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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jun 22, 2008 17:58:24 GMT -5
I have no income. No job, no prospects. I have been selling off everything at a rate that somehow has kept me floating. I rented out a room for so little rent, it doesn't even pay the light bill
I'm at the end of my rope. Soon, the only thing left to sell is my apartment, which needs remodeling to make it easy to rent or sell. I'm really upset over some of the decisions I have made the last two years but there's nothing I can do now except move forward. It's a terrible time to sell my apartment. I had a friend who sold her place after being ripped off by multiple contractors and "helpers" who didn't help. She sold for so little, she has ended up in a trailer and she's looking for a job even though she's retired. The vultures are out there looking to buy very cheap, they'll tell any story to get possession, then walk away with your equity.
Has anyone here faced that type of situation? How did you choose what to let go? I've been using cable internet to sell things and tried my friend's dialup account and it was impossible to use for business. I can get rid of cable TV in general and just get internet service from them. It's expensive but I don't see that I have a choice. I can't run a business if I can't really get online reliably with enough speed to offer good customer service. With dialup, I can't even load photos of my things, it takes half an hour to complete one listing. I can't afford that waste of time.
I've already sold most of my furniture. I'm down to selling personal possessions, even my spare pots and pans. It hurts to see things sell so cheaply but I need the money and chose a few small things to keep. I was planning to live in my van if I had to. Now I think I will sell it. I need time to come up with a better plan. If I could sell the van, I can finish the remodeling and then be in much better position to get a renter - which would mean income is coming in.
I gave up on Ebay a while ago, it's in the dumper for summer, shipping costs have gone through the roof and the new selling fees are so high, it's tough to see them make more than YOU do when you do all the work.
Can you make any money selling books in craigslist? Or do you just work for ten cents an hour to do all the typing to list them? Is there a way to hold a garage sale that has more than two visitors (and one steals while the other one distracts you)? How do you get the most money for things which really are garage sale type merchandise without going to a flea market? I don't really know what to do with a flea market situation. It's a lot of money to risk, trying to load things and drive 50 miles, pay rent, can't even go alone because of theft and you can't use the bathroom or eat while you're working the table.
Have you ever done a neighborhood type garage sale?
I might have to choose which bills not to pay July 1. It scares me. I've never been in that situation before.
I recognize that being scared doesn't help but I can't do much about it. I wake up scared. I feel as if the end is coming and there won't be any safety net at all. I see old ladies in the street downtown, drinking their sorrows away and I am terrified I might end up like that.
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Post by onwardandupward on Jun 22, 2008 18:46:46 GMT -5
First of all, I am so sorry you are in this situation. Yes, I have been very, very broke before. I am not rolling in cash at this point, but I am typically able to cover bills for now, a fact I am very thankful for.
You might try checking the listings for garage sales in your local paper. If there is a "neighborhood garage sale" listed, call the phone number and explain your situation. You might find someone willing to let you bring your stuff by and sell it with them. Try to pick a nicer neighborhood, since that is where a lot of shoppers go for yard sales.
Have you tried calling local churches? It is possible that if you explain your situation, some of the men from the church may be willing to come help you with your remodeling projects.
Hang in there. I am sure others here much smarter than I am will have better ideas for you.
(((hugs)))
Onward
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Post by paperpiler on Jun 22, 2008 19:14:22 GMT -5
60, I am so sorry. I am 50, jobless, destitute for the fourth time, living on $26 until I find work, am waiting to be evicted, have gotten the notice, and have a car that I just learned is not safe to drive and no money for repairs. I am also college educated and experienced and bright and talented and self-confident. The economy is so bad that I cannot find work in my field. I also cannot even get hired in retail. They know I"ll leave when I find something else, and would rather give the jobs to the kids for summer. I sold my valuables the last time this happened to me (long story...not wanting to share it). I spend 18-21 hours per day job hunting, and have for the last 3 months. I obviously sleep very little, and my chest pounds in fear when I lay down. My phone will be shut off in about a week. I need it for job hunting. My computer will be shut down in about two weeks. I obviously need it more than the one hour the library allows.
I have nothing to offer you except prayers. If you believe in the power of prayer, KEEP PRAYING and ask everyone around you to pray as well. I have come too far to believe that God will put me out on the street. You have to believe that same thing. I'm hanging by a thread, but somehow I make it through to the next day.
Just keep praying. It's okay to be terrified. It's also okay to keep believing.
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Post by moggyfan on Jun 22, 2008 20:21:15 GMT -5
You say you're 61--will you be able to collect Social Security in a year's time (at 62)? If so, that will at least give you some income, assuming you're in the U.S. and that you worked enough years. If this is the case, you just have to get through one more year. Thoughts:
If there's any kind of decent public transit where you live, and the van is worth at least a few thousand, I would definitely sell it. If there's no public transit, but the van is newish and worth a lot, sell it and buy a small used car.
Are you reasonably healthy? If so, you might look for some under-the-table work opportunities--house cleaning, child care, pet care, etc. Is there a college near you? You might put up an ad to edit and type papers. Any of these things would likely bring in more $ than selling books on craigslist (unless you've got super-valuable books).
