We have two cars, both are about ten years old and in bad shape. We cannot afford to replace or fix them. If they die we are finished. We don't have TV. We don't drink or use drugs. We have internet and books for entertainment. We both have health problems but cannot afford to see the doctor or dentist. We live in a rat trap house that's falling apart; the roof leaks when it rains and my bathroom floor is rotting out.
Oh, for Pete's sake, quit whining. I ran into many of those same problems as a single mom with 4 kids. My folks weren't rich, but they weren't helping much either. (Christmas and birthday presents for the kids, assistance with saving for college, but that was it.)
So I laid around, complaining and crying...OOPS, no I didn't. I struggled with learning how to do as many car repairs as I could, studied the books, looked like an idiot at car parts stores and salvage yards...but kept the old junkers running. I struggled with learning how to put patch shingles on the roof, and they didn't exactly match...and that roof was
high!!! But I did get the leaks stopped. I learned how to sand down wood floors and finish them, how to put up drywall and mud it, how to put in insulation (and to wear long pants, long sleeves and gloves!!!) I put a new floor in our bathroom, and even managed to cut around the pipes. I messed up linoleum and tile, but figured out how to cut the quarter round to cover it. I even installed a used shower door on my tub. When I got done, the floor didn't give, water didn't leak through it any more when the kids spilled it out of the tub, and it looked pretty decent.
And if you happen to lurk, Chris...I'm a girl. I did most of it while I was earning between $4.75 and 8.50..but with no second income and I had way more than one kid to feed, clothe, take to the doctor, etc. Quit whining and try to find your bootstraps, punk.
