OT: Need to vent...

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
OT: Need to vent...
24
Wed, 02-11-2004 - 11:20pm
My life has been a little crazy since Sunday, and I'm starting to feel myself stress out. I spoke to my parents Sunday night, and they informed me that they've decided to file for bankruptcy, hopefully by the end of this week. I'm not surprised, but I didn't expect it to happen so suddenly. I don't think they did, either. My dad lost a full-time job (with benefits) nearly two years ago, and since then he's been working side jobs. My mom has had two major surgeries, and she's just finishing up her disability leave. Right now they have very little cash, if any, and they need to pay the attorney before they can file. So my dad asked me if I could lend him some money. I have no idea when he'd be able to pay me back, but I feel AWFUL for not just sending them a check.

Geez, it's not like I'm not stressed out about money as it is. I'm in law school, I haven't worked since August of 2002 (when I started), and I'm living on financial aid, which doesn't go very far. I had serious car problems over Christmas break. I paid $220 in cash; put the other $270 on my credit cards; and my parents chipped in the other $245 (with the expectation that I would pay them back when I got a job). I'm holding my breath that something else doesn't go wrong with my car, counting my pennies, and cutting coupons. I have $600 of available credit left on my credit cards, and if I'm careful, I will have about $60 left in the bank after finals wrap up in mid-May.

Last summer I went to summer school for eight weeks, lived off financial aid, and took a short term loan from the univ. when the financial aid ran out. I can't take an eight week course this year, so the most I could get for living expenses is five weeks, and that's if I take out MORE student loans for tuition. I have also been told by Career Services and a professor that I HAVE to have a legal job this summer, and I should volunteer if I have to and get a part-time non-legal job. Riiight. Apparently, having a legal job on my resume is more important than worrying about things like eviction or being turned over to collections. I've applied for two jobs and have yet to hear anything. One would require commuting 60 miles one way this summer, but it would be a full 40 hours. The other is only 30 hours a week, but it's in town, and since it's a private firm, it probably pays better. I'd love to have it! But I'm trying not to get too excited about it; my grades are not that much above average and lots of us are still looking for work.

I'm just worrying myself sick about everything. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I'm so exhausted from homework that I haven't had time to go to the gym since Saturday. So if anyone wants to send "positive job vibes"/prayers my way, I'd really appreciate it. Sorry to unload on everyone!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-06-2003
Wed, 02-11-2004 - 11:47pm

Hey Jess...first of all don't apologize...you have every right in the world to be venting you have a very stressful life right now...if you can't come to this board and let off some steam then we wouldn't be very good cyber friends would we ?!


I am so sorry about all your financial problems...but in the same sentence I am so

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 12:18am
Kind words like yours are always welcome.

Thank you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 7:06am
It is always good to let of a little steam now and then, I am sure your parents understand why you can not help and they know if you could you would help. It always bothered me that I couldn’t help my parents as much as they needed it my dad was fire from his job after 28 years when they sold the company a new owners decided my dad was to expensive he had 2 years to go before retirement. I hate it that my dad ended up dying broke. My mom was always a house wife never wrote a check, pumped gas, im sure you get the picture when my dad died I gave up my own house to come live with her. Dh understood we had to do what we had to do. After my mom passed away 2 years ago I was okay with myself that I did the best that I could. Now there is a big fight with 2 of my brothers because I know own their house. But I have been paying for it for all these years and if we was to sell it no one get anything from it after all the bills and such.. Okay enough about that… after my mom died I decided I was going back to school now money is even tighter we to live off what dh makes my financial aid it seems like every time it comes in we have to spend it all on fixing our cars, catching up on bills, this time we had to fix our living room because the floor had collapsed . I know im rambling now and I will wrap it up but just know that I feel for how you are making it and in the end it will all be worth it.

Do you want to barter services? When we both graduate, I will design everything you need logos, letterhead, and all your advertising in return if I ever have to catch me a charge because I done had to knock someone up side their head I will get free attorney fees… I think it sounds like a good deal hehehhehe
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2004
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 9:01am
Just hang in there girl! Someday soon you will look back and think what was I worried about!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 9:05am
Man that stinks Jess.

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 9:24am
I have so been there! I understand completely and I know it is very hard. One thing that I can tell you from my experience is that prayer helped me a great deal. I truly just gave it up to God and I let Him deal with. It was a bit scary there but He brought me through it all. All i can do is send you some hugs and prayer your way and let you know that I understand.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 11:44am
I so know what you're going through! When I first got married, my husband owned a gas station. Only 2 months after we got married, he went out of business. He literally left the business with nothing. He couldn't collect unemployment since he was the owner of the business. On top of that, his mother mortgaged her house to help him buy the gas station. So when he went out of business, she now had this hefty mortgage that needed to be paid. We felt awful that we couldn't help her at the time. The good news is, after a lot of penny pinching, she was able to keep the house.

I had a very low paying job at the time, and we had to give up our apartment and move in with my family. We only had one car, and it was falling apart. I can't tell you how many times my dh ran out of gas because he had no money to put gas in the car. Our credit was ruined, and he had a large debt with the IRS. I was working at a college, so I was able to take classes for free. I threw myself into taking classes, and eventually I graduated with a degree in Accounting. My husband had a hard time finding a job (impossible, actually) but after a year was finally able to get back into the field that he was in before the gas station. It was low paying, but at least it was a start.

After graduating college, I was able to get a good job. My husband has also climbed his way back into a good position with his company. We built our credit back up and now own our own home. I guess my point in all this is, everything looks bleak right now, but I know you're working hard and that hard work will pay off. I'm sorry that you have to go through this, I know how stressful it is and I don't wish it on anybody. But you will always remember this and when things do get better (and they will), you will definitely appreciate what you've accomplished. I still can't believe where we were and how far we've come. We still talk about the old days and how hard it was. I guess that's our way of appreciating what we have. Good luck to you and I will send you my positive vibes and prayers.

~~Linda

Edited 2/12/2004 11:49:29 AM ET by linda112491


Edited 2/12/2004 11:50:08 AM ET by linda112491

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 3:23pm
I will definitely keep you in my thoughts. My best friend is finishing up law school, so I hear lots about how hard it is. I know money worries and family trouble on top of is has to be overwhelming. Good luck, hon- and if you ever need to vent I'm right here!! :)

-Tina

Image hosted by Photobucket.com Abby Lane is

Avatar for jess9802
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-02-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 4:09pm
Thanks everyone. I'm feeling a little better today. I've decided at the last minute to apply to a job in another city. I'd have to live there over the summer and pay rent on my apartment in the city where I'm currently living, but it would be a great opportunity, and I think it pays better than at least one of the jobs for which I've applied.

As for what type of law I want to practice--I'm hoping to either go into estate planning/wills or, ideally, prosecution.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-12-2004 - 4:44pm
Glad to hear that your having a better day!

  Shawna-- Proud Cl for 100 Pounds or More to Go 

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