As of tomorrow, I will have $130.00 to my name. Literally. I am staying with a friend, who is good enough to not kick me out. My auto insurance, phone and storage facility are current as of tomorrow. My current monthly bills total about $220.00, excluding food (I usually just eat oatmeal.) My depression, anxiety and the current job market have left me with nothing but temp work for the last two years and I haven’t even had any of that since the end of November. I am at the end of my rope. I will be penniless in about two weeks if nothing comes up job-wise. There is nothing else I can cut back on. Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated. I can’t believe that this is my life.
Get on foodstamps. It’ll take just a couple hours. Eating oatmeal all of the time isn’t very good for you, and you sure as hell qualify. A better diet may help you feel better and be more energetic, which helps with everything you do.
Long shot, but as noted on another thread, a whole lot of people are on Social Security Disability.
If yo don’t qualify on a physical basis, get a doc to your depression in writing.
Talk to the SS people - the folks in the offices are exceeding nice and helpful.
If you don’t qualify for Disability, you may qualify for SSI.
Get the foodstamps - the person I know on them is single and is getting $90/month. You can at least treat your hosts to a nice meal once in a while.
Otherwise, check into general assistance in your county.
best wishes
McDonald’s not hiring?
There is a lot of public assistance. Sometimes it takes some motivation to maneuver through the bureaucracy but what do you have to lose?
DCF (the Department of Children and Families) is familiar with this and has a list of places that can help. They have an emergency fund for immediate food needs and can tell you where free food pantries are while you are in the process of getting food stamps etc. You must eat. You have shelter for now and can talk to agencies about that, too. DCF also provides a free phone.
My first thought was that the only bill you should be concerned with right now is the storage, so you don’t lose all your stuff. Hang on to the rest of your money while calling the places you can’t pay. You’d be surprised how much they are willing to work with you. See if you can make other arraingments about your things in storage but first comes food and shelter. You may have to sell your things eventually but right now take emergency measures one step at a time. Don’t give up. You are not alone in your situation and people will help. Please PM me if you want, I’ll be back online this afternoon. Another good place to call is United Way.
Really sorry to hear about your financial problems. In the short term, I have nothing to top the suggestions made by others, but methinks that your depression may be exacerbated your “oatmeal only diet” (or was that an exaggeration?). If there is a local food bank, please ask them for some protein- and fat- rich or low-GI food. Something which takes longer to digest and is slow to release energy can keep your mental state positive for a longer time. A positive outlook might help bring in the jobs.
You could try making some quick money by offering even small services (mow the lawn, work as a cleaning lady/gent, babysitting, pet sitting). Maybe Craigslist or some other website would allow you to advertise for free? Basically, you are seeking a job which does not require much specialization, just the ability to use your wits and strength.
In the long term, maybe you need a complete overhaul of professional & life goals. You do not say what your qualifications are. What did you work as? Are you open to relocating across the globe, if it means finding a job? If your job has moved to another country with a less-than-suitable lifestyle, would you be willing to move with it?
Or maybe you can set up a website with a tongue-in-cheek request for every visitor to send you a dollar (it has worked before!) :D.
Whatever you do, hang in there. Things are bound to improve, and often sooner than you think. bon courage & bonne chance!
What area of the country are you in at the moment? Dopers all across the country might be able to toss you a job lead or direct you to more specific places that can help out if we know where (in general) you live.
I was 22 and living in Charlotte, NC when this happened to me. What a mess that was. I was staying with a friend and lost my job when my car was stolen and we were staying too far out of town for public transportation. “Luckily” for me there was a mini-mall nearby where I could sell plasma and buy potatoes for about 2 weeks before my car was found.
OK, this is going to sound weird, but I was getting my haircut a couple days ago and the barber was talking about her father. He’s a “scrapper” and he goes around on websites like craigslist and freecycle and finds things that people are giving away for free. . He then takes the time to pick 'em up and then he re-sells them. She said that he does put in a bit of work to do it, but makes about $200 a day on the average. I know absolutely nothing about it and for all I know, he could be a successful gambler and this is his rouse. But thought I’d throw that out there and maybe another doper has some more insight about that kind of thing. To me, it sounds like it could be just a waste of gas.
