What Can You Live Without?

[C.Ann]

Have you thought about taking out a mortgage on the house?

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With both of them being unemployed, I think it's highly unlikely that a bank would even consider this..

 

[CajunDixie]

My husband lost his job at the beginning of October. We both have been looking very hard for work and can't find even a gas station to work. Our utility bill came 2 days ago and we can't pay it. We are blessed in that we own our house and have no mortgage. We have one vehicle that, so far, still works. We have no savings beyond $40 in the bank. We used the rest of our savings up on last month's bills. We are already on Food Stamps so we will have food...no way to cook unless on the fire, but food at least. I have internet til the phone company shuts off my phone line for non-payment.

So my question is, how do I live without electricity? I think it may come to that point soon. December 12th to be precise. Fortunately, also, we have a wood burning fireplace. Unfortunately, we have maybe 2 trees in our yard and can't buy any more wood. We have no family who can/will help us.

So what can you live without? I know people in the world survive on FAR FAR less than just the lack of electricity. I just don't know how to do it yet.

At least we still have a roof over our heads. God bless those who don't

Netflix Thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=28707674#post28707674&highlight=

Does anyone else have Tinker Bell showing as a long wait?

If you have no money why do you belong to Netflix?

If you're not a troll and you really have money problems then you need to go to your local government offices and your power company to see what aid you qualify for now. Did you collect unemployment? I'm sorry but I just don't believe that with the holiday hiring right now that you can't find any sort of job. I live in a 2 stop light town and I know I could find a job within 20 miles tomorrow if I had too.

 

[Cool-Beans]

First of all, you have to accept that for the time being you don't have any money and start cutting back. Paying for internet access when you're worried about electricity is nuts. Even if you're just using it until it is cut off, you're going to have to pay that bill some day.

Cut back on things that aren't absolutely necessary.

I was broke once. We paid for rent, food and electricity in that order. And there were a few times we did without the electricity. You just manage. You go to a laundromat or wash clothes in the tub. As the challenges present themselves, you make-do.

If you have a mortgage or taxes that you need to pay and don't see how you can, get that house on the market immediately and sell it cheap. You'll not only NOT lose the house, you'll get some money to play with until something else happens.

You need an alarm clock that winds. If there is no electricity, there is no alarm.

There is plenty of food you don't need to cook. If you have no money to buy it, use the food stamps. If you need more food stamps (likely that you won't, but...) people are always willing to sell you the balance on theirs that they didn't need. I was *****ed out royally for admitting on the DIS that I did it, so you might not want to admit that here if you care about people saying you're evil (I don't), but you need to eat. Your kids need to eat. You do what you gotta do.

Apply for welfare if you aren't too proud. If you are (or your husband is), get jobs under the table. TONS of small restaurants and bars pay under the table. Plus, restaurants give you free food. Even if it isn't the policy, once you get to know people and they know you're really short on cash, you'll be leaving with food every day. Promise. You can clean, too.

Work your friends. It is common practice among people without any money to help each other out. 'Nuff said.

Finally, if you're all going to freeze, it is really easy to turn the electricity back on after they turn it off. You just clip the little thingy. They send you a note saying that what you did was illegal and they charge you (I forget how much), but that's all that happens. I never did it, but knew PLENTY of people who did.

Clip coupons. Utilize the library.

You really shouldn't be totally without work for long. Go to McDonalds and Target and places like that. Something is better than nothing - although waitressing is the best, IMO.

Best of luck. And like everyone says, remember that it is temporary. Cry if you must, but remember that life is long and things really DO change.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I agree with a previous poster that stated to sell as much as you can and move. If the job market where you live is that bad that you cannot find even a 24 hr convenience store to work at, then it is not going to get better anytime soon. Unemployment is rising nationwide but there are still thousands of unfilled jobs out there, sometimes you have to move to find them. I know from experience.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I would love more info about this. I've had to pay to dump old computers.

Here are some sources I found quickly. DH does all this (I don't think he uses these resources) and I think he mostly sells them on auction sites. He has a computer consulting business so we end up with a lot of old useless computers from our clients.

http://radioshack.cexchange.com/online/home/index.rails

http://toshiba.eztradein.com/toshiba/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27668152/

 

[golfgal]

can you get some equity out of your home somehow....just a little to get you through?

If your home is really paid for you can take a home equity line of credit for whatever to cover bills for a while. If you have a whole life insurance policy you can take a loan against the cash value. If you have an IRA or 401K plan you can take a loan without penalty due to loss of a job. There are plenty of things that can be done to tide you over. I also find it hard to believe that you can't find even a part time job. There are signs up all over the place here looking for help.

 

[Purseval]

If your home is really paid for you can take a home equity line of credit for whatever to cover bills for a while.

So then if you still can't find work you not only have no job but no home also? You aren't the first person to suggest using the house for money but isn't that exactly the reason so many people are in trouble now? I just don't get it

BTW I'm only commenting on this strategy, as for the OP I'm with the group that believes it's trolling.

