Help Ruvaid and Haley With Rent, Food, and Bills

About Us

Hi folks!

We're Ruvaid and Haley, an inter-faith couple living in Michigan. Ruvaid has a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a graduate certificate in Medical Neuroscience, and freelances as a TTRPG writer. Haley has a Bachelor's in History from U of M, and is near the end of completing a double Master's program in History and Library and Information Sciences. We got married last year in 2021, and though it's difficult to say, we could really use some help.

Background

In March, Ruvaid was let go from his job and has since been unemployed. Despite filing for unemployment with the state, we have yet to receive any of the allotted money. Contact with unemployment agents has been met with the response, "You just need to wait and keep filing your bi-weekly reports." Still, nothing.

Also since March, Haley has been on short-term disability leave from her work at a law library, due to a sudden and rapid increase in debilitating health problems. So much so that on many days it is near impossible for her to get out of bed for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Haley has been bounced around from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist, in an attempt to gain a proper diagnosis and treatment for the extreme pain, fatigue, and dizziness, among other symptoms. Thus far, we have yet to receive any real answers. Haley is scheduled to receive more specialized testing (MRIs, MRVs, tilt table testing, and more). However, there is a hold on the disability payments until after she can receive the testing.

The last disability payment we received was at the end of May, and that was at 70% of the normal rate of pay.

Amidst all this, our three-year-old dog Pickles developed an abnormal, probably cancerous growth that ended up needing to be removed. Thankfully, Pickles is doing great now! But unfortunately, pet surgeries are still expensive, and this took a good chunk of change.

Through everything, we have been thankful to be able to barely stay afloat through savings and the help of amazingly generous friends and family. Considering our options, we decided to file for bankruptcy, for which the attorney was kind enough only to charge 40% of their fee upfront. The rest was to be paid by the end of July, which we thought wouldn't be a problem, as Ruvaid was supposed to start a new job at the end of June; a job offer that has since been rescinded, and left Ruvaid again without any immediate prospects.

Current Situation

Now, with the continued lack of steady income, drained accounts, increasing medical bills, and the looming shadow of other debts, we have run out of options. Rent is still due on the 1st. Our utility provider shut down our old account and created a new one due to filing for bankruptcy, and requires a large deposit for continued service. We have applied for aid from the state and other avenues, but these are prolonged processes with an uncertain timeline.

The $3500 goal stated here is a rough calculation of what we would need to get through another month, during which time we hope to be able to receive the unemployment backpay, short-term disability pay, and (fingers crossed) steady employment for Ruvaid, and healing progress for Haley.

The breakdown of the $3500 is as follows:

Rent = $1110

Utilities account deposit, and a month of payment = $469 (324 deposit + 145, which was last month's bill)

Remaining payment for bankrupty attorney = $600

Internet, past due = $155

Car insurance payments on two cars = $275 (145 for Ruvaid's car + 130 for Haley's car and our renter's insurance)

Haley's car payment = $242

Required student loan payments = $120

Month of groceries = $300+ (inflating costs really throw this estimation out of whack)

Other miscellaneous purchases for the home (toiletries, prescription medications, pet food and medicine, etc) = $150

Gas for traveling to interviews, potential gigs, doctors visits, etc. = $100-$200 (who really knows with how expensive it is these days, sheesh)

Anything more will be used to pay outstanding and incoming medical bills, or future bills.

Conclusion

For reading this and helping, even if it's just sharing the post, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. It truly means the world to us.

To the folks who have already given us your help, we are forever grateful. We wouldn't be here without you.

To sign off, here is a picture of our golden doodle Pickles pretending he's a pumpkin!