Last year we had an incredible response to a thread offering assistance to those in the HN community. You can read it here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34122118
Last year we were able to provide nearly $20k worth of support to community members. I know things have only gotten more challenging since then for a number of us, so I wanted to make sure I provided more time this year for people to reach out.
As usual, this is not a request for donations. Last year and this year I am content to finance this operation myself (although a number of people did step up and offer additional support). All I ask is that you let us know your financial needs and their general purpose so that we can maximize the number of people we can help.
To be clear, while the original intent was to provide dinner expenses for the holidays, this need not be the only reason you ask for funds. Reasonable requests include:
- Holiday housing
- Toys/gifts for family members
- Food
- Travel assistance
- Medical expenses
- Entertainment for the family
I understand, as a formerly homeless person myself, that it can be tough to ask for help. The majority of those who request assistance do so over email and I assure you that I will keep your request and information private and between us.
I am happy to use this thread for any questions the community and potential beneficiaries may have.
Happy holidays!
- Alexander
I'm one of the original members of HN and I've been here for a long time; since week one I think.
I'm an American technologist who has done web dev work in the past, but right now I'm stuck on an island in the Philippines without income or employment, and things are getting pretty desperate since it's this close to Christmas and my wife and I have two young children (my youngest is five). The pantry and coffers are empty at this point. The reason I'm here is because my family are citizens of this country and although I am trying to get the immigration paperwork together to bring them to the States, there's quite a lot of red tape and it's taking a lot longer than I expected.
Until recently I had been working remotely but the company I had been with sold and got folded into a bigger corporation and I was laid off along with our dev team.
My goal is to find an entry level back end or front end role that is remote for now. I am working on my Python-fu and I also have experience with HTML/CSS/JavaScript. I am interested in cloud-based technologies.
Since then I've been sending resumes out and doing interviews, but I'm not getting any response or feedback so far whatsoever... not a single bite. The recent trend of BTO (Back to the office) has been killing my chances, I think. I'm willing to take just about any job, help desk, on call, roles that are APAC time zone-only, anything as long as I can do it from here in the PH.
I know this is a long shot but things are getting pretty desperate for me. My family is basically rationing and we're living very close to the edge of bankruptcy. I would be overwhelmed with gratitude if there was help, but most of all I want to just help myself. I am a hard worker and enthusiastic about work in general, and I have a technical background and have worked in several technical roles in the past. Thank you and happy holidays to whoever reads this!
Really? Companies ghosting applicants, has, unfortunately, with high supply and low demand of well-paid tech jobs, become a standard practice, especially for candidates in the United States and Europe.
I don't need anything though, I am (now) a man of extremely humble means. I wake up every morning alive and I have access to the Internet. What more does a nerd need? :D
p.s. I do accept any coupons for free SaaS subscriptions anyone has spare. Literally any tiny bit of money I get goes on subs and a Hetzner three euro/month ARM server rental!
https://gchq.github.io/CyberChef/
https://bailproject.org/
qingcharles: there are a number of resources available to help you with “re-entry”, and after ten years that seems important. Generally the best help comes from private nonprofits, but there are a lot of official options too (https://nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/). If you’d like any help connecting to groups in your area, feel free to ask, I can probably find some.
I just checked out that National Re-entry web site. Oh lord, as a web designer I just died a little inside. I tried searching for information and it just gave me pages of PDF internal reports about jail management etc. Literally nothing that would get me food or say, some winter boots.
The problem I've got is that my immigration status was screwed by the incarceration and my SSN is currently invalid. I can't get any ID and I can't access any government services until it is restored. I'm supposed to be in immigration jail until my green card is reinstated, but I talked to an ICE agent and they say I am super low priority as long as I stay out of trouble they won't come after me.
I would think a libertarian-orientated place like HN would be in full support. This model should be copied across the country so people aren't unconstitutionally jailed before being convicted. Unfortunately, the discussion has been focused on politics as a Democratic legislature and Governor passed the law.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion...
I am recovering too. Soon, I got to war.
But yeah I understand. Once you're dealing with multiple countries every financial/legal situation becomes much much harder.
Me, they put for a month into solitary confinement under 24/7 video surveillance when I demanded to speak to the US embassy, since they did not believe me that I am a US citizen.
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/presumed-innocent-but-detained-for-mon...
There were people I was with doing months in jail because they couldn't come up with $50. I had a homeless cellmate with a $200 bond. I told him I'd get my wife to pay the damned thing, but in the end he managed to get all his homeless buddies to come down to the jail and give $10 or $20 each over three days until he had enough to get out. I won that case for him, he was only jailed because the local police chief was a piece of shit and put a false warrant out for him even though he had committed no crime.
I've known several people who managed over 11 years in the Cook County Jail.
I did 8 years and 1 month in jail, then 11 months on house arrest, then another 5 months in jail for Tweeting about police misconduct. Then another 4 months in prison because they didn't want to phone my release site.
Anyone else rocking the "Free Kevin" bumper sticker back in the day?
This and civil forfeiture stuff always has pissed me off immensely.
This might be a good place to inform people about the existence of the Sheltersuit Foundation [1] (I'm not affiliated in any way). They create decent sleeping bags for the homeless, and accept donations to provide them to those in need.
Last night a lot of Dutch people slept outside for one night to raise funds for the homeless. [2]
[1] https://sheltersuit.com/
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSA9AoWfVwU
We are grateful for your country support at these heavy for us times!
I shared something about my current situation a couple days ago. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38464859
I've been looking for work most of this year. Lost count of the number of applications sent out and rejected. I've been turning over every rock and scraping every barrel bottom without success.
Rent is now late as of 12/1. Internet shut off yesterday, which is problematic for trying to find work.
I'm frankly embarrassed to be in this situation. I've always been the person to help out friends and family in situations like this and luckily they've been helping me out where they can, but they can only do so much.