 

[golfgal]

So then if you still can't find work you not only have no job but no home also? You aren't the first person to suggest using the house for money but isn't that exactly the reason so many people are in trouble now? I just don't get it

BTW I'm only commenting on this strategy, as for the OP I'm with the group that believes it's trolling.

As a stop-gap measure until you find a job, yes, it is a good idea. Don't take all of the equity, only take enough to get you through a few months. It isn't any different then having a mortgage-much smaller payment though. This ISN'T the reason people are in trouble these days. What happened was that people did 100% financing and then their house value fell, they had ARM's, interest rates climbed, they couldn't afford their payments because they bought too much house and now they can't sell because they can't get out of the house with enough money to cover their mortgage. It is COMPLETELY different then using say 10% of your home equity to cover bills until you find a job.

 

[beckmrk04]

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With both of them being unemployed, I think it's highly unlikely that a bank would even consider this..

You can't get a loan (even on equity) with no income to pay it back.

 

[disney1990]

My husband lost his job at the beginning of October. We both have been looking very hard for work and can't find even a gas station to work. Our utility bill came 2 days ago and we can't pay it. We are blessed in that we own our house and have no mortgage. We have one vehicle that, so far, still works. We have no savings beyond $40 in the bank. We used the rest of our savings up on last month's bills. We are already on Food Stamps so we will have food...no way to cook unless on the fire, but food at least. I have internet til the phone company shuts off my phone line for non-payment.

So my question is, how do I live without electricity? I think it may come to that point soon. December 12th to be precise. Fortunately, also, we have a wood burning fireplace. Unfortunately, we have maybe 2 trees in our yard and can't buy any more wood. We have no family who can/will help us.

So what can you live without? I know people in the world survive on FAR FAR less than just the lack of electricity. I just don't know how to do it yet.

One way we cook when we lose our electricity is our propane camp stove.

The best suggestion I have seen is to call your local power company and do that ASAP.

At least we still have a roof over our heads. God bless those who don't

Any chance you live near a golf course. We have been getting all of our firewood for free at the local golf course (for over 15 years). All we have to do is go pick it up.

The other thing is, do you own a camping stove. We cook on our camping stove when we lose our electricity.

 

[disykat]

Here are some sources I found quickly. DH does all this (I don't think he uses these resources) and I think he mostly sells them on auction sites. He has a computer consulting business so we end up with a lot of old useless computers from our clients.

http://radioshack.cexchange.com/online/home/index.rails

http://toshiba.eztradein.com/toshiba/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27668152/

Thanks! The msnbc article was very interesting. I'm involved in a yearly fundraising garage sale where people try to dump electronics on us because they're so hard to get rid of. I'm going to do some more research!

 

[Purseval]

This ISN'T the reason people are in trouble these days. What happened was that people did 100% financing and then their house value fell, they had ARM's, interest rates climbed, they couldn't afford their payments because they bought too much house and now they can't sell because they can't get out of the house with enough money to cover their mortgage.

No, that's what got some people in trouble. A lot of others got in trouble by using their home equity as a credit card then the aforementioned troubles kicked in.

It is COMPLETELY different then using say 10% of your home equity to cover bills until you find a job.

Oh really? So let's say your home is worth $200k. You take 10% of that out while you job hunt. Now you have no job and $20,000 in new debt. You personally might be disciplined enough to be frugal and set aside enough for living, finding work and keeping up with your new house payments. Recent history in the economy says not everyone is as disciplined as you are.

 

[ZuZugal]

Since the OP has not been back and she/he just became a registered user with 5 posts I'm thinking everyone here is throwing good advice and time at someone who, well, might not even truly be in the position claimed.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Sorry for job loss.
Congrats on no mortgage payment.

I'll assume he's collecting unemployment. That isn't enough to cover utilities & food?

 

[Missy1961]

Since the OP has not been back and she/he just became a registered user with 5 posts I'm thinking everyone here is throwing good advice and time at someone who, well, might not even truly be in the position claimed.

I agree.

 

[tennvalgirl]

Don't cut down your trees

Green wood doesn't burn very well

Do something else

Sorry, I smell a troll post or at least I hope I do

 

[DawnCt1]

If your DH lost his job in October, why isn't he eligible for unemployment benefits? While it isn't a ton of money, it should cover utilities. What about cable and internet? Is that an expense you have? Cell phones? Not necessary.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[SplshMtn99]

I would burn the furniture. At least its already dead wood & dried.

Where you behind in your bills / utilities before he lost his job? It doesn't make sense that they would be turning them off already.

I'm guessing with no mortgage payment, you must have some other LARGE expense in your life that has kept you from saving. I'm just assuming there is more to the story because it isn't adding up yet for me.

 

[ntsammy5]

I think a home equity loan would be a smart idea!

No income = no loan.

No unemployment? I hate to say this, but I smell a troll