First, I would like to let everyone know that I am on vacation this week. I intend to post as usual but don’t want to promise anything only to disappoint anyone. I am currently in Savannah, Georgia on my way to Orlando (NOT going to Disney), Fort Lauderdale, and Naples. We plan to return on Tuesday of next week, but could possibly stay longer since we aren’t under any real time constraints.
Now that is out of the way, I would like to discuss a readers question that I have been wanting to respond to for a while now. After reading, MYTH: I Don’t Make Enough To Do A Total Money Makeover, AJ had this to say:
“Ok. This is all very inspiring and I’ve done a lot of reading, but this is a different economy. My income is currently zero dollars and I have been unable to land a job. This is a whole new ballgame. I don’t know how to integrate this plan into my life because there is actually no money to manage. At all. I understand all of the concepts, but I’m going without health care, I don’t go out, I’ll soon lose internet as well. What am I supposed to do? I know there have to be others like me. It’s so hard to keep in good spirits right now, though I am trying. Where can I start if my income is nothing?“
That post was intended for those who walk around making excuses, not for someone like AJ, who found himself unemployed and struggling to make ends meat. You see AJ’s problem is not really a money management crisis as much as it is an income crisis. He needs an income to manage, which makes his situation much different. He doesn’t (yet) need a Total Money Makeover, he needs work.
I know how AJ feels because I was in his shoes once myself. At the time I was unemployed for 3 months, and almost found myself evicted. I would definitely refer to that moment in my life as rock bottom. I felt defeated, lost the desire to keep trying, and almost gave up. I pointed fingers, placed blame, and ended up in a deep depression. I would love to say that I eventually woke up, took charge all by myself, and decided to take the bull by the horns—but that’s not how it happened. My then good friend, but now beautiful wife Alana, was who pulled me out of my funk. It was a good thing too because there was no telling where I would have ended up. It was really quite beautiful since she looked at me at my worst and saw something worth sticking around for. Maybe now you understand why I married her—she is a diamond in the rough.
So as my wife encouraged me, I want to encourage you. Don’t give up AJ, there is always a way! You are going to get through this and you are going to be stronger because of it, but you must push through it. I am not sure what type of career field you are in but I do know that even if there is not a job in that same field, there is something somewhere that will at least help you move forward. For me, things changed after I decided to check out a local temp agency. I was placed in a temp job at a Technicolor plant examining the quality of CD’s and DVD’s. It didn’t pay much but it did help me make enough to keep the landlord happy until I could find more permanent employment.
I then was told about an opening at a local pizza joint delivering pizzas. This was when I realized things were looking up and that I was going to be okay. I took the job and resolved my income crisis within months. I made so much money that when I decided to no longer resurface concrete a couple of years later, I went back to delivering pizzas. Ever thought about delivering pizzas AJ? I know it might not be your dream job, but you can turn things around until there is a better opportunity. This post comes at the right moment too because just last night—in about 10 hours—I made $268 in tips alone on about 51 deliveries.
Here’s the best part. Pizza places have massive turnover rates so getting hired shouldn’t be a problem at all. I know the Papa John’s I work for hires very frequently, and you do not have to have any experience to start. You may want to look into it is all I am saying. It may not have insurance but it will give you quick cash to help you now. So to answer your question—find a way to fix your income crisis before you worry about your money crisis. Do whatever it takes even if it means working 3 jobs.
Read: 48 days To The Work You Love AND/OR No More Mondays by Dan Miller. (I wish I would have known about these books when I was dealing with unemployment.)
Find work: You are going to have to be a working machine by putting in as many hours as you can handle. (I worked at a temp service, and started delivering pizzas.)
Catch up: Once you start bringing in some income, come up with a repayment plan to get caught back up. (I stayed in contact with my landlord, and always made sure he knew my intentions. He worked with me and eventually I caught up.)
Then…
Start A Total Money Makeover – Now you are ready to address the financial management aspect of your life. You can now start your Total Money Makeover, or read Enemy of Debt to learn how to do exactly that.
I am rooting for you AJ, and I hope you have already figured things out. But if you have not i would encourage you to think outside of the box, refuse to give up, and remember that when one door closes another one opens. Just because you cannot see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Keep looking! Good luck AJ!!!
