Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - 90-year-old shot herself

mixedsubstance · 10-07-2008, 12:56 PM

Wow, now that's just getting bad- people killing themselves and others because of what is going on with the economy. I just read an article in our local paper yesterday about private loan companies such as Sallie Mae (student loans), where they are hiking up so much interest in the loans, that students and such are paying more than originally planned- and their payments are outrageous. I am thankful that I have no one to help me on the small chunk that I could have financed by a private student loan by Sallie Mae, cuz it sounds like I would be screwed. But then, most private loan companies are being very very selective on who can get loans now, too. And a news story on Countrywide helping out homeowners who have been paying way more than they should have so that they could keep their homes and avoid foreclosure. My brother and his family have their house up for sale that they bought 5 years ago just because they just can't afford the payments anymore. It's so sad. He's been unemployed for over a year until just recently he finally got a job he loves, but is only making as much as their mortgage payment. They came so close to foreclosure as well.

I am honestly scared myself- I've come to a point in my life where I am depressed because I've been doing the same thing for over 10 years now, sitting in front of a computer, doing people favors that I just don't care about, and not getting anywhere. Same goes for my boyfriend, who is a bartender. Well, my goal was to begin Massage School come Jan. 09 but I just got laid off. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me in the past couple of years, and though i have so much admin/clerical experience, the job hunt is exhausting and it has taken me months before to get a job. So I just decided- hell with it, I'm going to college now so I can start making good money in a high-demand job and have many different opportunities with my career knowledge to expand and do what I love and support my son. So I've filed for Unemployment and let them know I'm going to college FT (8am-12:30pm M-F) and have to pick up my son by 6pm everyday. So I thought- and calculated- and if I were to even FIND an employer that could accept my availability of only 4 hrs/day, 5 days/wk, I would make the same (if not less) than being on Unemployment, plus going to school and having a job, I would have little time to study AND spend time with my son. So I am jumping through that hoop. They have a Commissioner Approved Training benefits program, which would allow me to keep getting Unemployment Benefits if I am attending FT school. BUT- I have to wait probably 4-5 weeks before I hear anything from them or get any benefits. I will fight this if they don't accept my situation, though. But they should, i just think it sucks that I have to wait.
On top of all of this, my boyfriend just recently got laid off at one of his jobs, so now is down to 2 shifts at his other job. He also just enrolled back into Medical School- this all happened at the same time for the both of us. And I wouldn't recommend him getting anything else unless he could find somewhere that would allow him to work 1 extra day/week- because he's dealing with an ulcer and I don't want him to get overstressed.
So we're in a tough position- I am taking a voluntary step, and I know it's a risk, but I feel that I would be more content with less money, more time for my son, and reaching my goal. I'll be done in a year, and pretty much, so will my boyfriend. So I think- ya, we can do it, we can make ends meet- we've done it before....but not like this. I am just scared that one of us will break down, or one if not both of us will get depressed and we will fight. But I've told him- and I will keep reminding us both, that we've gotten through tough times before- we can do this. And we need to be there for each other and not let the financial struggle get to us. It's about working together and supporting each other. I would never let it get as far as hurting myself or others. I care about my son and the ones I love too much.

10-07-2008, 12:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
mixedsubstance Crazy Location: Where the wild things are.	Wow, now that's just getting bad- people killing themselves and others because of what is going on with the economy. I just read an article in our local paper yesterday about private loan companies such as Sallie Mae (student loans), where they are hiking up so much interest in the loans, that students and such are paying more than originally planned- and their payments are outrageous. I am thankful that I have no one to help me on the small chunk that I could have financed by a private student loan by Sallie Mae, cuz it sounds like I would be screwed. But then, most private loan companies are being very very selective on who can get loans now, too. And a news story on Countrywide helping out homeowners who have been paying way more than they should have so that they could keep their homes and avoid foreclosure. My brother and his family have their house up for sale that they bought 5 years ago just because they just can't afford the payments anymore. It's so sad. He's been unemployed for over a year until just recently he finally got a job he loves, but is only making as much as their mortgage payment. They came so close to foreclosure as well. I am honestly scared myself- I've come to a point in my life where I am depressed because I've been doing the same thing for over 10 years now, sitting in front of a computer, doing people favors that I just don't care about, and not getting anywhere. Same goes for my boyfriend, who is a bartender. Well, my goal was to begin Massage School come Jan. 09 but I just got laid off. This is the 2nd time this has happened to me in the past couple of years, and though i have so much admin/clerical experience, the job hunt is exhausting and it has taken me months before to get a job. So I just decided- hell with it, I'm going to college now so I can start making good money in a high-demand job and have many different opportunities with my career knowledge to expand and do what I love and support my son. So I've filed for Unemployment and let them know I'm going to college FT (8am-12:30pm M-F) and have to pick up my son by 6pm everyday. So I thought- and calculated- and if I were to even FIND an employer that could accept my availability of only 4 hrs/day, 5 days/wk, I would make the same (if not less) than being on Unemployment, plus going to school and having a job, I would have little time to study AND spend time with my son. So I am jumping through that hoop. They have a Commissioner Approved Training benefits program, which would allow me to keep getting Unemployment Benefits if I am attending FT school. BUT- I have to wait probably 4-5 weeks before I hear anything from them or get any benefits. I will fight this if they don't accept my situation, though. But they should, i just think it sucks that I have to wait. On top of all of this, my boyfriend just recently got laid off at one of his jobs, so now is down to 2 shifts at his other job. He also just enrolled back into Medical School- this all happened at the same time for the both of us. And I wouldn't recommend him getting anything else unless he could find somewhere that would allow him to work 1 extra day/week- because he's dealing with an ulcer and I don't want him to get overstressed. So we're in a tough position- I am taking a voluntary step, and I know it's a risk, but I feel that I would be more content with less money, more time for my son, and reaching my goal. I'll be done in a year, and pretty much, so will my boyfriend. So I think- ya, we can do it, we can make ends meet- we've done it before....but not like this. I am just scared that one of us will break down, or one if not both of us will get depressed and we will fight. But I've told him- and I will keep reminding us both, that we've gotten through tough times before- we can do this. And we need to be there for each other and not let the financial struggle get to us. It's about working together and supporting each other. I would never let it get as far as hurting myself or others. I care about my son and the ones I love too much. __________________ Well, isn't that just kick-you-in-the-crotch, spit-on-your-neck fantastic?!? Without energy, there would be nothing. Last edited by mixedsubstance; 10-07-2008 at 01:23 PM..