[8.00 per hour]

Alright, I'm already known on the Florida forum as the "loser guy" and that's fine by me. Anyways, I really do need a place to live, I have constant depression about my situation and my good ole mother wants me out, asap.

Anyways, my lovely girlfriend of 11 months is supportive of me but I need more than support, honestly I need money, I was planning on telling her the news of me leaving her to go back to Texas to stay with my friend(who has 5 kids). He's the only one I can turn too in a time like this and he knows how I feel as a man.

Granted, I will never blame anyone for how I turned out since that's my own fault and lack of preparation but I honestly see no reason why a grown man cannot make a little income to take care of hisself, I really see no point in these 8 and 9 dollar per hour jobs that do little to nothing to really help someone out.

I'm on food stamps, I get 160 a month but if I work and make more than 1132 a month, they take away the food stamps, seriously where can I live off on 1132 a month?

Anyway if you have any advice, web pages, assistance programs, links, doctors (lol) or whatever you can find that will be of assistance please do so. I'm calling up my friend in TX tonight at work and I will be putting in my 2 week notice at my job very soon.

[LM1]

Look pal. There is no right answer to your question.
Here you are in the lower economic strata (most likely as a result of your own lifes decisions) and making a voluntary choice to live in a state with sky-high living expenses and near 3rd world wages.

If there ever has been a time to take a little responsibility for your own destiny, it would probably be now- get the hell out of Florida. Go to school. Learn a trade. Do something to better your own condition, but really, it all starts with leaving FL.
The economy of this state 'is what it is'. It just isn't for people like you.

Whether you're a loser or not, I don't know. What I do know is that this country places way, way too much emphasis on money and materialism and sometimes, otherwise good, hard working people who might be a little bit 'bohemian' think they're losers because they're not living in a gated community and driving a Hummer. You might truly be a loser, you might not be. None of us know that for sure... What most of us DO understand and sympathize with is that over the past decade, the cost of living in FL has dramatically outstripped the wages and unless you happen to work in a very narrow selection of high paying service industries (or have a fortunate corporate gig), you can find yourself in a very bad way by staying in this state for too long.

Lean how to manage your finances (seriously- It's usually 90% of the problem with people in your present fiscal condition- abject financial illiteracy and poor self control). Where can you live off $1100 a month? I know a couple single mothers doing just that and feeding kids to boot. Unlike you, they aren't on foodstamps or welfare of any kind, so yes, Virginia, it can be done. It isn't easy, but it's doable.
Do whatever it takes to leave FL. From there, you can build your life upwards. If you stay here, you will never, ever get ahead and quite likely may sink.

Whatever you choose, I wish you the best.

[bdpop]

Do you have a college degree? If not, why don't you try to go back to college and get a degree, like I am doing. There are many grants you can get if you are low income to help with tuition. It will be well worth it in the end.

[sunrico90]

Originally Posted by 8.00 per hour

Alright, I'm already known on the Florida forum as the "loser guy" and that's fine by me. Anyways, I really do need a place to live, I have constant depression about my situation and my good ole mother wants me out, asap.

Anyways, my lovely girlfriend of 11 months is supportive of me but I need more than support, honestly I need money, I was planning on telling her the news of me leaving her to go back to Texas to stay with my friend(who has 5 kids). He's the only one I can turn too in a time like this and he knows how I feel as a man.

Granted, I will never blame anyone for how I turned out since that's my own fault and lack of preparation but I honestly see no reason why a grown man cannot make a little income to take care of hisself, I really see no point in these 8 and 9 dollar per hour jobs that do little to nothing to really help someone out.

I'm on food stamps, I get 160 a month but if I work and make more than 1132 a month, they take away the food stamps, seriously where can I live off on 1132 a month?

Anyway if you have any advice, web pages, assistance programs, links, doctors (lol) or whatever you can find that will be of assistance please do so. I'm calling up my friend in TX tonight at work and I will be putting in my 2 week notice at my job very soon.

You need to make decisions. You stay here or you go someplace else.

If you stay you might have to work 2 or 3 jobs and stop your food stamps. Maybe relocation someplace else within the state. What is your trait? Education? what is your 2nd trait?

[8.00 per hour]

I have a AS degree and I have about $4500 worth of credit card bills and about 25000 worth of school loans. My degree is from a suspect school called Keiser University. I have no experience in the field and I graduated quite a little while ago....

