Frustrated with life and finances

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DarkLight said:
I’ve looked into it but I never found work that was worth the time that didn’t require specialized skills I don’t have. Most “work from home” type stuff pays pennies per hour for most people. Maybe 2 or 3 dollars if you really get into it.
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My last two positions have been work from home positions. One was a research position, and my current job is a teaching position. So, definitely not pennies per hour. I’ve been on the job market a lot in the past few years, and there really is quite a lot of variety out there in terms of home positions. Companies are discovering how much cheaper it is when they aren’t paying for an employee’s computer, internet bill, workspace, heat, restroom facilities, etc. Even if you can’t find something in your area of expertise, if your immediate goal is to become more financially secure, there are a lot of customer service jobs that can be done from home. It is also nice because if you have medical issues you are dealing with, you don’t have a lot of the stress that comes along with office politics. Dealing with people on the phone or online can be a lot more manageable.

When doing a job search, you can search for “telecommute” or “remote” positions (I got more hits with those than with “work from home” which yielded mostly the same kinds of results you mentioned.) They aren’t always easy to find, but they are out there and it sounds like something remote might be a good fit for you if you have to limit the number of hours you work for health reasons.
 
If epistemology is related to machine learning, then you might be interested to know that kaggle.com has a number of contests with monetary prizes ranging up to $100,000.
 
Honestly, half the problem is that I just want a break. Health problems never let up - there’s no such thing as taking a week off from your health. And I don’t make enough money to be able to just take a week off from work. I don’t really get paid vacation and I can’t afford to just take time off unpaid. Plus I’m handling family stress every time I’m home, plus academics, plus trying to find a new job, and it feels like I never get any real downtime.
 
DarkLight said:
Honestly, half the problem is that I just want a break. Health problems never let up - there’s no such thing as taking a week off from your health. And I don’t make enough money to be able to just take a week off from work. I don’t really get paid vacation and I can’t afford to just take time off unpaid. Plus I’m handling family stress every time I’m home, plus academics, plus trying to find a new job, and it feels like I never get any real downtime.
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How about taking an extra hour or so at the public library/Starbucks/etc. between finishing work and going home?
 
Unfortunately, OP, I have this to say, and forgive me if it sounds smarmy, as I really, really don’t mean to:

You’re a bit short economically and would like a break, while struggling with health issues?

Welcome to the middle class!

Again, I don’t mean to sound smarmy, but the fact is that virtually all members of the middle class are a bit strapped financially (no one has thousands just lying around); are over stressed at work and needs a break; and has some physical issue that causes headaches if not more serious issues.

My point is not to minimize your issues or make you feel bad. My point is to encourage you that lots and lots of us (me included) feel your pain and are in the same boat. Just “keep on keeping on;” get through each day; and live life one day at a time (and pray hard!)
 
Xantippe said:
How about taking an extra hour or so at the public library/Starbucks/etc. between finishing work and going home?
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This is a good idea! The library is awesome. Ours has all kinds of lectures and social activities, plus of course books, movies, etc, and all free.
 
Xantippe said:
How about taking an extra hour or so at the public library/Starbucks/etc. between finishing work and going home?
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I have to either get a ride or take the bus. I don’t have the opportunity to make extra stops.
 
Part of the trouble is that hourly work is also less stable. So normal week I get 32 hours. This week I get 26, because someone up in corporate decided our store is getting too many hours so they cut the amount of hours managers could schedule. That seems to happen a lot - you can’t count on getting hours any specific week.
 
DarkLight said:
I have to either get a ride or take the bus. I don’t have the opportunity to make extra stops.
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Why can’t you make stops on the way home if taking the bus? I take public transit (train, ferry and bus!) every day and have opportunities to stop at all sorts of interesting places along the way…

I love taking transit. Wouldn’t trade it for the world. Not only is there no painful and expensive parking to deal with, but I can catch up on emails (or CAF!), listen to audiobooks, read, etc.
 
twf said:
Why can’t you make stops on the way home if taking the bus? I take public transit (train, ferry and bus!) every day and have opportunities to stop at all sorts of interesting places along the way…

I love taking transit. Wouldn’t trade it for the world. Not only is there no painful and expensive parking to deal with, but I can catch up on emails (or CAF!), listen to audiobooks, read, etc.
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With when I usually get off I don’t have time to make extra stops.
 
It’s looking like I’m having to shell out about $2000 after insurance just to get some necessary dental work done. Which means there goes my savings that I was saving up to get myself a car.

It’s just hard. There’s a lot of drama going on at home and I’m kind of stuck in the middle of it, and it’s feeling like every time I try to set a boundary the response is “Don’t you DARE do that in my house! You’re so selfish.” But I don’t have the finances to move out - and I’m trying to apply for jobs and finish school and work 32 hours per week and help out around the house all at once and I’m really not managing to get it all done.
 
