if you were in desperate need of money

**forestdale** · 11-08-2005, 07:26 PM

Is there anything, besides the obviously disgusting and illegal, that you wouldn't do if you were in desperate need of money?

If DH and I were desperate, I'd do almost anything to help us get back on our feet again. I say "almost" because I'd hate to work with children and wouldn't do it. But I would clean, iron, babysit young babies - not toddlers, work in an office or a shop. I'd probably even go back to nursing or writing if I had to. I wouldn't like doing it but I'd sacrifice my feelings to get us going again.

**homesteadmamma** · 11-08-2005, 07:30 PM

Originally posted by forestdale
Is there anything, besides the obviously disgusting and illegal, that you wouldn't do if you were in desperate need of money?

If DH and I were desperate, I'd do almost anything to help us get back on our feet again. I say "almost" because I'd hate to work with children and wouldn't do it. But I would clean, iron, babysit young babies - not toddlers, work in an office or a shop. I'd probably even go back to nursing or writing if I had to. I wouldn't like doing it but I'd sacrifice my feelings to get us going again.

I would do the same thing as well, although I'd work with children with no problem. I would not work at the "pig barns". The smell makes me sick, although again dh did work there for a time when finances were tight.

**babymav** · 11-08-2005, 07:42 PM

If I were desperate I think I would take any job that I could, as long as it were legal

**slowtypinwoman** · 11-08-2005, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by babymav
If I were desperate I think I would take any job that I could, as long as it were legal

Same here. I worked as a maid for a summer. Ick! And I was a dreaded telemarketer. Double Ick!!

**forestdale** · 11-08-2005, 07:57 PM

I forgot about telemarketing. That would be horrible. Well done, Marica.

**Sara Noel** · 11-08-2005, 08:14 PM

I would first lower my expectations and realize it was time for some changes to be made. I live modestly as it is, but would evaluate what WAS and what currently IS. In the past, I worked two jobs and have worked full time and attended college full time and it is amazing what can be done if you really want to or are forced to.

I think initially people wallow in misery, but then there comes a time when you face the music and DO something about it or well you don't...and sit like a frog in boiling water waiting for someone to bail ya out or you just sink.

I am personally humbled by my experiences and learned a lot. I have "no fears" when it comes to hardship. I've been there and done that and know I would survive. It's ironic that the majority of people view the katrina victims as wrong to be waiting and expecting govt. help for a natural disaster which could not be prevented by the victims that suffered and yet enable situations that are completely controllable.

I look at it like this...let's say you have $20. You have 20 mini decisions and choices. What are you going to do with it? What decisions will you make?

Anyway, I'd do just about anything short of begging to pull myself out of a bad situation. I've done it a couple of times in my life and would do it again if I needed to. Many a spaghetti/jar sauce night at the Noels. lol

I think life is what you make it. For many there are true hardships and I empathize and then there are other "hardships" that I view as total stupidity and it almost sickens me. I want to scream DO SOMETHING because I can't stomach to sit and watch it going on. I have family members that come to mind.

I am fortunate to be able to stay home. We make many financial sacrifices, but I would go to work in a heartbeat and do whatever it took to pull myself out of a bad situation. Gabe and I have discussed dozen of times if he ever lost his job and believe me..I am one of the few people that would sell my house and get out from underneath this mortgage and bills before I allowed us to be destitute.

**thrifty gal** · 11-08-2005, 09:30 PM

Originally posted by babymav
If I were desperate I think I would take any job that I could, as long as it were legal

Same here.

**homesteadmamma** · 11-08-2005, 09:40 PM

Sara I agree 100% with what you've said. We've been where you have been and although it isn't fun, we did what we had to do to survive. When I look back now at what we had to do, I'm amazed. It only made us stronger people and although I prefer not to have to be in a situation like that again, it was a lesson well learnt.

**Sara Noel** · 11-08-2005, 10:14 PM

CJ I sold practically everything that wasn't nailed down. lol I think many people have been there. I did sell my first home when tough times came knocking and it was heartbreaking, but I did. I realize most people wouldn't, but I was determined to start again and do it all the right way or at least a better way. I knew it would be yrs before I owned a home again and it took us 3 yrs and living in some pretty humble places, but we cleared all credit card debt and saved.

I'll also admit we had more money because we had very little committments to bills then than we do now even though our income has doubled since then, but we now have our home and many things we worked and continue to work hard for.

As much as I appreciate where we are, there are many times I think about the new "smarter" choices we've made and whether they were really the smarter choices, but at least we're doing better and have a roadmap of where we're heading. Slow as it may be...at least it's steady now.

**Sara Noel** · 11-08-2005, 10:16 PM

Plus, without experiencing those tough times, FV wouldn't even exist.

**Missy** · 11-08-2005, 10:25 PM

i'd sell everything off i had to. I have in the past sold plasma to put gas in the gas tank and buy formula. Needle-phob that I am, that was pretty big. I was even working at the time, as was dh. We sold off our cars, dinner table and chairs, and on and on. This is a period of time I dont like talking about much, because it nearly broke us and our marriage. But we made it thru, we are still paying off some of the same large debts from then, but we are treding water now. We very nearly sold the house, and were headed to doing so, when things began to turn around for us. Praise God. We were getting ready to admit to FIL/MIL that we failed and move back in with them, tail between our legs, as they had predicted we would.

**forestdale** · 11-08-2005, 10:26 PM

I really admire what you've done, Sara, CJ, and the rest of the mob who've gone through hard times and survived. I firmly believe that you learn the best lessons when you're down.

**mom2matty** · 11-08-2005, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by forestdale
I really admire what you've done, Sara, CJ, and the rest of the mob who've gone through hard times and survived. I firmly believe that you learn the best lessons when you're down.

I agree!!!

And I would also take almost any job that wasn't illegal to help out my family!

**daddys3chicks** · 11-09-2005, 05:14 AM

Well, we are here currently, althoigh I think things will smooth out for us soon. I have taken on mystery shopping jobs, picked up some hours at church providing child care, asked to be put on the sub list for another child care position, taken in some alterations, and posted things for sale. My most important job is stability for my kids right now, but I will do whatever I need to do.

I also told my Mom to not buy a Christmas gift for me, but to send the $ she would have spent. While the bankruptcy has alleviated our debt load, we still have to get back on a even keel.

That said, I have cleaned houses and just can't do it because I am sick as a dog the next day.

**sunshine** · 11-09-2005, 06:26 AM

Well, having been through some horrific times, I can say that I have done and will do anything that is LEGAL and MORAL (some things are legal, but not moral such as prostitution in some areas)