Last night my sister and I were up all night wrapping presents and dressing the tree, and we got no sleep. We had a wonderful Christmas morning, my niece and nephew opening their presents and I watched with a smile as my 11 month old niece ripped the wrapping paper off of her gifts and bit the boxes. My nephew could barely contain his excitement as he opened his own presents and yet he happily helped hand out the gifts and waited his turn patiently to open his own. It was a wonderful morning.

Two months ago, my Mom passed away after complications from a stroke. She passed peacefully and my sister, her kids, my father and I picked up the pieces and tried to keep things together once she was gone. It was hard, and amidst my grief I wracked my brain trying to remember conversations with my mom, things that happened in my childhood, and all the wonderful memories I know I had. I don't know if it's a defense mechanism or not, but I find myself having a hard time remembering things, perhaps because of all the stuff going on in my brain after the loss. Despite this, my older sister Laura told me not to worry, that she remembered everything and that she would help me to remember our wonderful Mom. My sister and I were best friends, and I was able to make it because I had her.

Now today, after I went to sleep for a nap once we were done for Christmas presents, I woke up hours later and checked on my nephew to see him playing with his toys. My Dad asked me to go check on my sister, because she seemed like something was wrong with her. She was ice cold to the touch, and blue in the face and all over. It was the most awful thing I've ever seen in my life. My beautiful sister, who loved to decorate and collect things was dead and hunched over in this awkward position in her bed. She was limp to the touch and I tried giving her chest compressions but nothing was working. She was only 31. I don't think I will ever enjoy another Christmas in my life. I can't adequately put into words just how scared and alone I feel right now. I tried to tell her son that his mom is gone but he thinks there is a chance she will make it. I don't know how to tell him that she's never coming back. This is the kind of thing I would ask her or my mom for advice on.

I'm feeling so guilty that if I had stayed up and played with my nephew instead of going to take a nap like a loser, I would have been able to notice something wrong with her and help her. I can't get the image of her body out of my mind. I feel like I'm coming undone and yet there are so many things to figure out in the near future. The pin for the EBT card that she changed recently, how to file taxes properly for her daughter so that we can do something good for the kids. I don't know where to start with any of that, and yet I need to figure it out for their sake. God, if you can read this please help me to figure this stuff out.

When the medical examiner had left my sister's room and was done with the photos they took, I asked for her phone and they handed it to me. She was about to post a comment on reddit about a silly show that my Mom and her used to watch together. I wonder if she was afraid when she realized that something was wrong? Did she call out weakly for someone to help? I feel so so so sick thinking about this.

when I opened her phone this is the last note she made. She had just ordered me a build-a-bear with our Mom's voice as the button. I would do anything to make this not be happening. To not be real. I keep wondering where she is. She would get on my nerves a lot as my sibling, but now I feel like this house is so quiet it's going to make me have a panic attack.

The only thing I can think to do is to make a fundraiser to raise money to help us get back to our home state of Florida. I don't know how we're going to pay for the cremation costs, or anything like that but this is the only thing I can think to do. People were so kind to me yesterday before my world ended for the second time this year, I would just like to extend my gratitude to them. Any help towards this goal is supremely appreciated. Thank you for reading....

https://gofund.me/18693ea2

I wanted to take a minute and thank everyone on here who has helped me and those who have been so kind and thoughtful. I also really appreciate those of you who congratulated me on my year of sobriety. That means a lot! If you’re struggling with addiction, please feel free to reach out to me.

Again, thank y’all. I hope you’ve had a happy holiday!

Thanks to all of you who make this community such a joy to be a part of all year round!

The mod team may be slow to reply to messages or action requests today as we are in multiple time zones with our own families and celebrations to attend. We appreciate your patience!

Please feel free to use this post to share your own wishes to our community. 🎄

Basically I’m just not gonna be able to adequately grocery shop in any capacity for the next couple weeks to catch up on vital expenses. Wishlist is bulk food items that we eat on the regular or I take to work for my lunch breaks. Any help is extremely appreciated.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1UCE3GYDNJHZC?ref_=wl_share

Where can I find Sugar Gliders in Bangalore from an authentic dealer that wont scam me? I have heard its cheaper to get it from Kolathur (chennai pet market)? need some opinions on this pls?

