Don't run up your credit cards if you move back. It will just take longer to move back out.

As a libertarian I tell you with near absolute certainty your problem lies in the fact that you are not a producer, but part of the parasitic underclass with your mouth firmly gripped on the sour teat of the socialist state. If you did not inherit a pair of bootstraps then find someone in a situation even worse than yours who did, cheat them out of it, and use it to pull yourself up. Before my anterior cingulate cortex was removed with an ice cream scoop the ghost of Ayn Rand visited me and she said bla, bla, bla ...

IF you are seriously thinking about Europe in your situation then you are clearly in self-destruct mode. Get it out of your head. PERIOD.  IF you can't use your credit card responsibly or for emergencies only, then have your mother hold it for you or just cut it up.

Whatever you got by without today- you will probably get by without tommorrow. Once you've gotten that clear get out a notebook and put your financial situation on paper.

There are free credit/budget forms online.  Try Cricket.com . IT is a bankruptcy service but has an excellent budget system. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.  It will show you straight up where you stand and what % of what you are spending too much on.

IT breaks down everything for you. even stupid misc. shit like how much you eat out and what you spend on movie rentals.   I think the budget form is free to download. IF no luck there explore the net.

Going over the shit in your head does not work. You need it to be spelled out to you and reviewable on paper or text. 

 

And don't be so glum. If you are able and working then you are not worthless- no matter what your job is.  However, I would bet those summers off are not helping you at all.  That's a long time to go backwards financially. Get a seasonal summer job if you have to.-Even if it's an ice cream shack.

And moving back in with the folks isn't the end of the world, unless it just enables you to keep sinking and you end up quitting work all together and sit on the basement couch playing the old nintendo you dug out of the attic. 

You are very funny.

 First of all, you need to create a very detailed budget so you know exactly where all your money is going and exactly how much you need in your current situation. I wrote a post awhile ago about how to get out of debt, I suggest you read it even if you don't currently have any debt because many of the same things can be done to save money.  http://www.rationalresponders.com/rational_budgeting_dealing_debt

 

There are several places online that provide various worksheets and such to create a budget. It doesn't matter which one you use as long as it works for you and you stick to it. http://frugalliving.about.com/od/frugalliving101/ht/Frugal_Budget.htm Start cutting any extras out of your budget. You said you are on food stamps, are you able to keep your food costs within your benefit? If not, consider ways of reducing your food costs by including more rice, beans or pasta in your diet. Saving a little to buy non-perishable foods in bulk can save you quite a bit of money. Or stop by your local food bank to supplement.

 

Staying at a cheaper place sounds like a good move. Whether it is the cheaper apartment or with your parents I guess depends on your relationship with your parents. Circumstances forced me to move back with my parents when I was 23 and it didn't work out so well- maybe your parents (or you) are easier to live with. The advantage of a smaller apartment is that it also consumes less electricity, which can save you a few bucks as well. If you are talking about one bedroom apartments, consider getting an efficiency. Efficiency apartments in Ohio often rent for around $400, maybe that is already what you are talking about and just have higher rent in your area.

 

A trip to Europe on a credit card is a really bad idea. Not only the initial cost itself, but the interest on it afterwards will make it quite a bit more expensive. If you want to go to Europe, work that into your budget and set aside $x every month. Many banks have savings accounts that prevent  you from accessing the money until you reach a certain goal. They usually pay a higher interest rate than normal savings. Also, check out local credit unions. They tend to have friendlier banking policies towards smaller account holders and often offer higher interest rates on savings, in addition to paying an annual dividend. Having an account set up just for the Europe trip could be great motivation for you to find more work. 

 

More income would help in your situation and it sounds like you have plenty of time. Go to the nearest temp agencies and see if you can get temp work. These jobs don't require any experience and usually they are on a first come first serve basis. Show up at the temp agency at the asscrack of dawn on days you don't work your other job and there is a good chance you will be sent out to do something. The jobs are usually pretty miserable and usually pay little more than minimum wage, but it is extra money.

 

Also, when out on these jobs talk to the person supervising. They are usually in a position in whatever company is hiring the temps that they can heavily influence hiring decisions. Make sure they know you are looking for full time work, and make a good impression on them. Provide them with your contact information and a resume. 

 

Another idea for quick money is to donate plasma. That requires you fall within certain health requirements, but if you do you can get a little bit of money.

