“I can’t afford to keep my pet…help!”
It can happen in a flash and to any household… job lay-off, medical emergencies, eviction or home foreclosure. These financial or family crises are scary enough but add to it the thought that you might have to give up your faithful companion and it can send you over the edge.
- First, take a breath and take a few minutes to assess your situation. Sit down and actually make a list of all your current monthly household income and all your monthly bills. Be specific; even listing your daily Starbucks java and recreational expenditures.
- Second, look at the lists carefully. From those lists make a new list of your bills only putting down the necessity bill; what you truly need to meet your household’s basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, utilities etc.).
Now look at the new list compared to your household income. Many folks find that by actually seeing their budget in black and white they see “extras” that are eating up their funds. A prime example; buying a daily paper and large latte everyday at a “coffee hut” adds up to over $28.00 per week! Some simple “cut backs” could include dropping television packages to the basic package, going back to just one phone instead of a land line plus a cell phone, back to dial-up instead of high speed internet, car-pooling to work, only going “fast food” once a week - you get the point!
Once you see the real numbers you may be ok, but if not check out our “Emergency Resources” page to see if there is something available that can help you through.