Save, Save, SAVE! A Debit Card That Pays YOU!

I know that I have mentioned my inability to obtain a traditional checking account in the past, and all of the frustration that it has caused me, but I haven't really touched on how much it sucks not even being able to open a savings account.

Savings accounts allow you to save money while earning interest on your savings. I felt like I was really missing out! I want my money to sit somewhere and grow, but because of my banking history it just wasn't in the cards...

But then I stumbled upon Mango Money. This is similar to the way that other prepaid debit cards work, in that anyone is approved and you can use the card anywhere that Mastercard is accepted, but Mango has one HUGE difference!

Any money that you transfer into savings on your Mango account will earn an astonishing 6% APY! I'm not a financial guru or anything, but that is absolutely unheard of nowadays... Your typical bank will offer 1%, and that's only if you're really lucky. Because they are solely an online banking institution they don't have to pay for things that "brick and mortar" banks have to pay for such as buildings, thousands of employees, etc., and so they are able to pass the savings onto their members in the form of an amazing interest rate.

Want to learn more? Click here to learn more or to sign up... You're just a few clicks away from investing in your future!

Local Food Resources

I'm currently heading up a fundraiser that we're doing at my work for Second Harvest Food Bank. It's called the "Share Your Lunch" program, and the goal is to collect all kinds of kid-friendly food to feed the kids who participate in the Free or Reduced Lunch programs through their schools, who might not have enough to eat during the Summer when school is out.

In case you hadn't noticed, I really have a heart for helping people. I struggled for a large majority of my eight year old sons first few years on earth, and now that I am finally managing to get on my feet I feel like it's my duty to help out anyone who might be in the same position that I was in not all that long ago...

So, that being said, I came across all kinds of info, phone numbers and resources while I was browsing the Second Harvest website trying to gather everything that I needed for our fundraiser, and so before I do anything I wanted to be sure that I passed the info on to you. You can get all of the details on these programs Here.

No one should ever go hungry.

God bless all of you, I hope you're all having great weeks!

I Just Moved Into A Three Bedroom BMR!

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted anything... You'll have to forgive me, it has been a CRAZY couple of months...

Everything is settling down now, mainly because I have OFFICIALLY MOVED INTO A BMR THREE BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE! Sorry for "shouting" but I can't express how excited I am right now. And the thing that I want to stress to all of you is that I wasn't on the waiting list for this complex, and that when I called and asked if their waiting list was open I was told that it was closed and would be for several months. They explained that even once the list did open, the actual wait to get into one of the units was several years... But here I am!

So how did I do it? Well this journey has definitely been one of trial and error, and the purpose of this blog is for me to be the guinea pig, and then once I find out what works I come back and share that info with you all in an effort to save everyone a lot of time, energy, frustration... tears...

So here are my top tips for getting yourself into one of these apartments:

• Don't ask if their "waiting list" is open - When you contact properties that you are interested in ask if they have any specific size units available, or coming available, within the time frame that you are looking to move.
• Know your stuff - Visit the websites that are provided in one of my previous posts and identify the complexes that interest you. Regardless of whether or not they are showing a "CLOSED" waiting list status, just call the office directly and ask the question above.
• BE NICE! - You would be really, really, REALLY surprised to find out the amount of pull that some apartment managers have at these places. When you call them be polite, friendly, and as non-irritating as possible. When trying to get yourself into one of these units always remember that someone in the leasing office can be your best ally.
• Be Prepared - The difference between BMR/HUD Housing units and mainstream apartments are the amount of documentation required to prove that you are in fact eligible. Before you start calling around, it might be a good idea to start gathering your documents so that once you identify an available unit you can be the first one to get in there and get them the info necessary to process your application.Some examples of necessary documents are: Birth Certificates for your children, most recent tax return documents, three to six months of pay stubs and bank statements... pretty much any piece of paper that you can possibly imagine them needing they're probably going to ask for. So get started now and it will benefit you in the future.

So I guess that is the extent of my advice right now. I hope to be posting MUCH more frequently now that I'm living in a place that I actually don't mind spending time inside of... and not to mention a place with wireless internet, which helps a lot when attempting to blog.

Best of luck to all of you on your housing search journeys, and as always, feel free to shoot me an email with any questions, comments, etc. mysingleseason@gmail.com 

Get on a Sunnyvale BMR Waiting List NOW!!!

