Stressed take a look please

[Bradyloach]

Hello my friends. As some of you know I'm going through a tough time. I have some money issues I need to work out and I need advice badly, I'll run you down really quick. Okay so I'm a construction worker and Im on unenployment for the winter! I'm going back to school September for electrician! Okay so I get 600 dollars every 2 weeks. I have 0 dollars left in my bank account from building Cass his cage and lending my parents 1000 dollars. It they will pay me back! So 600 dollars and pay day is Tuesday, I have a 100 dollar cell phone bill and my visa is up to 890 dollars! Ouch.... And I have a speeding ticket that's 226 dollars. I just want to know what would you guys do... To figh my ticket it's going to cost me 350! So please give me some advice, I'm 19! No rent

[BarelyBreathing]

I'd say pay the ticket, but explain that you're currently unemployed, and ask if you can get on a payment plan. How much is your Visa monthly payment?

I'd see if you can stay with your parents until you pay off your debt (ask if you can work around the house to pay off your rent). No more using your Visa. I hate those things. They're more trouble than they're worth.

If you can stay with your parents until you pay off your debt, find a roommate to move into an apartment with you and split the cost of rent. You can also advertise on the internet for odd jobs that people may need help with. You'd be surprised at the demand, especially in the construction area.

[Skumbo]

I live on $1000 a month right now, actually a little less, but thats rounded up after taxes.

I work part time and am a student full time right now (been doing part time, but im close to finishing so im doing full time technically)

you need to be *extremely* frugal.

keep in mind, more than half my money goes to rent/utilities. I pay ~$700 after rent and utilities, so i live on $150 a month right now (i save about 150 a month)

thats $150 for food, gas, and anything else. I have about $4,000 saved up by spending about $150 a month on those things.

first off, fight the ticket. it'll cost you *way* more money in insurance (thousands), especially being 19. I got one ticket in New York for "going 82 in a 55" (i was on cruise control on 70 cause it was a 65 zone right before the 55) and a "phantom" moving violation. I paid it off like an idiot at 18, and im still paying for it for another year (4 years till points go away on your licence), luckily my car is already paid off so i basically pay the same i used to for car + insurance, lol.

If youre hurting on money (and paying for food) then eat a lot of rice, there's a reason most of the world lives on it. eat rice and whatever vegetables and cheap (chicken) meat you can. I live on about a 4,000 calorie per day diet (i work out.. a LOT) so my food costs are about double a normal persons.

Why would it cost you $350 to fight a ticket? usually you just show up and if the cop doesnt show up you're off the hook (least here it is..)

stop speeding! takes more gas!

do you need your cell phone? if not, cancel it. Tell your parents you need the money back asap. And while they are your family (i dont know the situation) dont lend out money you don't have int he future (if you have a $890 visa bill, dont lend $1000...)

I put everything on my debit card, my credit is only saved for gas so that I never overspend, then again my dad drilled money management into my brain since i was about 12, so i've been doing my own finances for years lol


Just know that with enough management, you can live on less than your $600 every two weeks pretty easily. ESPECIALLY with no rent. im living on about $35-40 a week after rent is taken care of.


as for short term, not much you can do other than trying to get some of that $1000 back from your parents in some way, sell some crap you dont need, etc.

[millertime89]

I dunno how the Canada judicial system is, but if you go in to the city or county attorney here and talk to them sometimes they're willing to work with you on the ticket. The other thing you can do is ask them to push back the court date so you get some time to deal with it.

If you're really pinching pennies, cancel that cell phone or downgrade, 100 bucks here is a smart phone plan, it may not be fun, but if that's what's necessary then that's what you've gotta do.

Be careful about what you spend for food, that means no fast food, buy a loaf of bread, some sandwich meat, and whatever else you want, a loaf and a pound of ham or whatever can last you a week if you do it right. It gets old, but it gets you through.

I think you said you've got a dubia colony for your sav, so you're set there, just make sure you keep it healthy. A couple bucks for fruit for em is cheaper than buying them every day.

