How to Get Out of This Mess

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

Might be able to use some advice here.

I’ve been talking about my horrible financial situation in several posts, but I can’t stop thinking about it.  It’s the ONE stress I have in my life right now.  Here’s my dilemma:

Income from work: $11.45 an hour, comes out to be $708 per check after taxes, every two Fridays
Bank Account (right now): -$500.00…yes, NEGATIVE 500.

Payments each month:
Rent: $785 (includes utilities, due at the beginning of the month before the 4th)
Car Insurance: $77.50 (a renewed policy that is overall 428.97 for 6 months, this was due the 2nd, but I didn’t have enough so I’m having to postpone the payment)
Internet: $56 (right now I owe $120 with a disabled Internet because I can’t afford the monthly payments, due every 15th)
News Subscriptions: $16 (there are 2 of them, one $10 a month and the other $6, both paid on the 15th)
Credit Union Loan: $92 (I HAVE to pay this, or else my account gets frozen.  I have about $512 left to pay on it, or about 6 months worth, due on the 15th)

On top of this, I have an old Verizon bill I failed to pay when I lost a job back in 2008 and wasn’t able to get hired anywhere else for whatever reason.  I STILL get mail on it, and they charged me over $700.

My workplace charges everyone annually for parking ($85 a year), and apparently somehow their system glitched when they charged us back in August, and they have to deduct that from the paycheck I’m getting on the 15th!

My apartment complex said I have to pay about $115 for this month AND next month for something that has to do with the electricity bill and renewing my lease.

So, 708 – 500 (from my bank negativity), $115 from my electricity “extra” payment, and another 85 from this stupid parking fee will leave me with literally $0 to use on bills…I CAN technically go negative again, but I’m so tired of going negative EVERY paycheck.  I’m literally unable to save a PENNY for anything right now!  I’m driving a 20 year old car that could break down anytime now, and I can’t even afford to fix it myself if I wanted to!

My best friend lives next door to me now, and has agreed to share Internet with me for $22 a month (a $34 a month savings), but that still leaves me with the $120 obligation to the Internet I haven’t paid.  It will hurt my credit regardless.

My female roommate that I mention in another post pays me $250 a month for rent, which I think is more than generous…but if I ask for any more than that, I know she’ll move out.  It won’t affect me emotionally at all if that happens…that’s DEFINITELY not what I’m worried about.  I have to have her there to get back on my feet.  Problem is that she spends…a LOT.  She also drinks my water and other drinks frequently (at least one to three a DAY).  She spends near $10 a day on random snacks and junk food, thinking that it’s “better for her” since it’s from the ORGANIC FOOD STORE (an expensive one,  at that).  She complains that she doesn’t have any money to save after paying me $250, but I think it’s MORE than generous when I’ve let her have my room, and I moved my bed to the LIVING ROOM.  She has no idea how shaming that actually has been on me.  I can’t have anyone over without her hovering around…I can’t even have my BEST FRIEND over because “she doesn’t like him since he asked her to pay for Internet as well or don’t use it at all.”  (She’s not happy with me about that either because he and I BOTH told her this, but she won’t show it to me…I know how she thinks, though.)

I know some would say, “DROP THE WENCH.”  I’d completely agree…but I’m not out of this financial bind yet…and THAT is my only extra source of income!

After June, I will get a one-time $300 deduction off of my rent because I referred my best friend to the complex.  That will help A LOT, but I have to make it until then food-wise, too!

I also have 3 cats…one from my mother who wants me to hold onto her until she moves into the house she’s looking at, and 2 from a previous relationship.  One I’m rather attached to (the one MALE cat I have, go figure), the other now pregnant from the male cat (go figure, because I had an appointment to have him neutered this Saturday).  The other one is going to be given back to my ex when she moves back (I’ll be getting paid for taking care of her and keeping her this long).

I certainly sound like the biggest hypocrite ever as I believe in the red pill philosophy but am letting these women control me.  I honestly wish I had discovered this site and movement a few months before this all happened, but…it is what it is, I suppose.

My goal was to save for at least a $5,000 – $6,000 newer vehicle, but I can’t even save $20 a check if I wanted to.  I feel like I’m never going to save what I need before it’s too late.  Any advice anywhere?  I’ve just been in full-blown panic mode for the past 2 months, and I’m finally releasing the steam on here.  Seeing how many other guys on here are going through FAR worse than me, I didn’t want to mention this, but it’s admittedly the ONE thing stressing me out to the point that I can’t think straight.

Sorry for the long rant here…but anyone have any ideas?

[Soldier-MedicParticipant 2566]

I want you to hear me out on this.  The war in Iraq is over and we are out of Afghanistan.

When I was 17 years old I had no money, no options, and no prospects.  I had a choice of working at a meat packing plant in rural Oregon, or joining the military.  I was a career soldier.  This was my choice because I loved the Green Machine too much.