Hang in there; I’ve been in this position and it is possible to get out. Look forward to connecting soon.
If you're affected by tech winter and looking for someone to have a technical discussion to "upskill", feel free to reach out: https://tidycal.com/wiradikusuma/hn-30-min
I'm writing a "wide spectrum" technical book, but this is not a solicitation for the book. I'm mentioning this just to say I know a thing or two.
What advice would you give for a stay at home dad (5years) looking to return to tech.
How do I portray that on my resume and on linked in? How big of a deal is it?
Unfortunately, we still at war.
Must admit, now we are much better than year ago, Nov-Dec 2022, near from first day was constant blackouts due to rocket attacks. Your help was very warm light at all this.
Nov 2023 was boring waiting for fate, fortunately nothing special happen, but nobody could predict, how dangerous will be December 2023.
Thank you!
BTW I'm electric engineer and programmer, I ask to everybody who read this thread, please write, if you will got any ideas, how I could help others to feel warmer and safer.
https://web.archive.org/web/20231110021432/https://solar.low...
For the metaphorical warmer, something that could help people that you could probably help with as a programmer is a language learning platform: If people need to leave the country, knowing how helpful spaced repetition can be might save them a lot of strife.
If networking in your region becomes unreliable, it could be useful and helpful to know about mesh networking, but for that to be effective, cooperation needs to happen between multiple parties in different locations, and that can be difficult.
For about language learning and spaced repetition, things are running.
Just cup of days ago, Ukrainian government decided to make English a must for officials, and made changes to education regulations, so now English will study from first year in all Ukrainian schools.
Spaced repetition, from my own experience, is very depend on how well organized person, and war making huge interference in organization. Imagine, how hard to organize if you every day hear siren of air defense, and nobody could predict, how long war will last, and every day possible some extreme news.
To be honest, I envy to Yugoslavians, as they war last just few months, NATO aviation very fast finished Soviets offense. In Ukraine case, I literally seen few tides and ebbs, when things slowly become more extreme, and then again, slowly return some stability and feeling of safeness.
And the last what I must say, Ukrainians are good in peer interactions, unfortunately at the moment, we have not good reliable results in large scale peer interactions, I think we must study this part of democracy.
I think, my other answer also could say something additional: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38503774
Thank you again, please share your thoughts and knowledge if possible.
For others, Medshare is running a fundraiser for Ukraine: https://www.medshare.org/zukraine/
They provide medical supplies and stuff like backup generators for medical facilities. They were running a match program and my company has a gift match. Last year google matched contributions to UNHCR. I can't pass up a 3x match to a good cause.
For more detailed explanation better if you read Goldratt's Theory of constraints and for beginners introduction good books "the goal" (1/2/3). Also good to read classics - Sun Tzu, the Art of war, it is very short but unfortunately written on old Chinese, which nobody knows, so different translations are significantly different, best if read all translations you could reach in parallel and compare.
Javelins are made with strict reporting, and considered to storage few years. American/European medicine working on evidence based principles and strict protocols.
But at war and emergency, strict protocols usually disabled (and planned operations shift right), because they are extremely slow and expensive, and most Western weapons and supplies are not stored significant time, they near immediately consumed.
And also important, bureaucracy is not good, but Ukrainian bureaucracy now is just disaster, fortunately Ukrainians smart and good in peer interaction, so always when possible, better to use lower level.
So exists few variants to help:
1. If you will help to medicine, via some large fund with their bureaucracy, well, I'm not very optimistic on effectiveness, but I'm grateful.
2. If you find some way to help buy weapons, like Bayraktar heavy drones, also via some big fund, this is better. I'm also grateful.
3. The best, if you hire me, or with your support I'll make my business, probably open source. In this case will be triple win: First, I'll make decent product, I feel very strong importance of tech for community; Second, I will have some predictable future, so I could plan my life and care about health, not wait for medical emergency, so 1st variant will be just not happen with me; Third, I will spend time to talk with Ukrainian military people, I think you understand, they could tell much more to me in private talk, than for people abroad, and I will try to make them best help for this time.
As example, what I could do, FPV drones, which are less effective then Javelin, but cheaper and cost effectiveness of drones is much better. Second example, all drones very depend on communications, I'm really good in communications hard/soft, so I could make things, to make Ukrainian drones communications more reliable, and to interfere enemy communications or intercept them. And others and others. We here at HN, are knowledge workers, all we talk about gather information, store information, and process information, and you might know, knowledge at war is literally life, because with modern weapons, people in many cases don't see enemy, just got info from intelligence that enemy in location X,Y, and who will make successful fire first - will survive.
To be strict, now Russians still have significant advantage in heavy and modern weapons, and strong intelligence, and for them typical to attack civilians, so anything what make more heavy/modern weapons for Ukrainians and less heavy/modern weapons for Russians, will made huge impact on volumes of work for medics.
Please shoot me an email if you have any specific requests I can help with and I will do whatever I can to help!
I'm contemplating getting a diesel generator, to share amongst them and their neighbours, but it's less than ideal as the generator has to be outside (for ventilation) and their apartment block doesn't have balconies.
For heat pumps (fridges, conditioners), boiler automation, microwave, modern high frequency furnaces, things are more complicated and this will not work directly, but for them usually written MAX power input, but in reality they consume max power only few seconds to start, and all other time, typical 1/4 of max power or even less. So, you need to check peak power output of your powerstation, many have constant power for example 1000W, but peak 2000W.
In some cases, may be good solution automobile booster, as they designed to have insane high peak power.
I could not recommend this, but in many cases, in modern tech, only digital part is much depend on voltage and consume very little power, and use closed loop control and sensors, but heaters are just old Ohm heaters, and they connected with digital by relays, so it is possible to power digital part from external power supply, like mobile charger (international variants usually work 100-240V), and heaters directly with lower voltage (120V instead of 220V).
