You have definitely made choices that have a huge impact on your lifestyle and not everyone is willing to do that. But it is definitely a challenge to rethink what we think is a necessity and what is in actuality only a want…..

My husband and I just graduated college a couple years ago and then got married and we have been struggling like everyone else who graduated college. Every employer wants experience but how is a college grad suppose to have experience? God did eventually bless us with a job about 6 months after graduation, but it was still not enough to even have our own apartment. We had to simplify by living with his parents and we are still living there now. Thank the Lord that now after 2 years from graduating college, my husband will have a job in one month as an Airman in the Air Force. I truly believe though, that if more Americans chose to not be so selfish but to be a single income family it would open up more jobs for more families. Yes some would have to downsize from that large house, but it would give others a fighting chance.

I know that it’s hard to ask for help, but it may be time to see if there are community resources that you could use. There is probably a food bank in your area that would make it so that you don’t have to go hungry. I know how hard it is to walk into a place like that, but for many people food bank use is temporary. You are not alone. According to Feed America, “in 2010, 48.8 million Americans lived in food insecure households”. Almost 49 million people – that is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population. I don’t know where you live, but 9 US states have higher than the national average when it comes to people who have issues putting food on the table. Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Florida, California and North Carolina are all above average. So if you live in one of these areas, you’re really REALLY not alone.

Food is the most important thing, so deal with it first. Let the food bank help. Many food banks can also point you to other community services. They might know of a clinic where you can get your finger treated. If it would help to talk privately to a mentor we have free, confidential mentoring available by email. Simply use this form to request a mentor.