Let's extrapolate the saying, '2 heads are better than 1'

[Vermilion]

I've been talking to Trinique_Fire and trying to help out...

After talking for a while it's been agreed that I can post this PM TF sent me and we'll ask all of you to join heads together and try and come up with a solution.

Believe it or not, I work two jobs. It is hideous bad luck though. At my primary job, I'm only allowed to work a maximum of 25 hours a week (FedEx Ground) and all that goes toward bills. My second job is sort of touch and go, as a guide on an internet search engine. My roommate is the biggest drain on my total self worth and such. I don't know what I was thinking agreeing to live with him...but on the other hand, I can't rent on my own. I have too much out in student loans so my credit is awful; no one will rent to me. I don't make enough to pay it off, pay my half of the rent and pay the electric bill AND buy my own food.

I'm looking for a nanny job in my area, but if I can't find something close enough, it's pretty pointless seeing as I don't have a car. My roommate won't let me use his. He worries about everything and the stress is incredible.

*shakes head* I just don't know what to do any more.

I don't know the American welfare system (what there is of it) and I certainly don't know what other help might be available.

Any ideas

x
V

 

[Trinique_Fire]

*sits patiently*

 

[Vermilion]

*sits patiently*

I know... Nobody seems to be biting yet, do they?
Was the title too bizarre or is the board just very quiet?
x
V

 

[mjl2010]

It's been quite a while now, but I've been in that very same situation. All I can say is get looking for another job. Any job that pays above minimum wage and allows you at least 40 hours a week.

Find it and leave Fed Ex with a weeks notice. Since it's part time you don't owe them more than a week.

You might consider a temp agency. Maybe you won't find the job you love there, but to get back up you make sacrifices. Tell them you want a position that is for more than a day or a week. Many have longer term positions.

If you have computer skills, exploit them even if you don't have a degree. There's plenty of agencies that will hire you even without the degree. I'm not sure about mentioning them outright or where exactly you live but if you want I'll make suggestions (on the computer skills side anyway).

One interview suggestion. When you go for the interview if you are sure that you can do the job, never mind lack of experience. Tell the interviewer right out that this is something you can do. Be prepared to explain why. Bluff a little if you need to, but don't lie.

You need transportation unless you have really good public transit where you live. Get the job, then get someone to maybe co-sign for a car loan. Stay away from the no credit/bad credit deals unless you get desperate. Get things arranged for getting a car before you get the job. Look for car pools or regular permanent rides. Don't forget insurance.

If your roomie is bad for your self-worth, get out. NO one needs to put up with that. Usually there are plenty of people looking for room mates or house mates. A lot of times people/couples will rent out extra rooms in their houses or apartments. It may not be the greatest solution but it gets you going. Been there and done this too. Slept in my car once for three weeks.

I remember seeing an old movie once, really old and not quite a silent but a talkie as they called them. The guy kept having bad luck and every time something bad happened, he pulled his pants up as high as they went, squared his shoulders and got going again. You have to do the same. Pull yourself up by the pants legs.

Desperate for a while and having absolutely no real money, I was buying generic mac and cheese at the store for .19 a box. I'd buy exactly 21 at a time along with three boxes of generic margarine. No milk. For two weeks I'd eat mac and cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For dinner I'd add one can of store brand tuna to the mac and cheese. I bought bread at the day old store for .50 a loaf. This is how, for nearly four months I fed myself on less than a dollar a day. I drank lots of water. Its also why today I can't stand instant mac and cheese of any kind. But that's what I did.

I needed a car once. I crashed the one I had and didn't have collision insurance. With my rent overdue and no money I needed a car bad. I took my most favorite possession, a camera my parents had given me for graduation from high school and sold it along with several other items. With $250 exactly I walked almost two miles where I had seen a hulk of a car for sale. I dickered with the guy and got him down from 400 to 250. I drove that junker for almost a year and used it to get a better job. Friends helped me keep it running.

