How are people who cannot find work in the current economy able to make ends meet financially? (job interviews, fund)

[s1alker]

I had a friend who sold drugs to pay for his 4 years of college. Quite a few working class people in my neighborhood deal weed on the side.

[CrowGirl]

My husband and I are assisting about 6 family members in some way shape or form. One is retired living on a small fixed income, 2 are unemployed, one is employed but not able to make ends meet, one is in school and one is a child. From my own experience I see a lot of redistribution on a very micro-level. On one hand we are fortunate that between us all we can make it. On the other hand I realize how tremendously tenuous the whole structure is because if I were to lose my job it would mean about 8 people end up not being able to make the proverbial ends meet.

[andywire]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

My husband and I are assisting about 6 family members in some way shape or form. One is retired living on a small fixed income, 2 are unemployed, one is employed but not able to make ends meet, one is in school and one is a child. From my own experience I see a lot of redistribution on a very micro-level. On one hand we are fortunate that between us all we can make it. On the other hand I realize how tremendously tenuous the whole structure is because if I were to lose my job it would mean about 8 people end up not being able to make the proverbial ends meet.

I've seen the same thing going on. I have a relative who has 3 children, and their parents are paying almost all the bills. The only other form of assistance is food subsidies and medicaid. Worse yet, the supporting family is living on savings and a pension. Luckily, it is a very good pension, but it's the pension that they've worked all their lives to earn. This wasn't exactly how they envisioned utilizing it.

[The Shepherd]

Originally Posted by andywire

I've seen the same thing going on. I have a relative who has 3 children, and their parents are paying almost all the bills. The only other form of assistance is food subsidies and medicaid. Worse yet, the supporting family is living on savings and a pension. Luckily, it is a very good pension, but it's the pension that they've worked all their lives to earn. This wasn't exactly how they envisioned utilizing it.

Same here. I have family who are literally living on this kind of help (and all of it is coming from retired and increasingly sickly elderly relatives). None of them seem willing to improve their situations. I call it the stray cat syndrome. They are so use to getting that free food (in this case money and various forms of private and public assistance) that they don't even try to help themselves. I wonder if they worry as much as me about what will happen to them when these helpful relatives are no longer around. I think it's ok to help those who need it but not to the point where they are dependent on it for their own survival, especially if it's taking resources out of your own pocket, resources that can be used towards your own self improvement, ease of living, or retirement.

[marilyn220]

Originally Posted by YaFace

If something is not happening, and only you think it is, and it is ACTUALLY NOT HAPPENING. Then it is actually not happening. That's all I want people to realize.

But it IS happening.

And right in YOUR neighborhood too, sweetie.

I'm dying laughing here, because you really can't wrap your head around STRAIGHT MEN SELLING THEMSELVES TO OTHER MEN FOR CASH to pay bills and help their families out. Lol

Oh, and don't be naive to think just because one or two soccer moms get caught selling sex that they're the only ones in the neighborhood doing it. They're just the ones who got found out. Soccer moms with husbands that KNOW or procuring clients for them is happening all over good old SUBURBIA, dearie. Your next door neighbor could be doing it right now.

[Jesse69]

Why would a straight man prostitute himself to a guy? He can prostitute himself to women, instead. I was insulted at a Barnes & Noble, someone called me a prostitute, then the woman sitting next to me said she'd buy me... But I'm not a prostitute. I've heard of gay for pay porn stars, though.

I've been unemployed 5+ years now, and I get by because of my $1154 monthly SSDI and my Parent's $7000 pension pays the bills, house repairs, and property taxes.

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by YaFace

What you people have posted are incidents of chicks selling themselves, once “going back" to prostitution, indicative of her being a horror (mispelled intentionally) before. I never denied that people have sold prescription drugs to make ends meet, or the occasional chick sold herself. What I took issue with is what Marylin said about (quote) MANY suburban prostitution rings with husband pimps, and MANY guys going “gay for pay" because of the economy. This simply is not happening, and people seem to go forward with examples that aren't really disputed.

