Ask Lemmy

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Buy big bags of rice and beans

Start learning how and where to ask for help.

What I mean is that you're going to have a lot of unmet needs, and you'll need others to help boost you up. Many of us live like we are islands, but the reality is people support people. But only when you are specifically able to ask for the help you need in clear language. And that is a skill that takes time to develop.

Canned foods are extremely cheap and last for a very long time. Wear multiple layers when it's cold, don't turn on the heat unless you'll damn near die without it. Buy the cheapest sundries regardless of your preferences. Don't buy name brand items unless they're the only ones available. Use coupons as much as possible.

Maybe consider living in a vehicle.

When I had to move out due to abusive family, I lived in my car for several months traveling and looking for my future home.

I had time to setup the car like a mini camper. Had everything I needed. Twin bed, fridge, solar power, etc. I recommend watching the YouTube “cheap rv living” and other channels about car camping. It’s quite affordable to live in a vehicle and not pay rent, utilities, etc.

As others said the gym is a great place for showers.

Food and personal hygiene ARE your morale. Prioritise those two above almost everything else. (Apart from your personal safety obviously)

If you're going to lose your housing, start advertising for live-in pet sitting.

A gym membership is cheaper than an apartment, and will allow you access to restrooms and showers. If a public pool is cheaper, even better.

Familiarize yourself with food banks and other resources now, because access to both transit and the Internet is going to get a lot more tenuous.

Find a storage option for anything you truly value, even if it's just renting a lockable closet somewhere.

Try to find a housesitting gig if you can, which will give you shelter and maybe even income. Do not reveal your financial situation to your new employers.

I was only homeless for a few months, thank God, and like you I knew it was coming and had time to prepare. Some of the above is things I've done and some is things I learned later or wished Zid done. It took me a lot longer to climb out of that hole than to fall into it, but with hard work and luck and a lot of help I made it. I hope you can, too.

Lots of great advice. One thing to add, pets. If you have family that can look after them ask if they will. Ask friends, even contact the local animal shelter. In fact if you're lack for things to do you can volunteer there as well. I know it may seem rough but don't abandon them somewhere, though I doubt you'd do that. Make sure they're taken care of even if it's not with you.

Sell stuff you don't want(if possible), save stuff that you want. Save money as much as you can, work at any job, even if it's a cafeteria, even if it's a part time. Ask for help from friends and family if possible. If you are loosing your home too, save stuff that you want, give them to a relative or friend.

Try to address any medical issues as best as possible now.

• First, know that the majority of people who are poor or homeless are only in that situation temporarily. Unless you have debilitating addictions or mental health issues that prevent you from functioning within society, you WILL get through this.

• Buy a small notebook and make a list of local poverty resources: homeless shelters, food banks, hospitals, public restrooms, churches mosques and temples, libraries, employment offices, etc. If you don't have these things where you live, you make have to migrate to somewhere that does.

• Make a list of friends and family, and their phone numbers too. Swallow your pride and call as many of these people as you can and explain your situation to them. Be prepared to gracefully ask them for help, and be prepared to be denied. But if even 1 person can give you a short lifeline it might be enough to help you prevent the situation.

• Remember and prioritize what is essential to survival--food, water, shelter, clothing and medicine. Those are first and foremost. After those have been figured out, then you need to focus on finding some kind of employment and income.

• In a worst case scenario, you will be on your feet with only the possessions you can carry. You will need your personal identifying documents, medications, your phone (and a charger or two), and anything truly sentimental to you. You will need warm and cool weather clothing, as well as a blanket. A water bottle can also be useful. Any other possessions can be sold for cash and replaced later, if absolutely necessary.

• Consider what lead you to this point and do your best to address it in the future. You will make it through this, but you still need to change how you've been living to avoid falling back down to rock bottom again. Seek help for mental health issues and addictions. Always remember that you are a human being who is entitled to life and worthy of love. Good luck!