If you can manage to pay something, call the companies that own your student loans. Tell them your situation and that you want to pay but can't. Ask for help making arrangements. If they won't, you can go to a credit counseling agency. Make sure it's non profit. PM me and I'll send you guidelines. They'll counsel you, combine your debt into one payment without making a loan and make payments for you. You pay them once a month. Sounds to good to be true but it is. Just be careful, there's more sharks and landmines in that than the real thing.

Once again, I've been where you are and I sympathize. I'll happily give you advice but you need to pull yourself up. No one can do it for you.

MJL

 

[mjl2010]

*sits patiently*

Took me a while to make my post, sorry you had to wait!

MJL

 

[Misty_Morning]

Are the student loans "guarenteed" /federal?

 

[Vermilion]

MJL - practical advice. Wonderful. That was something I really couldn't offer.

Please can I add that sometimes restaurants and shops chuck out food that's still good, but that they're no longer allowed to sell and you can get hold of it sometimes. Some shops here sell off food at the end of the day for dramatically reduced prices, you just have to leave your pride at the door and go ask.

And Trinique - see how lovely people are, and how helpful? We'll get you out of this, by hook or by crook. From what I've heard you sound healthy, young and intelligent - everything is in your favour. You can do this.
x
V

 

[R. Richard]

Presumably, if you have student loans, you have an education. Does your education contain any learning that might qualify you for a higher paying job?

I knew a lady who, oit of desperation, took a job with a phone sex operation. It was just temporary, mind you. However, she made so much money that she did it for quite some time.

 

[Misty_Morning]

If the student loans were acquired through the federal student loan program or whatever they are calling it these days you may ask for a deferment (sp).

Deferments are usually granted for 6 month periods. Just call and ask for the proper forms. at the end of the 6 months ask for another.

Deferments can be granted for unemployment or for financial hardship, which sounds like the case. Your student loans should be the least of your worries. There are checks put in place such as the deferments because it is so hard for students to get going just after school.

Been there. Don't sweat the student loans.....

 

[mjl2010]

MJL - practical advice. Wonderful. That was something I really couldn't offer.

Please can I add that sometimes restaurants and shops chuck out food that's still good, but that they're no longer allowed to sell and you can get hold of it sometimes. Some shops here sell off food at the end of the day for dramatically reduced prices, you just have to leave your pride at the door and go ask.

And Trinique - see how lovely people are, and how helpful? We'll get you out of this, by hook or by crook. From what I've heard you sound healthy, young and intelligent - everything is in your favour. You can do this.
x
V

One thing I would say Vermillion, never leave your pride anywhere. Someone will steal it and you'll never find it. Always be proud of who you are and hold your head high, even if for a moment you need to be humble.

MJL

 

[mjl2010]

Jeez how did I forget this.

Need food, go visit a food pantry. There's plenty today. I donate once a month myself. Who knows, that can of spam you get might have been donated by me.

Seriously, are you in the US?

MJL

 

[Misty_Morning]

If your credit is fucked so be it......

I've been there too. My ex-husband totally fuckedmy credit BEFORE we got married for his own gains. After we were married I still had shit for credit for nearly 7 years but we went on his credit rating then.....


SO, If your credit is fucked, admit it... and use it to your advantage....

DO THIS:

Call all the companies that you owe money to (not the student loan people, see above post)...tell them that you are in dire financial straights and that you aregoing to declare bankrupsy (sp) and that you will not be able to make your payments. Tell them that you are aware that the accounts will go to collection agencies and that will only damage your credit even more (but sowhat,it's screwed). They know that if the accounts get sent to a collection agency they will only get a fraction of what the account is really worth.

So, tell them that you want the accounts to go into default, not be sent to a collection agency, and that you would like to set up a payment plan on the accounts WITHOUT interest.....they will do this, but it means you will take another hit on your credit rating....remember it's screwed anyways.....

Now, you have breathing room....pay off the accounts...keep asking for deferments on the student loans....and for the next 7 years....pay cash only ...

after about 5 or so years apply for a credit card....never use except maybe 1 or 2 times a year and pay it off immediately.....