 

It isn't too late for you to get a marketable skill. Go around to local businesses in your area whether they are advertising for hiring or not and speak with the owners, managers or human resources, whichever makes decisions on hiring. Offer your services to them for an entry level position. You are going to get a lot of places that simply say "no", give them your contact information and tell them to contact you as soon as a position opens and stay persistent. It doesn't matter if 99% of the businesses you talk to say no. You only need one yes.

 

When you do get that yes, learn the industry. Even when you are not at work, do your research online and find out how you can improve  yourself inside that industry. Find out what certifications or education will give you a leg up for moving to higher positions. Talk with your supervisor about your desires and see if the company would be willing to help with the costs of getting certified or with taking college classes. 

 

Bottom line is you have to be very persistent and don't be picky about what job you take. If you end up flipping burgers you still have a higher income than you do now. And once you have a job, build connections- people are far more likely to hire someone they know than a stranger and you don't know when someone you know is going to be in a position to offer you a good job. Maybe even someone at your current job can offer something, or maybe has a spouse/family member who could offer you something. If you haven't, you should tell all your coworkers you are looking for extra work. 

 

And finally, when you are working, avoid becoming complacent. The temptation for many people is to fall into the comfortable routine and stop looking for better work inside or outside of their current employer. 

 

 

 

 

You only starve to death once too Vas.   Only once do you die from exposure when you're homeless.

I don't think Zeeboe is in the right frame of mind to pull off a trip to Europe and deal with the reality when he wakes up.

That advice would be ok for someone with the drive to adapt, overcome, and make his own lovely world, but I don't think that's the case here. 

 

 

Going into debt makes you a slave to the person you owe the money to. I'm not saying don't go to Europe, just make the money to pay for it first. It will be quite a bit cheaper and maybe you can go twice. Assuming a trip to Europe would cost $2000 you are talking about running about $30-$50 a month in interest. If you are willing to delay gratification for a bit and save the money first, you can have a much more enjoyable time and not find yourself with an obligation that will be difficult to pay off. People who live within their means will always live a more prosperous lifestyle than those who spend it first.

 

The main difference between the wealthy and the poor is the wealthy live within their means. Note, I said wealthy not "rich", it is perfectly possible to have a high income and be poor, and perfectly possible to have a lower income and have wealth. Make interest work for you, not against you and you will find that whatever your income, your purchasing power will be higher. 

 

Gauche,

as a libertarian? What? are you not an atheist? lol.

it's impossible for an atheist to be a libertarian iconsistently speaking. It is also impossible to be a democrat

Funny post Gauche.

Respectfully,

Jean Chauvin (Jude 3).

Thanks for the responses. I should have added this however - I have family in England, so I'd most likely stay with them, and maybe two days in London at a hotel, (since my cousins live an hour and a half away from London, and if I'm in England, I'm going to be dying to go to London and stay there for just a little while since there's so much to do.) followed by about maybe five days in Germany, maybe two days, staying at a hotel.

Based on my research, I am guessing the bill would be about 5,000 when I came back. I'd have to use another one of my credit cards if it goes over five thousand since that is my current credit line. In any event, I figure give the bank one hundred dollars a month for the first four months while I'm still living in my apartment. Then if and when I move in with my parents (sigh) start paying a thousand a month. It's not like I'd have rent or other big bills anymore. My biggest concern about moving back home however is it may really hurt my self-esteem having to go backwards in life, then I'll have to start seeing a shrink, which will really get me in debt.

 

I think I know what the two best choices are, and I'm stuck trying to decide. I can either move to a cheaper place and get a roommate, which can be a risk, and who knows how long my luck will last in that regard, both with a roommate and just being able to put in my share, or moving back home, pay off the big giant bill if I decide to have my "last supper", and try to learn some type of a skill, or move back home, pay off the bill, then save up for a really long time like I did a few years ago, move out again............and then have this same problem in five-ten years depended how much I save since the money I make is rubbish.

 

Being alive sucks.

 

I should also add I think the reason why I am thinking about all this traveling, among other things, is because I've had to live the cheap lifestyle for over three years now, and it'd be nice to see how this other half lives even if it'd be for a very short amount of time.