If you aren't broke yet, but will be, then start acting like you are right now. You have time to figure out how to be broke but still have some money at the end of the day for if you can't figure it out.

You need clean water to drink everyday, where can you get that? You need food at some point, find where you can get free food from government or religious groups. If there's nothing like that then find the cheapest food and figure out how you can make enough to buy that(beg, recycle, etc). Find a safe place to sleep. You don't need a camp or permanent spot, you just need to be able to sleep for 6 hours. Those are the basics that will keep you alive.

Connect to all neighbors and friends and former friends and relatives. Renew relationships.

Think how you can find a better job. Also ask this question to all friends etc.

Search for benefits from your country or local / regional governments. Search for organisations who help the poor.

Make your own life less expensive. Look where you spend money, and change everything to cheaper alternatives. Leave all your addictions.

What do you mean by "end up broke"?

Do you mean you're going to lose your job in a few months?

Do you mean that you currently have no source of income and you project that you'll hit zero in a few months and won't be able to find a job?

Do you mean that you're going to be declaring bankruptcy because of debts and will have to start over?

These are all different situations. If you don't have a job and don't think you'll be able to get one even though you have months to try, is it because you're disabled or somehow unable to work? If so, there are government support programs available in most places. In places without that, people tend to rely on family to support them. If you can't work, can't get government support, and don't have family or friends who can support you, there really isn't any advice we can give you.

If you currently have a job but they're laying you off in a few months, there are often support programs available. It's best to assume you won't get a job, or at least won't get one right away, so you should reduce your spending now rather than wait.

Declaring bankruptcy is completely different. Often when people do that, they still have a job, it's just that their debts are unmanageable. In the US this is often due to medical debts. You may have a job paying a decent wage, but you simply can't pay down a million dollars in medical debt. That's a different kind of situation, because you still have a job, you still have money coming in and going out. The problem is often that you suddenly have to do without credit cards, you can't get a car loan, etc. So, in that situation the trick is more about how to switch to using cash and debit cards and to build back a good credit rating over time.

If you're truly going to hit zero money in a few months, you need to act as if you're basically at zero money now. If there are food banks nearby, start going there and learn how they work. Watch every single cent you spend and cut off your spending ruthlessly. No subscriptions, no luxuries, etc. If you rent and you expect you're going to be evicted, start selling off your stuff. Better to part with it now and get some money rather than getting locked out and having the owner throw it all away. If there are public libraries nearby with Internet access, figure out how that works so you can still get online.

Also, maybe you can move somewhere else before you hit zero. I don't know what your situation is, but maybe there are places with a dramatically lower cost of living where you can get by for longer. Maybe there are places where you could find work. It's best to make that decision early rather than be unable to make it once you hit zero.

First off:

Good luck! You'll get through this ❤️

I'm not claiming I went through a situation like your sentence implies in that extreme, my advice comes from a bit less drastic situation - and I'll assume no safety net.

The hard truth: you are broke. Not in the future, right now. Treat your money like it. If you can't pay rent in a few months time you can't now. Same for all other invoices.

Reason: shit has hit the fan already. Now you're standing there and wondering which the biggest piece will be to hit you.

If you start with that today then you'll stretch the time out overall.

Your job is threfold: priority one: reduce spending to near zero. Short term survival beats anything. Including and especially credit score and the likes. The details depend on your situation, laws and standards.

The second is even harder: What can you do to increase cash income? This is a shitty situation and your reaction most likely is "well, yes. Of course dumb fuck what do you think I'm doing??".

I can fully emphasize if it is. That said: I'm not only talking about applications. Use your social circle to ask for help, both money and job. Reach out to former colleagues or school friends. Use everything and everyone you have in your environment.

The last part is the easiest but very annoying: read your local laws and statutes. What social security structures exist? What are eviction regulations? What about late payment terms? Re education sponsorship? And so on. Most countries have at least something but it's often hidden in highly formal bullshit. Get your shovel and dig through legalese. And if you can't do that: the second point automatically applies here as well.