How many here are really hurting and broke and scared ?

[blues90]

My intent is not to bring anyone down or put anyone down since I am in this position myself .

I have read topics about retirement and some doing fine and this is great , they planned and worked for it .

This topic is for those who are right now very concerned where they will end up and those who don't have money saved because I want an idea of how alone I really am .

Many of us have no house and rent , many of us struggle to reach the end of the month , many of us have lost our job and can't find another one and are running out of hope here .

These are the people I would like to hear from . The lost and concerned folks .

[Demeter]

1. How Many Are One Paycheck or Serious Illness From Hurting, Broke, Scared?

You aren't in any sense alone.

[leftchick]

2. is it okay to hear from folks who know a few?

I am not in that position. Yet. I do know several people who are and I see how awful it is and I am scared for you all. And for most of us who are a paycheck away from the same situation. The fact is there are literally millions of americans in the same seemingly hopeless situation.

peace,
lc

[BOSSHOG]

3. I'm not one of those people but

I can offer some tough love. "Can't find another one (job.)" As Henry Ford said in 1903, whether you think you can or you can't you're right. Get off the computer and tend to yourself my Fellow American. Instead of waiting to hear from others, spend some time finding yourself and be the next great American story; NOW!

[Kathryn STone]

34. (?) this is the only post that made me sad.

all that Dr. Dobson (Xian boook pusher/tv evangelist) is what my parents did to me. My parents are wealthy and just bought a house on Hilton Head SC. But they are so tight fisted with me you would think they are saving tea bags to try to get another use out of them. NOT everyone has such a resilient "spirit" and like my lord Jesus said, "the meek shall inherit the earth." So see you there.

[notadmblnd]

4. I'm sorry a bout your troubles blues

My job was gone a little over two years ago. My husband died just over 3 and left me to finish raising our then 10 year old, alone. Luckily, we have Social Security survivors benefits and his small pension. I get SS for him and I get it for myself till he's 16. If I remarry, I lose the pension and health benefits. I'm going to school right now (paying for it out of the little he left us), and will have to go back to work in two years. My sister who lives with me just obtained work after about 1 1/2 years. She's making decent money now, but we're still barely getting by and all I have is a house payment and utilities. No credit cards and no car loans. I suppose we're safe for the moment, but if things don't turn around within two years, we're screwed too.

[BrotherBuzz]

5. I may be really hurting and broke but I am not scared

Nervous at times, apprehensive at others, but NEVER scared. Keep the faith and believe!

[madrchsod]

6. hanging on the edge

there are not enough decent jobs for enough people to get by in this area. it`s week by week only my kids living here has kept everyone`s head above water. we are keeping on keeping on until the democrats clean up the piles of shit the republicans have soiled this country with.

[Sydnie]

7. You are not alone at all

I have two payments left on my vehicle and I am already behind on both of those. I paid faithfully (sometimes late in the last few years) for 5 years, am two payments from paid off, and I got a default letter yesterday. Ten days to pay those two payments or turn over the vehicle. :::sigh::: My doctor ordered a test for me that I am scheduled to take next week, but they called to tell me it requires a $150 copay which I just don't have. That will have to be rescheduled and put off for several months.

I wasn't in this position 5 years ago. I am to the point of making it through the day, one hour at a time ... praying that nothing breaks down, my kids stay healthy, my oil burner makes it one more year ...

The future? That will have to take care of itself for now, I have to get through the next 24 hours right now.

:grouphug: No, you are not alone. Perhaps I'll bump into you in the cardboard box camp that could become our future. ;)

[fasttense]

8. I'm doing ok, but one big financial crisis

and I'll be in the gutter.

I heard a woman at the grocery store crying because she lost her job and her husband had already lost his job to India and he was working at a department store for half wages. She was in the vegetable aisle with a friend and just suddenly broke down. I tried not to listen, but I felt so sorry for her. She was doing secretarial work for a real estate agent and he decided to contract it out. Now neither her nor her husband have medical care. Their children are in college and she thinks one of them will have to drop out because he has no scholarships. They can't make the payments on their suburban house. She sounded so bewildered, so lost, as if she never thought this could happen to her.

There are so many people like her and her husband who suck it up and take shit jobs. They sell their suburban houses and go live in a run down trailers. They keep looking and hoping. It is a sad state of our economy when hard working people can't make a living.

[EFerrari]

9. Today is World Poverty Day.

I'm not there today but have been in the past. And, for all I know, will be there again.

