I Only have $18 Left in My Bank Account, but I'm Not Giving Up Hope

Go get a job! Any job for that matter, just get a J O B. Everything else you are doing can be done in your down time. But get something, get an income going and then continue your search for a career.

I congratulate you for not giving up.
My advice is the following, agreeing with kevin that you should get a job (any temp that would put some money in your pocket) i would like to add that you should use whatever knowledge you got in college and work something out. Maybe put together a nice little product of your own, start a brand new innovative WSO. You can do it. and remember, it's in time of extreme need that a man decides to change, so embrace change and become the better version of yourself. You're a warrior, and you'll get out of this one. But take this tough times as a resource life uses to teach, and as long as you really learn something out of them, you'll become a stronger and better person.
Hang in there! You'll get through this.

Stay strong and have faith!
You're right, things can be much, much worse as the recent earth quake has proven to 10's of thousands of people in Japan ..
I love your optimism but as others have stated, temper it with reality and get a job to pay the bills!
I look at my own life, and just a couple of short years ago I had it all .. Changes in Fed banking regulations, and the FTC acting like some financial gestapo have taken me from the top, to climbing back up ..
I stay strong, and optimistic but I'd be lying if I said I didn't "worry" sometimes ..I wouldn't be human if I didn't
I'm facing major life changes that require a 1324 mile move in just a few days .. I know things will all work out but I also know that I'm the ONLY one that can make the "majic" happen ..You will too!
I will keep you in my prayers, and hope good things and success for you!
Rev
(yes, I'm a REAL Minister)

Sup Ehanson,

I was in your situation one too many times. It "sucks". But there are
solutions, and below are the following ones I would do:

1. Get a JOB. Put in the applications and get back on your feet. And,
as you put in a few weeks at your job, you'll have some extra money
to invest in marketing your business (online or offline).

You MUST start saving 50% of every dollar you make. No exceptions.
You will NEVER touch that money under any circumstance. Doing this
will prove to yourself and a higher intelligence that you are responsible
with money...and more opportunities will come your way.

2. Give away the $10 of the $18 you have right NOW to your local
church or charity.

If you're holding on to your money with a tightly closed fist, how do
you expect more to come in?

It releases you of the burden of having NO money to putting you in
the state of mind of having "plenty". It puts ALL your money problems
into perspective and puts you in the position of getting so much more.

(I doubt you'll do this tip, because like most people, you're scared, but
you will STAY where you are. Broke. Until you RELEASE yourself from it.
If you do it. You'll thank me later. If you won't. You'll struggle. Period.)

3. Learn how to market AND sell.

The law of attraction, higher spirit, GOD, (whatever you want to call it)
works. But it works THROUGH you. Not FOR you.

If your skill range is flipping burgers, you'll get more opportunities to
flip burgers.

If your skill range is a Doctor, you'll get more opportunities related to
that skill. And so on.

Seriously. Put yourself through the ringer to learn this. Study it. Put it
into action. And, you will NEVER starve or be without means to support
yourself.

I'll be honest. It's one of the hardest things to do, but it's comforting
when you get it right and you will know when you get it right when
you are GETTING more interested parties paying for what you have to
offer and RUNNING to you to give you money.

It's VERY different to close a sale then it is to get interest.

It's like meeting a girl in the club, thinking you're going to get laid be-
cause you got her number...but you're not DONE yet. You have to...

well, I'll keep that bit to myself ;-).

Of ALL 3 tips I personally follow myself, number 3 is the BIGGEST reason
why I am NEVER broke, and haven't been for the last year or so...

because I understand marketing and selling, but more importantly I
practice it.

Again, do NOT be afraid to make mistakes and fail because it's going to
happen rather you like it or not. Learn to ENJOY it. And, as long as you
keep picking yourself up, you'll learn something new each time...

and eventually, as I said, making money will be a HUGE "NON-ISSUE".

I doubt you'll take this advice seriously, as I meet a lot of people I don't
bother wasting my time talking to who are in similar situations BECAUSE
they are some of the biggest failures when it comes to actually following
through...

but every once in a while I'm "surprised", and I do it for others who are
in your similar position who are reading this who will hopefully do some
thing with it.