Coffee? Batteries? Radios? Car parts?
What I think we have enough, is coffee, for other things, we need them, but exist nuances.
Most important, I'm veteran of Ukraine Maidan, but this war exhausted us economically.
I must admit, this time I just cannot spend enough money to talk with people offline, I think you know how this is important.
I know, Ukrainian defense need all these things, but not everything. I mean, we have technically powerful enemy, with developed radio intelligence, and environment changing constantly, for example, analog radios are not interest at all now.
And if we talk about radios, car parts, I must do even more - I must regularly talk with officials, and visit field tests, to check how they work on more or less real environment; for cars, I must calculate, which are more economy effective, so I'll not give military forces finance Black Holes.
Sorry, this time I need to take a pause and gather info. Will answer more later.
I think, my other answer also could say something additional: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38503774
Thank you again, please share your thoughts and knowledge if possible.
In the meantime, I'm noting a few things from your comments. Can you confirm my impressions are correct?
1. Field communications are difficult, presumably due to Russian signals intelligence.
2. Russians have a weaponry advantage. Presumably this is mainly driven by artillery? Last I heard, airspace is still contested. Is that still the case?
Taken together, I'm under the impression field mobility and coordination is a challenge. Indeed, this is why my mind jumped to car parts, batteries and radio. Do you find yourselves needing to do things on foot? If so, I'm sure I could figure out a way to send things like socks, footwear and rain gear.
Also, please let me know if there are any supplies that could help with morale. I've also spent some time in a fox hole, so I know how much little things like coffee and chocolate can mean to someone after several days of rain or snow.
If you would prefer to speak about this somewhere else, I have a Matrix account I'm happy to share with you.
Exists three big problems.
First, they intercept signals and if possible use intercepted info to target their artillery or aviation, and they have superiority in both. In artillery they have about two times superiority (on begin of war was 10-20); in aviation, 5-10 times.
For about air defense, looks like they have more number of long range systems, like S-300, but we now have grown number of short range systems, like Gepard.
Second, they have developed electromagnetic warfare, and interfere our communications, and for example, in many cases could disable our drones just by EW equipment. They invested really huge resources on this, so even Western precision-guided munition suffered limited accuracy.
Third, they have their own spy satellites, and have experienced people working with tech intelligence for years, and we in Ukraine are mostly agrarian people, experienced only with light guns. Also, Russians actively involve academy resources (yes, literally universities) to conduct war research and to teach operators of new tech, like drone (uav) operators.
As example of war research, our hackers intercept documents, that in Russian civilian universities conducted researches of best routes for Russian drones to hit Ukrainian infrastructure objects.
Also, Russians heavily use civilian building equipment to build fortifications. And Russians constantly hit Ukrainian civilians, but Ukrainians, avoid to target civilians at all costs.
This sometimes remember me colonization of America history, where on one side was tribes with bows and arrows, and on other side colonizers with rifles and guns.
Partially, we in Ukraine working on peer level, to research and to teach people, but I near have not hear about government programs of doing this, and our bureaucracy is constantly late on this.
Fortunately, Ukrainians much better in peer working than Russians, but I'm not sure this will be long superiority.
And I don't know, when we fix our weak bureaucracy.
And yes, Western equipment is far better than Russian, but we have it in too little quantities, to achieve superiority. For example, Russians usually have to spent ~50 artillery shells to hit target; with Western guns, Ukrainians in many cases need only 10, but Russians have these 50 shells and Ukrainians have not these 10.
And sorry to repeat. This is really big war, in which things changed constantly. And changes are so huge, even NATO analysts sometimes said, they was not imagine this could happen. For example, people said, at NATO they trained that mine field will be square 200x200 meters, but in reality seen many kilometers strip about kilometer deep. And when Ukrainians use anti-mine system, make pass and go there, immediately, Russians fire from artillery and use systems for remote placing land mines.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
I have depression, severe ADHD, burnout, a sleep apnea, and some kind of weird fatigue thing -- all of which blocks me from touching code, which is pretty much the only thing I am capable of and good at. According to testing I experience an apnea around 100 times an hour, and I wake up for 90 of those. On top of this I have a certain amount of agoraphobia and I completely shut down in stressful situations, which has prevented me from seeking UC and disability support payments. My job let me go last year, despite their assurances that they were disability friendly, so I've had to move back in with my parents which while it saves me from homelessness, means I'm without any social support that would help me through applying for UC. I am waiting for second stage triage for ADHD medication and for the local GIC to get back to me, both of which are six+ months away (it could be a year or longer, even).
I'm currently coasting on savings, which means I have approximately 100 quid left, and it has to last me for the next six months or longer. What I'd like is enough money to get an indoor cycle (even a shitty, broken cycle would be sufficient), so I can have the human equivalent of a hamster wheel to help get my blood pressure down so they will actually be inclined to prescribe ADHD medication when the time comes. Anything more will go towards private appointments for an ADHD diagnosis, which will hopefully allow me access to non-stimulant ADHD medication (which is not prescribed under the NHS), which will help me get back into work.
This entire situation feels extremely crushing, maybe posting here is a bit of a long shot. Regardless, thank you for reading and my email is available on my profile <3
First of all, financially, I am still good. I have a runway of about a year in expected payouts from past work.
About a year ago I moved my family from China, where I lived for 15 years, to Africa to start a new venture. At the time I had a customer who stuck with me and continued to pay me for work, so I was financially secure while making that move. Unfortunately a few months ago after 10 years of working together this customer had to end our cooperation due to lower profits on his side. I like to think that he stuck with me as long as he could afford it, and I am very grateful for that.
