
Financial Challenges Support Group
This community is for people who are struggling to meet financial obligations of any kind. Financial challenges include everything from the day-to-day challenges of making ends meet to managing credit card debt to bankruptcy. Get support from others who are going through similar obstacles on the road back to financial stability.

deleted_user
Hi all. I'm only 24yrs old and already I've enrolled into a debt consolidation program one year ago that doesn't seem to be helping. Right now I am without a job and actually negative in the bank. I also owe about $600 in taxes and can't pay that either. I'm extremely stressed cuz I don't know what to do or where to turn. I am signed up with a job-finding company, but no assignments yet so no income yet. I've never been this broke in my life and I don't know how to handle it. Should I file bankruptcy considering my credit is horrible anyway or is there another solution? I know that I qualify for disability, but I guess I'm one of those people who is too proud to take money from the government when I know this is all my fault. Someone please help me out here and give me some advice. On top of everything else, I am already about $30,000 in debt with student loan bills and by the time I'm done it will be closer to $100,000 so I'm freaked out about that too. I don't want to make things worse so what do I do? Please Help Me?!?
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A also suggest seeing a good Shrink (I'm not a big believer in therapists...a complete waste of time and money in my experiences) to help you work out whatever issues you have. (It was one of the best things I ever did for my own recovery!)
I don't apologize for my comment like the previous poster. Sometimes the truth hurts, but you need to hear it... Get any job you can. It's far better then NO job.
I think school loan payments can be deferred until you are done with school and have work and are able to start paying them back.
Start job hunting!
When/IF you get hired by a better place you just simply talk to the manager in private at the smaller place and say I really need to accept this other job offer, better pay they WILL understand.
Just be sure that when you quit that smaller job, that you show you appreciation to that employer for hiring you - and there is no need to apologize to them. Business is business.
And a lesser paying job doesn't have to mean its a job in the fast food industry - you could be "stocker" in a dept. store, work in a warehouse, on an assembly line - these are all things I've done in the past myself. Temp agencies can also place you quickly in a receptionist position or as a file clerk - lots of different positions out there.
Don't wait for anyone to call you with a position. YOU call them and call constantly until you get something.
Good luck, chin up and get busy out there.
I was registered with 7 employment agencies
and was looking online -if you don't have a computer, you can use the ones at the library for free. Almost all newspapers have an online edition...I was so frustrated that i accepted a 16 hr a week position and was paid $9.00 an hour by the employment agency. After a few weeks my boss asked me if I wld like to work for them instead and I agreed. I was getting over $ 16.00 an hour then. Now (after 1 yr) I am making even more than that and am working 30+ hours a week. So you never know what will come out of an opportunity.
My main advice to you is to get your foot in the door somewhere and move up from there. I do agree with what most of the others said: It is hard enough to get a job, so don't wait on anybody to find you, cause they won't. Go after it. I am so settled in my job now, that they would not know what to do without me.... Get your foot in and then show them what you can do.
This economy is awful, isn't it?? My BF is out of work, and has been looking for over a year.
Could you file for unemployment? Did you quit your last job?
If you quit your last job, you may be able to get unemployment, although, I'm not sure about the details, or if you can get it while you're going to school. I'd look into it.
Don't be too proud to take money from the government. The social programs were put into place for a reason, and if you qualify for any assistance, you should take it. Later, after you get out of school, you can volunteer, or pay extra taxes to pay the government back.
While you are in school, take advantage of the services that they offer there. My university offered free legal counsel for students. Your school may do the same, or offer some other programs that may help you.
I wouldn't rush to declare bankruptcy.
If you don't have any money, there is really not much a debt collector can do other than call you over and over (until you send them a letter asking them to stop), or take you to court. Even if they do take you to court, they can't get money you don't have.
You may be able to get federal work study (I'm not sure if you're going for an undergrad or grad degree...but both can get work study.)
Look for jobs on campus. They are usually the most flexible for students, and will work around your school schedule.
Good luck, and don't worry too much. This economy is bound to pick up sometime.
Take care!