This isn't theory. And yes, it's what worked for ME, but I've seen a lot of
what I'm sharing here has worked for other achievers.

So, get going.

Holy crap, you're in NY, NY. There is more money flowing through that city than there is in the next five biggest civic economies in the world, combined.

You write reasonably well. Congratulations - you can officially write your own paychecks for as much as you like.

Here's what you do...tonight.

Pick one local business that you like. A coffee shop where you hang out, a bookstore, a bakery...even a church or something, if you tilt that way.

Create a free Blogger blog promoting it. I only suggest blogger because it has almost literally zero learning curve. If you're good at Facebook or something, do that instead.

Choose the "Simple" theme, and the most basic, stuff-free layout. Just something that will showcase your writing.

Now. Write a snappy, attention grabbing headline in big, bold print. If you really can't think of anything, just go with an old standard like, "Who Else Wants to Relax and Unwind in The Hippest Locally Owned Coffee Shop in Greenpoint?" (Or, you know, "Who Else Wants to...whatever.")

Then write a five or so paragraph "customer review," or a "top ten," or a full-on "come in and see for yourself what everyone's talking about..." spiel, if you've got the gumption.

If you really feel artistic, add a royalty-free photo.

In truth, it doesn't even have to be a real business. Make it about whatever you want. Hell, make it for an affiliate product, and then drive some traffic there later and see if it can make you some sales on the side.

What's important is that this is now your "portfolio." Congratulations. You have a portfolio.

Now, get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow morning, shower, shave, put on the nicest thing you have to wear, and hit the pavement. You're going to go door to door soliciting businesses. You're going to step out of your comfort zone, because frankly, that's what you get to do when you're down to your last $18.

You're going to ask to talk to managers, and you're going to ask them if they have a website. If they say they do, thank them for their time and politely excuse yourself.

If they don't, you're going to show them how you're going to help them. You're going to bring up your trusty portfolio-blog, and tell them how through the miracle of article marketing, forum posting, press releasing, and whatever else you can think of in the way of easy traffic driving...you're going to create this brilliant new marketing blog for them, and then spend a week driving traffic there to see their offer and visit their store.

You're going to suggest that their blog only needs to be 1 page long, and you're going to suggest that they put an offer on there that says, "10% off if you print out this screen and bring it in," just so they can see how powerful your marketing kung fu is as customers line up at the door with printout in hand. (Note: if customers DON'T line up at the door with printout in hand? Oh well. Move on to the next business. Lucky for you there are about a trillion of them in NYC.)

And you're going to refer them to the offers of numerous marketers on here who are beating the mean streets of the city, and offering far less in packages that start at $1000 and go up.

But you're going to offer this service to them for the low, low price of only...whatever you're comfortable asking. Try $500. Hell, try $250. Even with the traffic driving stuff, we're still probably only talking about 6-8 total hours of work in a week.

You're going to tell them that it's 50% up front. 50% when you show up to give them the password and flaunt your creation in person (and give them a chance to request a small change or two, if they feel they need to).

Most of the time, they are then going to say, "no." Thank them and go to the next place.

The beauty is, some of them will say, "yes."

And you're going to continue going door to door making this offer until you've gotten enough "yes" answers that you're now afraid to be walking around with as much cash as you're currently packing.

Anyone who can write at a tenth grade level can make $1000 a day in New York City doing this. Several thousand isn't out of the question.

That can be your tomorrow. But today you have eighteen bucks.

Now get off your ass and go, man.

You are very brave! everybody knows that to be negative is bad life but the few of them live up to it. Sometimes we just can't control ourselves! Your optmism is you timeless wealth!

Keep going!

Set up an income stream. Not to pay the bills, but to survive

In all seriousness, don't let anybody tell you what you can and can't do, and never do something to have a cushion or be comfortable.....you might be stifling your genius nature.

I had $5 in my pocket and actually went down to a nickel for quite a while, relying on my girlfriend and parents for food.

It was challenging, but it also lit a fire under my a** that caused me to create massive amounts of content - 600 youtube videos, 11 eBooks, 1000 inspirational quotes and over 1000 articles and blog posts.

