Hello, I am a student in Prescott, AZ. I have a college loan and I will owe $35,000 when I graduate and nothing changes. But the real issue is the fact that I can't pay for anything else. I have been actively looking for a job for the past 15months to no avail, I have literally applied to every single business in the town that I have the current skills to work at, over 300, many twice, such as wal-mart, home depot, Lowe's, and all the fast food restaurants. Have spent more time looking for a job than my school work. I have a feeling that the pen and paper deception tests are red flagging me, for what reason I don't know. I have even tried to start my own businesses, making poker tables, painting house numbers on curbs, selling various products door to door. I am in ROTC but I only get $300 a month, that dosen't even cover gas and food. I am staying at an apartment that is cheeper than staying on campus, and the lack of on campus housing denies me the ability to receive housing money by staying on campus. Basically I don't know where to turn, I am sorry to beat around the bush but this is the problem. If I don't get a job seriously right now, then I won't even be able to afford gas to drive hom from school tonight, I am going to have to walk the 22miles to my apartment (Also thanks to the lack of apartments and the huge distance the school is away from any housing).

So what it comes down to is this, I have almost $6000 in credit card debt and all my checking accounts are in the red. I am lost in despair, I don't know who can help me, the only people I know of are my parents and the school. The school told me to go screw myself, and my parents are broke due to my brother being an idiot and getting arrested and accuring huge fines they have to pay. So I am here, wondering what to do, I have considered filing bankruptcy since I don't have any credit anyway, but even if that gets approved that takes me back to zero, I really don't want to do that I wan't to pay for my own way. I have nothing to sell, no one to help me. I need money but how? Please help me.

Hello goodluckpig

First of all you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Stand up
Shake yourself off and get a plan.
We all know the job market is horrid right now and we all hope that it will change,now with that being said, who is to blame for $6000 in cc debt? Answer you
You said your checking account is in the red Stop writing checks if the money is not there. Bounced check fees alone will eat you alive.
Have you tried a payment plan with your creditors? If you are considering filing bk remember student loans are not dischargable
But please don't come to this site to ask for money. We are here for advise only

I said I don't want money, I just want to know if there is anywhere I can go to fix this, and get money to pay it off (i.e. borrow money, consolidate debts). You don't have to tell me who is to blame, and I don't feel sorry for myself, but I have tried everything that I can think of to get out of this mess. I just want to know something that I haven't thought of. The only thing is how am I going to be able to go to my creditors with $0 income and more and more money that I have to pay in order to stay in school. I was never planning on filing student loans in my bankruptcy. And it is possible to file them under bankruptcy, it is very difficult and the chances are slim to none but still there.

Didn't mean to sound nasty and sorry if you took it that way. I am just saying stand back and regroup. Is it possible for you to put school on hold for a while? Have you tried working with your creditors?

First not sure your grade level, but look at on campus housing, and getting rid of car and gas bills. I would think on campus would be cheaper after you add up all of your driving expenses and the money you may get for being on campus.

What about on campus jobs, I tutored, I was assistant to professors and other things I can't remember.
Have you looked at security jobs ? Motel jobs.

But first and foremost, don't write a check you do'n't have money for, that only gets you in deeper.

Don't pay a bill if you just can't.

Student loans are not able to be discharged under bankruptcy.
But you should not be having to pay a student loan now if you are still in school,

I can't just not pay a bill, it's not their fault. Literally the only thing I spend my money on is food, housing and gas. I mean every once in while I did something stupid and went to the movies or bowling but that is few and far between. Campus jobs are all gone, they cut a lot of them and fired a lot of teachers. I have tried to get on campus housing each semester, but they don't have any available. Also I don't write checks, it's all on the debit card. I have overdraft protection so at least I don't have to worry about the fees.

You may have overdraft protection
On your debit card but doesn't that have to be paid back too? At some point be it a check or debit card the over draft fees will add up or maybe I am not sure what you are saying BUT if you have no money in your account then don't use a debit card or check

Question still stands, how am I supposed to drive anywhere, pay for anything for the next 3 months, I am going to be on the street with absolutely nowhere or way to go. I literally have 16 days to find a solution to all my financial problems. No I would not take anyone's money if they offered to give it to me, a loan maybe but that's not the point. Is there some sort of government program that can help me? I mean there must be something I can do, I can't even drive to school tomorrow, my gas tank is empty I own nothing, I mean if I start walking I could get there in 6 or 7 hours. How am I supposed to go to a job interview if someone calls me. I mean there are people that make it out of worse situations than me, I just want to know exactly how they did that.

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Originally Posted by GoodLuckPig

I just want to know exactly how they did that.

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Call the county human resources number, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and go to the public library (or call them) to ask a reference librarian for ideas on what you can do. Your best bet might be to talk with a social worker who undoubtedly has talked with others in the same boat you are.

What about dropping out of school for a while until you get your feet back under you? Certainly something can be worked out regarding the loans and deferring them. Where's home? Could you get a job there? What are you studying and how far along are you?

If I leave school now, I will incur costs over $120,000, on top of my current student loan $35,000. I am finishing my sophomore year, where I am now is my home (Prescott, AZ), I have nowhere else to go. I will give those people a call in the morning thanks.