Survival debt
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Survival debt
| Tue, 10-11-2005 - 5:09pm |
I found this site today and found it very interesting as I read the article posted last week about the white collar job search. I'm experiencing being over-educated and constantly in transition. I moved to a new city just over 2 years ago. At that time, my debt was mainly student loans. Now, after 2 years of "taking what I could get" (the GREAT advice people give you when they aren't the ones going through it)...I have credit cards totalling nearly $20,000. In fact, the balance of my 3 remaining student loans plus my car is now lower than my credit card debt. All because I've attempted to live on dead-end nowhere temp jobs while looking for a position comparable to what I left behind in broadcasting. The credit cards used to be only for emergencies like unexpected car repairs, but now I've needed them to survive because my jobs don't pay me enough to pay my rent, student loans, car payment, utilities and buy food and gas. I have not run them up by going on expensive vacations or buying clothes. The only time I leave this town is when I go to see my family in another state (which because of the distance is usually only once or twice a year). I wear clothes and shoes until they can no longer be worn because they're so outdated or have holes in them. The last couple of months, I've had to pay one credit card bill with checks from the other credit card and vice versa because the payments are now more than I can come up with, and I've had some very slow weeks as far as work goes. This is all very upsetting, but until I can find a job that pays me enough to live on, I don't know how I'll get ahead.
Sorry this is so long, but I really don't have anyone I can talk to about this.
Sorry this is so long, but I really don't have anyone I can talk to about this.

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It sounds to me that the one thing you really need is steady income.
I am familiar with your story!
Becky
CL of 4th, 5th & 6th grade Scoliosis
I just wanted to let you know I understand. I have been there, still there. I am educated and a great worker - companies have either gone under or been dead end. Its not what it used to be out there. Working hard and having a degree doesn't get you anywhere sometimes! Some people luck out and get great jobs and have parents with money to pay their survival expenses. For some, they have a partner to combine an income with. Then theres the rest of us! I have moved to 4 states since graduating college. I know some in the older generation (aka my aunts and uncles) think I am crazy, yet I don't want to stay at a dead end job and hope the doors don't close. Because on a few of my past jobs, they have! I've taken second jobs waitressing. It doesn't always help. I exhaust myself working and still not enough. I get frustrated sometimes because I am not splurging - shopping, vacations, shoes. I don't even buy coffee - I drink it free at work! I think there is a stigma that people in debt have poor spending habits. For some of us, it is that we are grossly under employed. If I was spending on a credit card for new shoes, I would not expect people to support me on that. But when I am buying gas, groceries and paying the bills and people think i am "financially irresponsible" I get really frustrated. I am right there with you. Someday it will get better for both of us!!
Take care.
I understand exactly the position you're in. My dh was laid off 8 months ago and has been doing all sorts of little jobs 7 days a week to keep us afloat. He's in IT, so jobs are few and far between, and competition for them is fierce. He was the lead candidate for a great job last week, but the company had offered the person leaving more money to stay and he stayed (the interviews they did were "insurance" in case he decided to follow through with leaving). :( This is the 2nd time this has happened since his layoff.
I really feel for you but unfortunately have no good advice -- I just thought it might help a bit to know that you're not alone in your situation and that others empathize completely! I hope you're able to find a great job very, very soon!
Amy
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