Back on our feet: Mio and four children in Tokyo

Last July I went through a sudden redundancy, and I'm now raising four children on my own. I work as a care worker, but my income doesn't cover rent, childcare and groceries. I'm retraining as an electrician in the evenings, which will triple my income by November, 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 $2,500 goes: • Childcare and after-school care: $680 • Rent top-up: $1,100 • Course fees and exam costs: $720 Thank you for reading my story.