DarkLight said:
It’s looking like I’m having to shell out about $2000 after insurance just to get some necessary dental work done. Which means there goes my savings that I was saving up to get myself a car.

It’s just hard. There’s a lot of drama going on at home and I’m kind of stuck in the middle of it, and it’s feeling like every time I try to set a boundary the response is “Don’t you DARE do that in my house! You’re so selfish.” But I don’t have the finances to move out - and I’m trying to apply for jobs and finish school and work 32 hours per week and help out around the house all at once and I’m really not managing to get it all done.
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Bummer!
 
DarkLight said:
I’m just getting frustrated with life. I had to move back in with my parents due to financial and health reasons, which is really pushing on my health by itself by adding a lot more stress. I’m facing medical bills in the several thousand dollars even with insurance. I’m desperately trying to find decent paying work and finding out that you need either several years of experience or degrees I don’t have to get anything more than $10/hr part time. At this point it feels like I’m only working so I can spend all my money on the next crisis - I try to save and money just comes out for the next big thing (mostly medical expenses). My health does limit my working hours - I can do full time but I can’t do the 60-80 it would take to rent a place around here at the wages I can find.

I just want to give up on the whole mess, quit working (it’s not like I get much from it) and just stop trying to improve my life - it’s not like my efforts for years to do so have done anything except make me tired and miserable.

Edit: I had no idea where to put this, since we don’t have a finances forum anymore.
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Hi,

Cheer up, because you’re not alone. I’ve been in the same kind of situation for years until I’ve realized that if I really wanted to enjoy my life to the fullest, I’d have to start up my own passion-focused business. That said, reaching my financial freedom by having a profitable online business has always been my top passion in life.

So, I warmly recommend that if you’re really serious about permanently improving your overall financial situation, you invest some time and efforts in identifying or assessing your top passions in life, and then just commit to fulfilling them by taking one small step at a time.

Last but not least, having your own dream business will help you not only achieve your ever desired financial freedom but also make you feel happier, healthier and awesomely fulfilled.

God bless you!

Bruno
 
I can only recommend these things:

Walk: get out of the house and walk to restore your health and your perspective.

Gain perspective by reading the Bible and “against-all-odds” type of stories like “Left to Tell.”

Have a heart-to-heart talk to your family about how you feel and how they can help. Begin with small things, like asking them to not ask so many questions, or talk about money problems, etc. If you could identify one thing about your situation that your family could easily do to help you, what one thing is that? Ask them to do it. And likewise, serve your family more, pray for them, and enjoy them in spite of the drama. Most of us live in families and there is always drama. Help your family be a happier family. Don’t focus on your issues all of the time. This will never lead to happiness and your sadness can only fuel the bad vibe around the house.

Finally, pray before the Eucharist as often as possible. Working part-time and being single means that you can find the time to do this for at least an hour a week. Ask God to help you overcome self-pity and possibly depression. Count your blessings.
 
And now my health insurance messed up their billing AGAIN which is causing me to have expenses that should be covered, because it somehow takes them weeks to figure out how to enter information into their computer properly.

I’m spending my free time on the phone with them instead of doing my work. I don’t get how people get anywhere in life - it seems like just one fire after another.
 
I so understand what you are going through. I bought a house that turned into a money pit sold it for what I could get. Then my car and needed work and I had health issues, had to put out another deposit and moving expenses on a new place because my landlord wouldn’t take care of an ant invasion called by plumbing issues he refused to fix. In major debt but due to a couple of minor accident my car insurance tripled in price so now I can’t get a another car or get out of debt with the car I already own (I was just about to pay it off). I’m already working 2 jobs and have no hope of getting out of debt. Places won’t hire for a third job because I already have 2. Prayers my friend I hope things get better for both of us. I’d investigate at home businesses or work you could do. I have ideas just not the money to follow up on them. 🤷
 
Luvz2travel said:
I so understand what you are going through. I bought a house that turned into a money pit sold it for what I could get. Then my car and needed work and I had health issues, had to put out another deposit and moving expenses on a new place because my landlord wouldn’t take care of an ant invasion called by plumbing issues he refused to fix. In major debt but due to a couple of minor accident my car insurance tripled in price so now I can’t get a another car or get out of debt with the car I already own (I was just about to pay it off). I’m already working 2 jobs and have no hope of getting out of debt. Places won’t hire for a third job because I already have 2. Prayers my friend I hope things get better for both of us. I’d investigate at home businesses or work you could do. I have ideas just not the money to follow up on them. 🤷
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The trouble right now is that I already feel like between work, school, health problems, and other general responsibilities, that I’m already stretched too thin. I know I need more money but in order to do so I’d probably have to pretty much give up on my education entirely - I just don’t have time to do both. And that means giving up (almost certainly permanently) a field I love and further opportunities for study, to concentrate on low-level jobs.
 
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