Serious Problem...

[dl217]

I really hate to be in this mess I'm in, but here it goes.

For the most part, I'm a pretty simple and happy guy. Up till now, I've never really let things like this bother me, which might be part of the problem. I'm not the kind of person who needs LOTS of cash to live a happy life, but I feel like I'm wasting away right now, but I'm stuck in a bit of a hole that completely screws my chances of success... Read on.

So basically, I'm 28, I do work full time, but I make only enough to barely get by. I live on my own, but don't have a car because I can't afford one. I'm swimming in debt that I don't really even need to be in. When I was younger, I made some mistakes by not going to college or Uni, and I spent a lot of money on credit cards buying stupid computer, tech and entertainment stuff that I don't really need. Now, because of all that, I'm completely stuck. I have a lot of money going out each month to pay off minimum credit card debt, can't go to school because I can't afford the courses nor can I afford to pay my rent if I worked less. I don't have a car so it's hard to get around and limits my choices dramatically. Getting from place to place takes far too much time...

I do have some interests which could turn into careers, but they are in fields that are normally very hard to get into, and now that we're in these hard times, it'll be even harder to get...

God, I don't even know where to start to try and fix this. I know I want something much more than what I'm doing now, I feel like a piece of crap to be honest, and it makes me feel inferior to everybody, and I don't really have any confidence.

Does anybody at all have any tips to help me out? Maybe some resources to look at? I think at this point, anything would do.

[ghost69]

can't you get government grant money? here, you don't have to pay it back until 90 days after you graduate. there is a bit of interest, but not much.

perhaps file for bankruptcy to get rid of the cards and such. i mean, you don't have a car, so you won't lose that doing bankruptcy.

[dl217]

Originally Posted by ghost69

can't you get government grant money? here, you don't have to pay it back until 90 days after you graduate. there is a bit of interest, but not much.

perhaps file for bankruptcy to get rid of the cards and such. i mean, you don't have a car, so you won't lose that doing bankruptcy.

Well yea they do have government grants and whatnot, and I've tried that already. Turns out that they factored my annual income, and said that I don't qualify for anything because I make over a specific amount for the year, but they don't realize that what I do make goes to bills and stuff, I don't have any cash to spare to even go out and do things most of the time.

I've thought about the bankruptcy thing, and I don't wanna do that if possible because if I do, I completely screw myself from getting a car/house within 7 years of filing bankruptcy.

I guess I'm trying to find a way out of this without going bankrupt.

[confused25]

Can you try to consolidate your debt to reduce your monthly payment? That way you can at least "try" to save some money. Another option is to move back home with your parents and save up money by not having to pay rent and other misc stuff. I don't know how else you will be able to save if you are already swimming in debt.

[dl217]

Originally Posted by confused25

Can you try to consolidate your debt to reduce your monthly payment? That way you can at least "try" to save some money. Another option is to move back home with your parents and save up money by not having to pay rent and other misc stuff. I don't know how else you will be able to save if you are already swimming in debt.

I've tried to consolidate my debt through my bank, but sadly, they said I "don't qualify" for anything. I guess they figure that with what I owe now, giving me enough to use to consolidate could be trouble for them, but they don't get that I'm not gonna have probs paying it because it'll be lower payments than what I'm doing now, and I won't have the cards if I get the consolidation..

I've thought about moving back home, but there's a bit of a problem there too. My brother had a kid, so his son is using my old bedroom, so really there's nowhere for me to stay. It's a pretty big mess.

[ghost69]

Originally Posted by dl217

Well yea they do have government grants and whatnot, and I've tried that already. Turns out that they factored my annual income, and said that I don't qualify for anything because I make over a specific amount for the year, but they don't realize that what I do make goes to bills and stuff, I don't have any cash to spare to even go out and do things most of the time.

I've thought about the bankruptcy thing, and I don't wanna do that if possible because if I do, I completely screw myself from getting a car/house within 7 years of filing bankruptcy.

I guess I'm trying to find a way out of this without going bankrupt.

at this rate, will you be able to even buy a house or car withing 7 years? sounds like no.

you won't be able to afford a house if you are going to school and paying for it anyways...more than likely.

[dl217]

Originally Posted by ghost69

at this rate, will you be able to even buy a house or car withing 7 years? sounds like no.

you won't be able to afford a house if you are going to school and paying for it anyways...more than likely.

Yeah that's true, but I was hoping to find a place to rent that might be cheaper than what I'm paying now, and I think if I did the bankruptcy thing, that would be hard to get.

Also, I just realized that for my job I had to get a credit check done because I have to be in a good standing to get it, I think if I went bankrupt, if they found out I'm not sure if that could affect anything.. My company has been laying off people left right and center too. Bah.

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Yeah, I'll stay with Ghost on this one. You're looking too far into the future with the house thing. It's a good sentiment to want to pay what you owe, but as Clint Eastwood said, "a man's got to know his limitations." The sooner you file for bankruptcy, the sooner you can start fresh. Don't let pride hold you back...remember it's one of the 7 deadly's

[ponyboy]

How long have you been working full time at your job?

[BeStrongBeHappy]

I know lots of people who got a degree working fulltime, and i did myself. You work during the day and attend classes at night. And it's easier now with online degrees, in that for some degrees you can take the courses entirely online at home and at work on your lunch hour if you have an internet connection.

Many companies have tuition assistance and will pay for a degree.

And you can usually get student loans to pay for your courses.

It is certainly harder to get a degree while working fulltime rather than being a fulltime student, but plenty of people do it.

Also, when i was in school, i lived in a two BR apt. with 6 girls, and 3 girls sharing a room. If you're really busy with school and work, you won't be home that much anyway, probably at the library and studying a lot or in class or online, or out with your friends when you do socialize, so sharing a house/apt. with several people to save money can help you out financially.

First investigate online degrees since they're easiest in terms of not having to be near a university or to drive to attend classes, since you can do it from home.

And re: your brother, perhaps you and he could share a room (or you share a room with the nephew) while you're at home paying off debt. Believe me, if I could share a tiny room with 3 other girls while in college, you can manage to share one with your brother.

Google online education and look for accredited programs. You can call their tuition assistance lines too to discuss ways to finance your education on a tight budget.