I'm starting to generate a buzz now and network with influential people, all because I created valuable content like a madman, and now I'm beginning to really reap the rewards. If I were comfortable, with a nice little cushion and nothing biting at my booty like literally being hungry or wondering if I would have an apartment next month, I wouldn't be where I'm at. Is this mindset for everybody? No, but just introducing a contrarian viewpoint.

Now I went into some uncomfortable times...OK, I almost went out of my mind....but if I didn't burn all bridges I never would have tapped into the immense creativity that I call on demand today.

If I was comfortable and all my bills were paid, I wouldn't be RB.

Ultimately, Do what works for YOU! Not me, not anybody else on this forum. Go into quiet and listen to the universe's instruction, it never fails.

RB

You've gotten some very good advice so far and I'm here to give you a spark. Only a spark because I think that's all you need to get your mojo working again. You need work,you need money but I say don't worry about money. Worry about keeping the flow going in your life.
To me it seems you need someone to believe enough in you to pay you for your efforts. My two cents worth in your life would be to get some money from your writing. You already have a product so you know how to write. My suggestion is to open an account at textbroker.com as an author. Follow the numbers to get your writing evaluated which takes a couple of days. Now once you get qualified and in the system you can pick and choose which articles you want to write. Depending on what level they deem you qualified for you can make from $2.00 to $20 per article.

You won't get rich but better than that you'll get belief in yourself once again. Get the ball rolling and get rocking on this so that you get out of the doldrums.

hope this helps you
Jim

After reading this line Really I'm feeling like crying... Hope one day u will become the second Bill Gates. my prayers with u and GOD bless you...

NEVER EVER LOSE UR CONFIDENCE IN EVERY HARD SITUATION

FLY LIKE AN EAGLE AND REACH YOUR GOALS

Thanks

I know how this feels. Things could be a lot worse, so don't get discouraged.

I had $40 left in my account and no income on the forseeable horizon and I spent it all on listing two sites for sale. As soon as I did that I thought I'd made a mistake and had wasted the little bit of cash I had. Then I went and lay down on the couch totally discouraged and fell asleep. When I woke up an hour later I logged into my account and one of the sites had already sold for by BIN price and the money was in my Paypal account. 12 hours later the other one had also sold.

Hang in there.

You've been given some excellent actionable advice here, especially from Oxbloom. Since you say that you're already doing some web design work with local businesses, I think his strategy is probably the one that can literally bring in thousands of dollars overnight, if you stick at it and don't take no for an answer. Spend the whole day pounding the pavement and meeting with business owners, and there's no doubt you're going to find some who are interested enough to take you on, especially at the low rates ($250-$500) mentioned, which is really peanuts for business owners in a city like New York.

Paul

if you believe in god you should try prey
i hope you find better ways

and i give you two tumb up for not give up

Hey Man,

Stick in there.. Its only when we have lost everything we realise that we have everything at our fingertips.

I was at the top of my game in 2008, property development business / good girlfriend and bright future. When the economy tanked my family business went bankrupt, my girlfriend ran off with some other dude and I was left destroyed.

I had to rely on family as you are doing but these days I am doing great and am leaving my profession on Friday for another turn of the wheel. You will get there my friend just stick in there...

Things that worked for me to get back on track:

Go down to the library and get yourself a copy of:

Dale Carnegie: How to make friends and influence people
Napoleon Hill: Think and Grow Rich
Any Tony Robbins Stuff

It really helped me. Also if you really don't want to work for someone else...

Open an Odesk, Elance and fiver account if you have not already and shop your web design, writing and other skills on-line...

Look at the top providers and model their profiles. Look for all the guides you can find on-line for making good proposals.... Something will happen for you... I suggest you read how to make friend and influence people. It will help you get jobs on-line and off-line.

We are all routing for you

You are definitely not alone. I'm in a similar situation. I got a job but it's not enough to pay all the bills. However, I keep applying in hopes of finding something better. It's even tough getting part time jobs at local stores. No one calls you back! Hang in there. Something good will eventually happen!

so many good advice here, very helpful not only to the OP but to others who are going through the same thing as well. when i was faced with this situation or something similar, i just always tell myself that "this too shall pass"

Been there more than once. Keep the faith, don't give up on yourself.