If you are under the age of 30 and don’t have a college degree, I suggest you enlist in the military.  Do four years, get the post 9/11 GI Bill and GTFO!

Given your financial circumstances, it’s only a matter of time before you move back in with your mother.  And she should help you out like you are helping out with her cat.

If you are concerned about not being let out of your lease, then understand that federal law mandates that you be released from rental and lease agreements with orders from the military to leave town.  They don’t have an option in this.

Just so long as you continue to make partial payment on your bills they can’t really come after you.

I’m saying all of this because over the years I had soldiers that I advised in one way or another over two decades.

Lastly.  A chick paying 1/3 of the rent is not generous.  She is using you.  If she is just sleeping there then fine.  If she is using the kitchen, toilet, TV, internet, etc, then she is taking advantage of you.  Unless, of course, she is blowing you once a week.

Another option is to look in to ROTC scholarships.

I’m dead serious about this.  If you want further advice about joining the military then ask a moderator to send me an email message with your POC information on it and I will get in touch with you.

Military Pay Chart

In the Army:

• Private (E-2) – Six months time-in-grade (TIG) as a private (E-1).
• Private First Class (E-3) – Four months TIG as a Private (E-2) and 12 months time-in-service (TIS).
• Specialist/Corporal (E-4) – 6 months TIG with 24 months TIS.

Look at the attached pay chart.  Do your own math.  If you don’t party or chase too much p***y then you can come out with some cash and a way to pay for college.

"I asked you a question. I didn't ask you to repeat what the voices in you head are telling you" ~ Me. ........Yes I'm still angry.

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

I thought about it, actually.  I’m turning 27 this coming Monday.  My best friend (the one next door to me) just got out of the Air Force last March, and has been living a pretty cushioned life now.  He’s going to school and getting paid for it.  Pretty sweet gig, really.  I tried joining at least 3 times, and was rejected every time for health reasons (I was overweight 2 times, worked down my weight, and was rejected again because of my history of respiratory issues).  I work for a University now working under State government, so the benefits are amazing…the pay is just horrible (I’ve had a 34 cent raise since I started in September of 2013) as the workload gets more progressively more difficult.  I had an interview on April 1 for virtually the same position at a nearby college, where I’d keep my benefits, but my pay would increase by about 5-6 an hour with potential to make even more soon after.  I called the college this past Monday to see if it was filled yet.  They said it hasn’t been filled just yet.  My assumption is it’s because it’s the end of the semester, so they have 5,000 other things to do right now.  Goodness, the State takes its time…(and from what I hear, same with the Federal government too!)

[RoyDalParticipant]

Ditto Soldier-Medic, and, I should add, Terrance Popp and Captain Capitalism both have videos on this. I wish you the best success, no matter what path you choose for yourself.

Society asks MGTOWs: Why are you not making more tax-slaves?

[experiencedParticipant]

“Respiratory issues”    you might be able to minimize them on treadmill tests by prebreathing deeply and aggressively before the thing even starts moving. Forcing yourself to do this ahead of time will significantly lower your pulse as long as you keep it up.

Also, if they are looking for lower lung anomalies, you can exhale, close your throat and mimic inhalation to get your lungs up, so he aims x-rays higher And as he’s walking to the x-ray booth – sag your gut way out like a beer gut and inhale to get the lower part down off screen.   I’ve heard of great success with this seemingly rediculous tactic.

"It seems like there's times a body gets struck down so low, there ain't a power on earth that can ever bring him up again. Seems like something inside dies so he don't even want to get up again. But he does."

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

I will actually try that out.  I’ve needed better breathing and stamina, anyway!  However, the respiratory issues they rejected me for was a history of going to the hospital for asthma, pneumonia, and swine flu (that was back during that craze of 2009).  They said they couldn’t do anything about that if it happened during either Basic or out in the workfield.  🙁

[BritGHOWParticipant 2566]

Good evening Chris,

Heck of a dilemma here, the good news is you’ve realised you have a problem and you’re still in a position to do something about it, hopefully we can get some ideas flowing and get you back on track.

I’m not familiar with the US army system, so I can’t comment on that, but it does seem a rather extreme solution for a relatively small amount of debt which can be resolved.

If I’ve read this and done my math right you’re bringing in $1666 a month (2×708+250) and spending $1026.50 a month leaving you $639 a month not counting feeding yourself, you owe $1332 to three creditors not including your overdraft. That is fixable, if you change nothing at all and can put half your leftover pay to paying down your debts you could clear them in 6 months.

I suspect you want to get it done quicker though I see you’re already working on one side of the problem by looking for alternative work and trying to bump up your income, even a temporary second job is worth considering until you’ve landed a better main, anything you can do to bring in more money at this point will be worth it.