My husband is still in NH, he's sitting with our grandson while his daughter is spending the day with her other 2 younger boys. He's still in a coma, but was finally stable enough to do his first surgery on Mon on his broken pelvis.. He's still not responding, but when they took out his breathing tube he was breathing on his own for almost a minute. And was biting down on the tube from the ventilator. One of his pupils has started coming back to normal and is now responding to lights. His left side hasn't moved at All, it's his right side that's responding..

He put the phone up to his ear for me yesterday and I talked to him like normal, it's just so hard not hearing his voice. I'm just glad that he's still with us and even if I'm alone for the next month I'm glad that he has his mom & step dad and grandpa there for him. I don't think anyone realized that he had so many friends who have been visiting him almost every day.

Looking at the destruction and damage to the SUV he was driving doesn't look like anyone would or could have ever made it out alive. He hit the tree at 4 feet in the air.. When he ever showed me the picture of it I was in shock..

Just wanted to say we're not out of the woods yet by any means, just praying for a Christmas miracle that he'll pull through this. Hubby is not leaving until he knows he's doing okay.. So I sit here hugging my pup praying everyday for a miracle that he will make it through.. Not feeling very Merry. But I'm holding it together as good as I can. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas Hold your family tight, you just never know!

Hi there, please help me.

I don't have any money, I'm too disabled to work and the SNAP/SSI system is incredibly slow to the point where I have been relying on food banks for the past 3 months.

I need to buy some wet food for my cat, if anyone could spare $20 so I can pay for it for her I would be forever thankful. I don't want her to go hungry because of me.

Hi, I've been looking for wholesale products to hand out to homeless. I'm curious if anyone knows where I can buy protein bars or things similar in bulk?

Or anything else you may see that is a good deal. Thanks in advance!

Hello, I'm Kira, I am 32 years old and I am diagnosed as autistic with ptsd and depression. I am applying for disability and I've done everything in my power to not have to post something like this but here we go....

Does anyone have any way of helping me.

I have 7 years experience dog training and a few years veterinary. I've also worked in Healthcare as a Phlebotomist for several years. I've just fallen on severely hard times after my dad was almost killed last year by a hit and run driver, were all severely experiencing financial hardship and we've even tried go fund me and my sister put up a fundraiser in her community but people seem to think they're fake or promise to donate and dont. I can provide info about this if anyone is interested but he spent a month in icu at harborview in seattle, a month in rehabilitation, and another 5 months recovering at home. During this time my mother left my dad, took everything, forced him to sell the house of which he got just enough to get an rv and help me get one as well. We were homeless basically for a few months before moving to a vfw park but they got shut down and we just bairly missed being homeless again when a friend was kind enough to rent out space to us on her farm (800 rent) and we've struggled and half starved but we're not homeless atleast.

Now we're about to lose our phones due to a issue with my father's bank and I'm scrambling to help.

Anyone who knows me and my father knows we will give the shirt off our back to help those who need it and it has come back to bite us several times but we keep helping. I believe in being kind to everyone and I learned this from my father.

Right now I'm doing everything I can, I can bake cookies, make some simple scarves, hats, and small drawstring bags. I can walk dogs and do basic baths and grooming in home, I can do cat nails, I can work with basic training for dogs (I was certified through akc and can get my trainer ID if needed).

Right now I'm job searching but each job I've applied for I'm either over or under qualified. I've applied for almost 250 jobs and had 5 call backs... I'm supporting myself and my pets and my father and his pets. The food banks are running low on food and the pet food banks have shut down that I went to. My gas tank takes $50 to fill and can get me several days of doordash. My dad's rent is 800 and if I coukd get that partially covered for him I would cry.

Thank you so much for reading this, I never thought I would be someone to post this but here I am...

I do wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Hi, I urgently need to take my cat to the vet for an ear infection. His appointment is on the 27th December. I have £60 but the bill is expected to be over £100. Can anyone help me please?

