Being Completely Broke

[Plecostomus]

I've been unemployed many many times, a combination of the employment market around here, poor choices I've made and other factors.

Lesson #1: Always ALWAYS sock money away someway some how and Lesson #2 never turn down a job offer, even if it's flipping burgers, bussing tables, raking a driveway, polishing metal... Might lead to a change of career as it did in my case. Things are *slightly* better job-prospect-wise but the market around here... shittastic in the best of times, abysmal in downturns.

 

[Ethros]

I don't know your situation, but when unemployed for that long can you not just get a job stacking shelves at a supermarket or something? It's crap pay but it's a hell of a lot better than nothing at all

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I am almost there, but not quite. I have been unemployed for 16 months, and have about $60,000 in debt. My unemployment ends in a month or two. Luckily I got a part-time job with the Census Bureau starting next week. For the last six months I have mainly been living off my girlfriend who has a really good government job. At least I learned I would never make it as a kept man, I am not the kind of guy who feels good sponging off his woman. My big worry is my COBRA ends in a couple of months and I have health problems. If I have a hospitalization, forget it. I have been in situations in the past where I had no money in my checking or savings, but I always had a job and payday was at least coming soon.

 

[thestrangequark]

I don't know your situation, but when unemployed for that long can you not just get a job stacking shelves at a supermarket or something? It's crap pay but it's a hell of a lot better than nothing at all

It's not always that easy. People often get turned down jobs that they are overqualified for, because the employers know that as soon as something better comes along they'll split.

 

[kissthestar]

There's nothing scarier. The cops can't help. The docs can't help. Nobody wants to know.

 

[Ethros]

Patrick Bateman wouldn't be impressed by your negative attitude
Get a goddam job!

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I don't know your situation, but when unemployed for that long can you not just get a job stacking shelves at a supermarket or something? It's crap pay but it's a hell of a lot better than nothing at all

It's not always that easy. People often get turned down jobs that they are overqualified for, because the employers know that as soon as something better comes along they'll split.

Not only that, but in times like these there are thousands of people thinking the same thing and those minimum wage jobs are not as easy to come buy as you think. Witness the recent news story about 700 people putting in an application for a single school janitorial job in Ohio.

 

[Venardhi]

I'm just about getting there right now. I was staying with a friend in the SF bay area this fall and saved up enough to move to Portland (with a little to spare in case I had trouble finding a job) to be with my then girlfriend, the day before I moved we broke up and I was kind of left with no other option than to either go home to my parents in a tiny town or come back to Ashland(also a tiny town, but with some parks. . like independence) to live with my old room mate and wait for him to finish up his job and be able to move with me back to California.

I've applied everywhere I could think of in this town. Sandwich shops, ice cream parlours, grocery stores, retail shops, etc. etc. etc. Had a few interviews with some proper offices the next town over but not so much as a "thanks for coming in" call afterward.

Money is dwindling to nothing and my college money that I was saving to go back to school is all invested in an account that has been there since I was a kid and is now hardly worth taking out considering how much of the value is vanished. In theory yeah I could drain it, but that means I'd have nothing to go to school with down the line.

I've got enough to live on for the next month or so, but then what? Even if I have enough to pay rent I can't really move to a new place without any money for a deposit or likely funds for the next couple months if I don't bounce back. This town is a dead end and my friend doesn't seem to be ready to leave for another few months.

I know If it came down to it I could go back to my parents, but I've got to sink a lot lower than this to willingly admit I can't get on without them after 4 years on my own.

 

[Holdfast]

Never been broke. To be honest, I've been fortunate to have a very easy life financially-speaking, always having more than enough for my realistic needs. Touch wood that it continues, because who knows what the future holds! Last summer, I went through a couple of months of being asset-rich, but cashflow-poor but I knew it was coming in advance (basically because of a big new illiquid investment I made) so I just cut back on clothes, wine & eating out until I got through those two or three months.

Good luck to the OP in finding a new job, and anyone else in similar straits.

 

[Jen]

About six years ago, I was offered one of those fantastic, can't-believe-it's-true-jobs that paid twice as much as what I was making at the time. I jumped on it, thinking that my financial worries were finally over.

After a month, they fired me. They said I was doing a fantastic job, but I just wasn't a good fit for the company.

In the next year, I lost everything. I had to move back to my mom's because I couldn't afford the rent. I had to sell my car because I couldn't afford the payments and the insurance. And I couldn't find any job, because apparently, at age 22, I was far too qualified for anything.

Eventually, I managed to talk to the owner of the local Subway...the one I had worked at in high school...and he gave me a job. It sucked, and I was making about as much as unemployment, so I was still screwed. It took me a year there before I found the job I'm in now.

Because of the stupid housing market, I'm on rotating layoff, but at least I have a job (well, two). I have a house and a nice car. Financially I'm not where I thought I would be, but I'm doing okay. But that year I was unemployed was complete and utter hell.

 

[Plecostomus]

After a month, they fired me. They said I was doing a fantastic job, but I just wasn't a good fit for the company.

Been there. It's more important to be popular and accepted by your peers than it is to actually.. you know.. do your job.

Better to hire some cognitive slagheap who is at least attractive and popular. WHO CARES if he/she is a drag on resources and does nothing all day. At least he/she fits in.

 

[Holdfast]

... cognitive slagheap...

I must remember this phrase.