Back on our feet: Marlene and four children in Pietermaritzburg

Since a sudden redundancy in August, I'm now raising four children on my own. I work as a part-time receptionist, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as a bookkeeper in the evenings, which will triple my income by October, but I need to bridge the gap until then. Some weeks I skip meals so my children can eat. I have never asked anyone for help like this before, and I'm doing it for them. Once I finish my course, I'll pay it forward. Every cent is accounted for. I'll share a simple monthly breakdown. Where the $1,000 goes: • Rent top-up: $490 • Childcare and after-school care: $280 • Groceries and school meals: $150 • Course fees and exam costs: $80 Thank you for reading my story.