Having been down to my last few bucks on more than one occasion in life, I took strength in the fact that as long as I could find something to eat, and survive another day, there was hope to improve.

As you're still on the internet, you'may not be in really dire straits yet, but I know it is easy to feel like the world is closing in on you.

First things first. Look around you, see what you have you may be able to pawn or sell to get some money to eat. You need to be strong during your crisis, and falling over from lack of food doesn't help any. Perhaps look around and see whether any of your nearby friends or relatives can help out with short term loans. I know it's hard sometimes to ask for help, but if you're running out of food, you have to do something. Bills like power, water and so on can wait, at least a little while, but food comes first. Second is making sure you keep shelter (your house/apartment, whatever). If you are a veteran or recovering alcoholic, you may be able to get into one of their shelters if things get really bad. Hopefully it won't ever get that far down.

Next, look at what services you can sell. Look locally first. Check Craigslist and other localized job boards, the bulletin boards at community centers, stores and such. Look for anything you can do to bring in some temporary cash. Laborer, whatever. Higer income things are great, but don't turn down anything that will put a few bucks in y our pocket. Possibly even leave a 3x5 card on the local bulletin boards with your phone number and what you can do or help do. Even cleaning out garages... (spring cleaning time is upon is in many areas of the country, and when a younger lad, I made some decent cash helping people clean out their garage/storage, and got to pack off a ton of useful stuff to boot. The stuff went to garage sales or other sales venues to help add to the "day labor" wages.) It all helped, and when you're down, every dollar you can gain is good.

Look at what you can do online. Bear in mind, you have to look first locally, because you may need the cash now, and anything you do online will take some time to get the cash. Fiverr isn't too bad for a lot of things, but it takes time to get your money (and you only get $4 for each gig). Similarly, nearly anything else you do online will take time to get to the cash, unless you are already set up. Paypal, for example is pretty good for selling online or through ebay, but unless you've got their debit card already in hand, it takes a couple of days minimum to transfer money from paypal to your bank account.

As all this goes on, continiue your search for full-time gainful employment. At this time, at least the economy is recovering somewhat in most areas, and though it is slow, there are at least some jobs available. Don't be afraid to take something less than you have before to stay solvent, you can always look for a better job as time goes on.

Above all, know that you aren't the first to be in this situation, and won't be the last. Many people have been on hard times, not through their own fault, and the vast majority have come through it intact. Some have learned some additional life lessons along the way. Create and keep a positive mental image of yourself in better times in the future and keep a positive attitude. From your original posting, it seems that you are already on that path.

I wish that your discomfort be short, and your life be long and prosperous.

this very wonderfull advice, you never give up for anything in the world.. and it will be make you success,,

You seem to be a bit complacent about having only 18 bucks left, If you were a client of mine, I would tell you to use anger to get you on your way. If you get mad at and I mean really mad at yourself and say "I'm done, I can't and better yet won't live like this any more". That, my friend, is when you will suddenly shift into high gear and propel yourself away from where you are, moving in the direction of where you want to go. Fear can be a great motivator when used properly and for you now is definitely the time to use it, you know where you want to go but in addition you know where you don't want to be any more. So get really mad and get out there and change your world.
To Your Success,
Mike

Very good fighting spirit. I adore you very much. May God bless you and put on path of success.

You need to get a job, be it offline or online.

Desperation won't get you anywhere in the IM world. In fact, it would only lead you to do some drastic measures. Dedication (perseverance) is what you need.

But since you're immediate problem right now is getting money for your basic needs (food) then look for quick ways to earn cash. But try to rely on it for the short term only.
Then once you have enough money to eat (and a bit of spare cash for emergencies), then focus on your IM career.

If getting a job isn't possible at the moment -- go get things done over at fiverr!

You probably know this, I'm just saying it loud.

1. Forget about IM for now. Completely. No excuses.
2. Focus completely on getting a job. Unless you need emotional support (and you are certainly welcomed) you shouldn't even be here in this forum. A job. Everything is about that now. You need to pay basic bills.
3. Improve that job. Look for a better one. It can be a question of weeks. It's very fast. You need free time at the very least. Do it.
4. Balance. Come back to the game. Let us know here !

Stay strong.