…and no, all I need isn’t you.
The negotiations with our landlord aren’t going well. We’ve told him in no uncertain terms that the change in our personal financial circumstances is leading us straight into a monthly deficit, making it entirely likely that we will not be able to pay our full rent amount in the near future. The combination of increased utility costs and lower-than-expected income have nudged us far enough into the red that the situation appears to be irreversable. We need to lower our expenses drastically, and moving into a smaller and more energy-efficient place with a shorter commute is the best way we can come up with.
Having presented our case, he’s exploiting the fact that there is no lease termination clause in our contract (our own stupid fault, there) by asking for a 3-month buyout. At $1900 a month, this is not only in excess of what we can provide living paycheck-to-paycheck, it is substantially in excess.
We’ve countered by asking him to accept 2-months’ worth, including retention of our security deposit (also $1900), which is still more than we were going to be paying for heating oil this winter, and more than we can afford, but would release us from a long-term, monthly deficit situation that would exceed just the cost of oil and would end with a lease termination date that lands almost squarely on the baby’s due-date.
As it is, under the terms of our negotiation we have been offered a September 15th move-out date if we will pay the penalties. That means packing up a family of five, moving, etc. We don’t have a new place secured yet, and the buyout will wipe us out on funds, so we will have to probably put our stuff in storage and crash on the floor of my parents’ house for a few weeks to replenish our income to make a deposit on a new rental.
As you can imagine, this is not ideal. I’m quickly heading into ulcer territory, and seem to have lost about 80% of the function in my four-letter-word-filter. We are of course relying heavily on our prayers and those of others, so I’ll continue to beg, plead and cajole you for more, particularly for some peace of mind in the midst of all the turmoil.
In the event that you happen to know/are a benefactor who wants to throw a few grand my way to facilitate this process (LOL - I have Catholic readers with families, I know most of you are in the same boat) we’ll pray for you like there’s no tomorrow. (In case you won the lottery recently though, my contact info is on the “about” page and in the sidebar. 
)
St. Jude, St. Joseph, St. Anthony, et. al., ora pro nobis!
Been there. We’re praying for you and your family.
I’ve been there too. You can count on my prayers. St. Joseph has gotten through some tight spots.
Trust God, he will not fail you.
You’re in our prayers.
God knows what he’s doing, even if we’re pretty in the dark.
An intercessor who’s come through for us, big time, on financial matters: St. Nicholas. He’s not just for Christmastime.
Another one, more obscure: the Servant of God, Alvaro del Portillo, who was right hand man to St. Josemaria Escriva. At many critical junctures in the history of Opus Dei, Don Alvaro managed to come up with large amounts of financing just as seemingly-insurmountable bills needed to be paid. He’s managed to do the same for our family. EWTN’s website has a text version of Don Alvaro’s prayer card.
In the meantime, be assured of our family’s prayers.
Thanks, everyone. Some of you have actually sent contributions along, which I really wasn’t expecting. Whether you’re helping materially, spiritually, or both, I honestly cannot thank all of you enough for your kind words, prayers, and actions. I’m humbled by you.
Be assured of our prayers in return.
I have long found comfort in John Henry Newman’s “Lead Kindly Light” when faces with such stress:
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling glom,
Lead thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, in spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.
So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those Angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
Many prayers sent your way. Our family is in the same boat sort of right now except that with the increase in food/gas and now health insurance we really have to tighten our finances even more. But it will all work out and when you need the money God mysteriously supplies just what we NEED! Our family has been through this many times.
With that said, my husband is planning on applying to grad school in DC(Catholic University) along with a few other places in the US, but I really don’t want to move to DC unless he gets a really good scholarship(he’s applying for the Classics masters/PHD program). Is this where you are going to school then? How is the DC area for raising a traditional family for a few years? What are the pro’s and con’s?
(I’m not sure if you remember me or my family, but we briefly got to know you and your very pregnant wife(who was pregnant with #2) in Phoenix. Congratulations on baby #3! We are expecting #2 in November!)
Thanks, Sarah. I’ll send you some info about DC.
Oh, and BTW, this is #4!
Dear Steve,
You need a lawyer. The fact that there is no “lease termination clause” in your lease sounds to me like the lease is illegal. Call HUD they may be able to help you. If your landlord doesn’t take what you are able to pay he is a fool- but he won’t be the first.
What can I say- get out of D.C. these big cities will chew you up and spit you out.
God bless,
Mary