This is a “real talk” post. There are so many people finding themselves where AJ is…at nothing. I get emails from individuals in that very predicament daily. Now is the time to think outside the box and consider the option of going to school and applying for every position possible including volunteering. When I moved to a city 800 miles away with 3 children and a fresh divorce, I was in that very boat. No job, no car, no furniture, nothing. I survived off a meager tax return and hit the ground. 1) Go to your local unemployment office and get your resume reviewed/updated 2) Apply EVERYWHERE 3) Leverage every relationship/family member/friendship/etc. and be sure that they are aware of your situation 4) Consider starting a business/going to school 5) Sell what you can
How about starting your own business? With an automatic residual income business you can start with as little as $40 per month. You don’t need a website, autoresponders, SEO or anything. Just sign-up and when you can add as little as $25 you’ll be able to grow even faster. The system will help you grow, but you don’t need to work the system just stay connected to it. I made a profit my first month and since it’s residual I should enjoy my first months results over and over again as more people come into the system.
AJ is in a tough spot, but I think you have sent him in the right direction with your comprehensive answer, Brad.
And have fun on vacation!
Great words Brad, talk about needing encouragement when times are hard. I think most of us have a story like this. To Aj I also say hang in there!! When I started tmmo I also had no income but I was blessed to have help from a church. The networking in the classes are amazing, people started businesses from tmmo class, and those who had jobs already knew where extra jobs were needed. So keep the faith and don’t give up because God is going to pick you up!
I’m with Tina, you need to apply EVERYWHERE. The local Wal-mart, McBurgerWoppers, Hardware stores, etc… You still need to spend a little time looking online and other media for a job in your field, but spending hours and hours doing so will not help much. You need to beat on as many doors as possible to make some cash now.
I know working in these places may not be the greatest thing ever. I’m a manager at one of the big three auto companies and I deliver pizzas on the weekends (like Brad.) If you still have a car, it’s a great way to make some quick cash. I look forward to delivering pizzas a hell of lot more that going to my day job.
Don’t give up!!! There is light out there. You just need to beat feet and find it. Nobody but you can do this. There are no bailouts for us, we have to make our own through persistence and hard work. Once you start to get a foot hold out there, let us know (Brad, Tina, Robert, Dustin, and myself) We can point you in the right direction to kick some personal finance butt.
Best of luck, DON’T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brad – GREAT post man. You and Jeff are very inspirational in your pizza delivering journey.
$250/night just in tips is huge! What’s the hourly rate too? The great thing is, I’m assuming all the tips is cash, so you know what that means! VEGAS! j/k 🙂
I might have to start delivering pizzas too. What do you think the gas & wear and tear cost is for you to make the $250?
Thnx
Your advice is spot on. When you’re without a job, you get income by whatever means necessary. I cut tomatoes and cooked burgers with a college degree…not because I liked it, because it paid my bills.
The core of this post rings so true: TAKE ACTION
My dad was/is in a similar situation. He now hands out samples at Costco. I wrote about his story in my blog just this week
This happens to so many people that for some reason can’t get around the fact that a job is better than no job, even if it’s not the ideal place they would like to work. There is absolutely nothing wrong with delivering pizzas, being a cashier, waiting tables, and etc. (some of which I’ve done myself). When you have no income and are having problems finding a job you have to look outside the box. Also, seasonal work is a lot easier to find this time of year as well. Perhaps there is a Christmas tree farm or seasonal store that needs extra employees for a little while.
This is good advice – and I would never have thought of suggesting pizza delivery. But then, I’m in the UK and would wager the tips aren’t nearly so generous!
I find myself in a situation and don’t know what to do. I’m disabled, so returning to work isn’t likely. For the disability assessment, I scored 56 points: to qualify for the benefit, you need to get 15! Yet, the disability is such that I’m still able to walk around, so I don’t qualify for many of the benefits. The benefit I do get is just above the “breadline” and so I don’t qualify for most of the hardship funds – even though most of that extra is deducted from one of my housing benefit, which is means tested.
My benefits amount to about £5k, not counting housing benefit, and I need to pay some of my own rent and local taxes. The £5k has to cover all my bills. Despite this, ONE of my credit cards has a £9k limit! Another has £4k and I’ve two or three at £1-1.5k. These are LIMITS, not balances.
A VERY good friend recently lent me £10k – at 5% interest: it’s more than he can get in savings, even tied-up savings, and far less than I’m paying so it works for both of us. There is still some credit card debt! Some is on a life of balance card at 6.9% and some at 13.9% – which I’m currently moving at 3% for about 9 months’ interest-free. I’ve also just under a year to run on an interest-free loan that was provided by a charity in order I could get together a deposit for my flat (apartment).
I’m glad to say, everything is up to date – but every month the outgoings are more than the income. Some of this is due to there being double interest the last few months (because overdraft and credit cards charge in arrears, but I needed to pay my friend up front). Some is due to there always being something extra – eg my bicycle was damaged beyond repair in an attempt to steal it (yes, I don’t have a car).
Any ideas anyone? Before you suggest a desk job, that’s what I did before the disability prevented it!