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My husband and I have been looking for work for over 6 months now. I prepared taxes during the tax season and was given a bonus at the end of the season that kept us alive for another month or two. But we have tapped out all our credit cards and borrowed as much from family and friends as we can. We have also sold a bunch of our stuff on ebay. 

Please understand, we have not just looked for work; we've also looked for ways to make money via side businesses. We are determined to make a sustainable living, but we have encountered some roadblocks on the way. Within a two year period, we were robbed of most of our belongings and we had a business deal go sour that left us homeless for a short period of time and cost us a lot of time and money in legal struggles.

I've made a small amount of money in the past year editing books, articles and papers. I find that I especially like book editing and have a small website up right now that has attracted some clients and potential clients.  I've not done any marketing to date, other than establishing a relationship with one self-publishing company and putting up a website on another editing service. Today, I just discovered a place where I can advertise my services for free to over a million people a month worldwide. I only need to win a few clients in order to make ends meet. I wish I had discovered this website six months ago because I could have been promoting my side business and making money by now. But I believe things happen in their own time.

Here is my dilemma. I think that a couple of months of setting up a better website, setting up a storefront on the above mentioned website and promoting my services both locally and in cyberspace will lead to enough work to make ends meet and dig us out of the hole. If I can make a living at this, I believe my husband's business will be able to grow and we will have a good long-term outlook.

But the short-term is grim. We have about $100 left and we are now behind on bills. In nine days we will need to have about $900 to cover bills, including rent, but not including food or gasoline. Fifteen days after that we will need another $700 plus food & gasoline. We really need about $1900 a month in order to meet our obligations, which for two people isn't a lot. We will need more than that eventually to dig ourselves out of the hole, but right now I'm just concerned to survive until something gives.

I'm looking for help in the short-short term -- help to make it through August's rent. Appoximately $2000-$3000.

There are several ways that could happen:

1. We've been trying to sell our 1993 van, but with little success. We've advertised in local paper and auto trader and free classifieds.  With a couple of repairs, we actually could auction it locally. That would mean an investment that we do not have plus, according to the auctions website, up to 8 weeks before the auction would yeild payment. The auction house sets a reserve. If someone could lend me the amount of the reserve less the auction fees, I would pay that back when the van sells. Of course, if some other windfall occurred, I would be happy to pay back sooner. 
   
2. If you like to buy the van, we can talk about that as well. I live in Nevada and am willing to drive the van to California, Arizona or Utah to deliver it to someone. Otherwise, we could discuss shipping.
   
3. Maybe someone out there has a book, a manual, a dissertation, or some other editing project(s) that I could complete over the summer. I'd be willing to discount my prices considerably in order to have short-term money.
   
4. I have considerable experience as a bookkeeper, especially setting up books on computer or setting up new business books. If you have such a project, I'd be happy to talk with you about rates.
   
5. Maybe someone would like to talk to me about investing in my business. I plan to specialize in helping businesses or entrepreneurs self-publish a book or books to enhance their reputations and market shares. I'd be happy to share my business plan with anyone who'd consider microinvesting in my business.

I am open to any ideas on what to do. My husband and I have survived some bad blows in the last couple of  years as a result of setting some boundaries with family and business relationships. We are going to make it. I believe in us, but I also believe in the power of community and I was happy to find this site.

In addition to paying back a loan or providing the best service I know how to someone who might help, I also pledge to "pay it forward." I am strong believer in the power of human interaction and human networking. I won't drop the ball.

Thank you for your time and your consideration.