So three or four weeks ago I posted about how the wait list for the Sunnyvale BMR's might not be as long as I had initially anticipated, well now I know EXACTLY how long they are!

Right around the time of that post I started turning in applications for these units. One of my top picks was Cherry Orchard Apartments which are AMAZING! Well, three to four weeks later and I get an email from Cherry Orchard telling me that they already have a two bedroom opening up!

If you guys haven't done so already I seriously suggest getting on these waiting lists now, before the lists get longer. If you need the application, just send me an email at mysingleseason@gmail.com and ask me to send you one. I suggest filling it out and then making several copies and turning each one in to the different participating complexes.

Another BMR Apartment Program

The city of Cupertino also offers a BMR Unit program. While I am not familiar with the length of the waitlist, or the amount of the rents on these units, I did want to make it available to anyone who might be interested. You can find information on the program here.

One thing that I do know is that the two participating complexes are extremely nice, and the Cupertino school district is supposed to be exceptional! Keep me posted on what you find out about this program!

A Second Chance at a Bank Account

As I mentioned before, I am in ChexSystems and unable to have a traditional bank account at a bank like Bank of America or Chase. For the most part it's okay because there are other options available, such as AccountNow which I talked about here, but if you ever find yourself in a position where you need to rent a car, for example, it can be nearly impossible without a debit card from a "Brick and Mortar" bank.

If you are in the same position and unable to open a checking account for whatever reason, you should register for Bank on San Jose. The program is run by United Way of Silicon Valley, and if you sign up and attend one of their financial classes you will receive a certificate that you can take to one of the participating banks or credit unions and they will help you open a "Second Chance Account".

Opening an account at a credit union is a great idea, especially if you anticipate trying to get a car loan in the near future. They usually have the best rates on loans, so I would suggest signing up for this program at yout earliest convenience. The website has the class schedule (they are all held in the evenings for the most part), the list of participating institutions, as well as the answers to just about every question you might have.

Make 2012 your year of financial independence!

Waitlist Open For Ohlone Court Apartments In South San Jose

If you are looking for affordable housing in San Jose the Ohlone Court Apartments have opened their waitlist. Ohlone Court offers 1,2,3 and even 4 bedroom apartments, and based on the information I found online the rent for a four bedroom starts at just $1,323 a month.

If you are a single mom and feel like you could benefit from living with another single mom, you could probably qualify for one of these units and only pay a very reasonable amount of rent every month. If you want to meet other single parents you can always leave a comment with a little info about yourself on this page and if everything goes as planned another mom will see it and the two of you can start communicating!

Another Site Dedicated to Helping Those In Need

If you are struggling with a problem that other services listed on this blog can't really accomodate, you may want to check out ModestNeeds.org.
It is similar to 2hands.org, the site that I mentioned earlier today, in that it offers a platform to express a need to people all over the country who may be willing, and in a position, to help.
I was browsing the site today to get an idea of the types of assistance that they generally help fund, and I saw everything from financial help in order to get utilities restored, assistance in paying next months rent, assistance for car repairs and even purchasing a car altogether. There are also a lot of requests for help with costly medical procedures.
Sites like this always require patience on the behalf of the person requesting help, but if you have a genuine need people will realize that and there are people out there who want to help.

Just In Time For Christmas - This Program Sounds Amazing...

Since I have spent the majority of my twenties scouring the internet trying to find websites with information on programs and resources I sometimes feel like I have seen them all... So I am always really excited when I come across something new that I can share with the people around me.

Last night I received an email from a reader suggesting that I look at 2hands.org. I checked it out and was immediately blown away at this program, along with the fact that I had never heard of it!

The site describes itself as a "platform" for those in need to reach out to those in a position to help them meet that need. I read through some of the success stories and was almost brought to tears. Apparently this website is run by three volunteers, and naturally they are very busy this time of year, but they do say that they are dedicated to addressing every person who contacts them.

So whether you need a little help getting that one toy on your child's Christmas list, or God has really blessed you this year and you are in a position to do the helping, go ahead and take a look around the site, it's pretty amazing!

**A special thanks to Debbie N. who forwarded this information along, I am always open to suggestions!!!***

CoAbode - Interesting Resource for Single Moms

The other day I happened to stumble across CoAbode , a website dedicated to pairing up single moms with the same preferences, lifestyles and incomes to become roommates. The website claims that the program can cut living expenses by as much as 50% and that two single moms raising their children together have a much higher chance at success than those struggling alone...

So I just wanted to throw that out there, it may be something worth looking into!