Hi there, blues90. :)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. I was there a few months ago,

still working my way back. :hug:

[LSparkle]

11. I'm lost and concerned

I have a decent job but I'm in debt (thanks in no small part to the fact that my company didn't give us raises from 2000 to around 2003 and after that, it's been about 2% per year which hasn't kept pace with inflation; the majority of my debt is just from groceries, gas, maybe the occasional new pair of shoes, etc.) and feeling hopeless about ever regaining the financial footing I had back around 1999, when I was seriously thinking about saving to buy a home/condo. My boyfriend has been out of work for about the past 4 years as well and I've been basically supporting both of us (he's an actor/artist and occasionally gets the odd job or sells a painting) ... As it is, we struggle from paycheck to paycheck and live in fear of health concerns (he doesn't have insurance although I do), car problems, rise in prices of gas/food/rent. I feel like I've been semi-suicidal for the past 4 years, just hanging on and hoping that tax policies will change and I may be able to keep more of what little I make, that my company will do well enough that my raises will improve or promotion may be possible (although I was just given a title change a few months ago, but no more money ... ?).

All I can say is, thank God for the 99-Cent Store because I'm shopping for more and more of my necessities there. When I put $5 worth of gas in my tank the other day (and felt ashamed), I noticed that the person before me had put in $4.64 -- just about enough for 2 gallons here in CA. We are CERTAINLY not alone.

[blues90]

21. I had a good job

this died in oct 2004 and have had 5 months of a fair job since then . I live in Hollywood . i worked for ford dealerships and was laid off form the 5 month jon 6 months ago and my wife can;t work

I have sold anything I had that was worth selling . I went on hundreds of interviews for other dealerships since ford here seem to be closing dealerships and not one is hiring . I was a tech for 25 years and a manager for the last 8 .

I have also interviewed for ANY position that may find my skills useful . Well let me tell you in LA it seems if you are not young or in the loop there is nothing . i am driving my car delivering for a messenger service and I pay gas and we have been able to barely hold on each month to the little we have left .

I am at the point where we will see what the elections bring , I don;t expect change just some hope of this country turning around enough to get people like me back to a new start . I won;t be until Jan even if new seats are won by dems and even then what dems have we got .

I will vote as I always do but I do feel the elections will turn to some sort of spoil and I don;t feel there will be mass protests if things go sour . People just don;t seem to want to put in the effort and it may be fear who knows .

How many jobs can be lost before people wake up , is there anything they can do to stop this job loss ?

[LSparkle]

22. I know it's a cliche but I feel your pain

I'm in the music business and I've sold everything I thought I could get money for -- two guitars (nice ones, paid probably $1,000 for both), a bass (that one I paid about $500 and I only got $300 when I sold it), all my CDs, most of my DVDs ... I just don't have anything left in case I need some quick cash to pay bills. It's sad when I think about it, but now my priorities are just food and gas. Both my boyfriend and I are artists and about the only things we "splurge" on are art supplies (and I'm not talking expensive canvases or anything, just watercolor paper and tubes of cheap acrylic or watercolor paint). It's funny how things that used to be important aren't anymore ... I'm just thankful that we've been able to hold on this long but I'm constantly dodging collection calls and living in fear of my mailbox.

Hang in there, though -- I am spiritual enough to believe that there is a silver lining to almost every situation and that hopefully the universe is ready for a change -- SOON!

[blues90]

25. I have sold my guitars too and other hand made items

All this stuff was my world and effort and hooby , it was my life but these things once gone show me they were not everything .

with the passing of my mother at 88 a month ago and all these jobs I have not got which feel like rejection in a way I find I need to reinvent myself at 57 and that is not easy because I know nothing else . I built my own tube guitar amps and electric guitars too and sold all but one and lately have no interest in playing since it brings back memories of better times .

I am not a believer and do not know if I am here for a reason or is it just because I was born and here I am . don;t know where to take this or where I am heading , this is the scary part , I am not sure who I am now .

[seriousstan]

32. After 4 years it's time for your boyfriend to get a job.

[tech3149]

12. Hurting and Broke? yes Scared? NFW!

What I am is pissed. I'm pissed at the business environment, the political climate, The lack of involvement of nearly half the people in the country. I want this country and it's people to regain their souls and their spines and be able to take pride in what America can be.