In China I had a great experience working with junior developers, training them and giving them a kind of work experience that they would not get in a Chinese company, and build a bridge between Western and Chinese cultures.
I would like to continue this kind of work in Africa, and I am looking for work that enables me to do that.
I am not creating a charity, and I am not looking for donations. Although you could pay me to work on your or my favorite Free Software or Open Source project. Aside from that I am simply looking for customers or employers who want the money they spend on their projects to have a secondary effect beyond just paying someone to get the work done.
I spent the past few months in Europe working hard to build a new network, going out almost every evening to events to network with people. My network is slowly growing. Better than my past networking efforts in China, but so far no solid offers materialized yet.
You can help if you have connections to people that believe that business should have a social impact. Or if you have ideas how I can improve my chances at finding those connections.
I am open to any kind of software development contract work from established businesses to startups who need a technical co-founder.
You can find my email in my profile.
It looked like I was going to be able to pull it off on my own originally, but it was going to take a year and every waking moment of every day was going to suck in the meantime. I was right about it sucking, but I was wrong about pulling it off. I had finally breathed a sigh of relief the weekend before Christmas Eve in 2019 since it looked like I was actually going to make it and it was only a matter of another month or two. I hadn't allowed myself to attach hopes to anything less than concrete at that point. COVID really screwed that up, and I got reset to zero.
I've been barely holding it together since then. Five years of working sh jobs for even worse people who know they have you and delight in it--even more than they value their own bottom line. Now I don't even have a job; it's been a month since my last paycheck and no more are coming. I look young and inexperienced and give the impression that I'm healthy enough financially/circumstantially to be able to absorb whatever shocks I might incur from others shifting onto me the things that they'd prefer for someone else to bear instead of them. But none of those things are true. People in Austin almost seem disappointed when they peg you for a slacker but it turns out you're not one, like you're doing something wrong.
I'll spend whole days looking for jobs from whomever might take me, including bad ones, with nothing to show for it. Once I write down my professional experience or we talk, anyone with a brain can tell I'm at the wrong place--I should be working somewhere that's a good job. Good jobs take 6 weeks to 6 months, but I don't have that, and I don't have the environmental stability to make it through the process, anyway, as far as take home assignments and clear, distraction-free thinking go. I can't even start to work out how I'm going to wash the last 5 years off my resume.
"Once I write down my professional experience or we talk, anyone with a brain can tell I'm at the wrong place--I should be working somewhere that's a good job."
The idea being that this sentiment is either stated explicitly by the other person during the interview, or it comes across in tone. I'm not saying or thinking anything like this. I don't feel like I'm owed a "good job". (I do feel entitled to dignity, on the other hand.)
I have been told outright to dumb down my resume and that I'm obviously overqualified. Anyone paying attention can pick up on the clues that I "shouldn't" be there, that it's only a temporary accident that I'm even available, and they're understandably hesitant to say "yes" if they feel they're just going to be back in the same situation looking for another worker shortly down the road, once I get back on my feet. They'd rather take a chance on a so-so worker who's not exactly reliable and is somewhat irresponsible if it means there's a chance that person will be around for an expected 2 or 3 years, rather than me, the wildcard. That leaves the people who aren't able to put things together. Accordingly, working for these people is generally miserable either by accident or takes a turn to being exploitative or abusive by intent (because "the cruelty is the point").
In my case...things are difficult but not impossible. Month to month is an understatement and through the last 5 years it has become more and more painful but there is still hope.
I personally don't want anything to be given/gifted to me but if everyone could do a favor to all those who are struggling. It won't take long...
All I request is that this holiday season everyone thinks hard about what they have and how they got there. Remember all those who helped you...and those who did not receive the same.
Review your investment portfolio and think about the effects of where you put your money. Are your investments furthering poverty for others? Is there a way to rearrange your portfolio in a way that not only increases your wealth but also helps others?
Giving is good...helping those who are in poverty is important. Preventing people from getting to poverty in the first place seems like a more effective way of preventing homelessness.
Fix the small problems while they are still small.
https://www.egreenway.com/taoism/ttclz63.htm
That all said - my wife and I have been extremely poor before to the point of digging in the couch for enough cash to split a dollar burger for dinner and hoping the fumes in my car get me to work until my check shows up that week due to medical expenses. I really have my heart warmed for everyone on here helping others out. Even if it's just spending time with friends who have no one else you can make someone's 2023.
1. Microloans to local people to start a company instead of investing in traditional stocks. Best if you can assume the money is lost from the start. I suspect returns won't always be great...but it may make a huge difference to a person and their community.
2. If you are investing in rental properties. Do you really need to raise the rent on your tenants just because a website and/or another landlord said you should? There is a lot of money to be made just from gains in property value over a long term lease. Some are likely in a situation where they have paid off the property and could afford to leave it vacant. Why not set the rent to what the "median renter" in your area can afford. I know in my area this would make a huge difference to keeping the local workforce which will benefit the entire community overall. Right now there is a $5/hr gap between what a median renter makes and what they need to make to live comfortably in my area and rent. Not increasing rents would have a much greater effect than raising wages.
I suspect there are many more but those are 2 just off the top of my head...and again these are largely my opinion. My belief is that it is possible to make a profit while practicing "ethical capitalism". This cannot be forced though...it is an ethical choice. Nothing is stopping anyone from doing the opposite...but do you have to?
I can share more information about my situation in a month.
So help me out. You won't regret it.
Payment Methods: https://switchupcb.com/donate
Thanks
I don't have a lot at the moment, I 'went solo' earlier this year. But Patreons give me AU$90/month, and this month, it's yours.
Email's in my bio, send me your account details. No arguments, and no reply comment required.
If it doesn’t bother you, I would love to keep you in my prayers.
in good faith, morgan chalk-levy
Anyway, I'd love to hear your story, and thank you for what you are doing.
