The Desperate Mumma

Dear Scott,

As I write this my two-year-old is screaming in his cot and I’m in tears because we’re financially ruined by the rental market. We’ve been forced to move five times in six years – because of landlords selling, or moving back in. And each move wipes out our savings. In 2021 we were left homeless at Christmas, staying with friends for six weeks. My husband does food delivery, and I run two businesses from home while caring for our toddler. We work incredibly hard but live week to week.

Now we’re being kicked out again. We’ve been approved for a new place but need a $4,000 bond that we don’t have. We’re looking at a 29% payday loan just to avoid ruining our perfect rental record. Despite budgeting carefully and trying to follow Barefoot principles, we can’t get ahead. Every time we build up our Mojo, another forced move destroys it. Where do we go for help? I’m drowning and can’t see a way out.

Desperate Mumma

Hello,

The rental market in this country is broken – but you sure as hell aren’t.

You’ve survived five forced moves, built two businesses from home while caring for a toddler, and kept a perfect rental record. That’s not drowning. You’re one of the toughest mother-truckers going around!

But here’s the thing – payday lenders are loan sharks. Their loans are not meant to be paid off. They’re designed to trap you in debt until they eat the food off your table.

My advice?

Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 and speak to a financial counsellor. It may be that you can apply for a Rentstart Bond Loan, which can cover 100% of your rental bond – interest free.

Know this: you have done nothing wrong. Your story is the ugly underbelly of a policy failure that’s been years in the making, that Canberra doesn’t care about fixing.

Keep fighting for your family – you’re tougher than I’ll ever be.

Scott