this post was submitted on 26 May 2026
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First off:
Good luck! You'll get through this ❤️
I'm not claiming I went through a situation like your sentence implies in that extreme, my advice comes from a bit less drastic situation - and I'll assume no safety net.
The hard truth: you are broke. Not in the future, right now. Treat your money like it. If you can't pay rent in a few months time you can't now. Same for all other invoices.
Reason: shit has hit the fan already. Now you're standing there and wondering which the biggest piece will be to hit you.
If you start with that today then you'll stretch the time out overall.
Your job is threfold: priority one: reduce spending to near zero. Short term survival beats anything. Including and especially credit score and the likes. The details depend on your situation, laws and standards.
The second is even harder: What can you do to increase cash income? This is a shitty situation and your reaction most likely is "well, yes. Of course dumb fuck what do you think I'm doing??".
I can fully emphasize if it is. That said: I'm not only talking about applications. Use your social circle to ask for help, both money and job. Reach out to former colleagues or school friends. Use everything and everyone you have in your environment.
The last part is the easiest but very annoying: read your local laws and statutes. What social security structures exist? What are eviction regulations? What about late payment terms? Re education sponsorship? And so on. Most countries have at least something but it's often hidden in highly formal bullshit. Get your shovel and dig through legalese. And if you can't do that: the second point automatically applies here as well.
This is good advice, I'd just add that any odd job that brings in a bit of cash is useful - not just for the cash, but as a distraction from not having a home. Plus it can keep you in shape without a gym membership :-P
Shoveling shit, working in meat packing, picking fruit, etc keeps from starvation and often opens up friend groups amongst people with little money ... when you have little to nothing, those are essential.
If there are fewer opportunities for work (eg. unemployment is at 30% in your region, and you can't afford to leave), then allowing flexibility of morals can provide a way to survive. That's a last resort for most normal people, though.