My Somber Reality

Right now I have $10 to my name.

You can't do much with $10. You can't buy yourself much, if any, tools or supplies for a job. You won't get much out of it for transportation. It isn't going to get you a college education, and you certainly won't "buy" yourself a job training program at a community college.

It's not going to pay for a phone service, or the Internet, or even a new casual dress shirt to help you at least sort of blend in during interviews.

You won't even get a couple of resume copies printed at FedEx, and forget about medical bills.

That's the reality of being stuck so long without a job that not only have I, long ago, waved goodbye to my unemployment benefits but also my tools of the trade and general possessions, as each was eventually liquidated and lost to basic survival.

That's why I skip telling people who ask, "What do you do for a living?" that I'm unemployed and just go straight to saying, "I'm a bum."

At least with that, I may get a chuckle and avoid any talk about how I'm not trying hard enough. I've tried so hard to keep on going, I've lost nearly everything.

Try anything, even if it means collecting cans. At least that would put $10 or more in your pocket every day. The main thing is not to lose hope. As long as you got that, there's always a chance.

You may have to start from the beginning, doing a minimum-wage job. At least it's a job. Then move up from there. Hopefully by then the economy will finally improve and more living-wage jobs will become available.

Don't mean to be more somber, but I don't think the economy will improve. If anything it will get worse. Everyday more and more people are being laid off and added to the number of unemployed already out there. Example: Bank of America just laid off over 1000 people between May and July in California.

How can the economy improve when jobs are continually being shed everyday and jobs keep being outsourced ? Also when the mandate for the Affordable care act goes into effect in 2015, where companies have to provide health insurance if they have 50 or more employees, they will lay off workers and or not hire more full-time workers, or cut hours.

Their will be no more living-wage jobs, those will not be coming back, companies are cutting back to bare bones or making do with what they have, spreading out the work with their existing employees, or using temps and then dumping them. I think this economy and brutal work environment is going to be the new normal for the U.S.

I've been there before... It is scary. So scary that you just have to ignore your situation sometimes because what else can you do? I'm about to go back to that as well. Only this time I am also in debt, which makes it 10x worse. I'm actually in the negatives as far as net worth goes. And my credit is suffering.

Good luck to you. Do not be afraid to reach out for help. Many times, bad situations can be avoided if you're brave enough to ask.

@ UnemployedSymphony,

Here are some options. Make the minimum withdrawals from your 401 k or IRA to help you through this period. Close out your private investment accounts and live meagerly on the funds. If you have any other investment vehicles, such as a 529 plan, then you may be able to make withdrawals on a hardship clause.

You could take out a signature loan at the bank. See if you can open a personal line of credit, or an equity line on your home.

You may qualify for a Pell grant to go back to school. Go talk to the local community college staff to see if you can get a job that will pay for your tuition.