The rest of the expenses though. Oof. (For americans reading: I paid over $700 just in visa and immigration processing-related fees)
Some questions: Have you asked after waivers (even at the schools that say they don't offer them) and if so, what sort of responses are you getting? And have you had any luck finding a school that might spot you a TOEFL voucher? What would the cost of the TOEFL be for you?
Ever since I was unceremoneously kicked out of my parents' house after graduating from HS I've lived in a student dorm, now sharing a flat with a friend splitting rent. Been somewhat "cruising along" financially in the sense that I gained roughly enough to pay my monthly expenses with not much wiggle room. Had to go a bit into debt to fund moving into the dorm initially and never exactly recovered from that debt, just hovering with nothing really changing.
Recently lost access to my student loan as I am too slow to study for their requirements but I've managed to offset that by working as sysadmin/tech support at a small uni lab. My main sources of income being this job, "child benefits", and a half-orphan pension (lost my mom to alcohol when I was 15, dad remarried later). This half-orphan pension now _also_ fell off until I have the paperwork handled to re-request it after they asked me for proof that I've been studying two years ago, which I sent in too late. This pension also covered healthcare automatically.
Now with my pension out of the picture until they process it I have been thrown into the regular healthcare system, which added a monthly expense that I was not prepared for, especially because they are also requesting that I retroactively pay up for 3 months of apparently missed contributions/fees. Sent them an email a few days ago asking if it was possible to pay this off in monthly rates to hopefully make it a bit more manageable, but they have a very archaic policy of not responding to emails and only sending out paper mail. I also tried calling but the person I talked to wasn't exactly helpful outside of "have you tried sending an email". I am honestly at a bit of a loss as to how to approach this.
There were some pipe dreams of finding more work but the job market is, excuse the expression, fucked. Nobody would employ a student who hasn't finished their bachelor's yet. I'll probably try to find a job at some fastfood place or grocery store next and put my studies on pause. This might bite me back later because of credit point requirements from my course but still better than having debt collectors on my ass.
I understand that this is all over the place. It would mean the world to me if someone could even find the time to chime in and give some advice.
Healthcare costs: Does your uni or city offer free legal consultation? They might be able to help with how to ask your health insurance for monthly rates or a delay in bills.
Rent: How close are you with your friend? Would it be a possibility that they temporarily loan the rent, so that you can cover your unexpected bills?
Work: How close are you too finishing your studies and how close are you to the maximum study duration? If possible, you could reduce the amount of ECTS you're taking for the semester to make time to work up to 20h or more during semester breaks / exam phases. Taking a semester break for paid internships / any work is also a good possibility, unsure what you mean with credit point requirements. You could argue for an official "vacation semester" due to personal hardships. Working any job to make a living and cover your expenses is honorable. If possible, focus on building a track record of technical jobs. How comfortable are you with programming? Please try applying as working student or freelancer to companies in your area, as programming jobs likely pay higher per hour and build career capital for your next application. Likely, mid/large companies have no open headcount at the end of the year, headcount for these companies typically comes early in the following year. Startups, small local companies, and web/marketing agencies looking for freelancers might be different and also are more likely open to hire someone with little experience. Most CS people I know overuse the internet to look for jobs and underutilize their network. Ask fellow students, friends, and extended family if they know any open roles.
Credit: Have you considered taking a Studienkredit or similar type of loan for students?
Wish you the best!
I am not aware of any such consultation offerings but I will investigate if that is an option, thanks for pointing this out.
After consulting her fortunately that is most likely an option, we have a buffer on our shared account to pay rent for ~3 more months but I'd just be shifting the debt to a place that wants it back less urgently, I still have to figure out how to get the extra income to make it happen.
I am about halfway through the required modules to start my bachelor's thesis so I still have a bit to go; The biggest problem is that I have a bunch of failed exams resulting from a multitude of things (both psychological because of the pandemic, idealistic because of some sketchy privacy practices, and very bad sleep causing me to _oversleep_ on exams). This is hard to explain to anyone asking, which happened to me before while I tried to apply for a job.
The course I study has requirements for how many credit points you need at the end of certain semesters to be allowed to continue studying, which I fear I will not reach if I lessen the uni load to focus more on earning enough to pay my bills.
I do have years of hobby-level programming in a multitude of different languages and environments, some of it going as far as almost being "professional" (I was paid on a few occassions to develop custom web solutions) and having contributed to a charity project centered around Minecraft a few years ago. I am unsure how to present any of this and if it actually matters at all, outside of just linking my GitHub profile. The same goes for my Scrum Master certificate, it feels a bit wasted after I found out how little people actually care about it.
I wish I could utilize a network to look for solutions, but outside of my siblings and that flatmate I don't really have any contacts (there wasn't much social interaction during the covid semesters and I never recovered from that). Especially none who would be working at places that'd look for someone like me.
If you want, send me an email and we can work on it ?
This is year 3 since I was diagnosed with MS, and the second treatment of this amazing drug (Lemtrada) I have is in January (did 2 years of another drug first). After this year, theoretically, I should be done getting drugs for this and provided I don’t get cancer or something else horrifying, I should be able to relax a little. Hopefully forever.
I’ve had to reinvent myself as a result of this, I lost my old career, I am almost through gradschool to start my second career. I went hiking across Spain in the heat of July, other than my vision being trash and a plethora of weird body sensations, I want for nothing. No, I’m fine.
But I wasn’t fine. I was definitely messed up as a result of this, and occasionally I have a really hard time just dealing with life, usually in November when it’s the anniversary of first getting sick. I was really lonely for awhile and while I have great family and great support I had to wrestle with most of this stuff on my own. Nobody else can understand when you get sick if they haven’t had that experience.
Anyway, give money, help people out, etc. I get things are hard out there, but if you can, think good thoughts for your fellow human being this year. People are dealing with a lot of garbage and you may not be able to see just looking at them.