I'm with Workforce One but the wages aren't enough to live off of but they're helping me or at least trying to.

I have to leave to go to work, will respond later.

[Jammie]

You AREN'T a loser. You're a human being who's just down on his luck. You're looking at your options and hopefully things will work out for you. Maybe moving to Texas would be a good idea, but like Sunrico already said, you may have to work more then one job for the time being.

Not sure if this would be feasible for you, but Wyo. and Montana have an extremely low unemployment rate and are begging for workers. Just something to consider checking in to.

No one is here to judge your worth. I think you are extremely brave to put yourself out there like you are and ask for suggestions so you can improve things in your life.

[Carbondated]

Jammie is right. Keep your chin up. Don't pay attention to the critics who will tell you, "you made bad decisions, that is why you're where you are, tough luck and so on..."
Those responses are from people who like to criticize in order to make themselves feel better about their position in life. Those types of people are empty and hollow on the inside.
There are tons of people in a similar position to you. My husband and I are more than likely leaving Florida in the spring. We don't see things changing here in SWFL for the better. There are no new businesses and our county is about to layoff more people.
Keep your options open. Take a chance on relocating. By the sound of it, you are still young, so that can definately work in your favor.
I don't know of any assistance programs, but I'm sure if you do a little research on line you will find low fee or no fee career advisors, as well as, mental health professionals, and the like, in your area.
Best of luck to you.

[New2FL]

Originally Posted by 8.00 per hour

I have a AS degree and I have about $4500 worth of credit card bills and about 25000 worth of school loans. My degree is from a suspect school called Keiser University. I have no experience in the field and I graduated quite a little while ago....

I'm with Workforce One but the wages aren't enough to live off of but they're helping me or at least trying to.

I have to leave to go to work, will respond later.

Have you thought about doing some volunteer work? I know someone that was in the same situation and she started working volunteer at a homeless facility. Once she realized how bad some other have it, she shook it off and started working hard. I would also try seeing a credit counselor. It may help you organized the credit situation. Quitting your job may not be a wise idea.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Carbondated

Jammie is right. Keep your chin up. Don't pay attention to the critics who will tell you, "you made bad decisions, that is why you're where you are, tough luck and so on..."
Those responses are from people who like to criticize in order to make themselves feel better about their position in life. Those types of people are empty and hollow on the inside.
There are tons of people in a similar position to you. My husband and I are more than likely leaving Florida in the spring. We don't see things changing here in SWFL for the better. There are no new businesses and our county is about to layoff more people.
Keep your options open. Take a chance on relocating. By the sound of it, you are still young, so that can definately work in your favor.
I don't know of any assistance programs, but I'm sure if you do a little research on line you will find low fee or no fee career advisors, as well as, mental health professionals, and the like, in your area.
Best of luck to you.

I agree with Carbondated and Jammie in their comments. You are definitely NOT a loser, you got yourself at least a 2-year degree, and you are out there trying to get your act together, and anyone who is trying their best gets kudos from me. There happens to be a lot of "curmudgeons" on this forum who have problems themselves and project it onto others here, but you have to ignore those. I don't know what type of work you do, but the old saying goes "where there's a will there's a way" and I have seen people far worse off than you go on to achieve greatness.

I do think that all this forum can do is give you some incentive to keep at it, everything else is really up to you. I wish you the very best and remember "God helps those who help themselves."

Good luck to you!

[Floridabound09]

Losers are those who either stop trying to succeed at what you want or do or dont take advantage of the opportunities given or found in front of them.
You are trying and just posting this tells me that you do not want to stay in the spot your in.
I suggest that you look into moving to an area in or out of state that pays more money, take on a second job and get the cc bills paid and once your in a better position get back to school.
There are allot of jobs that pay more then 8.00 per hour, its looking around to find them. Wendys even pays 11.00 per hour for night shift managers in most towns.
You need a second job to help you. My opinion is that Florida is one of the best places to start your own business, do you have any outside skills or interest that can point you to starting your own business?
The window washer in Tampa I post here started his window washing business on less then 100.00 bucks and is highly successful. He was in the same position you are in less then 2 years ago.

Remember losers are those who do nothing about the current situation, you can find a way out for sure, just get to work on a plan and you will be fine.