How do you cope with financial problems?

[hotMCfan]

So its been like 3 years now since we've become poor. Call me a frickin' spoiled kid but I'm still having a hard time coping. I had my own nanny when I was little, I've never used public transportation alone up until I was 16 years old, my friends are frickin' rich and can sometimes be judgmental towards the poor.

I'll admit that sometimes I get tantrums over our situation and just vent out my anger out of nowhere to my parents. I commute a total of 4+ hrs a day to go to school (in my previous school, which was only 10 minutes away I have a driver and a school service [just in case there's no one to fetch me]), I'm always tired that I sometimes unable to do my homeworks. I try to be mature about it but it's so hard. I have to sometimes find ways to get the equipment I need for school. Somebody stole my camera last time when I had a photography class and we didn't had money so I failed my exams and was like .3 away from being an honor student.

What's worse is that some of the people I thought will understand me tease me with words like "you're ruining our plans because you're poor!" and "you can't just go to a fancy place without money" and my older siblings are so spoiled that even though they graduated from the top universities of our country but don't want to work.

I feel like shit. Probably the effect of not being to join my friends watch the Lady Gaga concert. They're on the frontest row by the way. And I'm here, all jealous.

I don't even have my own phone. The phone I'm borrowing from our store is like the cheapest phone in the world and people are judging me but I just joke about it.

[QueenBfan]

Do you have a job?

[summer]

I don't think that people who judge you by your financial abilities and say negative things when you clearly need support can be called 'friends'. They are classmates at best.

My way of dealing with the lack of finances was to reduce the money I spent on the entertainment.

[Crazy4Brit]

I don't think that people who judge you by your financial abilities and say negative things when you clearly need support can be called 'friends'. They are classmates at best.

This! They should enjoy going out with you, not your money

A friend of mine has a pretty much similar situation. They're 4 children and only her mum works (her father left them when they were little, he went away and never came back). Her mother doesn't even have a well paid job so they obviously have big financial problems. Fortunately they live in a state-owned house and they're helped by law in some ways: this girl (who's also a classmate of mine) couldn't afford to pay for the school trip in Prague and Vienna earlier this year so the school payed for her about the 70% of the total cost so she eventually came!

ps. Where are you from?

[neoepzilon]

You deal like everyone else does until you can make a better life for yourself. You sound like you needed this anyway.

[Shortie]

I'm actually poor, comparing to my classmates. But I'm so fabulous, that almost everyone loves me.

Anyway, you're overreacting a bit. I mean I walk 3 km to school on foot (6 counting coming back) and I never found this a reason of depression.

[Play]

I think I understand your point. If you had a normal financial situation all your life you wouldn't be complaining because it's what you know. But you were rich and now you don't have all those means in life, it definitely bothers you...

But I'm with Justforme about the friends thing, they have no right to talk to you like that... and one thing I should add, if I knew my friend loved Gaga that much I'd also buy a front row ticket for him/her just to enjoy the concert together. I don't know they look like very rude beings in the light of what you told about them...

And I sincerely feel for you. The feeling of missing something this great while the other are enjoying it right very close to you just hurts so fcking much... but that's life man!!

You should use these kind of feelings and try to tranform them into red hot ambition and believe me there's nothing you can't do with high ambitions...

There's a girl in my class (i'm a dance instructor) and she also commutes like 2 hours after the dance class is done (imagine how tired she is all the time). But she tries, she was bad at dancing at the beginning of the year but she improved a lot and I'm sure I'll make a great dancer out her so soon!!

All in all I really get what you're feeling right now, I had been to exact same situations when I was a teen but I guess I just learnt to let my talents and soul shine so that became the reason other people like me so much, definitely not my money!

[Wayne]

To answer the question of the topic - head on.

The best way to deal with financial problems is not living beyond your means and budgeting adequately, as your pound or dollar or euro needs to go further in 2012 than it has had to, in a long time.

