Current Events > What's the lowest financial situation you've been in?

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I'm just about to hit zero on my bank and I have someone to support. I kinda want to give up on life right now. Please advise.
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Ramen noodles, no lights, and no running water.
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About to be homeless, too. Too many bills.
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Minus in the bank, about to be kicked out of the apartment I was renting, unemployed, fishing around in my car for coins so I could find something to eat. Fortunately never been in any serious debt, although that's a different kind of financial burden.

Was surprised at what I was willing to do for a few dollars at that point. Very humbling experience.
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3khc posted...

I'm just about to hit zero on my bank and I have someone to support. I kinda want to give up on life right now. Please advise.

What's the weather where you live like right now and how's your credit
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I have excellent credit. Weather is decent right now but it will get ice cold during winter.
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There was a point in my life where I was literally stealing rolls of toilet paper from work. It wasn't even good toilet paper, it was that shitty one-ply stuff, but it was better than using junk mail.

I also used to steal food from Chinese buffets. I'm not proud of it.
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I was homeless between the ages of 4 and 13
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Not having a job

I've never had any financial strain of any sort once I got my first job when I was 16 and that was 12-13 years ago. I've always had enough money to do anything I've needed.
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~$30 in cash, no car, no job, and my apartment lease was about to be up.

I moved back in with my parents. Worth it. A year later, I have a used car now that's two payments away from being paid off, and I'll be ready to move once that's paid off, and i'll even have enough cash to support myself for a couple of months if a situation like that happens again.
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I was sitting in a bar drinking a water at closing time because I had no money for a drink and no place to go.
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Yes already working, but supporting my mother (divorcee, massive debt) and younger brother (no job, flunked college, needs money for apartment, phone bill, and food).

So the total of all bills pretty much exceed my paycheck:

•Storage fees (previous house was lost after my father lost his job and left mom)
•Phone bill (mom and brother on the same plan)
•Rent (as well as my brother's rent which is thanksfully low)
•Utilities
•Food and home supplies

And I have two cars I need to fix. I suppose I can sell one, but it's supposed to be for my bro since fixing woupd save him a lot of money.
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First and obvious solution to your problem...why the hell isn't your college aged yet not actually in school brother not working?
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3khc posted...

but supporting my mother (divorcee, massive debt) and younger brother (no job, flunked college, needs money for apartment, phone bill, and food).

why would you do this?
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Shit man I've been flat broke. Too many times to count. Hopefully as I'm getting ready to leave my twenties it never happens again.
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Twin3Turbo posted...

First and obvious solution to your problem...why the hell isn't your college aged yet not actually in school brother not working?

He's an inexperienced shy boy. If i had it my way, he'd be back at home at least helping around the house. But no, mom insists on paying his rent and phone out because she doesnt want him returning to a home that isn't there. Plus, she knows the shame would kill him.

Mom pays the little bit she can out-of-pocket for bro's expenses, and I cover mom. So really, I'm paying everything.

Before you ask why I'm paying for my mother, well i guess I'm just wired that way. All she has is her children and she wont stop helping my bro. Without me for support, everything falls apart.

Only problem is that I'm falling apart myself on the inside and out. I cant do this for much longer.
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I'm an only child, so I can't offer much advice for you. I, too, support my parents, though, so I feel your pain. My dad started getting social security, which really helped. Before that I was just working 3 jobs to survive.
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3khc posted...

He's an inexperienced shy boy.

This simply isn't a good reason. He will forever remain inexperienced if y'all keep paying his bills.

It's time to be an adult now, even if it's just a little bit at a time.
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$4 dollars in my account
4/4 credit cards maxed
student loans unpaid for months
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3khc posted...

He's an inexperienced shy boy. If i had it my way, he'd be back at home at least helping around the house. But no, mom insists on paying his rent and phone out because she doesnt want him returning to a home that isn't there. Plus, she knows the shame would kill him.

being inexperienced and shy is no reason to bleed a family member to financial ruin, you have to cut him off. you're not helping him by paying these bills because it's not going to improve his situation and it's not sustainable for you long-term.

3khc posted...

Before you ask why I'm paying for my mother, well i guess I'm just wired that way. All she has is her children and she wont stop helping my bro. Without me for support, everything falls apart.

Is there a reason why she cannot work or support herself?
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Twin3Turbo posted...

3khc posted...

He's an inexperienced shy boy.

This simply isn't a good reason. He will forever remain inexperienced if y'all keep paying his bills.