[Kookaburra]

13. I know this might sound goofy to you, but...

... just try it... and please know I love you all and pray for you each and every day.


The Forever Optimist, with the Power of Peace & Love,

A cosmic trigger event is occurring on Tuesady, the 17th of October 2006.
This is one of many trigger events to come between now and 2012. An
ultraviolet pulse beam radiating from higher dimensions in the universe will
strike the Earth on this day.
Earth will remain approximately within this UV beam for 17 hours.

This beam resonates with the heart chakra, it is radiant flourescent in
nature, blue/magenta in colour. Although it resonates in this frequency
band, it is above the colour frequency spectrum that humans can see.

The effect is that every thought and emotion will be amplified one
million-fold.
Yes, we will repeat, all will be amplified one millions times and more.

Every thought, every emotion, every intent, no matter good, bad, ill,
positive, negative, will be amplified one million times in strength.

What does this mean?

Since all matter manifestation is due to your thoughts, what you focus on,
this beam will accelerate these thoughts and solidify them at an accelerated
rate making them manifest a million times faster than they normally would.

Mission-1017 requires approximately one million people to focus on
positive, good willed thoughts for themselves and the Earth and Humanity on
this day.
Whatever you focus on will be made manifest in a faster than anticipated
time frame. To some the occurrences may be bordering on the miraculous.
All we ask is positive thoughts of love, prosperity, health, kindness,
gratitude be focused on.

No matter what time zone you are in, the hours are approximately 10:17 am
on the 17th of October to 1:17 am on the 18th October. The peak time will be
17:10 (5:10 pm). You do not need to be in a meditative state throughout this
time, though it would be beneficial if you can find a peaceful spot or
location to focus during 5:10pm.

The optimum location is out in nature, near a large tree or next to the
ocean.
Focus on whatever it is you desire.
What is required for the benefit of all Earth and Humanity is positive
thoughts of a loving nature.

We call this UV beam trigger event, gateway.

Please forward this message to as many people as you know who will use
this cosmic trigger event to focus positive, good willed thoughts. We
require 1-million plus people at the least to trigger a shift for humanity
from separation and fragmentation to one of unification and oneness.
This is your opportunity to take back what is rightfully yours, i.e . Peace
and Prosperity for all Earth and Mankind.

This is a gift, a life line from your universe so to speak, an answer to
your prayers. What you do with it and whether or not you choose to
participate is your choice.

Mission1017

Raphiem/Blue

[razors edge]

23. must be the pollution in toledo

cause I don't feel shit.

x(

[LSparkle]

26. I did it at 5:10 p.m. Pacific Time and I felt something

And I certainly need it on this, the day habeas corpus died.

[Kookaburra]

38. The death of habeas corpus

I don't feel a permanence around that. Something is going to happen to right all the wrongs committed by Bush and his henchmen.

Glad you felt something when you did it. I did the same 5:10 p.m. EDT -- stood out in my backyard in the pouring rain and focused. You know my neighbors thought I was losing it, but they've seen me hugging trees and sending Reiki to a wounded deer, so, maybe they just thought it was normal behavior.

[mongo]

14. Yeah, and I've had it

4 years of less than minimum wage and no health insurance working for myself.

We are just trying to stay afloat until after Valentines Day next year and then find jobs in the big city.

And I have no idea what kind of job I can get.

[hfojvt]

33. that seems to be typical of self employment

I spent 5 of my 7 business years working one job and running my bookstore with the rest of my time. My other job did not have health insurance or paid holidays or vacations either.

[leftofthedial]

15. Down to pennies in the bank now. A pile of bills on the table.

No hope in sight.

No paycheck for two years now, except for a few gigs. Can't even get an interview when I apply for jobs. I had worked hard and successfully for 25 years or so, but divorce, death, job loss, business failure and the bush Enronomy all clobbered me at the same time.

I've tried to get a few things going over the past couple of years, but nothing has gained any traction and nothing is generating any income.

I'm better off than many people though.

[mnhtnbb]

16. Blues--hope things will start looking up for you soon. If retired, have

you thought about moving out of the country? There are a lot of places in the world where it's much less expensive to live than in the U.S.

[Acryliccalico]

17. I am hanging on the edge too

but not scared. We are the strength of this nation. When we stand together there is nothing we can't do. That is the secret of this country. The strength is not with the wealthy but with it's poor. :kick:

[acmavm]

18. Sheesh, been trying not to file bankruptcy. Had two strokes, no health

insurance. Had two more hospitalizations (stroke related), no health insurance.