However, I have a habit of over hyping things, glamorizing stuff, places, and people, and going into experiences thinking that it's going to be just like the movies, and of course, it rarely is, and I'm worried that I'll be let down.  Especially if I can spend a short amount of time in London. And given that if I go, I have to go there on a big  budget, there's a chance that will happen. I also admit, I really don't enjoy traveling for the most part. i.e. The sitting, the waiting, the long lines, etc. But if there's something amazing waiting at the end of the rainbow, it's worth it, and I think Europe would be. But I also worry about being a victim to crime too, or just dealing with some really rude person.

 

I also go through these different phases where I'm interested in one topic for a while, but then I move on to another. Having typed that, I'm worried by the time I go on this trip, my heart may not be into it as it should be. I'd be psyched to go, but there is a chance, the heart won't be 100% excited, but then later on in life, when the topic intrigues me again, then I'd be looking at all the pictures and videos and reminiscing and telling stories and I'd be grateful that I had the experience for sure, and that I was able to cross something off the bucket list finally.

 Oh yeah, and there's also a strong chance my Mother will want to go with me, and I'm worried she'll drive me crazy, and I figure I might be spending enough time with her next year.  Yeah, I was right the first time. Being alive sucks.

 

I don't know. I'm probably being a big baby about all this, and need to just pick the most manly thing, and the most manly thing to me honestly sounds like getting a new place, a roommate, a second job, and go to Europe in my dreams. (Although being a lazy rich guy or pretending to be a lazy rich guy sounds more fun.)

 

 

 

                   I'm with Tony on this, deal with this now!!!   Moveing back with your perants AND being in debt will be the most depressing thing possible,  you may never recover from it. Take care of yourself NOW, get a different Job now! Something that makes you feel a little more important then the one you got, add a second job, that way you'll be too busy to be depressed and Europe will still be there, honest.

No, unacceptable.  People who blab about suicide are just wanting others to say " oh don't do it".    You're a disgrace to depression.  Calling yourself a loser doesn't cut it.  At least have the balls to be an asshole.

Sure you can off yourself and leech all you can on your way out.  But don't sit there and tell us about it.  It's no different than stealing from us on your way out the door.  Some of us have worked our fingers to the bone and made it possible for you to ride around on your cozy little bus.  And you ain't the only one who got dealt a raw deal.

FUCK YOU. I hope you fail and end up getting your food thru a straw with a shit-bag strapped to your hip.

 

 

1. Head first

2. Sounds like you got that one covered

 

Now, I take everything else back.  You should listen to Vastet and go to Europe. But stay there.

It takes more than troops to keep this country from becoming the shit-heap of the universe.  It's people like me that build and repair your houses and buses, all the while dragging the weak along with us and keeping the whole drowning system afloat. 

And YES, when the people we carry on our backs, piss and moan about the ride we get a little pissed.

Some of us tried to give you some sensible advice and your reply was wah wah boo boo blah blah.

Obviously no one has ever put it to you straight so that's what I tried to do.

Now have some balls and get your shit squared away Private Pyle. 

If not I'd be glad to direct you to a great jumping off point.

 It sounds like you know what you should do, just do it. And it doesn't have to be a choice between doing the responsible thing and going to Europe. Set up a financial plan that includes paying say $500 into savings every month for your trip and pay it as if it is as important as your rent. You will have to delay your trip a little, but when you go you can have fun blowing your money and not have the headache of severe debt to deal with when you get back. And after saving your $5,000 you might decide to do something else, you will have that flexibility.

 

Objectively, the best thing to do with your $5,000 would be to invest it and continue saving so you can draw an income stream off of it, then go to Europe without draining it completely. That would put your trip about two years away instead of one. I can understand not wanting to delay that long, but delayed gratification can allow you to have significantly more in the future.

 

If you write a plan down on paper and force yourself to stick to it you will find that saving money isn't as difficult as you imagine. It might require a few sacrifices, patience and more careful scrutiny of your budget but it is certainly possible to have your cake and eat it too. A little discipline goes a long way. 

Hi Zeeboe,

I'm sorry to hear things aren't going well.

- Can't you find a roommate to split the bill? Edit: Ah, you've already thought about it of course. Try Craigslist?

- Don't put yourself further into debt. Pretty please?

- Military is not a bad idea. I imagine you would do pretty well on the ASVAB. 

 

Since your choices are now apparently joining the military or going into debt maybe you should just put yourself in debt. Either way you'll most likely realize immediately you don't like it and take years to get out of it. If you want to improve your life then start thinking about how you treat others.