I look totally normal - I’m just some random middle aged dude, but I’ve recently suffered immensely and you’d never know it unless you knew me closely. I’m on the mend, and I’ll be fine, but I guess I mean to say, often times you don’t know when people are having a hard time. I guess what I ask is that can you cut people some slack? Call your old friends, you haven’t talked to in a bit, reach out to that one friend who’s been absolutely obnoxious during the present Omni-crisis we’re in. Touch base with that friend who’s getting a divorce, or whatever. Reach out to your friends, forgive your enemies if you can, and think good thoughts for those who are suffering.
I am not a religious person at all, so this isn’t based in that, but like, be collaborative not competitive, help people not because you think you’ll look good for doing it, but because we all know it’s the right thing to do. Do that for me, please even if you can’t help out here. Treat others nicely this winter, you don’t know what they’re going through, and they often don’t want to tell you or talk about it.
We haven’t been able to afford rent or electric, and we have nowhere to go, and we have no family that can help us.
Our electricity has been on a shut-off notice for months, and we are in a holdover eviction case with a conference date of this coming Monday, 12/4.
We’re working with social benefit services, and there’s a chance we will be able to get a housing voucher, but there’s no guarantees and we haven’t even been able to begin the application process for it yet because they won’t answer the phone or call us back…
It’s very likely we will be forced out in the beginning of 2024, with nowhere to stay but streets or a homeless shelter.
I really just want to find work, to be able to take care of my partner and I (and our cat!)
I don’t really want any sort of handout, I just want to find a way to know my family will be safe.
I doubt there’s anything that can be done to directly help us, but I honestly don’t know what else we can do.
My email is on my profile.
It's not easy, but if you share what you've tried, people might have suggestions. If you share where you are (I completely understand if not) then you might find neighbors.
I should probably get back into music, I’m just worried it’ll lead towards drug use since that’s my past. That and the music I like isn’t very popular.
Agree, but they get you in practice making casual conversation, which is how you make friends — casual conversation with people you frequently share physical space with. Honestly, shared interests are only a bonus; if you share physical space with enough people on a regular enough basis, and repeatedly make casual conversation with them, some of them will magically become friends.
Also, making friends isn't chit-chat or magic. Just listen and have compassion. Actually be interested in the other person as themself, in their own universe, not as an object in your passion play of need. Do that with everyone.
Some won't want to engage - accepting that is part of being interested in them as separate beings; that's where they are at the moment. Read the situation a bit - how they look, what they're doing, etc., and respect them, have compassion for their difficult day. Some will engage more, people will fit with you more or less, some will become friends to varying degrees. Accept however it works out and you'll have a variety of relationships.
Some will objectify you as an object in their passion play of need - those are relationships to avoid. You aren't really a participant; they only see you as what they need (or as a failure to be what they need). Learn about objectification - important for understanding oneself and others.
Also for ransom pen pals I use an app called slowly to connect to people around the world. I don't think I've reached out to anyone not super interesting.
Have you read any interesting books? Tell me about them!
Have you had any interesting adventures, trips, or things that you have done? Tell me about them!
Have you written any poems or stories? Tell me about them!
Can I call you?
From their side, they are saving the hassle of breaking down and disposing boxes. So for best results, ask them the preferred pick up time and stick to it. (there's a fine line between "less work disposing of boxes" and "tripping over stuff taking up space all day". If people feel appreciated, they can be remarkably kind.)
Oftentimes, deliveries come on specific days- for any store you ask, plan ahead slightly to work with their schedule. Not every store has the room or space to help, but some will try if they can. (Trader Joe's, for example, tends not to waste space on frivolities like storage. Or parking.)
Moving to a new place is a lot! I hope you find good friends and neighbors when you get there. Taking time to build roots before the new job gets hectic can make a big difference to quality of life later.
I work as programmer with salary equivalent of ~7500$/yr. Around this area, this feeds the family fine, me and spouse. No child. Really little savings.
Recently spouse got cancer. No personal insurance due to limited salary--even now. We, through our govt. has ok healthcare coverage but arguably weak service. The thing is my employer healthcare is just too good, I just need to worry with logistics.
I am afraid of switching job since I'm worry I may not be able to cover my spouse h/c & medication anymore (~250$/mo minimum, usually more with sudden ER visit, which currently I don't really have to think about). However the rise is so insignificant y/y or promotion wise, I may have as well content with similar pay for years to come. Multiple jobs are risky.
Anyone having similar problem? Any suggestions on what I should do/consider?
If you can maybe do an inventory of your burn and see what ancillary services / costs you have that you can save on. Maybe ask family to chip in to help with childcare or cooking meals etc etc to save money but also give you more time.
Cancer sucks. I’m sorry. I hope you all make it through.
No matter what, I like seeing things like this in various online communities, it brings the human out in us.
Thank you for doing this. I work in cybersecurity for state government. Last year I got divorced. Between rent, food, childcare, and meager wages I barely have enough money for food. What I need help with is my car. My rear window broke last week and its due for inspection and registration. I can't afford new tires either. I have a 4 year old and made sure he had toys for Christmas so I've got that covered. I volunteer a lot and try to do my best for my community but I am struggling and can't do anything about the car until maybe spring. God bless you all
I can be reached at [email protected]. I'm also just interested in connecting with folks who: are dads, have gone through divorce, work in IT, live in New England, or anyone also just looking to connect. For anyone wanting to do that please feel free to reach out.
If you are someone with auto mechanics knowledge,it is a power window that will go down but not up. It doesn't need to work, it just needs to go up for the winter. Any help with this is greatly appreciated.
I'm a graduate student in the US, I need some major dental procedures done but am put off by the potential bills (even with a good dental insurance, it would still cost thousands of dollars; a lot of dark patterns, they can't give you a rough quote before doing an expensive checkup).