Had shit jobs that paid 10.00 an hour and have to support myself and my son. His father pays $100 a month child support because he's on SS Disability. His girlfriend pushed him down some stairs (or tried to run over him in a car, never did quite get the story straight) during one of their drunken drugged out frenzies. He lives with his Mom, I keep trying to keep the house for my son. The kicker about the stairs/hit and run thing is that the fool tried to blame me. And I don't even live in the same city as the nutball. As soon as he sobered up they talked some sense into him and explained the penalty for making false accusations.

Whatever, I'm sure I'll be having to get a bankruptcy attorney one of these here days. And then I don't know what I'll do. Who knows, maybe it'll be a big relief when it's all over.

Until then, I'll just keep plugging along. I'm going to apply for a 13.00 an hour job right now (through an employment agency).

[Historic NY]

19. I am not struggling yet but I have been draining my savings....

got hurt (busted up tibia & fibula) retired, Workman's compensation insurance carrier has not paid me in over a year even after being order to do so. The Workman's Comp judge also ruled my retirement was not voluntary, basically, I was forced out because of the injury. I was denied SS after a hearing (my lawyer is appealing) it got down to the SS judge saying I should be given a supervisory job since I had a masters degree. My former employment was civil service and I turned down promotions by not taking advancement exams. I won a small lawsuit from the person on whose property I was injured on. It was really only insurance didn't want to bleed them. Workman's Comp took a chunk right off the top of course so did the lawyers. All the Dr's have testified that I can't go back and do my original job. I still have physical problems they never even addressed. They found an abdominal aneurysm which is being monitored. I gained weight from lying around and from not smoking, I am on several medications which make me drowsy, I can't do a lot of things around the house I used to do. Recently I have had to go back to physical therapy as my knee was found to have been cracked from the early injury. I am thankful it has improved since labor day. Workman's Comp has caused my public employee retirement to hold up a disability award. They only need to know I cannot return to my previous position. I think they just want to suck every dime you might have so you beg them for the disability. Besides all the problems I own my home, have to pay taxes, I also have to pay my brother 35k to settle an estate, right now it like my little bit of saving is being suck dry. I wonder if next year I will have enough to pay the tax bills, co-pays and the heat & electric.

[laylah]

20. Unfortunately

since becoming a card carrying member of the "Divorced Wives Club" and being diagnosed with a progressive liver disease, I have lost my job, my unemployment doesn't even cover my mortgage, let alone other "luxuries", and I cannot afford treatment. I job hunt daily but at 55 and after so many disappointments since returning to the midwest, I am so very worn-out, sad and scared. I feel I have turned into someone I don't recognize and I see no way out.

:grouphug: to all of us.

Jenn

[earth mom]

24. I feel your pain. No savings. Been living paycheck to paycheck for 10 yrs.

I'm a stay at home mom and while hubby finally got a good paying union job 2 years ago, we are still playing catch up with all the bills that piled up. In addition, we put off maintenance on this house and it needs most importantly a new roof and furnace to the tune of 10K which we don't have and can't/won't finance. We will try and hang on for another winter using the wood stove and get either the roof or furnace (not enough money for both) done next spring with our tax return plus whatever we can save until then. Also, Dh must work 12 more years to get a pension at his job which is good and bad. Good that he got a job at a union he was in before and will be able to add his previous years to get a 25 year pension and bad in that they are trying to destroy his union which could happen anytime before the 12 years are up. Other than that we are hoping for social security but given how * & co are working hard to destroy it, we can't count on it either. Which leaves us with the equity in this house, which is a good thing, but could easily go south on us to given the state of the housing market and the economy.

Uneasy and worried doesn't even begin to describe it. Hope we can hang on to our good health in the meantime too. :scared:

[tlsmith1963]

27. I'm Okay Right Now, But...

I worry that it could all be taken away in an instant. It's ironic that I first began to realize that I wouldn't do as well as my parents when GWB's father was President. There is something about that Bush family that always seems to make me afraid for my future. I *never* want to see another Bush as President. I've had enough.

[NMDemDist2]

28. i got lucky. my house in PHX netted me enough to own this one

free and clear. I just hope the 14 years I have left in the work force give me the chance to put away a few $$$

it's freaking scary out there :hug:

[BeFree]

29. Not hurting broke or scared, but sad

I feel sad for some of the folks who responded to this thread. I wish I had some sage advice for them to ease their pain.

