Bipolar Support Group

I know many people with BP have financial issues. I've had issues for years but things have gotten really bad the past few months. I lost my vehicle in December. And now I'm going to lose all the contents of my storage locker. so what I have left is 2 small suitcases and one duffle bag of clothes, my laptop, and 2 small boxes of some other stuff and a few books. My storage locker is packed.

So now not only do I have all the back bills, I have to get new stuff whenever I get an apartment (moved down on the section 8 list instead of up, grrrrrr). At this point I can barely keep my phone on (will be off after this week). i have some people who have promised to help me but have not. Family is not an option. My mom has point blank told me she won't help me out any more. (i didn't ask her often and most of the time it was just a short term loan till the next paycheck). My bank account is in the negative (along with several other former bank accounts). I'm not working and my only source of income has dried up (babysitting my friends kids while she worked and her job just ended). I am single and have no children. so it's like what am i supposed to do?

Go to college and take out student loans

Manic spending spree $10,000 debt....plus the hospital bills and bills for the ER vist & ambulance....I never paid it. Luckily, no one sued me...

My credit history just renewed itself when I turned 25 cause the credit is apparently expunged from your history after 7 years. So, I bought a Dell computer on credit from Dell....still couldn't get credit cards....then got a credit card with a limit of $500 from capital one.

I went to school for my MS. I took out maybe 15,000 in loans. After I graduated, I got credit card offers like crazy, all with limits up in the thousands, cause I consolidated the student loans and it looked like I paid them all off....and then I got approved for a car loan with a 6% interest rate!

So, now I'm swimming in it again....manic spending spree number 2 circa 14K. I'm applying for a part=time job but no one wants to hire me.

Anyway, can you declare bankruptcy? If not or plus, I do think the student loan thing works!

Uggh, I totally understand. I've been on my own since I was 18 and found out I was bipolar. I think what really helped was waitressing at first and having cash to pay down bills (with money grams instead of using my past due checking accounts). Its hard at first with not having that impulse control, but once you get in a swing it gets easier. If your mom won't financially help, find out if she'll store your things, or someone else until you get your apartment. Should be only temporary, right? Slowly but surely you can work out of it. Key word is work, sadly. You can also look into government assistance, right? I think you should find out where your local County Assitance Office is, and explain to them your situation too. They have so much they can offer you, and so many programs. Just google it. Thats how I got help when I was laid off.

I can relate to your situation, dear. When I was 19 I quit college and my father refused to help out. I thought he was mean. Years later I realize in his own way he was teaching me that no one was going to bail me out, I had to make it on my own. And I did...

It may look bleak now, just take one step at a time. Although jobs are hard to come by right now there are ones available. I am an employer and can tell you from personal experience that if someone is willing to work hard there is work. Any job is good. I have done many of them, cleaning houses, cutting grass, etc...Have an open mind about a job. Go to your state unemployment office and register...they will send you on job interviews. Don't give up. Keep looking....

And watching your money carefully, like Lilnuttbutt suggests. Writing checks on accounts with negative balances opens up a world of problems. Be careful there, hon.

I'm not writing checks on negative accounts, I made a mistake and you know how those bank fees add up. So I'm not using my account at all. I deal with cash most of the time.

I've been to the county and I get food stamp assistance. I've been trying to get a job since last October. I am also in the process of applying for disability (more going on than "just" bipolar).

I really wish I could store my stuff at my mom's house, like she has offered, but first I would have to pay to get the lock taken off and if I could do that then I wouldn't need to stor my stuff at her place. Then there is the issue of having to rent a uhaul to get it to her place an hour away. I can't come up with $20 right now so I don't know how I'm going to come up with $250-$375 to save my stuff.

And yes i've done the student loan thing. During my manic phases I've hopped around from school to school each time thinking I had the "thing" that was going to make me famous and solve all my financial worries for life.

I know in all likelyhood I need a person to take care of my finances. I have a very hard time handing stuff like that over to people, paranoia reigns supreme.

I know I can not do this myself and I'm in this position because I wouldn't ask for help earlier. Have I ever said I hate bipolar???

I'm really sorry to hear all that. It sounds like you really do need someone to help you out. I would look to other friends or family for support. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel though. Sometimes you just need to find options, and make it work. Once you do, you will be so proud. You should be already!

I said a prayer for you. Sometimes there is an answer just around the corner. You should qualify for SSI or SSD with bipolar and other stuff. I'm facing some financial hardships also right now, and am being forced to sign off on my spousal benefits (my husband works for the post office and is retiring, we'll get more a month if I sign off) which I don't want to do....but he will make my life a living hell if I don't sign and notarize this..

Just hang in there, apply for everything and hope something pans out.

Have you tried going to any churchs for help. Alot of them help people that are in your situation and have nowhere else to go. They might be able to help you get your stuff to your Moms. Don't be scared to ask there's alot of good churches out there willing to help. I'll pray for you. There is always a solution you just have to look really hard sometimes to find it. I've been in your situation so many times except I had kids. So I completely understand what your going through. Remember, nothing is hopeless.

Hi there, I am sorry you are going through hard times. Lots of people are these days. Here are some ideas for you..

1- For food look into the Angel food ministries here http://www.angelfoodministries.com/. Lots of people I know have been helped by this low cost bulk food distributed at churches all over. Also as Taurus points out many churches help out directly as well. In our area some are serving a few meals weekly now to help people

2- Put some free ads up on Craigslist for things you can do like babysit, perhaps cleaning whatever you like to do to get some money coming in if you cant find any other jobs.

3- Definately seek out Temp agencies as they seem to always be placing people I know that couldnt find jobs. And apply at all the usual suspects like Walmart, Walgreens, any chain really, something is bound to open up for you sooner or later.

4- Seek out and talk to friends and family. Write if you have to. People sometimes respond better to letters than phone calls seeking help.

Once again I am sorry things are not easy for you. A few miles from someone I know was in the process of foreclosure and divorce and looked terrible when we saw her. She had only an apple to eat all weekend. We immediately bagged up everything we didnt need immediately from home and brought it over to her. Neighbors might help as well.

I hope you find better times soon, what area are you from maybe I can look up some other resources for you.

take care,

Marty

ninja,

Tough times, tough people! I've gone through them when I "wasn't my best self," and hope I've recovered and right side up.

If you can get into your storaged stuff, maybe you could pick and choose the most important things to save. I wish I had done that - it was like a tornado that hit me in the arse.

Student loans may be available but they aren't something you can ever discharge in bankruptcy - they will follow you wherever you go.

The suggestions above might help. I wish you luck and me luck, too - I'm going through some money crunching times, too.