Alright, I'm going to take off my devils advocate hat and get serious here.

First thing you need to do is get some help. It may sound stupid or corny or uncomfortable or whatever, but you won't ever get anywhere when all you do is bash on yourself. Being self critical can be an asset, but there's such a thing as overdoing it. You aren't a serial killing child rapist who offed his own parents and ate their remains I presume? Because no matter how much you consider yourself a leech you can't possibly compare to the true, hard dregs of society. The people that anyone with any decency couldn't stand at all.

Getting help in the US is beyond my ken, so I can't advise you on that, but you should be able to start with a regular doctor and go from there.

Second, you need to look at this as an opportunity to get a bit ahead, not as a step back. Millions of 30 year olds have had to move home, or never even left. You're no better or worse than any of them, unless you decide to shit on yourself instead of taking the

I doubt he's seriously suicidal.  If he is, the main reason would be that he's depressed at how his life has progressed so far.

Serving the country of your birth by being in the military is an uplifting and fulfilling action to many people.  If he's pacifist he can go the medical route and become a corpsman.  Saving a fellow soldier's life would boost your ego something fierce.

Well since I was in the American military, I think I have somewhat of a tiny bit of experience with the military in this country.   As long as he kept his trap shut, no one would give a fuck.

We had a guy commit suicide on one of my deployments.   Nothing easier than killing yourself by jumping off of a carrier in the middle of the ocean.

I knew a lot of people that exhibited suicidal tendencies in the six years I spent serving.

Those tendencies most often formed after training, when they were already brainwashed into the military mind set. The sailor you mention is a clear example.
There's a significant difference between a suicidal serviceman and civillian.
I too have ties to the military, so your "expertise" doesn't impress. The recruiting officers I've known would tell this guy to go away. The military doesn't want people who are at risk of risking the assets of the military.

And let me tell you about "Irvin".   That was his name.   He was an officer that I served along side for over three years.

He fucked around on his wife with some dog ugly chick on our ship, so he went to Captain's Mast(you'd have to look up that term because you don't know what that means), and got sent to the carrier in our fleet during our deployment.   His wife was British, and was notified, so she took herself and their two little girls back to England.

So he jumped.

Right after we got out of the Suez canal going into the Med.

We looked for him for three days.

I found one of his loafers.  It was floating on top of the water like someone polished it and then laid it down neatly on top of the water.   Not a drop of liquid inside of it.

The Egyptians found him washed up on their shores six days after he jumped.

That's funny because I know several Canadians that joined the US military because the Canadian military was so pathetic.   Puerto Ricans and Canadians were the two huge minorities in the American military that weren't born in America.

Weak.  So that's the end of the conversation, eh?   You know some people in the military so you know as much as, if not more than, someone in the military.

That's called arrogance.   Huge stumbling block.

No weaker than your own statement. Unless you'd care to share some testimonials?
Didn't think so.

And your assumption that I know nothing about the military is equally arrogant. Pot, meet kettle.

Uh uh, you're neither Canadian nor Puerto Rican. Unless you've been hiding it all this time?

I stand by my statement that you are being at least as arrogant as myself, if not more so. One doesn't need to be a biologist to know a fair bit about evolution. One doesn't need to be a parent in order to take care of children.

And one doesn't need to have served in the military to know how it functions.

I'm always arrogant. 

Ok, I'll qualify why I made the statement about Canada having a joke of a military.   Don't get me wrong, Canadians were amazing during WWII, a huge asset and nothing to be ashamed about.   Awesome soldiers.

I made that statement because I had two Canadians in my boot camp division.   One just to broaden his career oportunities.   The other, to be on a sub.   That was his only reason for joining the American military.

When he found out that a) you had to be male b) you had to be under 25 when you first went into submarine service c) you had to be able to pop you ears AAAAAND d) you had to be born in America he went AWOL.

America has an insane military.   22 carriers on the planet, half of them are American.    Our military is just hugantically bloated and pandered to.   Canada doesn't have any subs apparently?   I wouldn't know.   But I do know a decent percentage of the American military is Canadian by birth.   Americans haven't joined the Canadian military since right before and up to Pearl Harbor.

So I am forced to assume, if you want to be in a real military, and you are Canadian, you cross the border down South.

I even talked to British sailors and they were in awe of our carriers.   This was back when they still had one.   They don't any longer.   They said our carriers made theirs look like toys.