Last cry for help. (insurance, credit card, buy)

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by 8.00 per hour

Alright, I'm pretty much at the end of my rope. I've done the right thing family wise by saying close to my family (my mother) and by staying with my girlfriend but I'm depressed and I'm pretty much just given up hope.

Those of you who know who I am know my situation but those that don't well I will explain it.

I'm between a rock and a hard spot. I am 34 (I'm grown) and I made a couple errors in my life. One error was a choice of education, I went to a known scam called Mod deleted, I owe about 26,000 and I can't even find full time work in the (Information Technology) I.T field.

I know what you're thinking, why do I.T in Florida?, good question and honestly I was a idiot and didn't know any better. Anyway, I'm currently working as a Voter System Technician for the city of Broward, I will be in charge of the upkeep of the voting machines.

I make 13.50 but this job ends on the 24th.

Then I'm unemployed again....

Anyways, I would really like some advice how to better this situation, my main issue is stable employment. I can never make a decent salary (over 25k a year to save my life). Pathetic for a grown 34 year old man? Of course... Am I trying to improve it? Yes.... Is it possible? Honestly I really cannot tell you.

I'm a only child, my mother is trying to pay off her house to give to me so I can have something. I will feel bad leaving her here and her massive $11.50 per hour salary as she tries to juggle her $1400 mortgage and her $500 dollar car note (almost paid off, 2 payments to go) but damn I am depressed, I feel like just giving up.

My girlfriend is a good girl (25) and lives at home but she's not the type to assist me at all. She won't move in with a man unless she's married to him so she's not much assistance. So I'm pretty much stuck in a dead end situation.

I can't find a job, girlfriend isn't much help, mom is struggling and needs help, also believes family should stick together but I'm too damn depressed to think right, I need to get something going and nothing changes.

Any advice? Links for section 8? Welfare or whatever that can bring some type of change?

The government doesn't consider me disabled unless I'm over 55 even though I have a speech impediment, they say I'm healthy enough to work.

So what should I do? I really want to get somewhere I can get something going on? Anything.... apartment or something to bring a smile on my face.... I am beyond frustrated.

What exactly did you study in the I.T. field? Desktop support, network engineering, system administration or what?

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by AnywherebutSouthFL

People, I wouldn't get all worked up about this. This person has been posting the same spiel, with varying details, for the last year + that I know of...probably a lot longer. Sometimes its the mother kicking him out, can't take it anymore, can't find good pay, asks about sec 8 blah blah blah. I don't know what his deal is, likes to read sympathy replies? I don't know but I've read people give him sound advice time and time again and he does nothing put complain and ask for more help.

Bottom line is buddy, you are trying to live in an expensive area of the U.S. There is more than enough assistance out there if you want it but you need to suck it up, do the hard work and follow through. Get a second job, save for school then take classes at night and work your way up the economic ladder like most people.

Well, not to discuss the OP while he's at church, but aren't you a little black and white about the whole thing? I took a curiosity about it because he keeps posting for suggestions. You could just ignore him if you think he's just a big old baby with a speech impediment and Sickle Cell.

He already posted a year ago he has a depression syndrome. I read his back posts he's trying to do SOMETHING. He also admits being a mommas boy and I think it's sweet and certainly not something to be mocked for. Alot of moms would appreciate a decent son.

I think the guy has tried to do the best he could with virtually no guidance. There are several people in the world with no role models, guidance, etc. Even this guy seems to have attended a perfectly worthless "school" for quite some time that hasn't gotten him anywhere. I know several people like that. Went to heavy eqptmt operator school for example and then the union wouldnt even take them, clueless. He's posted good advise to newcomers and tried to contribute back.

Here's a previous post by him. I don't think he's making it up but my conscience is clear that I tried to help somebody's child who's lost and needing some common direction. Even if it is about what to wear to get a job. He apparently thought as do many people, that a certificate type program was a "degree". SEE? No guidance or experience.

"I was planning on moving to Dallas, TX at the end of July. I'm getting my A+ and N+ certification as we speak. I know Fla isn't a IT hotbed at all so I was considering moving to TX....

As far as going back to school, I'm 32 and I owe 30k for my 2 year degree already from Keiser College. FIU and FAU won't accept my A.S degree so I will most likely have to redue another 4 year degree and I won't finish till I'm probably 36-37 years old."

