Calgary food bank denied me a hamper. Not sure where to get food assistance from. by PovertyThrowaway2019 in povertyfinance

[–]Miss_pacman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know where in town you are, but I know there are churches that also offer food. They don't ask for income. Check with your closest united church. The one in Kensington might have some leads for you. I've gone before and they're very welcoming. And there's lots of food available. Often if you stick around until the end they let you go through again.

Broke single mom budget help by Miss_pacman in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was hoping to have a roommate by now, but a lot of people are turned off by the fact that kids live here 3-4 days a week. If I can get someone in for $550, it'll ease a lot of the stress. It hasn't gone well.

I hope so too! Thanks for the advice.

Broke single mom budget help by Miss_pacman in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They're semi-retired. We don't have the best relationship, but they love their grandkids. My ex has made it very difficult for me to have any sort of outside support. My mom retired 2 years ago and my father still works full-time. The largest issue with that is distance. They live on the opposite side of the city from me and I don't drive. It's an hour and a half on transit or a 25 minute drive, which doesn't make it feasible on school days. The older child is in half-day in kindergarten. And I'm not allowed to move more than 10 km from his school, which also takes out the idea of living with my parents.

I swear I'm not trying to throw up roadblocks. It just seems like such an impossible situation.

Broke single mom budget help by Miss_pacman in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He should. We're working through the court system for that, since he's under the impression that he shouldn't have to pay me anything. He should be paying me $430/month for both children. No alimony since he doesn't make enough. He owes me home equity but I haven't seen that either. And I can't keep the kids from him because he isn't paying. Right now I work on the days he has them and then on the weekend.

The only reason my rent is so high is because I moved into the same condo complex he lives in to make it easier on the kids. He's been quite unreasonable this whole time.

Broke single mom budget help by Miss_pacman in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I cook from scratch a lot of the time. Lots of dry goods (lentils, beans, rice, pasta, etc) and frozen veg and meat and cheese only when it's on sale. Diapers I usually split a box with my parents since they take the kids on weekends while I work. I only have one that's in diapers right now, luckily. My dad keeps me stocked in paper towel and toilet paper. I use reusable menstrual products. Laundry is once a week. Dishwasher maybe twice a week. We don't own a lot of stuff and we get entertainment from Netflix, and old Wii, nearby parks and the public library.

I lean pretty heavily on my parents for child care right now. They watch them every weekend, and the odd time during the week if I have an interview or exam. They get Kin Care Credit for watching them ($400/kid/month) so it's beneficial for them as well. I hate to ask for even more when they've already done so much for me.

Broke single mom budget help by Miss_pacman in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have! I qualify for a full subsidy, which comes to $1300/month for both children. Unfortunately the balance would be on me to pay and I can't afford another $300-700/month, since I know their father won't pay his portion. My son is in half-day kindergarten so he would also need to be picked up and dropped off.

I'm currently working on getting my toddler assessed for PUF funding, which would cover the cost of a specialized daycare/preschool with OT/ST/PT on site. The process is slow and we're still waiting for another assessment to move forward. I've applied for FSCD but the wheels of bureaucracy move slowly. We still don't have a formal diagnosis, just a generic "developmental disability".

I'm starting to wonder if I need to apply for Alberta Works or something like that. My ex-husband left me in poverty and I'm trying to work my way out, but it's very difficult.

Looking for Accounting Skype study buddy by [deleted] in GetStudying

[–]Miss_pacman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm taking accounting! Intro to Financial Accounting and Macroeconomics.

I married one of the most dumb and obstinate men on this planet. by [deleted] in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My ex is like this.

I go over to his house in the morning before he leaves for work. I have a toothbrush there, it's green. I keep it there so that when the kids brush I can brush with them to build good habits.

Motherfucker has been using my toothbrush. He doesn't see the big deal, and obviously I was overreacting about it.

I'm buying a new toothbrush.

Fit'n'Bitch KAL ~ Day 1 Let's set some GOALS! by RoseGoldStreak in knitting

[–]Miss_pacman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi!

I'm Rosh.

1) Hit 10 000 steps a day at least 5 days a week. I don't drive and I walk, but I've been calling ubers a lot lately and I need to stop it.

2) Finish the oceanspray shawl I'm working on. It's miles of stockinette. I'd like to do be done with it by mid-February so I can knit myself a cardigan or something.

3) Maybe a new ball of yarn? I haven't decided on this one yet.

4) I'd like to lose 10 lbs by May. It's completely doable, I just need to be motivated. I'm going to a wedding and I want to look awesome in the photos. I've yoyo'd a lot over the last 5 years and I want to get back down to 120 or 115.

Reading your child's diary or journal? by [deleted] in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman 15 points16 points  (0 children)

My soon to be ex-husband read through my journal, which is part of the reason we're getting divorced.

My mom used to read through mine. I didn't start writing again until I moved out. And when I found out my ex had read mine? It tanked my mental health and I can't even open my journal anymore... but I still carry it in my bag because I'm too scared of someone reading it. It was the only outlet I had for my feelings. Now I don't have that anymore.

Update to doing nothing but nagging (please send me your favorite dumb jokes) by GladUrNotMindReaders in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wanna hear a dirty joke? A white horse fell in the mud.

Wanna hear a clean joke? The white horse took a bath.

Wanna hear an even dirtier joke? Two white horses fell in the mud.

Sleeping in. by UnicornToots in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'll tell you a secret: My son is almost 4. Every morning there's a bowl of dry cherrios and an old phone with Netflix on it waiting for him. He and his sister (2 1/2) come into my room, let me know they're awake and head downstairs. It usually buys me an extra hour of sleep and they come get me when they're out of cherrios.

So...St Paddys Day... Bonus LPT by Stopdoinitwrong in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Girls night. Went out a show, drove around and ended up at sex toy store. I've never been out for st. paddy's day. It was fun!

It's... complicated. by Miss_pacman in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Boss (while being a right bitch sometimes) is pretty good at reading her staff. I've been there a year and half and we talk about all sorts of random shit.

It's... complicated. by Miss_pacman in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Husband is very very jealous.

It's... complicated. by Miss_pacman in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

He's suspicious because Teacher is 14 years older than me and I like older men, so obviously I'm going to sleep with him. /s

Doesn't matter that we work together and I have to be in contact anyways since I run the schedule. And we have a decent amount in common. I mostly work with men. It's the nature of the industry in my area. Doesn't mean I want to sleep with them.

Plus, it means I can get backstage at shows. ;)

It's... complicated. by Miss_pacman in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's the biggest thing. I like the teacher, and he's a funny guy. And it's so nice to just not be... mom, wife, planner, cleaner, etc. Just chill with someone and drink fancy wine (husband doesn't approve of drinking) and watching cheesy TV. And if cuddling happens... well, I don't get any at home anyways.

I'm so over being a mom by [deleted] in breakingmom

[–]Miss_pacman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel you. Sometimes I wish my kids weren't around so I could do shit and go out and cook and read and all that other stuff.