[Bradyloach]

I don't pay rent or food! If I fight the ticket I was getting a paralegal that's 350$, I might just fight it myself! I can stay here for a couple more months that's for sure! I'll just fight the ticket myself! Put 200 dollars on my visa, I have to have my phone. My girlfriend lives in Guelph that's 5 hours from me! She's going to school to be a doctor :D in her 3rd year of university with 90s :) do after my phone and visa payment I'll have 300 dollars left. Cass is pretty much set for a couple months till he grows out of that cage! So I'll put 100 dollars a month down for his new enclosure.

[Skumbo]

I dunno how the Canada judicial system is, but if you go in to the city or county attorney here and talk to them sometimes they're willing to work with you on the ticket. The other thing you can do is ask them to push back the court date so you get some time to deal with it.

If you're really pinching pennies, cancel that cell phone or downgrade, 100 bucks here is a smart phone plan, it may not be fun, but if that's what's necessary then that's what you've gotta do.

Be careful about what you spend for food, that means no fast food, buy a loaf of bread, some sandwich meat, and whatever else you want, a loaf and a pound of ham or whatever can last you a week if you do it right. It gets old, but it gets you through.

I think you said you've got a dubia colony for your sav, so you're set there, just make sure you keep it healthy. A couple bucks for fruit for em is cheaper than buying them every day.

^ I cancelled my cell phone cause I found it not worth the money. My dad was so sick of not being able to get a hold of me.. he bought me a cell phone and pays for my plan (lol!)

I buy 25 lb bags of whole wheat rice and mix it with veggies and whatever meat I can afford (usually anything on sale for $3 a lb or less)
eating out or ordering pizza is expensive as hell, if you need pizza or something.. buy a $4 frozen pizza or something, that's my "fancy" meals.

Sucks too cause im a huge foodie, Dani and I end up going out once every few months for a really nice meal and it ends up costing the same as we pay for all the rest of the food for the month!


edit: you posted while I was typing, at your income you should be SAVING money not be in the negative on your visa. pay that thing off QUICK (you'll thank me when you need to pay something big off like a car or a house and need a good rate). if i can live on $150/month (not including what you aren't paying for) you can too, i'm not living like a hobo either, i'm just extremely frugal about every day purchases. When its not 2 degrees in the morning, i tend to ride my bike the 25 miles to class as well, but i'm not expecting you to do that, but if you're only going 1-5 miles to the store or something, think about taking your bike. saves you half a gallon (you get crap gas mileage on short trips) and good for you, plus you wont go to the store as much if you need to bike 5 miles instead of just sittin in your truck for a few minutes.

[Bradyloach]

I don't pay for gas or insurance! My dad owns a company well my family. They gave me a 2005 gmc canyon!

[millertime89]

The other thing to consider is to start selling some of your other things. If you've still got an old phone, sell it. If you've got any other luxury items, sell them. I'm currently almost broke and out of a job and I've started selling car parts that I was going to put on my car, but I need the money.

[millertime89]

Ditch the truck and get something that gets better fuel mileage. I drive a $2000 mazda miata that gets 30 mpg. and let me tell you, that mileage is AWESOME!

[Bradyloach]

My truck is better than most cars! I don't pay for gas. I have a gas card

[shaunyboy]

Hello my friends. As some of you know I'm going through a tough time. I have some money issues I need to work out and I need advice badly, I'll run you down really quick. Okay so I'm a construction worker and Im on unenployment for the winter! I'm going back to school September for electrician! Okay so I get 600 dollars every 2 weeks. I have 0 dollars left in my bank account from building Cass his cage and lending my parents 1000 dollars. It they will pay me back! So 600 dollars and pay day is Tuesday, I have a 100 dollar cell phone bill and my visa is up to 890 dollars! Ouch.... And I have a speeding ticket that's 226 dollars. I just want to know what would you guys do... To figh my ticket it's going to cost me 350! So please give me some advice, I'm 19! No rent

sort the thing out with the law first,as you don't want to end up with more grief from the police

do you have a trusted relative,that could sit down with you and help you budget your money,so you get the most for your cash

once you pay off the back log,it will free up some cash you could use for a wee treat to cheer yourself up

just think if you tough it out and sort out a plan,you will have it sorted out in 2 to 3 months

then you'll be back on top of things and be able to relax a little

i feel for you mate,because myself and good people i know,like swany are in the same boat work wise.

the whole planet is feeling it right now,with the exceptions of the worlds top " 1% " who have ALL the money and run this planet.

we have top bankers/finance people over here that,just about bankrupt/shut down their banks,through making bad decisions,yet.....

these same bankers AWARD themselves,these muti million pound BONUSES for doing their job as director/CEO of the company.even though they did a CRAP job

everyday folk doing their job efficiantly,get laid off and NO bonuses for them

yet poloticians,bankers,financial whizzkids,all get a golden hand shake severance deal.

imo,the whole world has gone bonkers/crazy

sorry for the rant mate,its just i get angry when i see hard working decent folk down on their luck

i hope things get better real soon for you pal

all the best shaun

[infernalis]

It's all about being careful with your money.