So yeah, my internet bill was due yesterday. In a day or two (don't remember how many days it is from the payment date it'll be shut off exactly) it'll be shut off. I just recently got laid off at my job, and don't get the severence package for a couple more weeks and need internet to apply for jobs. It's 82 USD (sorry correction, need 90 USD as my bank is slightly negative) Can anyone help with it? I got a gift card for christmas I wanted to use to pay it, but it won't work for bill payments.

Hey everyone, just thought I’d reach out and see if anyone would be willing to help me get a bit of food. I haven’t eaten in a couple days, waiting to get paid from my new job.

This is my first Christmas without my little buddy, he passed recently and it’s been hard adjusting to life without him. If anyone can relate to losing a close pet friend my dms are open, I don’t really have anyone to talk to about it.

I hope everyone is doing well this holiday season. :)

Hello, right now I need some emotional support. In September I gave birth to the most beautiful son. My daughter (2) is obsessed with him. But he was born with a rare birth defect and other complex health conditions. I got to have him home for only 1.5 weeks before he was admitted to the hospital. He then received surgery and his right lower lobe of his lung was removed. He was unable to be extubated until November. I ended up in Cali for a month with my son in October and my husband lost his job because he had to watch our daughter. He received 4 total surgeries including other operations as well. All as a new born while I was and still am postpartum. We are struggling financially and it's been stressful. He got discharged on Saturday and I cried with joy. Only for them to have rushed him out. RT didn't see him, no one listened to me and they discharged him sick. Now he's back in the hospital and my Christmas, instead of it being with my husband and both my kiddos watching movies and drinking cocoa, will be partially spent in the hospital. Just as my thanksgiving and Halloween. My friends all dropped after this pregnancy, we are at the point that my husband may have to rejoin the military just to allow us to continue living safely. No jobs are responding to our resumes. I'm tired, scared my depression is worse, and I just want to sleep for hours until it all fixes itself but I need to pump for my son, cuddle and play with my daughter, and be present. It's so hard. I'm so tired. My soul hurts. I want my baby boy home.

Hi everyone, happy holidays! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day.

I’m reaching out for a little help—I’m in need of $25 for gas to get back and forth to work over the next week. I just started a new job last week after searching for months (which I’m so grateful for!), but I won’t receive my first paycheck until next week.

I can go without other things, even food, but I’m determined to make it to work. Thankfully, I have today to try and figure something out. Any help would mean the world to me. Thank you so much in advance!

I'm reaching out to ask for some good will during this difficult time in my life. We have nothing to eat really in our house, and everyone is quite hungry. I get paid in 2 days but my work shut off the ability to withdraw money against my paycheck because of the fiscal year changing, although they did it a day early so that really sucks.

Basically this has been the worst year of my life. About 3 months ago my beloved Mom suffered from a severe stroke unexpectedly which took from her the ability to speak, interact, or move. We held on hope that she would make some sort of a recovery, but given the reason for her stroke (taken off blood thinners to prepare for a complex heart surgery) she deteriorated rapidly and I'm heartbroken to say that we had to make the decision to take her off life support after a few dreadful weeks. Losing her has created a vast empty space in my soul, that is felt every day and every night. And now, with no food in the house I feel like a husk of a person with no energy and this intense sadness weighing me down. I barely sleep at night because I miss her so much. I could make do if she was here, because she always knew how to make something out of nothing when it came to food, as we grew up quite poor and yet never starved. I feel like without her here, I'm deprived of the greatest resource I never truly realized I had.

On top of that, I have no money like I said. My sister who lives with me also has no money because we (perhaps foolishly) tried our best to give my 7 year old nephew a good Christmas this year, because he cherished his Nana and he deserves to have day all about him.

I don't really care where the pizza is from, we're not picky or anything. I live in Memphis, Tennessee and I've never posted here before so I'm not really sure if there are any details I'm leaving out. I just would really appreciate some help. Doesn't have to be pizza either, just whatever someone would feel like doing would be really amazing.

Update: A kind stranger sent me enough to get some yummy food for my family tonight. I'm so grateful for this wonderful community full of great people. I'll be back to pay it forward in the very near future.