My credit rating went from shit to where it is today doing what I have tried to explain here...it's rough but can be done..... my credit rating is 830....

 

[Vermilion]

Presumably, if you have student loans, you have an education. Does your education contain any learning that might qualify you for a higher paying job?

I knew a lady who, oit of desperation, took a job with a phone sex operation. It was just temporary, mind you. However, she made so much money that she did it for quite some time.

I'd love to work as a phone sex operator - I'd be fantastic at it. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to join such an operation.
x
V

 

[Vermilion]

One thing I would say Vermillion, never leave your pride anywhere. Someone will steal it and you'll never find it. Always be proud of who you are and hold your head high, even if for a moment you need to be humble.

MJL

Maybe I should have specified 'false' pride...if you follow me. Never be ashamed of anything honest that you need to do.
x
V

 

[Vermilion]

Seriously, are you in the US?

MJL

I can answer that: Yes.

I'm not, which is why I was struggling to help.
x
V

 

[mjl2010]

Maybe I should have specified 'false' pride...if you follow me. Never be ashamed of anything honest that you need to do.
x
V

I hope I didn't sound critical. I didn't mean to be.

 

[Vermilion]

I hope I didn't sound critical. I didn't mean to be.

You didn't
x
V

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Wow....okay I want to thank everyone for all of this. And T....wonderful ideas. I'm not above being a PSO either. I don't know how to find numbers or sites for reference though. Any ideas? Does your friend have a number for reference?

I've got a turkey leftover from Christmas, frozen. Any soup recipes? I've got a few bags of frozen veggies and a can of green beans. Some seasonings. Anything I could make with all that? Some kind of soup or stew?

How do I differentiate between the sharks and the real people willing to help with the loans?

 

[SimonBrooke]

Hang on in there!

You need transportation unless you have really good public transit where you live. Get the job, then get someone to maybe co-sign for a car loan. Stay away from the no credit/bad credit deals unless you get desperate. Get things arranged for getting a car before you get the job. Look for car pools or regular permanent rides. Don't forget insurance.

Seriously, I know I'm a push-bike freak, but consider a push-bike. A second hand push-bike is as fast as a car in urban areas (faster at rush hour), costs virtually nothing to run, very little to buy, and keeps you fit and in shape.

Apart from that all I can say is hang on in there. There was a summer many, many years ago when a homeless guy used to come by with two slices of bread and two eggs he'd bought from the shop, and we'd cook them on my stove and eat one egg and one slice of bread each. And sometimes one of the local farmers would drop off a rabbit he'd shot as vermin. And apart from that I lived on shellfish I picked down on the shore.

I don't want to go there again. Being flat broke is a very, very scary and miserable experience. But you do get through it.

 

[Liar]

I know... Nobody seems to be biting yet, do they?
Was the title too bizarre or is the board just very quiet?
x
V

Eh, when you posted this, the thread had veen alive for half an hour. Chill a bit.


Anyway, RR mentioned phone sex. Now, I wouldn't go quite *that* far. But phones can be used for many things. I dunno what the market looks like in the US, maybe everything is outsourced to India, but if I needed a job quickly, there are a number of call centers that hire at the drop of a hat. Phone sales and polling companies, mostly. I could work from home, I call in and they route me for callback ID. It doesn't pay well, but what does? Good thing is, they want ppl to work evenings, so if I have classes it doesn't intefer. Other than that, "call between 4 and 9 pm" ppl set their own hours and gets paid per call time.

 

[mjl2010]

Recipe

Wow....okay I want to thank everyone for all of this. And T....wonderful ideas. I'm not above being a PSO either. I don't know how to find numbers or sites for reference though. Any ideas? Does your friend have a number for reference?

I've got a turkey leftover from Christmas, frozen. Any soup recipes? I've got a few bags of frozen veggies and a can of green beans. Some seasonings. Anything I could make with all that? Some kind of soup or stew?

Recipe

In a large pot cover whats left of the turkey with water. Boil until the meat is falling off the bone. Strain, reserving broth. Remove bones from meat and discard. Put broth and meat back in pot.

