I'm struggling too. I have $15 until Friday and that means no more phone calls until then. I don't qualify for any government assistance and I can't work anymore because of this baby coming any time now. I don't know how I'm going to pay my phone bill this month nor how I'm going to be able to get the cloth diapers I so desperately need because disposable ones are way out of my budget. So I hear ya on how in the world are we ever going to be able to afford anything without being in the street.

Does your husband have friends or family who can help? I can't really rely on my immediate family and I am very skeptical to reach out to much of my extended family only because they are still close with my parents. I don't know how old your son is or what your cost of living is like or if you have a post secondary education, but if you don't have that I would strongly suggest going back to school to get a degree. It is doable and you get a lot of financial help if you're a "single" mom.

Do the cheap shops you will be shocked what you can get there. I also when I've got the money bulk bye stuff like loo paper, washing powder, cleaning stuff. It makes it a little bit easy on me when iam running short on money.
If you can do coupons do it it could save a bit. If you live near a aldis shop you can get basic food stuff there its where I shop a bit.
I hope that's a bit of help for you.

Such you have an Aldi''s in Australia I'm shocked, they just started popping up around her about 2 years ago. Our's doesn't take coupons though.

We don't really have coupons hear.
Yep aldis have been hear for ages its great there and really good for basics....oh and if you get bath towels there they are really good and wash out really well!

Hi, have you applied for social security disability for your special needs son? I'll paste a link for you. How about babysitting or dog walking to earn extra money. Churches sometimes help people out in time of need. A few calls might be worth your time exploring that option.

bambo snipes, is there a home for unwed mothers in your area? The Catholic church may be able to help you with baby needed items.

Going back to school and help from financial aid is a great idea.
Earned income tax credit may be a possibility when you file this year.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf

I live in one of those homes now actually. Disposable diapers are donated but in the house they are an earned item by doing chores, etc. I personally wanted cloth diapers because they are environmentally better and cheaper than using disposables and have been shown to potty train children faster. I have faith in things working out but right now it's hard because my last paycheck comes this Friday and then I have to see what my vacation pay will get me (probably not much).

One of the other things that I do is have a payment plan for things like power, water gas. I called the companies that handle those things and asked if I could pay x amount off per fortnight instead of paying a big lump sum and then trying to work out how to get food and stuff. Maybe its something you could look at?

Its hard :( I had to try move, find a new place and pay the cost to move plus all his bills and mine Its really hard, but just stay focused and plan every dollar out! Try stay ahead, so if you have a spare $5 put it on a bill There is a light at the end of the tunnel :)

Thank you all for your ideas & thoughts. I was expecting my new job to give me 40 hrs a week but I'm only getting 25-30. So I will be looking for another one...so many changes! I already have a very strict budget and shop very carefully, etc. Where I live, rents are high but the pay scale is not- it makes it hard to do it alone. I have to remind myself to take things one day at a time and not panic. We're okay for today, and who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Bambo, is there craigslist or freecycle by you? You could post what you need for your baby and maybe someone out there has it. My friends and I swapped and shared baby things. It's much less expensive that way.

Have you gone to your local food shelves? Ours gives other things besides food, like toilet paper, toothpaste, etc. In our state there are also organizations such as St Vincent de Paul's who will help out with many things. Try Catholic Charities or Lutheran Brotherhood, which I think has changed its name to Trivent, or something like that.

There are organizations out there, you just have to search. In WI, we have agencies through the job centers that actually repair cars, sometimes give you used cars, help get places to live for free or for nothing.

If you were on unemployment before, you can claim the hours you don't work , like if you work 25, they would pay you for the 15 you don't.

Try Salvation Army, and United Way. With your son having special needs there must be organizations out there that would help too.

Oh and if there in for a while talk to them about stopping some of there bills...yep its a pain in the bum but if you talk to your love one about it and explain that you can't addfored 2 lots of bills they should be ok.
Yes I do talk to my man about this and I had to stop a lot of his things from being depted from his bank account. It also means that they will have a bit of money for when they get out.