I don't know if it happens, but I sure hope that most people are not that depraved. I know someone will probably come along and say that I can't really know this, but yes I really can know this. I know MY husband would never do that. Never. I can't speak for people I don't know as well, but I know my husband wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do it, either.

If worse came to worst, we would take money out of 401k to pay off the house (it's almost paid off) and would pay only the necessary things - utilities and food - and car and insurance as long as we could so we could get to work if we did find a job. If you have to stop paying on credit cards, etc., then you do what you have to do. It will ruin your credit, and they can sue you, but they can't take your house. If you are in survival mode, you only worry about the basics.

[myrc60]

Originally Posted by Ted Bear

You spend your savings.

Then you max out your credit cars.

You sign up for food stamps and any/every imaginable sort of government assistance.

You cash in your retirement plans.

You borrow from family and friends.

You sell anything which will generate any money....$2.00 for a used baseball bat; $1.00 for a used gasoline can; $10.00 for a wedding ring.

You scrounge bottles and cans and you return them for the deposit.

You find a temporary part-time day laborer job which has six hours of work a week.

You apply for Social Security.

You visit the local food pantry.

You get a couple of meals each week from the soup kitchen at your local church.

You get through one day at a time. Today I 'made' five dollars, and that bought meals for my family. Tomorrow if I can raise $7.00 I can buy a bag of potatoes and that will be three days worth of meals.

There is no next week, or next month. You do what you have to do in order to get through today. All that crap that you thought you needed? You don't. What I wouldn't give for a warm shower.

And then a miracle happens. You find some/any employment, or you die. Either way, the pain is gone. It doesn't matter.

This! Yes, one day at a time! You use the car less so that the repair bill comes later rather than sooner!

Originally Posted by Wartrace

I think a lot of people have taken the social security disability route. (the numbers support my theory)
Disabled-worker statistics

I have a neighbor that is on it after losing his job in his late 50's. I think a lot of "disposable" older workers are getting on disability because nobody will hire them.

Yes, they do take into account age and the likelihood of someone finding a job when there are extenuating health problems. Hubby got approved in this manner. Employers want employees that show up every single day. When you are sick, that isn't always possible and the likelihood of finding a sympathetic employer in these times are very low. SSDI realizes this and does approve people that might be looked over by employers when they have serious health issues.

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

I know someone who is doing this also. He took off work for "stress" due to a very abusive boss on short term then long term disability and his company let him go. Now he is applying for SSDI. He was denied the first time. Now asbergers has been added to his diagnosis. Since he has worked all his life (even with the recently "discovered" asbergers apparently, does he really have a chance of being accepted? I find it all to have doubtful chances to be honest with you and I'm worried about him spending all his savings on living expenses now and still not getting accepted in the end. In reality I think his real problem is there are few jobs out there for him and he will not get a good reference from the last job even if he can find a new job, not that his mental state is so bad he cannot work anywhere.

I notice you say your neighbor is on it and you think a lot of older workers are on it simply because they cannot find a job. Does that mean Social Security accepts everybody that cannot find a job when they are older? Is it easy to get on it if you keep on trying, particularly if you are older?

No, they do not accept everybody (older workers) that cannot find a job. There has to be some health issues preventing the person from seeking gainful employment.

[CravingMountains]

I had a good friend that helped me out during my chronic unemployment back in 2011 and 2012. Gave me a place to live and fed me. I know a lot of people that had to move in with friends or their parents.

[CravingMountains]

Originally Posted by YaFace

What you people have posted are incidents of chicks selling themselves, once “going back" to prostitution, indicative of her being a horror (mispelled intentionally) before. I never denied that people have sold prescription drugs to make ends meet, or the occasional chick sold herself. What I took issue with is what Marylin said about (quote) MANY suburban prostitution rings with husband pimps, and MANY guys going “gay for pay" because of the economy. This simply is not happening, and people seem to go forward with examples that aren't really disputed.

I do know several gay for pay men. They are definitely there and it is definitely increasing in prevalence with the more accepting attitudes towards sexuality in today's world.

I used to work in gay bars though. You meet those types of people there. I wouldn't have been in that industry either if the economy had other opportunities for me.