Hurtling toward financial ruin

I usually end up telling people what I think is sensible, rather than what I think they want to hear.

I guess you're right though

 

Yup, money problems suck.

 

You sound pretty stressed out and plenty of great advice has been given for the money side of this problem. My advice is to stop worrying about things you can't fix at this exact moment. I'm not saying to ignore your problems....but...for example...I have some issues with a piece of equipment at work. We don't know how much it will cost to fix but it might be a very substantial amount of money. It's a problem but not one that I can do a single thing about at this exact moment. So instead, I'll chill out here on the deck, have a beer and enjoy my evening. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their problems that it makes them not think straight. So take a breathe, relax and repeat. Your problems aren't going to last forever. And if it makes you feel any better, I have a good friend who owes $110,000 in student loans.

 

I do appreciate everyone's advice. It's helped me see that there are other options out there and I can pick and choose those that work for me. Over the past few days I have pulled every favor and pulled money from every crevice and I have worked it out so I am going to be able to afford not only my insurance, but my car repair/oil change as well. Also got my oil cap off all by myself. And added enough oil to get my check engine light to shut off and get me through till next week. I've also decided on some goals. First, get out of debt. Then, go back to school for an MLT certification (work will pay for it), because I think not having one is the reason I keep throwing my resume out into the wind and keep being stuck in customer support answering phones instead of in a lab making bank where I belong. Eventually, I will go to grad school for a Masters in microbiology. Also, work will pay for it, but I may need to take a leave, so that is faaaaar down the road. In the meantime, I have applied to two other lab jobs that have just popped up within my company just to see what happens, sent away for info for school and started a Spanish class to refresh my high school Spanish (also paid through work). I also signed up to foster a kitty from the shelter around the corner, who will pay all the kitty's vet bills. So I certainly have enough to keep me busy and keep my mind off worrying about finances, spending money or eating my rations out of stress and boredom. I think it's going to be okay.

 

Thanks Obama..

 

Personally contact each creditor, write a letter and explain your situation to see if they’re willing to negotiate a payment plan which fits your budget and lowers your monthly payments.


Hotwater

 

Well, when I'm already only paying $50 for one loan, $64 for another loan and $82 for the credit card, it's hard to negotiate for lower. They're already pretty low. My highest is my car payment at $112. It's the number of little payments adding up in addition to my rent that's kind of killing me. And then the fact that I'm dropping over $700 on insurance and repairs/maintenance for my car this month isn't helping.

I asked my mom if I could borrow $250 just to get through. She sent me $300 instead. I'm so lucky... Most of my friends' moms turn them out at a certain age and never help them with anything ever again. Mine is always trying to throw it at me. I hated to take it, but it's the only way I'm going to make it. And then things are going to change. I'm going to systematically tackle each one and pay it down. Still haven't heard anything on my student loan consolidation application, but if that comes through, it will help a lot. If things get out of control with one of them, I will definitely take that advice of calling them and seeing if we can work something out. I'm just afraid they're going to laugh in my face because they are already super low...

 

It sounds to me like a second job is in order



Hotwater

 

I don't know who would want to work around my schedule. I work a very variable full time work week. 10hr days with one random day off a week in addition to the weekend, usually something like 10:30-7, but on weeks where they have me working a Saturday, it's more like 10-9. Are there really any part time jobs out there that will put up with such limited availability that won't be intimidated by a 4-year biomedical degree?

I'm asking honestly.

 

I doubt it unless you can find a job waiting tables on Sunday. You could probably pick up an extra $100 or more waiting tables for the Sunday lunch crowd.

Personally I've always found my sanity is more important than money troubles. I need my two days off a week even if I'm just stuck at home because I'm too broke to do anything. You may feel the same.

 

Indeed I do. Also, it would pretty much kill my plans to take Spanish and get an MLT certification so I can rise above this crap eventually... But I don't want to sound like I am making excuses for staying in a bad situation. It's easy for people to say "if you really want it, you'll do anything," but they get to sit there and say that. I have to be the one to figure out the logistics of making it work.

Not that anyone has been judgmental... yet...

 

Self employment of some kind... set your own schedule around your existing hours.

 

Ah, the American dream!
Now to figure out what I have to offer that anyone would want, haha. Well aside from selling my ass... :juggle:
I could sing at weddings. I have a decent voice for hymns/bluegrass music I've been told.

I live near a city, so I could probably paint myself in different colors and splat myself on a canvas and sell it for thousands of dollars as modern art.

I could assemble CD cases/stuff envelopes and make hundred of dollars a week from home!!! Does anyone remember those ads in the paper? Did anyone fall for that?

Hmmm... yeah, I don't know. Everything I would like to do or that would make money would probably require paying for lessons/more school. No money or time. I'll keep thinking about it, though...

 

.. yes, you got a dollar per 100 stuffed, little did they know we had mail equipment to do just that. I think they caught on when my orders were filled faster than they could write the checks and no longer needed us..

 

Ahhhhhhhh your not a failure buddy!!!!

Stuff is getting worse and worse EVERYDAY and I am sorry your stuck where you are....... I dont feel that your mom will be angry,she might come visit you!!

Your mom will most likely be worried and want to help you......


Im so sorry and I hope things become GOOD for you!


Peace and love to you my friend

 

What are you passionate about?

 

Kind of still working on figuring that out. I don't have a lot of skills. I like animals, which is why I've volunteered to foster a cat or a cat family. I'm working on getting into veterinary research or diagnostic lab work, but I'm a little too squeamish to be an actual vet. I used to do okay house/pet sitting when I could find work. Maybe I'll put in an ad. I fear my references have all dried up, though, as I haven't done it since I lived in New York. Still I could offer character references, I guess.

I have a creative spirit, but talent? Ehh, not so much. Probably could if I nurtured it, but I have one of those natures that just wants to try everything and never really masters anything, because there's just too much to choose from. It's a little irritating. I'm working on it. Trying to ask myself what I want to do in that moment rather than thinking about what I'm missing out on trying or doing or practicing while I am doing something else. It kind of stems from working long hours and not having a ton of free time to myself during the week. And because I live alone, I prefer to spend time with people while I have the time to do so.

I've also been preoccupied with somewhat of a spiritual exploration of what I believe and studying old religions and such... Not sure if I could turn that into a money-making venture, really. And I'm not charismatic enough to sell tarot readings, lol...

I have to figure some of this shit out... Seriously...

 

the US dollar is based on debt, that is how this system works.

put your credit on credit and pay off the debt with loans

 

.:bobby:

An interesting question is what is the total debt, including future govt, obligations of the USA. How many trillion? If you add in personal debt how much then? No mean sum.

And how long can you sustain it by printing money? Could we be looking at the demise of the dollar as a world reserve currency in the not too distant future?

It's all shakey as fuck. And the situation in the UK and Europe is little better.

None of these fiat currencies seem very safe to me.

 

Personal opinion... If you pooled everybody's "net worth" worldwide, which is now based on debt and then tried to match that with tangible objects, products, and commodities we would need 3 planet earth's to cover it all.


Of course, going into debt further for the OP would not be a good idea so we are straying off topic...