Add - Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme ( I know, it sounds like a song) Salt and pepper. Add small amounts, let simmer a bit then taste. Once it tastes good, stop adding.

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Add vegies and onion if you have it until you have equal amounts of broth and the other stuff.

If you have any pasta, add some the last ten to twenty minutes you simmer. Macaroni noodles work well, any kind of pasta will do though.

Serve hot. Grated parmasean makes a good table spice for this.

MJL

 

[R. Richard]

Wow....okay I want to thank everyone for all of this. And T....wonderful ideas. I'm not above being a PSO either. I don't know how to find numbers or sites for reference though. Any ideas? Does your friend have a number for reference?

You can do a web search on "phone sex operator." I don't know the rest of the details, but the lady I talked with found a PSO job in Charleston, SC. Charleston, SC is maybe the last place I would expect to find a phone sex operation, but it turns out they had one of the larger ones.

 

[mjl2010]

How do I differentiate between the sharks and the real people willing to help with the loans?

I'd be happy to email you with specifics. I'm not sure if your email is turned on or not. Otherwise I'll come back and post. Be patient please. It might be a few hours. I have to run out. Sorry.

MJL

 

[Vermilion]

Old-fashioned Jewish chicken soup springs to mind - but made with turkey. let's see <thinks>

remove parson's nose (arse) of turkey and place in large pan. Add root vegetables roughly chopped, an onion with skin removed and cut into quarters, some celery if you've got it, salt and pepper, a stock cube if you have one (but not essential) then cover the carcas with water, put a lid on and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2 -3 hours, then remove from the heat and leave to cool. If possible chill overnight (on a window sill or something?) then you have to get the bones out.

Nothing for it but to plunge your hands in. Gently pull the meat off the bones and discard the bones and gristle. Run your fingers all through the mix to check there are no bones left (this is cold, slimey and gross, but needs must).

Now you can chill, freeze or eat the soup. Before eating it heat it thoroughly so it's really boiling and do this each time you heat it. If you like you can add in softer vegetables now like green beans, peas etc - stuff that would degrade with a long boil. You can also add in pasta or noodles at this stage to bulk it out.

Serve with bread or toast.

x
V

 

[SimonBrooke]

Seriously... porridge and broth

Wow....okay I want to thank everyone for all of this. And T....wonderful ideas. I'm not above being a PSO either. I don't know how to find numbers or sites for reference though. Any ideas? Does your friend have a number for reference?

I've got a turkey leftover from Christmas, frozen. Any soup recipes? I've got a few bags of frozen veggies and a can of green beans. Some seasonings. Anything I could make with all that? Some kind of soup or stew?

OK, I'm in Scotland, we do things differently here. This has been a very, very poor country for a very long time, we're good at it.

First thing is porridge. Rolled oats or oatmeal. One cup of oats, two cups of water, a bit of salt. Heat slowly till it boils, stirring gently; when it thickens it's done. Eat with milk (if you can afford it) and sugar (if you can afford it - these days I use maple syrup, but these days I'm not broke). It's practically pure carbohydrate, so no vitamins or protein, but it's good fuel for working on, and it warms you up if you don't have enough heating. Very, very cheap.

Next thing is broth. Ideally, you want some pulses - beans, peas or lentils - in this for protein. When I was very, very broke red kidney beans were exceedingly cheap, and they're good protein; but you have to soak them in cold water for several hours and then boil hard for ten minutes, or else they're poisonous. Lentils and split peas are also good protein and easier to prepare.

What else goes in the broth? Shops that sell fresh veg throw a lot out. Go begging around closing time - you don't want to wait 'til it's been thrown in the bin. You need vegetables for vitamins. A stock cube or even a few herbs makes a lot of difference to the taste. Or soy sauce. And don't forget salt. If you've got any spare money, spend it on things which make cheap food palatable.

With porridge and broth, you can get by on a few pennies a day. And it's food I still eat for choice - porridge every day, broth occasionally - although now I don't need to.