Somehow I am managing to float a household with 3 kids, 2 trucks and more animals than I can count on around $1500 a month, so you can make it happen, I know you can.

[Bradyloach]

Thanks guys for the support! You guys are my bestest forum buddy's and I appreciate it!!!!! I just found out my t4 is in for my taxes!!! I'll get around 1500- 2000 dollars back! No more money issues after that! Castiel and me will be fine :) I really wanted to take my girlfriend out to dinner for our valintines day supper cause she was at school! I'll make it all work! I'm going to budget hard for a couple of months

[totheend]

Hey Bradyloach, you can go to the JP and plead your case and you can get a fine reduction. It costs nothing but you won't be free and clear, just a reduced fine.

[KORBIN5895]

Listen up Brady. Here in nb I have gotten at least 4 speeding tickets. I have only had to pay for one. The reason is section 55. Basically it means that if the ticket will cost you financial hard ship they will wave the fine. Plus you don't need to prove what the hardship is. Since you are on ei that helps your case. It would also help if you had bills to prove why you can't afford the ticket. You still lose points but that's a better alternative to cash and points. Is that truck in your name? If it is that might hinder your case a bit.

[Bradyloach]

Not in my name

[KORBIN5895]

Go for the financial hardship line.

[alessia55]

Everything that's been said so far is good advice... also, take preventative measures... such as: quit speeding ;)

[Bradyloach]

Haha I don't wanna lose the 4 points! I dont really care about the fine just my precious points

[Skumbo]

My truck is better than most cars! I don't pay for gas. I have a gas card

What exactly are your expenses? Time to do some financial planning!
If i wasn't paying for rent, food or gas I'd be looking at a nice black-eyed Leucistic in two months and I make less than you do!


Is that truck in your name? If it is that might hinder your case a bit.

Yeah.. pulled over in a BMW in my own name at 18 in New York with MA plates = not getting out of that one...

[Bradyloach]

I'm good now! I figured it all out :)))

[KORBIN5895]

@skumbo
What breed of leucistic?

[millertime89]

retic>bp
in my not-so-humble opinion

[BarelyBreathing]

retic>bp
in my not-so-humble opinion


YEAH they are! I saw them and my jaw hit the floor.

[Snakefood]

Haha I don't wanna lose the 4 points! I dont really care about the fine just my precious points

Then take the time and go to court and fight it. 90% of the time the police officer who issued the ticket won't be there himself (day off, too busy arresting actual criminals, ect...) if that is the case, then you win automatically, if he is there, well, your probably gonna have to pay the ticket!!

get your fruit from the 50% off rack (all PC stores have one) and you can get great greens for your sav (if they eat them, I know nothing about savs) from the nearest green grocer (veggie store) they take all the outer leaves off of the veg and leave them in boxes behind the store. I used to get 80% of the greens for my iguana for free from behind the produce store!

[Skumbo]

@skumbo
What breed of leucistic?

oh probably a ball python, admittedly looking at the black eyed leucistic on the constrictors unlimited site is what got me into looking more into non-colubrids (and eventually finding BRB's..)

I would love an all-white snake, partially to contrast when genghis will be solid black and also cause they're awesome in their own right.

I agree though, Retic > BP, but that is admittedly too big of a snake for me lol!

An all white boa would be just amazing IMO, but i don't even know if those exist really other than snow boas which are way out of my $$$ range right now.


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also! OP, please dont take my comments as me trying to be a **** like "oh you suck at managing money bleehhh" i was wasting money at your age too (and im only a few years older than you) because I wasn't spending money on food or rent, you really dont realize how quick you spend money on things when you have hobbies!