But all I can think of is how lucky I am. I've been broke before and will be again, and that's just something I've kinda asked for, but luckily I have pretty good healh tho I coulda died a few times but for this or that. Lucky.

Remember that it was the Democratic party that has stood for helping folks that are hurting, it sure wasn't the Publicans, and that's one reason I support the Democratic Party.

Yall are in my prayers.

[survivor999]

30. 1751

[StellaBlue]

31. ME!

27, masters in English from a reputable English university, bachelors from Texas, real work experience (I was making approx. $40K with company car in the UK in 2005!), grammar Nazi, editorial/proofreading/publications experience, event planning experience, TONS of customer/public service and admin/office experience, have travelled extensively in the US and Europe.

$40K in student loans. Credit card debt from my British partner having left me cold (looong story) and necessitated my move back to the US. No savings. No retirement savings. No health insurance. No kids (ha!), no husband/wife, 650sq-ft apartment, no washing machine, no dishwasher, walk to work, $80 a month on entertainment, no travel.

Working in two part-time jobs for the SAME state agency, one on a month-to-month basis, both $12/hr. No benefits. Two weeks vacation, but can't take til June 2005 (my job is dependent on the Texas legislative session, to be fair). Applied for an admin job paying $28K in the agency, told I didn't have enough experience (?! - job add qualification? G-E-D!!!) "yet".

Yeah, I'd say I'm really hurting and broke and scared. I am further in debt every month. Can't seem to find a professional-level job that pays enough to pay my loans and comparatively meagre expenses.

Yet, I am very happy. Mainly because I am in Austin, Texas, happily single, and have a GREAT network of upbeat, equally screwed friends. Who drink a lot.

[hfojvt]

36. drats, you are not near desperate enough

to accept my marriage proposal :P
I am afraid you have lost that safety net too since I just elected to start working part time yesterday. Which means I have to pay $200 a month for my health insurance and even more for a spouse. But I still have a small three bedroom house that is paid for and just had a new porch built, many many thanks to my dad and two brothers in law (see? even your siblings could benefit from your marriage! :o)
Did you decide not to goto school?

Also, I am not sure how that will work, but it might be a long wait until you can take a vacation. How long is it until June 2005?
And you call yourself a grammer Nazi. :spank:

[StellaBlue]

39. No, I am not desperate at all.

haha - June 2006, obviously... the years just fly by after age 16 or so... :)

I am in fact going back to school next semester, provided I get some federal aid.

And why would you have to pay for a spouse? That's so nineteenth century. ha

[Raksha]

35. Yes, I'm living on the edge.

That's just been the story of my life since I lost my house to foreclosure seven years ago. I don't feel like going into the details right now, because once I get started I'll never stop, and I'm too tired for that at the moment. Maybe tomorrow.

[Blue_Tires]

37. not scared

but hurting, broke, and unemployed

[blues90]

40. I guess it's buy a tent time

you know just in case , it is a portable way to go if all turns to complete shit . I would go the trailer route if I had something big enough to tow one or have someone tow it to a open land area and just live off plant life . at this point I don;t know if I care as long as it is worm enough to survive and let the rest of the population live in some false hope of getting out of this . I have not much interest in any sort of hopeless job working just to keep what . It will be just a life of constant stuggle going nowhere and helping some rapist landlord with funding .

Maybe this is where a new life begins and the old one dies , I don;t have that many years to go before I am too old to care .

[ComerPerro]

41. I am terrified, and my fiancee and I haven't even finished school yet

We are gonna be VERY, VERY deep in debt when we get out...

[DearAbby]

42. you are not alone

:hug:

[judaspriestess]

43. I was doing good until Jan of this year

when I got laid off after six months of employment. Then it turns out I had an issue come up with my credit at the same time and I could not find a job for months because companies are checking credit and judging my credit at the moment not the history which was perfect before then. I lost all my savings which was about 7 months worth. I have my home, a rental I lose money on and we have a house in Arizona but fortunatley I don't lose money on that home right now. I fell behind on my mortgage, lost my 2005 Cadillac and all my credit cards. I had to file a ch. 13 BK to save my home. I'm slowly recovering and I'm not scared at all. I have grieved tremondously over my credit which used to be perfect but ya know, credit can be rebuilt and thats the way I'm approaching this. The phoenix will rise from the ashes is the way I feel.