I am 26 years old. I moved to Vermont about 6 and a half years ago, but went nowhere in life from it. I recently lost my job and no longer have a working vehicle.
I've talked to some family members back home and they have said if I can get back, I can stay with them until I get mobile again. I even had a few over the phone interviews with some local companies in the area. Now I just need to get there before all the snow falls.
I am thinking of renting a car so I can bring my junk with me. I don't really have that much crap but what I do have I would like to keep. I've calculated that I will need around $600 for the car rental and gas to get there, but knowing how these things play out I think I should shoot for about $1000 to ensure I make it.
I feel like my only option is to apply for a credit card. I don't know anything about credit cards, I've never had one. They make me feel like I'm going to go into massive debt. I have no job, no income what so ever. I have $260 in my bank account and have no idea what to do.
Is it possible at all for an unemployed person to get a credit card? Can I get one with as few fees as possible?
Basically, what most companies do is ship offers to people's homes if they are in a certain "bracket" . The brackets are based on annual income, previous credit ratings, etc.
The problem is that not having a job means that any card you apply for will have much higher interest rates compared to someone who does have a job.
If you NEED a credit card, then by all means get one, use it and pay it back asap so you won't get late fees or have the interest accrue.
You not having a job is going to make you appear as a huge liability, so your probably not going to get one with good rates, especially if you have no past credit. If you did get one, you would need to pay it off by the end of the month to not get hit with interest.
I don't know if getting a credit card is the best solution, because honestly, it may lead down a path of crippling debt if you can't pay it off in time, since you don't have much capital to begin with. But you may be out of options.
go to your bank and ask for it
Don't do the mistake thousands of Americans make - you don't want debt. You're better off mowing lawns until you raise your $1000 than lending money from the bank.
For $260 I would just get a debit card, that way when you run out of money you won't be in debt from the banks
Also I would go job hunting
I need transportation to get to and from work in my area, and I don't have that anymore. Public transportation doesn't come this way either. It's a real shitty deal.
If I could I would, it would alleviate a lot of stress.
if you've never built credit before you're likely to get a very low monthly limit, so it won't be of much help to you
[QUOTE=SwizzChees;45519152]go to your bank and ask for it[/QUOTE]
This is probably your best option.
The only other possibility would be trying to get a store card (target, sears, etc.). They are a lot less choosy, but I don't know the kind of limits they set. You would have to check that out first.
Your best bet would be trying to get money from a friend or family member. I know it's degrading, but it won't screw you over for years to come to nearly the same degree.
Maybe you can find a shit job near you, all you have to do is work for a month or two, even at minimum wage and you should have about enough to get home and some extra.
So say you do get the money, and are able to go to your family. If you rent a car, how are you going to return it? Wont you have to drive all the way back and find another way back?
Or you could just buy a $100 piece of shit instead and that might get you there. I have a spare parts car for my car which only cost $110AUD (the $10 was for petrol) and although it had stuff like a smashed rear passenger window it still survived an 80km trip and was still working perfectly fine for months after that (until I swapped the faulty distributor in my daily driver with the one from the spare parts car).
[QUOTE=Antdawg;45523155]So say you do get the money, and are able to go to your family. If you rent a car, how are you going to return it? Wont you have to drive all the way back and find another way back?
Or you could just buy a $100 piece of shit instead and that might get you there. I have a spare parts car for my car which only cost $110AUD (the $10 was for petrol) and although it had stuff like a smashed rear passenger window it still survived an 80km trip and was still working perfectly fine for months after that (until I swapped the faulty distributor in my daily driver with the one from the spare parts car).[/QUOTE]
In the US you can rent vehicles for one way trips. Also, my trip will be over 2800km :v:
Greyhound will get you just about anywhere for pretty cheap (around $200ish), and if you have any trusted friends where you are now you could try and get them to ship you your stuff and offer to pay them back when you're back on your feet. If you don't have anyone to ship you your stuff (or you have say, furniture) it probably won't be as cost effective since you'd have to foot the bill for shipping up front.