My surgery went well and I will be back to work in three weeks! I’m recovering at home now and the help you guys gave me has made my life immensely better while doing so and given me a chance at a better healing process. I am so grateful for you guys and am doing way better now. Happy Holidays everyone!

Merry Christmas Eve and Happy u/delbius season! Let’s celebrate with a pizza party. Every qualified entrant will receive pizza until the post is closed. 🍕

Guidelines:

• This giveaway will be open until marked fulfilled. I will place the orders as they come in.
• Please register before commenting. 400+ comment karma & 60+ day old account needed to register.
• Let me know what else is around you if you aren't close to a Domino's!

Edit: closed except for current comments! See you next time

Dear All,

As a part of my research project for my masters degree, need your support for filling out this survey.

The survey is part of an academic research project seeking to gain insights into how AI tools—such as resume screening algorithms, chatbots, and automated assessments—are influencing candidate experiences and shaping modern recruitment practices.

Survey Details Estimated Time: Approximately 5 minutes to complete Confidentiality: Responses will remain completely anonymous and will only be used for academic purposes. Participation: Voluntary, with the option to exit at any time. Participants are encouraged to share their honest opinions and experiences to help researchers better understand the candidate perspective in AI-driven hiring processes.

To participate, please click the link below: https://forms.office.com/e/P68wCQH9Av

Thank you everyone for all the good you do all year and all the help you offer others.

A special thank you to those who helped fulfill my wishlist. I appreciate it so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Hello everyone, It’s the end of the 9 day giveaway, From the last post seems like majority wanted to do $100 to 5 people, I’m doubling that to 10 people. No thoughts or quotes this time.

Follow all sub rules, No Venmo, No zelle, To enter share whatever you’d like a bunch of strangers to read. See you all next year for the giveaways, Happy holidays and wishing everyone a prosperous and resolute 2025.

I will select winners by hand, What I’m looking for is determined by your history on Reddit. I will leave this open till 7pm est tomorrow.

Happy Holidays everyone , I hope this message finds you all in good health and enjoying a great holiday season✨

I’m reaching out during a extremely challenging time & I’ve never had to do this before, but I’ve recently lost my job and am facing financial hardship. Late last night, my younger sister gave birth prematurely to my first niece, a true blessing in the midst of it all. She is currently on her own with her newborn and toddler, with no immediate family to rely on for help. She’s asked me to come support her for awhile, and I feel it’s something I must do.

Unfortunately, our parents are not in the picture, and we don’t have other family to turn to, which makes this situation especially difficult.

I’m humbly requesting help to cover the cost of renting a car through enterprise & gas for the 1500 mile round trip , 782 miles each way. I’ll also be traveling with my rescue dog, so driving is my only option. This situation is both unexpected and urgent, and any contribution, no matter the size, would mean the world to us during this time.

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider helping me during this critical moment. Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season!

EDIT - the car rental is $385.41 total Gas I’m guessing roughly $150

I’m requesting $535

Hi all. I hate to have to ask for help here. I have requested help from all local assistance groups and government resources in my area, but am continuing to get denied.

Amount Requested: $740, which would only cover January rent so I don't get evicted. No, I am not expecting strangers to send me hundreds of dollars. I am just trying to be transparent.

My story: I am 23yo, recently divorced, and struggling a lot with my finances. I live in a 2bd apartment with my roommate and we split rent each month ($370 per person). I have 2 cats that are my whole entire universe and my roommate has a 4 month old puppy. My roommate is having some health concerns, making them unable to work at the moment. This came out of nowhere; unfortunately it happened at the same time that I lost my student loans from school. These loans have helped me to 'comfortably' pay my rent for the past 4 years. For the first time in my life, I am about to get evicted. As I'm sure you can imagine, my anxiety is through the roof. Because of the circumstances, all of the finances are falling onto me. I am paying for twice my portion of rent, utilities, and food costs. I am paying for all 3 pets and caring for them full-time. I am urgently seeking a job that I am able to do as a disabled person. I am killing myself donating plasma twice a week and spending all day every day applying, looking, and interviewing for jobs.

