Im so worried about my family’s financial situation. My parent’s company is not doing very well, hasn’t been doing very well for the past three years and we’re practically out of money. All our savings are gone, we’re drowning in debt and all we have is the small income that comes from their business and it’s barely enough to pay for our basic needs. My dad keeps saying its gonna get better but I don’t know anymore. I graduated a year ago and I don’t know if I’ll get into uni any time soon...And I feel si guilty because I don’t know how to help. I’ve been cleaning the house for a year since we can’t afford someone to help and my parents work all day. I just injured my wrist and I feel so useless because I can’t help with much at the moment. If this situation doesn’t get resolved in a couple of months I don’t know what were gonna do. We don’t even own our apartment anymore and my mom is so stressed out over the situation and so is everyone. I don’t know what to do or how to cope
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Hello there,
Thank you for reaching out to Asking Jude. I can understand what you are going through, especially during current times. When a family has financial problems, it's easy to get frustrated, scared, helpless, and upset. If you feel that way, you're far from alone. Parents also might be more stressed out than usual. They might argue more and worry about how to pay for things. I would say the best thing for you to do is be emotionally supportive.
Naturally, this can put extra stress on you, especially because your parents' money problems aren't something you have much control over. Never feel guilty about not being able to fix the situations as they are often not under your control. If you're worried, find a good time to talk to your parents about it. Let them know you can handle the truth. If your parents are fighting, seem stressed, or are sad or angry all the time, talking with them can really help. If you can't talk to your parents right now, lean on a friend, teacher, or counselor. But although you can't solve family money troubles immediately, you may find that contributing in some way can help you feel better.
If you are interested, you can start out with simple jobs with will help you contribute to your family. Below are some ideas:
If you love animals, working at an animal shelter could be a great part-time job while you are in school. Shelters hire minimum-wage employees to spend time with the animals and clean out their cages. If you want to become a veterinarian, this part-time job provides you with hands-on experience through working closely with animals.
If you have artistic skills, there may be a market for items that you create, especially during the winter holidays. Towards the end of the year, schools and churches hold arts and crafts fairs, and eager shoppers line up to buy Christmas ornaments, wreaths, and last-minute gifts.
Babysitting a neighbor is a rite of passage for many teens. Babysitters usually work Friday and Saturday evenings, leaving the week open for completing homework and participating in school-related activities.
Grocery stores hire students throughout the year. There are many different jobs at a grocery store; workers can bag groceries, stock shelves, mop floors, or even operate a cash register. Part-time employees can expect to make minimum wage working at a grocery store. Many grocery stores have unionized cash register operators, so these jobs can pay a bit more than the other options listed here.
Below are some helpful resources:
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/best-jobs-for-teens
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress
-https://www.huffpost.com/entry/family-is-broke_n_890628
-https://www.bustle.com/p/our-parents-are-broke-so-are-we-now-what-8023407
-https://www.quora.com/My-family-used-to-be-rich-but-now-we-are-broke-My-parents-are-ill-and-I-am-a-student-How-can-I-help-my-family-and-improve-my-situation
Hope this helps,
Srija