That all said, whereabouts are you? There might be local dopers that can help out.
Profile says St Louis.
I don’t know what the local equivalents are but contact the Department of Social Services to apply for whatever assistance you need. Then go to the Department of Labor and tell them you are looking for a job. You’re in a hole right now but there are people who will help you get out of it.
For temporary jobs in St. Louis, try (for starters):
Aerotek Staffing Agency,
2665 Scott Ave, St. Louis,
(314) 633-5600
Employment Connection,
2838 Market St., St. Louis,
(314) 333-5627
Express Services, Inc.,
1015 Locust St #910, St. Louis,
(314) 621-8000
Good luck!
I was going to ask the same thing.
In metro area like St. Louis, there will undoubtedly be many job openings, albeit low-paying. But a low paying job is better than no job at all.
Over the years I have known quite a few people who have been unemployed for six months or more. When I point to a job opening, they always come up with an excuse on why they can’t do that job. (“I don’t like the hours… it doesn’t pay enough… I don’t want to get up early… I have XYZ disease…”) I give up after a while, as I finally realize they do not really want a job. I am ***not ***saying this is the case with HW (she has only been unemployed for four months), but just relating a ton of anecdotal experience.
Sure, with a BA and 2 years experience: Massachusetts McDonald's demands bachelors degree and two years' experience for cashiers job | Daily Mail Online
I’m so sorry, how terrifying for you 
I’m very glad you have a good friend and a safe place to stay and sleep.
As others have said, apply for public assistance, stat! No shame in it when you have no resources left, and food stamps will keep you fed so you can devote your remaining money to finding a job.
Secondly - you should probably lower your standards in terms of what jobs you are applying for (though of course I know little about your situation). Think retail and food service. Don’t be negative about it - this doesn’t mean McD’s. There are plenty of decent paying, not too difficult or stressful positions available at much less depressing companies. Restaurants will hire just about anyone to host, for instance. You may think you’d be stressed working these types of jobs, but I will bet that even if you hate it, it will still be much less stressful and depressing than your current situation!
LOL.. The Daily Fail is getting more and more like The Onion every day.
Well, I guess you could direct your eyes to the newspaper, but the ad ran in Winchedon, Massachusetts. Any opinion of requiring a BA and 2 years experience to cashier at McD’s?
Hazle Weatherfield, my local food bank is a point of entry for folks who need help. The first visit requires an an appointment with a counselor whose job it is to screen the applicant and identify sources of assistance such as job listings, job training programs, health care access, Medicaid screens, TANF/WIC or food stamps (which is not called food stamps anymore), assistance with utility paymets. etc. They even offer a voucher to the resale shop for clothing and have a special wardrobe credit for job hunting clothes if one’s stuff is now too worn or too out of date.
Please check your local food bank. I hope they are as proactive as mine.
It’s an anomaly. I’m pretty sure 99.99% of McDonald’s out there don’t require such a degree to be a cashier.
My opinion is that this franchise owner is a dipshit.
Here are a couple of websites that might help you out:
ourgoods.org allows people to barter their skills and belongings with one another. You might find a nice person who has an overflowing garden and wants to trade vegetables and fruit to someone who will come help harvest it all or someone who has storage space available at no cost to someone who will come and clean their place for 5 hours a week or whatever.
taskrabbit.com allows people to post jobs they need done and have others with the necessary skills to do those jobs to bid on them for an amount they deem fair for their labor. I’m not sure if they have expanded to St. Louis yet but it can’t hurt you to check them out.
Also, while it is a good idea to apply at food service and retail jobs don’t forget to apply for EVERYTHING. Calling your insurance company to see if they can work something out because you can’t pay your bill? Ask if they are hiring and they will probably direct you to their website. Odds are good they have an entry level position in customer service/collections/whatever and though you might not make too much more there than you would bagging groceries at Whole Foods you will at least be at a desk and have the opportunity to scope out a new industry. Same thing with your phone company and anyone else you might need to contact.