It's time to be an adult now, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

Preaching to the choir. Mom will still pay down to her last dollar to keep him up. The only way to stop mom is to abandon her as well. It's really looking like the best option, but i cant let her just sleep in her car.
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no hot water.
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I was so broke before I couldn't afford to drive to work. I had to search all over the floor of my car and my apartment to find change to ride the train. Imagine that. I was so BROKE I couldn't AFFORD to drive my car to my job so I could have money to live.

I've been so broke I starved for 2 days until payday because I simply had no money. Was at work and was just suffering cuz my stomach was in knots. When you're hungry not because you haven't eaten but because you don't have any food, that's one of the worst feelings. Puts life in perspective.

I was in credit card debt, maxed to the limit, living off milk, bread, PB&J, and eggs for like 2 months. Eventually though I got out of that situation.
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3khc posted...

Twin3Turbo posted...

3khc posted...

He's an inexperienced shy boy.

This simply isn't a good reason. He will forever remain inexperienced if y'all keep paying his bills.

It's time to be an adult now, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

Preaching to the choir. Mom will still pay down to her last dollar to keep him up. The only way to stop mom is to abandon her as well. It's really looking like the best option, but i cant let her just sleep in her car.

Can she perhaps live with you or you live with her? That way that's one less set of bills that need to be paid.

And she really needs to let go with the babying of your brother, it's literally hurting every member of the family. I mean does she see that?
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Romulox28 posted...

Is there a reason why she cannot work or support herself?

She is working two jobs, but IRS takes like 90% of her paycheck due to debt or whatever.

There is one other option and that would be to have mom go to her sister's for help, but that relationship is so toxic. She'd likely kill herself. And I'm not saying that lightly. Mom has been even more stressed that me. She knows the situation and understands how it affects me. She has been having breakdowns and talks about suicide.

I'm telling you I can't leave her.
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3khc posted...

She is working two jobs, but IRS takes like 90% of her paycheck due to debt or whatever.

Damn
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Being jobless with a $5999 balance on a credit card
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Twin3Turbo posted...

3khc posted...

Twin3Turbo posted...

3khc posted...

He's an inexperienced shy boy.

This simply isn't a good reason. He will forever remain inexperienced if y'all keep paying his bills.

It's time to be an adult now, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

Preaching to the choir. Mom will still pay down to her last dollar to keep him up. The only way to stop mom is to abandon her as well. It's really looking like the best option, but i cant let her just sleep in her car.

Can she perhaps live with you or you live with her? That way that's one less set of bills that need to be paid.

And she really needs to let go with the babying of your brother, it's literally hurting every member of the family. I mean does she see that?

She DOES live with me. But I'm not exactly well off on my own in the first place. I'm down to one month's pay saved in my bank. I'm dying here and dont know what to do.
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3khc posted...

Twin3Turbo posted...

3khc posted...

Twin3Turbo posted...

3khc posted...

He's an inexperienced shy boy.

This simply isn't a good reason. He will forever remain inexperienced if y'all keep paying his bills.

It's time to be an adult now, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

Preaching to the choir. Mom will still pay down to her last dollar to keep him up. The only way to stop mom is to abandon her as well. It's really looking like the best option, but i cant let her just sleep in her car.

Can she perhaps live with you or you live with her? That way that's one less set of bills that need to be paid.

And she really needs to let go with the babying of your brother, it's literally hurting every member of the family. I mean does she see that?

She DOES live with me. But I'm not exactly well of on my own in the first place. I'm down to one month's pay saved in my bank. I'm dying here and dont know what to do.

Off the top the only thing i can think of (other than your brother actually being an adult) is you getting a second job.
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Second job might be the best thing. Never done that before so unsure how I can fit into my schedule.

Man but this closes so many doors.

•No time for school, doubt I'll ever finish
•Girlfriend wanted to move in with me, just us to get a feel for our future
•I've already lost so much money that would have went towards my first home. I was planning on buying this summer but now look what happened.

Is life always this hard or is it just mine
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3khc posted...

Second job might be the best thing. Never done that before so unsure how I can fit into my schedule.

Man but this closes so many doors.

•No time for school, doubt I'll ever finish
•Girlfriend wanted to move in with me, just us to get a feel for our future
•I've already lost so much money that would have went towards my first home. I was planning on buying this summer but now loom what happened.

Is life always this hard or is it just mine

Damn that sucks man

unfortunately I can't think of anything else

I wonder if your GF could still move in and ya'll could at least split the bills related to your current place
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Over drafted once. My auto debit for my health insurance went through before I could deposit my pay check.
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It's even further complicated. My mother and I are renting rooms at the moment. The owner is selling the house. We have to be out soon (exact date unknown), which is partly the reason I was looking to purchase a home this year.