Know Your Rights As A Renter

I think that the majority of the people who read this blog probably currently rent their living quarters. Some people have great relationships with their landlords, and some only dealt with them when they were signing their lease and then never had to deal with them again since. Regardless of your personal relationship with your landlord, property management company, etc., there may come a time when an issue arises and you suddenly feel like you're fighting a giant.

For me this was the case back in March when my roommate moved out and we no longer had the number of occupants necessary to stay in the three bedroom apartment that we were renting. There were other issues as well and long story short I came home one day to find a Three Day Notice to Vacate.

Three days is not enough time to do ANYTHING, let alone find a new place, pack up your old place, and get everything moved from one location to another. I was so stressed and I had no idea where to turn for help.

I contacted Project Sentinel in Sunnyvale and went in and talked to them and explained my situation. They explained that one of the services that they offer is "Tenant-Landlord Mediation". They contacted the leasing office of the apartment and managed to get them to give me until the end of the month (an additional three weeks in this case) to find somewhere else to live. Not only that, but they also negotiated the whole incident not to be reflected negatively on my credit report. They helped me out a lot!

So regardless of what the issue, if you are having a problem and you are a renter, contact Project Sentinel to find out if you are being treated fairly and see how they suggest you resolve the situation.

Another List of Affordable Housing Providers in Santa Clara County

I came across another list of affordable units today while I was browsing around online. You can look at the list Here .

If you haven't already taken advantage of the original list of available housing resources in our area, you can see the first post about it Here .

Need a New Car?

Who doesn't? I am definitely in the market for a new car... I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I love, but it's pushing 250,000 miles and it's a V8 which means gas alone costs me about $100... Ugh, I don't even like thinking about it...

If you are looking for a newer model car and can commit to pinching your pennies until February 8, 2012 then the California State Vehicle Fleet auction might be the answer! These auctions are held in Davis, CA every six weeks (except the next one is a little ways out, two months, but it gives us time to save up!) and they feature "retired" state vehicles. They are mainly American made cars (Chevy's, Ford''s, etc.) and the majority of them are pretty recent models... These cars were once owned by such departments as the Department of Fish & Game, correctional officers, and other state agencies.

Here is a list of the cars that are going to be available at the auction in February, and to give you an idea of the unbelievable prices that these cars go for I've included the list of the results from the most recent auction Here .

A 2002 Chevy Cavalier for $2,100? I'll take it! A 2009 Dodge Charger (once owned by the CHP no less!) for $4,800? Can't beat that!

Not many people are aware of these auctions, but they are open to the public and anyone can go! Just show up at 7:30 on the auction day with your money in hand and be prepared to drive home your new awesome ride!

Sunnyvale BMR's - The Waitlists May Be Shorter Than You Think!

Today I spent my lunch hour dropping off applications to put my family on the waitlist for Below Market Rate units in Sunnyvale. I was really surprised to hear that there were only a couple of people on the waitlist ahead of me, so I'm really happy I got them turned in when I did!

If you want to get on the Sunnyvale waitlists you just need to go by the properties and drop off the filled out application. It's only two pages and you can pick one up at the any of the participating complexes leasing offices.

If you aren't able to go to the complex I can email you a copy of the form and you can print it, just email your request to: mysingleseason@gmail.com .

The easiest thing to do is print one application out, figure out how many of the complexes you want to apply for, fill out one form and make that many copies of the filled out form. It's a real time saver! Then just drop them off and tell them you'd like to be added to the list!

You can find the list of properties, the income guidelines, and any other necessary info Here .

Good luck and let me know what you find out!

Catholic Charities - A Great Local Resource

The Bay Area has a lot of great resources available to it's residents. Once you have an idea of where to look you will realize that you have a lot of options!

One of the best resources that we have available to us is Catholic Charities. They have so many programs available, from employment seeking to housing programs.

Once a few years ago when I was looking for work Catholic Charities made me an appointment to visit their "Career Closet" where you go through this huge assortment of business attire to pick out some clothes that would be suitable for interviews. They are awesome!

PG&E Offers Programs for Low Income Households

If your home uses gas or electricity, you are probably familiar with PG&E.

If you use PG&E, I just wanted to make sure that you were aware of the numerous programs that they have to assist low income households with their utility bills. They have programs that lower your bill by a certain percentage each month as well as programs that can do a one time credit on your bill if there ever comes a time that you encounter financial hardship and can't pay your bill that month.