How big is your apartment? Roomy enough for another roommate if need be, at least for awhile? Or, is there a family member or friend you could live with temporarily (like for a year) while you leased out your apartment for that time?
Do you have a lot of equity in the apartment? If so, is there some way to pull some money out of it?
If you're in a large city, there are probably food banks and/or "soup kitchen"-type places where you could eat free or very cheaply. Maybe you'd qualify for some senior citizen programs?
Also, don't give up on the job search. You don't mention what job skills you have, but you might be able to put them to use somehow in a non-traditional way (e.g., doing contract work instead of being a regular employee). Do you live near elementary or middle schools? If you have a degree, even a two-year degree, you might be able to be a teacher's aide or even a substitute teacher (a lot of districts need those, and I've seen quite a number of older people in those jobs). Schools also need playground & cafeteria supervisors, office help, etc.
I hope you find some financial solutions soon; I'm pushing 59 and even though I have a good job now, the what-ifs run through my mind pretty often, as I am on my own and a renter. Best of luck to you.
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Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jun 22, 2008 20:49:15 GMT -5
- In December 2006, when I was 49 years old, I was 4 months behind on rent, no job, and got an eviction notice. And I was in deep squalor (although thankfully they didn't come in so they didn't know about that). I managed to work out a payment plan with my landlords. I agreed to pay them a tiny bit extra every month, until I was caught up. They okay'd it and stopped the eviction process. Then I prayed for guidance. I did all sorts of under-the-table work, and weird temp jobs, until I got a job. It took me 18 months to finally get caught up on the rent, but I did it. I remember those times of terror very well. I kept posting on Squalor Survivors and people kept posting support and sending good wishes. It helped me enormously. I kept posting and posting about my hunt for a job and my efforts to stave off eviction. Everyone kept giving me so much support. It was amazing. The place that helped me the most was my local unemployment office. NOTE: If you live in the USA and need work, you can go there, even if you are ineligible to collect unemployment. That's right -- you can go there for help, even if you're not collecting a check. Most states have programs at their unemployment office building ... called "worksource" or workforce". It's just a program to help people find work. They have free computers for people to use. Free fax machine. Free internet. Free resume paper. Free photocopying, postage, stamps ... provided you use it for job hunting. They offer free classes in job hunting and computer skills. Most of us middle-aged and elder folks don't realize that these resources are available, because we remember of unemployment offices as places for people who collect unemployment checks. But things are different nowadays. These centers help anybody who wants to find work, whether you're a teen, a young professional, a homemaker, an elderly person, whatever. You don't have to be collecting unemployment. My local center has a program to help people over 55 years old find work. They have programs to help the disabled find work. Some states have extra funding for people who've been out of work for a long time (as I was). They helped me with rent money (once only). electric bill (once only) and gasoline money (several times), provided I gave them a list every week showing I'd been looking for work. This was after I'd demonstrated my commitment. They have great job counseling there. At least they do in the state where I live. Oh and ... my local center has several free (landline) phones at the desk -- available to use there for job search phone calls. And they provide a phone messaging service for those who cannot afford their own phone -- provided you use it primarily for job search. I pretty much spent every day there .. if I wasn't out on a temp job assigment or doing odd jobs. I know this doesn't answer 60isolderthanithot's original question about what to sell. I guess that's because I never had anything worth selling. My hoard is mostly old boxes of miscellanous papers and junk. But hopefully, I have given you some hope for finding jobsearch assistance. Big hugs to all in this situation!  |
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jun 22, 2008 21:48:32 GMT -5
It is enough to be heard. I do feel better. I don't have anything to fall back on. I can't think about the future too much, one day at a time is enough.
I have been told I was unemployable due to age and recent health problems. I basically did a lot of work over the years under the table but I can't do it now and have no Social Security to show for it. I can't work a full day, maybe not even half a day. I will try anyway, it can't hurt to look for help at the "unemployment office," which is what I always heard it called. I never heard of anyone getting a good job there but it's been many years since I last stepped into one. At least it's better than lying around depressed at home.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jun 22, 2008 21:50:46 GMT -5
Moggyfan, my health is getting better but I had some illness and injury the last two years which have affected my health and my appearance. I am recovering. I don't have any time frame - I will not get any Social Security so I have to consider work I can do the rest of my life, there's no retirement waiting for me.
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Post by 60isolderthanithot on Jun 22, 2008 21:53:28 GMT -5
Thank you all so much for being here. No matter how bad things get, being alone makes it worse. I feel less alone to read your helpful replies. It makes me feel less anxiety. I do think your brain works better when you are not scared.