Isn't there some sort of site or app that has to do with finding people going your way that you can hitch a ride with. But only if you're okay with hitching rides with strangers from the internet.
Also, if you don't have money, you shouldn't get a loan or a credit.
It's a great way to fall into debt.
[QUOTE=Sgt. Khorn;45527878]Also, if you don't have money, you shouldn't get a loan or a credit.
It's a great way to fall into debt.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Stopper;45519405]Don't do the mistake thousands of Americans make - you don't want debt. You're better off mowing lawns until you raise your $1000 than lending money from the bank.[/QUOTE]
This and this. A credit card or a loan isn't "free money." Don't even consider them, being in debt sucks, and you'll have to pay off much more than you spend with it later.
Find some odd jobs or a minimum wage job somewhere nearby and work there until you're on your feet. Don't fall into debt or you'll [i]really[/i] regret it.
I have a credit card now and even with a low limit it's pretty daunting to manage even with a non-desparate income. So I wouldn't consider one unless you're financially situated/comfortable and want to build your credit.
If you get one now, you'll be in the hole somewhere close to the card's max, with a bill that's due and no or low income to pay it with. That's a recipe for debt.
[QUOTE=Stopper;45519405]Don't do the mistake thousands of Americans make - you don't want debt. You're better off mowing lawns until you raise your $1000 than lending money from the bank.[/QUOTE]
Credit cards are fine if you know what you're doing. I just avoid having any debts I can't pay off immediately if I need to.
[QUOTE=Paramud;45530646]Credit cards are fine if you know what you're doing. I just avoid having any debts I can't pay off immediately if I need to.[/QUOTE]
They are fine if you have an income. Problem is, he doesn't.
Here's the deal, when October rolls around I will be homeless here in Vermont, a place that gets very cold in winter.
I've already applied for nearly every local job, and just about grovelled at the feet of a restaurant owner today. :v:
Unfortunately it's a very small state and every time a job opening comes up near here it's almost immediately filled. I also think that since these are local family owned businesses, friends and relatives of the business usually end up getting first dibs.
I don't own that many things, but certainly too much take with me on a bus or plane. I've already posted a lot of my things for sale on craigslist and ebay. Including my computer and two of my guitars. I've had no takers, though.
My family can't send any money and my friends have families of their own to take care of.
I'm wondering, how long do you normally have to pay a credit card bill? What is the typical minimum payment? I'm boned either way, I suppose. I don't except I'd rack up a $1000 credit card bill, maybe $600 from rental and gas. I will have a job almost as soon as I get there, too. If that helps.
[QUOTE=Demache;45531005]They are fine if you have an income. Problem is, he doesn't.[/QUOTE]
Well yeah, then that's definitely a reason not to have one. You're supposed to pay them off monthly, so it's really out of the question if you don't have a fixed income or a large amount of money put away.
Do you have a credit rating, or record?
Phone plans are one of the more common ways to get reputable.
In all honesty, you're better off with a debit card attached to a transaction account with an overdraft.
Lower fees, less repayment brackets.
[QUOTE=false prophet;45531278]Here's the deal, when October rolls around I will be homeless here in Vermont, a place that gets very cold in winter.
I've already applied for nearly every local job, and just about grovelled at the feet of a restaurant owner today. :v:
Unfortunately it's a very small state and every time a job opening comes up near here it's almost immediately filled. I also think that since these are local family owned businesses, friends and relatives of the business usually end up getting first dibs.
I don't own that many things, but certainly too much take with me on a bus or plane. I've already posted a lot of my things for sale on craigslist and ebay. Including my computer and two of my guitars. I've had no takers, though.
My family can't send any money and my friends have families of their own to take care of.
I'm wondering, how long do you normally have to pay a credit card bill? What is the typical minimum payment? I'm boned either way, I suppose. I don't except I'd rack up a $1000 credit card bill, maybe $600 from rental and gas. I will have a job almost as soon as I get there, too. If that helps.[/QUOTE]
You have a month from when the bill is posted. So if you got one and were approved today, anything you spent today would be due in two months. Minimum payment is going to depend on the card most likely, but personally, mine is like $25.
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