Failing the above, you should deal with financial problems head on.

[pcdm3]

How old are you?

[jio]

Are we supposed to feel bad for u? Because what hapenned to your family is clearly a blessing for u so u can wake up and live in the real world...(sorry if I sound harsh, but your current life is far more normal than your previous one)... oh and go get some real friends while you're at it, you don't need those trash u were hanging out with

[bezza888]

Coping method: vodka but agreed, face it head on with a positive attitude. Good things come..

[summer]

This is clearly a stressful time for your family. But in the end you'll have a chance to come out of this much stronger and mature. I'm sure you'll do fine. There're no other options (This is what I'm saying to myself).
T.C.

[Graham76man]

hotMCfan
I feel sorry most for your parents. After all they have lost thier income, which made you rich, now they are worrying about how to pay the bills. The fact they can't now give the rest of the family a lifestyle that they wanted you all to have. I don't wish to know what Job they did that paid them a lot of money, but to loose that kind of job is tough. Then they have now to take a job which pays a lot less. I'm certain if the person, who was paid a lot, is now working in a much less skilled or less responsible job. Perhaps even under someone who looks down on your parent, maybe even knows that they had more money than they do now. Do you think they get treated any different to you at school?
In fact a lot of people who have gone down the pan like that have jumped off the bridge
So perhaps you should think about that before you let fly about the rough time your having of it.
I'm not saying your spoilt at all. Indeed you will have a rough time of it and indeed are. Just be thankfull that your parents are trying their best to keep a roof over your heads and food on your table. You could have had it a lot worse.

As an after thought it might be a nice jester for you and the rest of the family to do something that your parents would like. A token to show your love in the hard times.
I'm certain it would help your parents and after all in the words of John Lennon "All you need is love".

[NoAngels]

A friend of mine who was really poor and lived with a step-mother who was mean to him, his father didn't give him enough money but that didn't make him fail, he used to commute everyday to university, he is now a post graduate student in Theoretical Linguistics.


Rich people are so dumb, mean and superficial.

[Crazy4Brit]

Rich people are so dumb, mean and superficial.

Being rich doesn't mean you're like Paris Hilton. A couple of friends of mine are really rich (not wealthy but rich) and they're not as normal people usually see rich people: dumb, mean and superficial.

Maybe i'm just lucky to have some GOOD frieds (not talking about the money but the soul). Who knows..

[pcdm3]

Rich people are so dumb, mean and superficial.

No..

[alxx]

I agree with what everyone else is saying, you just have to try keep your head held up even when things are bad. Hopefully your hard work will pay off eventually, it's just about being persistent which is a hell of a lot of effort.

[Shorty]

I just HATE it when you say you're broke, and people's first "helpful suggestion" is to tell you to get a job

Yes, because it's just that easy! I can't just go out and get a job in one day. Jobs are scarce around here and I've been looking for work for over a year now with no luck. All the people who tell me to get a job already have one and don't have to worry about finding work.

I'm currently broke as hell, I have about $50 in my bank account. But I'm a terrible person as I complain about it to my parents and they give me money My Mum gave me 100 bucks on the weekend and my Dad gives me money regularly...

[jpguy]

I live in Guatemala City, one of the poorest places EVER in history...
Our health system and security are amongst the worst in the world... the social insurance sucks, they kill for stealing a cell phone here in my city... it really is bad...
People BEG for money or sell candies for less than $1 a day in the buses, sometimes they even come up in the public bus and show you the scars they have on their bodies after an accident, or blind people begging for food or a coin...
so I'm pretty sure those are in need to be depressed over the daily bread not there on time...

How do I cope with it?
I haven't been a day in my life where I haven't had a meal ... I've always have money to eat a meal... but sometimes I 'm broke...
I just don't go out as much and stay home on the internet... and look for music...
Money doesn't always make you happy IMO, and those who criticize you are NOT your friends, that's 100000%.... they're mean , cruel people...
It's like your friendship was there only because of the money.... you're a kind person, just try to find other activities... and remember, poor people are not mean people and you can always hang out with people that are "less rich" if you look at it this way...
Bless you

[toni_pest]

Be happy with what you got, cause there are maaaaaaaaany people that have much less than you and don't complain. You'll live through it and you'll be glad you did!