I did some research myself on where to find more affordable quality dental care in my area, and found that a top dental school nearby would offer care from students at a lower rate, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Happy holidays. :)
My parents have been doing that for years at the dental college down the street from their house and have nothing but good things to say. Same college also does eye doctoring and they also go there for that.
IIRC, the format is a newer and more experienced student work on them while an instructor supervises two or three of these groups.
I'm looking for a job, if you know someone who's "always hiring" for remote positions please let me know. I have a year's worth of experience as a laboratory technician working on Intel IA platform systems, and most of a computer science BS degree. I have a few certifications, and I've made a few projects that almost work. I'm a little schizophrenic, but as long as I can take a day off if my symptoms flare up it shouldn't get in the way.
At my previous job I've given trainings, assembled documentation, resolved tickets, drafted emails, worked with spreadsheets, assembled complicated computers, installed operating systems, worked independently on a special debug task for a project that had been abandoned for a year or two, wrote bash scripts, flashed firmware, updated inventory, gathered a team for a task, debugged networking, learned soldering (once, oops), and probably some more stuff I'm forgetting.
It was a great job but I couldn't stay because traveling tends to trigger my symptoms - sometimes I'd get to work and realize I'd have to turn around. I was kind of embarrassed so I told my friends there that I was quitting for "health reasons" and nobody asked what I meant so...
I tried to apply to jobs but I wasn't getting many responses. You know how it goes. I like programming and make a hobby of game design, among other non-tech things. I have a cute cat and I wear a hat when I go outside. If I sound like a cool person to work with let me know and we can network!
I am a pretty tight spot, financially. I could use any assistance thrown my way, from a couple of hundred dollars to cover food, to several hundred more to cover utility bills and rent before the Internet and power are shut off and/or we're evicted, on up to a couple of thousand more to pay off the property taxes[0] before the house is auctioned off (which is imminent, but a lesser amount will at least put it off).
On top of everything else, we've been slowly wearing out more durable goods like clothes without replacing them, and my 9-year old laptop has finally given up the ghost.
I'd rather not post publicly about all the personal circumstances that lead to this juncture, suffice it to say that depression makes physical health problems that cause fatigue worse, making it impossible to work, as well as much harder to navigate public assistance options, and mistakes from a decade ago can cause one to be deemed ineligible for assistance like Medicaid and SNAP/EBT now, and I haven't been able to fix the problem yet.
So, please help, if you can, to whatever extent you can.
[0] We live in a manufactured home, on a rented lot. So we're facing eviction from the lot (which we can't afford to move the house from), as well as owing property taxes on the house itself.
Recently (like a month ago) I got involved in helping old people that are in villages around my town. We are a group of ~10 friends, which have relatives in those villages and as such we found out that there are old people, 70+, whom have low income pension and live alone. Their neighbors provide some help with physical activities around their house but that's all, since all are poor as well. Their pension provides them with minimal food to survive, but nothing more, basically they just wait to die.
We started to get money to help them with their medication, mainly arthritis and rheumatism, therefore our goal is to raise ~4k USD. Between us we raised ~1.5k USD, which covers the more stringent needs of their medications and that's all. The people we help are scattered around villages around Timisoara, Romania (my town) and with upcoming holidays season we feel that we'll have way less time to dedicate to this task.
Any help is appreciated. I never done anything like this before, I have 0 experience on raising money or setting up web portal, bank account or as such. I did made a mail address at [email protected], so feel free to help me with advice, or questions there.
Thank you in advance.
It's a really cool idea you have there and I wish you the best
I've been laid off in August, and I've been looking for work since. Unfortunately, nothing has really panned out yet, but I'm nearly out of funds (due to health issues, I couldn't save nearly as much as I'd wanted to). I recently started part-time work at a farm in exchange for room and board, hoping it would leave me enough time to do remote freelance work to bring in cash, but they just let me go because their own coffers are dry.
Right now, I have almost no cash left, and I came to the nearest big city (Munich, Germany), planning to look for a full-time job in a store or a cafe to keep a roof over my head, and do remote freelancing in the time I'll have available after work. About $500 to cover food and hostel accommodation over the next two weeks would be a major boost that would make my job search much easier, as I only have money for about two days of food and housing, and without any extra funds, I suppose I'll have to spend time every day after that figuring out food and housing.
Also, I realize it's a very big ask, but if $1.5k were somehow possible, that would probably change my life, as I would have enough to cover food and hostel lodging until I get my first monthly paycheck from the new service or retail job, assuming I can get it in the next week or two. That would give me stability again, and I would have a much higher chance of keeping that new job, which in turn would give me a much higher chance of achieving stability again long-term.
I hope it goes without saying that I tremendously appreciate any help at all. Of course, I'll be happy to provide any additional information, at any time. Once again, Alexander, thank you so much for offering to help in this way.
It might sound a bit odd to say this from the receiving end, but I hope more people become generous like this. It goes beyond just helping others. When someone who has faced tough situations gains social influence, their perspective on society depends on how much help they received along the way. If they've struggled alone without much support, they might believe they succeeded on their own and harbor resentment toward society. On the other hand, if they've experienced substantial assistance, they're likely to feel a sense of responsibility to give back to society, recognizing that their success wasn't solely achieved independently.
There are a few medical procedures that I need to cover, for both me and my SO, let alone to afford Christmas which at this point is of little comparative relevance
I'm mostly a python and C programmer, and have continued to work on my opensource contributions in the time that is left from searching for jobs and dealing with other issues.
It's rather embarrassing but I couldn't thank enough to see this kind of initiatives, even if I don't get anything from it, I'm sure there are others in greater need
This is about scam calls on my cell phone. I have received over 30 spam calls every single working day in the last six months. My phone has become completely useless outside of 3-4 apps because I had to mute all notifications.
