this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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I can't believe I'm doing this twice in nine days, but my mom's financial support, while sufficient without any unusual expenses, doesn't extend to months in which life happens.

~~The current situation is this: My 5G internet payment was due Friday, and if I get all the way to disconnection, things get far more expensive.~~ Additionally, my annual prepaid phone service is due this coming Friday ... great timing when mom's payment is on the first.

Essentially, if both of these are shut off, I have no method of contacting the outside world, making me a guy in a van with no means of finding work.

I'm not on any sort of Cadillac plans ... ~~Internet is $50, and there will no doubt be some sort of late fee, but reconnection is $30.~~ My Mint Mobile 5GB plan (the lowest tier) runs $204 for the year. If I do not renew, well, there goes my number.

I'm really freaking out here. I've been offered a few contract gigs over the past few months, but they never get through to actual work, and any sort of payroll work would be garnished to hell due to longstanding debt that I'm just ignoring at this point.

A guy from the burner community has been tipping me off to studies, surveys and such, but the van is not yet cleared out enough to be driveable, though a new friend has helped me make a lot of progress, and apparently "45-year-old childfree homeless guy" is not a target demo (he's in his 20s, so having a very different experience).

I really don't like asking for charity; I'd much rather get paid for doing honest work. But, you know ... any port in a storm. If you have CashApp or Venmo and can spare anything, please DM. I'd rather not lose access to Beehaw just because of shit timing.

Busing it to a place with free Wi-Fi was an option until a few weeks ago, when all two-year passes were canceled because a few people were caught selling them on the black market.

Thanks in advance for any help y'all can provide. This is an amazing community that I'm proud of Beeing part of, and I don't want to say goodbye.

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[–] cephalopodfan@beehaw.org 2 points 19 hours ago

I do have some to spare so I'd like to pay it forward. DM me if you are interested.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Hey Pete

Never used cashapp or venmo, do you know if I'd be able to pay you from the UK on those platforms? If so, DM me, I can spare a bit in a trying time

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Looks like CashApp is live in the UK, but only for domestic transfers. Venmo, on the other hand, is U.S. only. But I appreciate the offer.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 2 points 14 hours ago

Sorry that I can't be more help, then, best of luck >.<

[–] Zaleramancer@beehaw.org 3 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

This situation is really rough. I wish I could offer you financial support, but I can't right now.

I want you to at least know that I'm thinking about you and I care.

You should check out the policies for your local libraries, if there's a conveniently placed one you may still be able to get intermittent access?

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 4 points 20 hours ago

Even bus fare aside, there are other complicating factors, such as the lock being broken (I can deadbolt lock from the inside, but I can't lock it when I leave) leading me not to want to spend hours away from the truck. It's not like I'm armed or anything, but the few break-in attempts I've had ended very quickly and peacefully when I emerged from the cargo area.

Literally all my worldly possessions are in here, so best case, someone rifles through shit and takes the stuff they like. Worst case, they know how to hotwire.

I appreciate your kind words, but if I listed all the complications, no one would read the whole thing. The connectivity issue just piles onto the Gordian knot.

[–] remington@beehaw.org 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Hey Pete!

Sorry to hear about your current predicament.

Have people reached out? Have you been taken care of?

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 2 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

I've so far gotten about $45 from a user I don't think it would be appropriate to name for the Fediverse to see. Calls still out on other sources, but no movement. For context, I started the day with $3 in my account, so this is an order of magnitude of improvement.