[jio]

I live in Guatemala City, one of the poorest places EVER in history...
Our health system and security are amongst the worst in the world... the social insurance sucks, they kill for stealing a cell phone here in my city... it really is bad...
People BEG for money or sell candies for less than $1 a day in the buses, sometimes they even come up in the public bus and show you the scars they have on their bodies after an accident, or blind people begging for food or a coin...
so I'm pretty sure those are in need to be depressed over the daily bread not there on time...

How do I cope with it?
I haven't been a day in my life where I haven't had a meal ... I've always have money to eat a meal... but sometimes I 'm broke...
I just don't go out as much and stay home on the internet... and look for music...
Money doesn't always make you happy IMO, and those who criticize you are NOT your friends, that's 100000%.... they're mean , cruel people...
It's like your friendship was there only because of the money.... you're a kind person, just try to find other activities... and remember, poor people are not mean people and you can always hang out with people that are "less rich" if you look at it this way...
Bless you

I think that was beautiful

[preyan]

Very good topic!!
I think it is hard for people, who use to have a lavish life, to adapt to a more "poorer" lifestyle!!!

Poverty see's no culture, border, country!!! Anyone of us can become a victim of loss, poverty at any given time!! And it's truly at these life changing situations where we learn who our REAL friends and FAMILY are!!!!

With that said, I think you should think about those that really don't have a roof over their head, nor a plate of food on the table. These thoughts will make you appreciate whatever "little" you have!!!

At don't worry, going to the best of schools and uni's does not guarantee success. It may give your resume a booster but it's hard and smart working that will give you a career. s they say, many can have a job, but only some have a career!!!

And the sooner you come to terms with your new lifestyle, and appreciate what you currently have, the sooner you will be happier and meade content with your life.

Seriously, let's rather think and pray for those that are less fortunate than us

Wishing you and your family all the best. Trust me, the world has far more serious problem.

[neoepzilon]

I live in Guatemala City, one of the poorest places EVER in history...
Our health system and security are amongst the worst in the world... the social insurance sucks, they kill for stealing a cell phone here in my city... it really is bad...
People BEG for money or sell candies for less than $1 a day in the buses, sometimes they even come up in the public bus and show you the scars they have on their bodies after an accident, or blind people begging for food or a coin...
so I'm pretty sure those are in need to be depressed over the daily bread not there on time...

How do I cope with it?
I haven't been a day in my life where I haven't had a meal ... I've always have money to eat a meal... but sometimes I 'm broke...
I just don't go out as much and stay home on the internet... and look for music...
Money doesn't always make you happy IMO, and those who criticize you are NOT your friends, that's 100000%.... they're mean , cruel people...
It's like your friendship was there only because of the money.... you're a kind person, just try to find other activities... and remember, poor people are not mean people and you can always hang out with people that are "less rich" if you look at it this way...
Bless you

I think that was beautiful

He's beautiful, inside and out.

[stevyy]

i don't have to cope with such probs. I'm/was one of those poeple that could always rely on their parents.


But if your parents can't compensate your situation then it's probably best to plan all investments ahead. U don't need fancy clothes or the latest CD (as if anybody still buys music lol).. so save your money for a month or two and then spent a little bit of that.

If your so-called friends won't understand the situation then I'd dump them.

public transportation isn't that bad - at least not where I live.. I have to take the bus everyday.. and the underground as well.. but they are fast (especially underground) and mostly clean.

[summer]

public transportation isn't that bad - at least not where I live.. I have to take the bus everyday.. and the underground as well.. but they are fast (especially underground) and mostly clean.

True I bet it's great all over the country