I have the slowest high speed. I have no other extras. Second, micro-loans are not donations. People will be expected to pay them back. I do not need debt. I need a helping hand from a loving soul out there who has compassion and empathy for a disabled woman living alone who is struggling in this time in her life. I have Lupus & Chron's and numereous other health issues. I am very limited to what I can do. I have no debts and need to keep it that way. Thanks.

I think you've really got a great idea of offering help, and it's great that you have the extra monies to be able to do so during this current economic trial.

You could think about forming a small non-profit organization so that you have a tax ID set up, and that will help others know how you spend the monies, etc. (They are very easy to set up, you simply need to apply for an EIN in your state, and a Federal ID number. They are not costly at all).

After you've set up a non-profit you can then run all background screenings through your non-profit. That's the easiest way to make sure of people's stories. Anyone can get online, come to these sites, and pretend they need help. It's the version of the panhandler on the street corner. Mind you, not all on the street corners are fraud-but we know from investigations that there are many of them that are.

You may want to start taking a look around at your local CAP offices, and other non-profits that help people with monies and see what kind of in-take forms they use to screen clients. (Research is always the best way to get actual evidence, rather then an impartial survey about it).

Good luck to you.

Anora

Welcome. Let's see if I can answer a few things and give you my thinking. Take what you will, as you will.

Getting on the Internet even when money is tight, can be done. And it isn't even that hard. The library has it for free. My sister goes to my dad's and her landlord/friend's computer. Some people can be on it at work or school.

Honestly, to my thinking, you can't KNOW you are helping someone who really needs it and can use it without getting personal or going through one of your local resources and giving them your money.

Here you could look for someone who isn't asking for the moon. Someone who states their case well and has done things to try to move themselves forward.

And I would also check to see if they are reaching out with what they do have to help others. What I mean is, that if they've researched resources or links, have they shared them with others? After all I thought that was the point of this site.

E-mail (through here is suggested by AidPage) the prospective person and talk to them. Ask them your questions. What do you need help with and why. Find out what they plan for the money and their future. Talking to people and getting a feel for them is you best option.

Then trust your gut. If it smells like a scam, back out. Don't make promises to anyone until you are sure. Don't ask for their overly personal info unless you are sure.

And not every need is something that can be squeezed into a budget. Not every need has a group that can cover it. (even more so now days) Not every need has a plan.

I'm going to interject my case in here for example only. We live in our budget and get by. But there is one need in our home that is always hard to find a place for and that doesn't have a lot of out side resources. Therapy aids for my two special needs kids are only covered to a point and the co-pays tend to be out the door. Then you have place that can help with some but have waiting lists years long.

My point is be open to what needs are out there. Try to be, anyway.

I'm glad you asked, are willing to help, and are open to our thoughts.

Anything else, please feel free to contact me. I've been told I'm full of stuff. *grin*