8.00 per hour, you go get yourself some social services help even for depression and keep knocking on doors. Once you get in a LARGER company, if you do your job and act right you can work your way up and have a career with that company. Even if you have to start in the mailroom so to speak. Also, some larger companies pay college tuition for employees. You seem to not be against education and the tremendous time it takes to complete it, so if you like school, maybe start finding what companies will pay tuition as a benefit. Bell South does. They are hiring on their website but you have to be able to carry the ladder and climb the pole so I didn't mention it. .....But they have other jobs too....ALSO, maybe a social service organization can use the speech thing or the Sickle Cell to get you in an employment program. Added: investigate hospital jobs, too)

(and get somebody who knows about it to check your resume and also get letters of recommendation from your jobs)

[like2fish]

how about fed-ex? ups? etc... some of those ppl make good money. i actually looked into fed-ex or ups during college. the pay was good, even to start ... and then once you are there for like 6 months or more, you can really start to earn some serious buckage.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by like2fish

how about fed-ex? ups? etc... some of those ppl make good money. i actually looked into fed-ex or ups during college. the pay was good, even to start ... and then once you are there for like 6 months or more, you can really start to earn some serious buckage.

Yeah and did you notice those UPS guys are alway happy delivering the packages not a care in the world. Mine are always really cheerful and making jokes and stuff................

[Jara]

Hi, 8.00 per.hr.

I'd go to the closest vocational center in your area, and talk with a guidance counselor. Tell them all the education you have in the IT field. Be honest and forthright about being laid off, and your efforts of finding another job. Find out what government programs (computer science) they have that you could participate in and most of all ask if you could see there job listings. They do have job listings but think that they are for students only, not sure but do ask about it. Can you repair computers? I'd try the Geek Squad at Best Buy, or place a listing in the newspaper of what you can do. An ad and a phone is about all you need. One poster mentioned Craig's List. Thats a good place, it sure helped my oldest boy, he was axed from his job with the auto industry in Michigan. You can buy computer parts, clean them and sell them on Craig's list. It's something to tied you over until you get settled.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

Yeah and did you notice those UPS guys are alway happy delivering the packages not a care in the world. Mine are always really cheerful and making jokes and stuff................

UPS is one of the most savage companies you will ever work for. I worked there for many years in a I.T. capacity. Also had friends who worked the trucks and a few driver friends. At least that's how it is down here. I heard its not as bad in other locations. Lady I work with now was a programmer at U.P.S. and her hatred for them surpass mine and I HATE that place. Fed Ex isn't so bad from what I hear though.

[Staykay]

Originally Posted by Edison Winter

Well first off. I hope your not suicidal. If you are you need to call one of those hotlines or go to the ER. Hopefully the moderator who edited your post because he was so concerned about "possible libel" also took the time to DM you and ask are you ok and if your suicidal, because again if you are go to your nearest ER and speak to them.

If your just bummed out about low pay I may have a solution for you.

Broward Sherriffs office is always hiring for Detention Sheriff aka Jail Guard. They make around 32k or more to start.

How bout that?

I agree-- If there is one field that is growing in south Florida it's Corrections. I happen to know this because a friend is thinking of applying-----they start at 38K, the same as a 1st year teacher in Broward County Schools. ALSO, they pay you while you are in the academy, so you are earning money from day-one.

[runswithscissors]

The OP is not alone. Here's an interesting study from 2005 provided by DailyJournalist on another thread about Florida's working poor.

http://www.risep-fiu.org/reports/Wor...sInFlorida.pdf

[like2fish]

i dunno about their It ppl, i was thinking more along the lines of delivery drivers, etc... i think they make like $50k'ish or so...

[Wild Style]

^^

runwith

another great post! Couldn't give you any more rep though until I spread some.

Originally Posted by like2fish

i dunno about their It ppl, i was thinking more along the lines of delivery drivers, etc... i think they make like $50k'ish or so...

Two stories from two different drivers I knew.

1. one was sick as heck. I think he had a bad flu and could hardly concentrate. He calls in and says he cant drive. His boss demands he comes in or he will write him up. The guy comes in, drives and ends up getting into a accident because he was out of his wits. He got fired two days later for that accident

2. Another guy was moving one of the semi trucks and kept complaining that one of the doors wasn't wide enough to easily get the truck in and out of the building. They told him it wasnt that serious. Well one day he swung a little to wide and hit the side of the building (the same one he told them to widen). He got written and and threatened with losing his job.

These are just two of the hundreds of stories I have about that place. I honestly wouldnt wish UPS on my WORST enemy.

With that said, if you have to do what you have to do then go for it. But it should be like on the bottom of your list. It should rank just before selling yourself and living on the street.