Every penny you send is appreciated! Each donation will bring me closer to getting back on my feet. Thank you for even just taking the time out of your day to read this. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!

As per sub rules, message me for my payment tags! And let me know what your preference is. I have a couple apps and am willing to create more accounts. Thanks!

Hi all,

So currently, I commute to Drexel University from South Jersey, and I find it very difficult during rush hour (the commute during this time is about 1 hour). My total cost of attendance this year is 16k, and i have 5k in federal loans, the rest is private at a 10% interest rate. I plan on paying off my unsubsidized/private loans next fall/winter, as I will be on co op, and the average pay for mechanical engineers is 22k+. I also have a part time job, earning 200-300 a week, but most of this money is used on car insurance, food, gas, etc. Does it make sense for me to pull out 4k more in private loans to pay for an apartment near campus the rest of the year?

Edit: next quarter I am taking 20 credits, and a similar amt of credits the following quarters. I want to be near campus without a hassle to attend late club meetings and also to have more of a connection to on-campus life and make friends.

Thanks!

https://gofund.me/7da86999

Hello,

My wife and I ended up homeless with our children suddenly in July 2024 when we were wrongfully evicted from the apartment we had been living in for nearly 8 years. We've been bouncing around from hotels, to Airbnb's, and shared living houses for 4.5 months now.

Then, last month, the storage unit that contained our entire life - everything we had left aside from a couple of bags we packed to keep with us - was sold in auction.

We have lost everything.

We are currently living in a shared living house, where we rent a bedroom. We share common areas with other people who also live in the house. Recently, things have become tense, because the people living in the two bedrooms next to ours are angry that our two very young children - 1 and 2 years old, sometimes wake up crying at night if they have a nightmare, when they are sick, etc (as toddlers often do). We do our best to soothe them, but sometimes young kids just cry. People bang on our bedroom door and yell about the noise. It's not a good environment for our kids at this point.

Now, we are so close to being out of our current situation.

After applying to apartments for months, and being denied over and over again due to our recent eviction, a friend of ours reached out with a solution. She and her husband own a home that they will rent to us, for 1250/month - $550 less than we currently pay for one small room. The house will be move-in ready on January 1st.

We've already set up the utilities for the house in our name, because our friend is letting us go over there to clean the house up and paint, but we cannot actually move in until we can come up with the deposit and first months rent.

We haven't been able to save up enough. Due to our current costs of living, especially the high weekly rent for our room, we just don't have enough. We are both employed full time, and we are saving every penny that we can, but at our current rate it will take at least another 6-8 weeks of saving before we reach our goal.

I am officially asking for help. We cannot live like this for another 2 months or more. Our kids especially do not deserve this.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Even if we partly reach our goal, it will bring us closer and allow us to move into the house sooner.

This is a complex situation, so I'm more than happy to answer any questions or provide as much documentation/proof of our situation that I can.

Thank you to everyone who has read this, and Merry Christmas + Happy Holidays 💚

My husband was laid off last month we were able to pull through but not able to pull through this month. I’ve called 211 and contacted all the communities around me and a lot are not giving rental or utility assistance appointments till Jan.2nd. There was one place I had luck with but they wanted us to get evicted first … we can’t do that we have kids that’s not an option . We had more in savings but car issues took that . Unsure what to do next . We already live beneath our means as we are a family of 5 all living in a small place and recently got approved for food stamps which helps a lot. Everything we own is second hand and even for Christmas we just got our kids one gift each . We don’t crazy spending . Just unsure where to go for now as this is our first time in this position . Hopefully last as we are both in school trying to better our future and our kids . I even called a few places today but due to the holidays they are closed. Any ideas would help. Yes we’ve been applying for jobs just a non stop no . Lots of layoffs everywhere unfortunately. If anyone can just please help us with this months utility bill which is 126.89, please we would appreciate it and just with advice on where we can general rental assistance please as it’s been a struggle as our rent is 1300 and our first unemployment check was 378 that’s not including the other bills we have like diapers wipes , insurance , and etc . I contacted my energy company and they just tell me to call 211 or that they don’t currently have any programs.