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Post by metamorpha on Jun 22, 2008 22:36:15 GMT -5
If you own your own apartment, you may be able to get a reverse mortgage on it. I believe you can apply six months before your 62nd birthday (but could be wrong). You also can apply for public assistance. The best thing about these programs is they offer free training to help you find a job, and give employers incentives to hire people in their programs. Who told you that no one would hire you, and did they offer you any alternatives? Here are some websites that pay minimal amounts for reviews and things of that nature: Write Hotel Reviews - For $5, you put together a short description of a hotel based on their website information. I can make around $10 an hour, but I know a woman who makes $25 an hour. (Just remember, you'll have to save money for taxes!) Paid2Write is also a very informative site on writing for pay that you should check out. She lists dozens of sites that pay $5 - $15 per article or post. Keep your head up. It sounds like you're very down right now, but the world is full of possibilities. Good luck! |
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Post by mouse on Jun 23, 2008 7:29:06 GMT -5
Hi there,
I live in Canada and so don't know the ins and outs of the US system which might help you. CL_SS and metamorpha both gave great advice.
When I was unemployed, what saved me was working for a temp agency. I went in, told them I was looking for clerical work, passed an English & French writing test (I live in Québec, so bilingualism is a must, here) as well as a typing test, and they found me odd jobs until I finally got full-time employment at a bank.
I'm no longer at the bank, but it was that job that allowed me to get to where I am today.
In other words, don't despair. There may well be solutions to your problems that you can't see, simply because you're too close to the situation.
Best of luck!
~Mouse
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Calico
New Member
Joined: October 2011
Posts: 59
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Post by Calico on Jun 23, 2008 8:43:44 GMT -5
Here's a link to a page on the Social Security website called "Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool" connections.govbenefits.gov/ssa_en.portalIt takes 5 to 10 minutes; you answer maybe 15 - 20 questions and it will give you an idea about what types of benefits you might qualify for. There are benefits other than retirement checks, such as disability pay and SSI (supplemental security income). I encourage you to check out the main Social Security website, too, and to call and talk to someone at Soc. Sec. about any programs that might help you. There are lots of programs, federal, state, and local, that many people don't know about. In my area, the county has social workers that can help you find assistance from the state and federal governments as well as local. |
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Post by WestsideStory on Jun 23, 2008 20:06:36 GMT -5
Dear 60 -- {{{60}}} Another resource which may be of great help -- assuming you live in the U.S. -- is the local Area Agency on Aging. At 60, you are part of their target demographic. These were established by the Older Americans Act. Each county has set their agency up a bit differently, but they are a great source of information and referrals to local resources. The national website is www.n4a.org. It lists employment and job referrals for seniors -- including job training and counseling, etc. -- as one of the resources. To find your local agency, call the EldercareLocator at 1-800-677-1116. About reverse mortgages: Most of the financial advisors I've heard suggest against doing this unless you are really, really, really up against a bad situation. You should check and see if you'll be taxed on the money you get. And then there's also the cost of the reverse mortgage (appraisal, fees, etc.) Finally, if you use up the equity in your residence before you die, where do you live??? Grim thought, but an important consideration. Are you able to rent out your bedroom and sleep in the living room? A friend of mine who was a single mother did that when she was really broke. It helped her over a hump. What about renting out the whole place and living in your van for a while? I wouldn't want you to do anything that would exacerbate your health situation. But I am afraid you might not get what your van's worth. With gas prices so high, people are hesitant to buy anything with a large gas tank. It may not be too late to start paying into Social Security with whatever job you get, FWIW. And if you have some quarters with Social Security payments, then you might be eligible for Social Security Disability Income if, and I hope this doesn't happen, your health situation worsens. You've gotten a lot of good advice here -- I hope that at least some of it helps! WestsideStory |
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Post by Mystic Pegasus on Jun 24, 2008 2:52:11 GMT -5
60isolderthanithot and paperpiler... can either of you write good articles?
We have a website we are trying to build up and are finding it hard to keep writing, article after article... family problems, ill health etc keep getting in the way.
If you feel you would be able to write and would be interested, we could pay you a small amount per article. It couldn't be a lot as we are somewhat only just making it ourselves, but every bit can help when you're in financial strife... sometimes it comes down to the last dollar or two- I know, I've been there more than once! And if you are good at writing, and it flows naturally, you could probably write a few articles for us in a fairly short time, and make a few dollars. We pay by Paypal (easier, as we're in Australia, so it makes it simpler to send money overseas) but that's quite easy to set up, so if you don't have it, it's not difficult.
If you want to have a look and see if you think you'd be interested, the site is barinya.com It's basically a family and educational site, with all kinds of articles on things/services people might want to buy/use, as well as educational activities and articles. I guess the main thing we are looking for is articles on things people are looking to buy or find out more info on, with a view to buying. We get our money by people looking at the Google etc ads on the site.
Please don't decide to *help* us out, by madly clicking on ads though... we can get kicked out of the program if they think that kind of fraud is going on!
If you are interested, we will give you lists of possible articles we'd be interested in, and you can choose from there. If you have any particular interests or hobbies, let me know, as these might be able to fit into an article somewhere.
Anyway... just thought I'd run this by you (and any others who are struggling, or could do with some extra cash, and can write) as it might be helpful to you! And you'd be helping us out too!
Email me antheah@adam.com.au if you are interested... it's more likely I'll see it than by pm.
Anthea.
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