The first thing you need to do on the other side is cut your spending as much as you can, and be ruthless with it, you’ve made a start on that with your net sharing deal with your mate, that alone has cut your outlay to $992.5 a month, but that’s still nearly 60% of your take home.

The news subs need to go next, they are not essential, they are a drain on your resources and you can get all your news needs online, get rid of them. That will put you down to $976.5 spent a month.

I’m assuming you have no cheaper housing options available other than moving in with family, it’s a s~~~ position to be in I know, nothing really to be done there except maybe looking to see if any of the utilities can be supplied cheaper?

Scrutinise your food shopping and cut out any non essentials, and while you’re at it tell your roommate in no uncertain terms to stop nicking your stuff, if she’s so keen to spend money she can buy her own treats, she’s not paying you enough on the rent never mind anything else to be helping herself to your stuff. I know you’re not going to want to hear this and I’ve no idea how much they’re costing you but the cats are a luxury you can ill afford, if your mother can take the other two pro tem once she’s finished her move until you’re back on your feet job done, otherwise at least consider re-homing them.

With spending cut back as much as possible your absolute priority needs to be your debts, especially the credit union loan as you have monthlies and immediate consequences on that, I would advise that all of you rent reduction goes on this because getting it cleared will bring your spending down to $884.50 a month, which will free you up to focus on the other two, clearing the $120 internet bill should be doable in a oner which just leaves you to either arrange a payment plan with Verizon or pay it off once you have the money to hand

Once your debts are cleared you will have $781.50 a month left over after paying your essentials, $531.50 if you bounce your roommate and don’t replace her, if you save just half of that you’ll go from where you are now to putting nearly $3200 away over a year leaving you with a lot less hassle and uncertainty in your life, you may even still have your cats.

Don’t get hung up on your overdraft, you have it, use it if you have to, debt is bad yes but starving is worse, don’t spend it on anything non essential and if at the end of the month you’re $100 less into it than at the start and your other debts are coming down you’re on the right track.

I can only wish you the best of luck and hope that you do work your way through this. Let us know how you get on.

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

Thanks a ton.  You guys are helping a LOT here.  I DO have options, and I definitely shouldn’t panic.  I think my MAIN weakness is my overspending on food supply each month.  I keep THINKING I’m buying cheap, but then I end up spending twice as much as I plan to…usually to household cleaning supplies and whatnot.  I suppose it’s good to know I’m surviving, but I also suppose I’m really trying to motivate myself to SAVE.  When I was 17-18, I had saved $3,000 living with my parents…and blew it all stupidly on a girl I was in love with by driving up to visit her each week (it was a 2 hour drive).  Ever since then, the past 6 years have just been about surviving and “making it” instead of actually feeling good about myself.

I COULD technically sell some things too, as that would bump up my money.  Knowing WHERE to sell is the tricky part…

[megatoad69Participant 449]

I am much in the same position as you, I earn $12.00/hr and my paycheck fluctuates wildly, one could be twice a month from ~600 to $1000, this pay was over $900 (YES!). I paid the ex off for the house and now my line of credit is about $270, mortgage $630, internet, phone, cable about $150, power bill should be much less, as the ex and her daughter did laundry everyday and did not know how to operate the ‘off’ on a light switch or TV, and misc. expenses.

And I have 9 cats, and I intend to keep them.

You can't reason with unreasonable, there; women, figured out, there is nothing to reason.

[SolipsisticParticipant 6]

I would agree with BritGHOW in terms of reducing your spending. Once you have a plan to pay off your debts and start saving, I would also suggest finding a few hours a week to invest in yourself and work on some new skills such as photoshop, programming (there are free sites online), anything you find remotely interesting that might help your resume. Hell, once you get a new car you can even make a few extra bucks being an Uber driver. Most importantly, stop being a doormat for the women in your life.

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

I agree.  I have to say I haven’t really spent money on women in quite some time now…thank the Lord for that.  I can imagine how much worse I’d be right now if I did.  I’m going to take the advice of quite a few men I’ve spoken to now and ask my roommate for MORE, or to GIVE ME MY ROOM BACK and have her throw out/sell all her stuff and sleep on the fragging couch.  She complains about having “no money” despite having $600 when she moved in and now has literally $2.  She’s been working, and has only paid me the $250 twice now.  I see on her statements that she’s been literally eating out every day and going to the organic grocery store next to my place and getting $5-$10 snacks.  Not meals, but SNACKS.  …Then she goes and blames ME for having “poor spending skills.”  I was gone over the weekend, and came back to 3 fewer Cokes than I initially bought, and 6 fewer water bottles..despite the fact that she bought a Brita filter for her own water.  Geez, I sound like an angry dad or something here!

