I need more money

[mwatson12]

I'm currently making about $1,100 a month after taxes and it's not cutting it. My hours went way down because business is way down. I'm 21 years old, have a truck payment combined with insurance of $450 a month (business used to be great enough for me to afford that) plus over $300 in gas a month = $750 a month there. Then I have groceries running about $150 a month. That leaves me with $200 a month. I need a place to live, and will probably have to spend another $500 a month for that. But I would also like to save at least $500 a month. So I would like to make an extra $800 a month, preferrably $1,000 or more.

I know that's asking for a lot, but , I'm going under here and there are no frickin jobs in this area (Maine). I'm trying to save up to move out of this dump by January, which is why I'd like to save that amount per month. I'm busting my daily, even with shortened hours, and every day it feels like there is less hope of ever getting out of this state. I've been stuck here for the past 3 years now doing the same old crap. Maine is literally hell. There is no escaping this place, it holds you down and forces you into settling for whatever miserable opportunity happens to arise and I cannot take it anymore. I want to punch myself in the face every time I look in the mirror.

Sorry for the rant. Any ideas, whether to earn that money or get me the hell out of here and to somewhere nice like Texas or Virginia are really appreciated.

[jpg7n16]

Idea number 1: Spend some time on CareerBuilder.com. You can easily create a search to find hundreds of jobs in your area. Apply to ones that improve your situation.

This one took me like 4 minutes - ME Jobs on CareerBuilder.com

Note: exclude any jobs that make you pay to work for them.

Idea number 2: move. If you hate it where you are, there's no reason you can't go somewhere else. There's no wall around Maine keeping you there.

Idea number 3: Combine ideas 1 and 2. Use careerbuilder to find a place with a job you like and can do reasonably well - and then move there.

Idea number 4: think through your financial actions before you make them. "Hey $450/month for a truck payment may be kinda hard to make when you only make $1000/month" - type thinking.

Idea number 5: Sell the truck and downsize to a reasonable car.

[KTP]

Pack it up now and move to one of the places having an oil and gas boom. Even just being a gopher and grunt you can make $40K a year, and if you get some experience, 80K is not out of the question.

[FireBal989]

Search many free ad as well as classifieds posting sites, this will help you find different job listings and postings that are available in your area !!!!

[simonclay111]

You just need a proper financial advice.

[annskilo]

Simply cut down your expenses, renegotiate your insurance, etc and sell that truck of yours.
You have to adapt to your new situation. Spend your extra time wisely. Get a second job or use that time to look for an alternative job!

[surveyspencer]

I agree with the posts here. You need to start making more. There's only so much you can save...

[Wino]

Maine is not the hole you are thinking it is. There are a lot of paper mills up there that pay fairly well. What are your skills? I work in the oil and gas industry (up stream), and as someone suggested, we're hiring qualified people.

You'll need to be drug free, have a fairly clean police record, and be physically able to work. The oil patch is not covered by the ADA, as the work itself requires a lot of climbing up and down ladders and working your way around dangerous situations; "reasonable" accommodations don't cut it for someone who is not physically fit.

Also, if you have any skills: electrical, driving, mechanical, engineering, etc., you can easily make $80K a year. It is not unusual for someone with 5 years of experience to be making that level, and many of them well into the six figures.