*deep breath* Okay, I'm embarassed to post anything, and we'll continue to try and work something out, but at the moment I don't know what else to do.
We are a family of 8 with six elementary aged children. I am not able to work with the kids school schedules (several attend only half day so I have only about 2 1/2 hours between school runs), daycare costs, and my ability to earn to cover the cost for all 6 kids daycare. We exist on some child support and a factory worker's pay. Generally, we rely on my hubbys over time to cover our bills, and with the downturn in the automotive industry, and company cutbacks, he has not been able to get much overtime the last year and a half or so... I do some simple freelance webdesign when I can find the work, and I have begun doing freelance writing on the side (which I much prefer) but at payouts like $1.50 to $5 accruing cash is no simple feat, and as I just started I am not eligible for any pay outs until after Christmas anyway.
Most years, we pay for Christmas by taking out a Holiday Helper loan at our bank. This year, just a few short weeks from Christmas, our loan was denied for the first time in 4 years. The loan is generally in the amount of $2500, and the bank deducts that amount from our bank account over the course of the year, so it's paid off by next Christmas. This year, we have fallen a few more weeks behind on our mortgage due to one thing or another, putting us at a very solid two months behind.The bank has cited that, plus stricter requirements for issuing loans as our reason for denial.
At the moment, while I'm really trying, I see literally no way to give these kids a Christmas. All of our family members are struggling too, and in fact, they have come to us often in the last few years when they needed a roof for a few months, or food to eat - so they are in no position to help.
I guess I don't really know what else to say or do. This is my story.