Initially, I tried to block and report those calls but soon gave up because there were just so many every single day. Then I tried to receive some and most of them seem like selling me end of life coverage. I am not even that old!
I have missed a few important calls due to this. It has become a significant nuisance right now in my life.
Can I do something about it? Can someone help me get rid of all these calls? I would greatly appreciate if someone could help me effectively get rid of such calls.
Alternatively, if you’re on iOS, there seems to be a setting that automatically does this at:
Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers: Set this to ON.
My buddy Travis in Vancouver needs help. But I have no idea how to reach him. Seems not to access his Facebook profile anymore. Supposedly he lives on the streets.
adultchildren.org
It’s twelve-step based, but more focused on recognizing and managing one’s traumas. ACA can synergize nicely w/ therapy. Since it is technically free, it could be a useful companion to therapy, or even a substitute while professional is not available.
I am in US, but ACA is international.
I am a big believer in therapy, but it can be costly, and finding an effective therapist for you can be a difficult onramp to effective care. ACA + therapy has been a helpful combination for me.
check the 'who is hiring' and freelancer submissions for job offers, and make a post in the freelancer or 'who wants to be hired' one.
Good luck!
Lost my job in 2022. Have been sick for the last month. Have been struggling to find a job, my laptop stopped working need your help to buy a laptop, and to pay rent, thank you for reading
1.5 years of exp, mainly with spring boot/grails
On the off chance that someone with the means, knowledge, or connections to help sees this, I need stability - not money nor anything physical.
I need piece of mind. I need to have enough energy to be productive instead of being always in survival mode.
I was born in a place where I do not belong. I am not a cultural, a (un)theological, or even linguistic fit. I knew it from a very early age and so I left - 13 years ago... and have been on the "run" since. I've only gone back to renew my passport - physical presence being a requirement.
I bare no ill-will against any individual. Group-think is a powerful phenomenon. Perhaps the most difficult part of it all is being aware of what I shared above. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be a little bit less "exposed" if you would.
I've traveled, I've volunteered, I picked up "side jobs" and I've learned. It's just that every time I manage to get the slightest progress towards stability, the waves come crashing down - I've learned to accept that as a fact of life.
"Move away from the waves" - Someone, somewhere.
I long for a simple life. A roof, just enough sustenance, and a basic connection to the internet. I have no desire for anything else. I have found my calling and all I need is just enough stability to be able to work on creating it - which I have been doing for the last 16 months, but it's immeasurably hard to allocate any energy towards it when I'm on basement 2 on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. I say this with no hesitation, but I would be 100% content supporting my existence and working on my calling for the next 10 years exclusively. I have found joy. I just need to eliminate the noise.
And so I find myself writing this, for reasons I don't understand yet. Stranded at an airport somewhere in the east of the globe as I have been for the last few months. I have gotten better at acting like everything is fine in public, but when the night comes, there's no escaping the fact that I have been "homeless". Homeless is such a strange word to write since I never really had a place that I can call home.
There's no doubt a price to pay for such privilege, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes, anywhere where I can feel "home."
Regardless of the outcome of this comment, thanks for creating a place where I can share a little bit. It's a bit of a relief to drop the façade even if just for a little bit. Who knows where life takes me next and this comment will certainly be an anchor, a landmark, and maybe even a new start.
I'm not sure which direction I'm headed to, and unlike you, I haven't even found my calling, so at least you have it better than some. And at least, I know now that I'm not alone in this experience.
Yes, you're right that I am indeed lucky to have found my calling - luckier than most in fact - and I won't ever take that for granted.
For what it's worth, I had been chasing meaning and purpose for years and quite honestly, I only ever came closer when I stopped actively seeking. I hate to be all preachy, but there's something about surrendering the illusion of control every now and that sometimes helps put things into perspective - at least for me. Something like a cognitive "sleep on it" in a way.
Then again, words are cheap, actions are rarely easy, so I can understand if such realizations are not universal but all we can do is share our experiences.
After returning to my hometown, I was suddenly hit overnight with crippling medical debt that I cannot even begin to pay as I have run out of funds from paying off other bills. I was debt-free for almost one day. In less than 24 hours, I fell into about $31,000 of debt and don't even know where to begin paying this off, due to an emergency surgery to remove a kidney stone.
Even if it's just a small amount to make one payment to keep the bills out of collections, anything helps.
I'm currently on the verge of bankruptcy with sick people to take care of. I'm working with a startup trying to get off the ground, but it will be at least a month until we have investment funding, if that happens. I can't wait that long. I have had an almost comical degree of bad luck with the job hunt over the years (between that and some other factors, my life has been more or less "crisis mode" for a long time now, and that has caused problems), and particularly over the last several months. This is not helped by my complete lack of a social network.
At the end of the day, I don't have anyone to blame but myself, as it's my fault I'm in this situation in the first place, so don't mistake this for self-pity. Nevertheless, I'm reaching a breaking point. I am summoning all the energy I have to believe myself and take one last Hail Mary attempt to fix my life. I'm going to get in shape, I'm going to rediscover a liking for coding in a way the job hunt can't poison, the whole schtick. I will throw myself into this and do whatever is possible. But I'm going to need some luck along the way.
There's a lot I'm leaving out, but we'll call it there.
Now, I don't want to be the guy who asks and doesn't give anything in return. I don't have much, but I can say this: if anybody else is in a similar situation, I'm happy to be at your side and you be at mine over the next few months. And I vow, if I succeed, once I'm stable, I will help others get out of ATS hell, too.
(High-performance C++ is what I'd truly like to do, but I'm open to anything. I can teach math, I can translate basic stuff. Hell, I'm willing to clean toilets or huck out farming equipment at this point.)