I am certified in computer hardware and IT desk work (2 certificates earned from college that I have yet to put to use).  One of my teachers recommended at one point possibly advertising that I can fix those kinds of things or build computers…I certainly can, and I think that would be a brilliant start to the REAL small business I want to run in the future…just knowing where to start would be the biggest thing for me.  I’m familiar with businesses and how they run (I’ve taken many classes and learned a lot from small business owners)…I’m not sure WHAT is holding me back, really.

[Lazarus LongParticipant 365]

Megachris I do not know if you have ever listened to Dave Ramsey but he has some pretty simple rules for removing debt. Firstly as was already pointed out change your spending on food. Cook everything at home, as Ramsey says live on “Rice and beans and beans and rice” ITS CHEAP. 20 lb bag of rice at walmart about $9. Yes it will suck but it will be worth it.

Secondly, whatever the smallest bill you have is pour every extra dollar you can at it until its paid off then go to the next smallest bill and roll the payments from the first bill to the this one and repeat until debt is gone.

Third, do not let your roommate spend any of your money.

Make sure you create a manageable budget and be sure to give yourself a couple of dollars to spend on you. This works the same as with Diets if you go all in without any room for yourself you are much more likely to fall back into the bad habit.

Also I agree with the previous posters on this until you pay the debt off cut all extras Internet, news subscriptions anything else you can cut that is not necessary for life.

Just a curiosity question have you looked at non-state jobs. Private companies normally hire a lot faster.

Willfully turning aside from the truth is treason to one's self. -Terry Goodkind

[ThomasQuinnParticipant 50]

Military is a good option for longterm success imo but you hardly have any debt at all. People join with thousands of dollars in debt from credit cards/loans/college etc and get them wiped out or help in paying it down upon joining.

You don;t have have enough debt to warrant stopping what your doing and joining with debt forgiveness, but you also seem to be in a dead end position with 34cent pay increase (if u land that new job of course then you’ll be pretty well off on your way)

<span style=”font-family: ‘Open Sans’, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;”>”However, the respiratory issues they rejected me for was a history of going to the hospital for asthma,”</span>

That is a big issue, you wont be able to join with documented asthma issues, sure you could LIE about it (not recommended) and never mention you ever had any medical issues…… and when/if it becomes a problem later on get kicked out because of your failure to disclose that info would be even worse outcome imo. (AirForce Vet here)

Sounds like your roommate needs to sign a lease/agreement and needs to pay you 100dollars more a month sounds reasonable for taking your bedroom. or kick her to the living room at the very least. She is a female and is entitled and you dont want her to run and cause more debt for you at this moment. But you are getting screwed in this situation.

785/2 = 392.  yet she only pays 250 is you’re lucky enough for her to even pay you. And she gets the bedroom…

Looking into one of those consolidated debt companies could also be an answer.. but again, you are not in much debt at all.

Any update/ Megachris?

 

 

[Governor Megachris%Participant 3584]

Update on this for those seeing this:

I’ve finally stood up for myself and upped her rent by $100.  She was flaming mad, saying that “her mom pays $450 a month for HER apartment” (though she, in her 2nd grade educated mind, is not factoring in deposit, joining fees, pet deposit, and utilities on top of the groceries she buys).  By about yesterday, she was ready to stop standing up to me again and began talking civilly again.  I’m remaining watchful, as she could be behaving sneakily, but I can say that I have now dropped the news subscriptions, I am splitting Internet with my best buddy next door for $21, and I am no longer negative in my bank account.  The ability to go negative in my bank account has been disabled, so I won’t have to worry about that debt anymore, either.  Savings-wise, I can only go up from here.  It will be an inching process unfortunately…but I can finally save for better things that I need (like a better vehicle and better housing for MYSELF eventually…the roommate will NOT be living in my OWNED house when I get it).

I know I won’t be able to afford owned housing for quite some time, but I’m hoping maybe SOMEDAY I’ll find something that makes better pay.  I was just rejected for the job I was hoping for yesterday.  I applied for another position with the city I used to work for in one of the positions I’ve been waiting years for them to have open again…the pay is alright ($14.00 an hour starting), but I liked the environment of that workplace much, MUCH more.

[BeerParticipant 11832]

I’d recommend picking up a part time job if at all possible.  Its a double win that way…one because you will up your income, and two because you will have less free time to be tempted to spend money on things you really don’t need.  Even if you are only netting an extra 100 bucks a week for working a few nights retail or something…that is still 400 bucks a month you could put right towards your debt.  Plus you mentioned working with computers…if you could get a part time job for a local computer store, or even for best buy geek squad or something…you never know what contacts you might meet, and what future opportunities may be opened on top of making a little extra money.  You might find yourself in a position where you meet a future business partner or can start building up a customer base for some under the table side jobs or a future business.

[Author]

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