If you struggle to keep your power on, or are just interested in learning more about the types of programs that are available, you should check out the PG&E Website!

Comcast Internet for just $10!

If your child receives free school lunches you might qualify for Comcast's new "Internet Essentials" program. The program assists low income households with fast internet service for just $9.95, with no price increases, installation, or equipment rental fees!

If you want some more information on this awesome program you can visit Internet Essentials or if you just want to call them and get signed up you can call 1 (855) 846-8376 to request an application!

You Might Have Unclaimed Money!

Did you know that the state of California is currently sitting on over $6,000,000,000 (yes, billion!) worth of unclaimed property? The money usually derives from things like old bank deposits, uncashed checks, all kinds of random things.

There is actually a website where you enter your name and they tell you right away if they're holding on to something that's yours, and if so there is a claim form you print off the website and send to them. I have personally spent hours on this site, looking up just about every single person I had ever met in my life to see if they had any unclaimed property. I kid you not, at one point I entered the name of one of my elementary school friend's parents and found out that the state of California owed her dad $37,000!

So yeah, if you have some time on your hands you may want to try your luck on the California Unclaimed Property site! Let me know if you find out they owe you anything!

Kidspark - A Single Mom's Best Friend!

Have you heard of Kidspark? It's pretty much God's gift to single parents... If you aren't familiar with them, and ever find yourself in a position where you could use a little "Me Time", I suggest you look into it.


Kidspark is a drop in hourly child care facility. They are reasonably priced, the staff is super friendly, and my kids LOVE going there.


They have two centers in the Bay Area. One is located across from Valley Fair Mall and the other is across the street from Oakridge Mall.


They care for children between the ages of 2-12 and are open until 10 PM on weekdays, 12 AM on Friday and Saturday nights, and on Sunday they are open from 1-6. The hourly rate for one child is $7.50, if you have two kids the second child is only $4 an hour, and if you have three or more any additional children are only $2 an hour!


Another great thing about them is that if you ever need to leave your kids there for more than six hours (say if your regular day care is closed and you have to work) you only pay for the first six hours and any additional hours are free! They provide snacks, and if you want your kids to eat the dinner they provide it's only about $3 per child.


I took my kids there for about an hour and a half last week just so I could take a shower without having to get out halfway through to break up a fight or solve a toy crisis... I can't say enough good things about them! Check out the site here if you're interested: Kidspark Website
Try them out and let me know what you think!

Have You Considered Applying for Assistance?

Throughout the years I have had my ups and downs. During the low points I really felt like I had no other option other than going on Welfare in order to be able to feed my family and keep a roof over our heads.

With the economy the way that it is even those of us who are employed are often underemployed. I think a lot of people are under the false impression that if you work at all you aren't eligible to receive any kind of assistance, but that actually isn't the case.

Aid generally falls into four categories: Cash, food, Medi-Cal, and child care. Each one has it's own income limits but if you are struggling financially you may want to at least look into it and see if you are eligible for any programs. If you have children and have no medical coverage available to you you should definitely look into Medi-Cal for them and yourself. There are even child dentists that accept it, so really think about getting it for your family.

If you visit this website you can go through this short questionnaire to get an estimate of what programs you might be eligible for, and it's all anonymous: CalWIN Site

Another great thing about aid is the child care aspect. I don't know about you, but if I wasn't receiving subsidized child care it wouldn't even really be worth it to work, because the amount I would be paying out for care would be about the same as what I was making. If you are receiving, or within the last two years have ever received, cash aid then you are eligible for 4C's. It is an excellent program that assists with paying for child care. You can visit their site here: 4C's Santa Clara County

Even if you are not eligible for cash aid, or have never received it, you should at least go on the 4C's site and get your name on the Centralized Eligibility List. If you contact the numbers on the site they will walk you through it. It is a waiting list for parents who aren't eligible by the cash aid standard, but who are still considered low income. When there are funds available they will start enrolling people from the list and assisting them with child care costs.

I know that being on Welfare has a lot of negative connotations. There are people who assume it's for people who are too lazy to go out and get a job, or are too busy sitting around having kids to go out and support themselves. It's just not true! The bottom line is this, if you are struggling to support yourself right now you need to do what you need to do. That's it. If government assistance is the route you need to take, then take it, and don't feel ashamed!

Your #1 priority is keeping your kids happy and healthy, and if getting help makes it easier for you to do it, then there is no shame in that.