I'm now likely to land in a rinky dink apartment with my mother for the rest of my life.

If only I did better in life. Maybe somehow my parents would still be together and supporting each other. Maybe I'd be so well off that it wouldn't matter what my mom spent. Maybe I would have been a better role model for my little bro.

If I did better, I wouldn't be thinking about giving up. But now I just have to deal with those consequences. Sorry, venting.
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My parents had put money in a savings account for me since I was a child, so I can't recall a time that I've had less than $200.
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3khc posted...

It's even further complicated. My mother and I are renting rooms at the moment. The owner is selling the house. We have to be out soon (exact date unknown), which is partly the reason I was looking to purchase a home this year.

I'm now likely to land in a rinky dink apartment with my mother for the rest of my life.

If only I did better in life. Maybe somehow my parents would still be together and supporting each other. Maybe I'd be so well off that it wouldn't matter what my mom spent. Maybe I would have been a better role model for my little bro.

If I did better, I wouldn't be thinking about giving up. But now I just have to deal with those consequences. Sorry, venting.

ever look into mobile homes? not trailers you can hook your truck up to, but a decent mobile home?

they're bigger than most apartments and typically cheaper to rent than than apartments. if it's paid for and you just pay space rent, waaay cheaper.
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Haven't looked into mobile homes. I honestly had a plan that involved investing in a home then selling/upgrading after a few years, but then all this shit happened and I'm down to my last paycheck.

Moderately depressed.
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3khc posted...

Haven't looked into mobile homes. I honestly had a plan that involved investing in a home then selling/upgrading after a few years, but then all this shit happened and I'm down to my last paycheck.

Moderately depressed.

that's my plan. I was paying 1.3k for my apartment and was barely making ends meet. sacrificed a lot, but bought a single wide mobile home after much struggle. I've more than doubled it's worth because of repairs and add-ons, but I intend to sell it and make a down payment on a house.

it took some humbling because I had never lived in a mobile home before. I had plenty trailer jokes even though a few of my friends actually spent their whole lives in them. but at least I'm in a position to where I'm able to save and get as far as I did.

I've lived in nice apartments, lived in the projects, had a 5 bedroom home, and now a decent sized mobile home. hopefully I'll be ready to sell in 2 years.

edit: after reading my post, I want to clarify that I wasn't pulling a "bootstraps" thing on you, lol. but a mobile home is worth considering, imo.
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You need to tell your mother to stop enabling your brother or you will no longer support her.

Also see a therapist to discuss codependency.

RickyTheBAWSE posted...

3khc posted...

Haven't looked into mobile homes. I honestly had a plan that involved investing in a home then selling/upgrading after a few years, but then all this shit happened and I'm down to my last paycheck.

Moderately depressed.

that's my plan. I was paying 1.3k for my apartment and was barely making ends meet. sacrificed a lot, but bought a single wide mobile home after much struggle. I've more than doubled it's worth because of repairs and add-ons, but I intend to sell it and make a down payment on a house.

it took some humbling because I had never lived in a mobile home before. I had plenty trailer jokes even though a few of my friends actually spent their whole lives in them. but at least I'm in a position to where I'm able to save and get as far as I did.

I've lived in nice apartments, lived in the projects, had a 5 bedroom home, and now a decent sized mobile home. hopefully I'll be ready to sell in 2 years.

edit: after reading my post, I want to clarify that I wasn't pulling a "bootstraps" thing on you, lol. but a mobile home is worth considering, imo.

At this point, it's definiteyl an option. My biggest concern is resale value tho. I dont think trailers do well in the area I want to live in.
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leverageblargh posted...

Have you talked to your brother and spelled out exactly what will happen if he doesn't step up(down to the possibility of people killing themselves) ?

Well, to further complicate things, my brother is more sensitive than me. Being the empathetic person I claim to be, I'm sure he is more susceptible to self harm than i am. At least i know I'm strong enough to make it where I am today. Him, not so sure. And i know mom feels the same, which is why she's helping him. He knows he fucked up college. He knows the drain he is on me and our mother. But he won't face the consequences. He claims to be looking for a job, but it's literally been years since he said that.
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pinky0926 posted...

unemployed,

Shocking
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leverageblargh posted...

Is your girlfriend aware of all these problems?

She is, but at the moment she thinks I'm breaking off from my mother to get a place with her.

Few months ago she was okay with moving into the house I planned on getting even tho mom would be there, too. But recently she has expressed interest in just us two making it on our own.
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