How do you live without a job?

[soccorsilly]

That book is a great suggestion.

 

A friend of mine was deep in debt and decided to pay for the credit counseling...BIG MISTAKE. Apparently if a creditor is working with you, they will work with you as they want to get as much bang for the buck. When they are contacted by a counseling service, they will immediately fast track any collection procedures up to and including a lawsuit to protect their interest. My friend did the counseling deal and within 2 weeks of letters being sent to the creditors, she was served with papers for the debts. Now, since there is a proceeding underway, that debt is not erasable via bankruptcy. As drastic as it sounds, bankruptcy may be the option

[daletom]

didn't mean to ignore this thread - I've been sick this week. (Actually, being sick led to an argument which led to starting the thread.)

 

Thanks for your replies! Most of them mentioned jobs, rather than doing without jobs. I've started looking into some of the suggestions, though.

[daletom]

Originally posted by HoldOn

Why don't you try a customer service type job? Being a waiter?

I'm reluctant to commit to any scheduled job because I'm still getting some pick-up work thrown my way.

 

E.g., last week I picked up a project to do hardware design & software development on a small microcontroller project that'll be used in a medical patient care product. (I hope I stll have the task - my client isn't going to be pleased that I was too sick to do much of anything with it last week.) A real embedded controller engineer would knock it off in a little over a week - it'll take me 2 - 3 weeks but I'll probably clear about $1400 after I cover my expenses. I don't think I'd get that hopping tables at Steak & Shake, and I doubt that anybody who runs a Donald-McWhopper-Chef would look kindly on my disappearing for a few weeks to pursue more lucrative ventures. The problem is that I can only find the a gig like that (doing electronics) every two or 3 months. (The last one I had ended in early May.)

[moimeme]

Then it may be worthwhile to look into temp agencies. You can often pick and choose between shorter- and longer-term assignments.

[Wolvesbaned]

Eggs. Sell your eggs, they'll get you about $5000. I hear some couples will give up to $12K just for eggs ... no pregnancy. I don't know anyone that's tried, so I'm not sure how risky it is.

[daletom]

Originally posted by fredrolin

I am a 40 year old man, married with children and working a full time job.

I'm 53, married, youngest is in High School & the mid-kid is in college.

 

My wife has been great about this - she gives piano lessons to a couple dozen kids, cleans a couple houses, helps deliver telephone diectories when I get that work (March & October) - but it's starting to "get to" her. For 30 years we've teased each other about "things my NEXT wife/husband will/won't do" but I'm not sure that's entirely a joke anymore.

 

I don't want to scare you . . . but . . . between 30 and 40 I had 4 different jobs and was never out of work over a week or two. Four months after turning 40 my employer fired a couple hundred of us - mostly over 40. After 20 months I finally had another job, and a stack of debt I still haven't paid off.

[daletom]

Thanks for the helpful ideas! Several discussion-starters there -

Originally posted by HokeyReligions

Have you tried some headhunters? Personnel placement agencies? Career counselors at your area college?

 

Have you checked your local employment office for resources in finding what you are good at and enjoy?

Want ads - job boards - State employment service - headhunters - career fairs: I've put in at least 150, maybe 200 applications to get 3 interviews and no offers. I did some of the profiling and aptitude things when I was unemployed another time, and they came up with nearly the same job I'd just been fired from. (BTW - there's a (U.S.) Federally subsidized program called "Educational Opportunity Centers" here that seems to do a much better job of this than the State unemployment folks. Highly recomended!)

 

The overwhelming opinion at the "Jobs Club" I've been in is that the employee-paid placement agencies are seldom a good value unless you're at a really high salary level, so I haven't investigated those.

 

The truly "local" schools I've contacted here all have a policy of "services for students and alumni only". It's a bit disconcerting that my undergrad school - 800 miles and 30 years away from where I am now - has been more helpful and provided more leads than the school where I (finally!) finished a Master's just last year - only 75 miles down the road.

 

And nowadays it seems the only things I really enjoy are illegal, immoral or fattening . . .

Mortgage payments on credit cards is a bad path. Are you physically able to do manual labor for a while to pay the bills? What about construction jobs, or fast-food jobs? Where are you applying for work?

I've thought about construction - several of my pick-up jobs have been home-maintenance-and-repair stuff. One knee should have surgery, and the other is showing a touch of arthritis so running, kneeling, lifting, and climbing are out. Walking isn't a major problem - I've easily done several miles at a stretch delivering phone books, and sort of enjoyed the exercise.

 

How are you at mixing drinks? Maybe you could work in a bar, or if you are not against it--try an adult movie theater/store. My brother worked at one for a while and it was dangerous, but he was in a glass cage except when he hosed down the theater. It was nasty work, but paid decent. He went from that to a cook in a nursing home! Get applications in EVERYWHERE for any job you are physically able to do, just to have enough money for the mortgage payment. Then get some career counseling.

I know that bartenders sometimes do fairly well. I'm discouraged by the learning curve I see - I've probably consumed no more than 2 mixed drinks, perhaps a gallon of wine and maybe twice that much beer in my lifetime. The "adult" industry would NOT go well with wife & family AT ALL!

[soccorsilly]

You are firehosing yourself. Shooting it all down it seems to me! One comment you mentiones was essentially 'thanks for the replies but they were all about getting a job and not living without one'. You say your wife teached piano to a couple dozen kids, cleans houses, delivers phone books, etc. Wow, she is taking on the lion's share now isn't she.

 

You have a Masters Degree, your knowledge supposedly can earn you $1400 in two weeks clear on a piece meal basis. I just have to think that you are either not looking in the right places, not looking hard enough, not really looking to work, or not telling the whole story.

 

Aside from asking the Love Shackkers to send you $$$, you need to stop discrediting all suggestions--granted they all may not be appropriate--but when one is in this situation, one must take and do what is necessary.

 

If I was in your position and I honestly felt I had exhausted all the options, I know that I would be in the local 7-11 asking if you wanted a Slim Jim to go with that Slurpee!

 

I think you may be in a dangerous place right now and you may know it as well since you and your wife joke(?) about what the next spouse will not do! She seems to be taking it all on herself, and I would not be surprised if she were to break and may just feel that enough is enough.

 

And finally, you said you wee sick. Well for the sake fo your contract, I hope you were really sick--hospital sick. If the only income I had was three or four $1400 contracts a year, I am not so sure I would let an illness prevent me from making the deadline.

[unloved]

hmmmm....wish I had sperm to donate!