I'm at the point of no return.
Unemployment was unexpectedly cut off at the beginning of last month. I had estimated I had another 6 weeks of payments but the state decided to end my progression through the federally enacted extension tiers and put my account up for an annual renewal. This meant a review of eligibility.
Though I was found to be eligible for a renewed account amounting to about as much time as I would have had through the extension process, there was an imposed mandatory one week "hold" of funds and a background check period before my checks would be issued.
But because of my stint at my last job, I knew that my renewal approval would ultimately fail. So, even though I haven't yet received any formal notice of the termination of my benefits, I'm not getting any money and I probably won't any time soon.
The gravy train is over.
I've been living on less than $700 that I had in my checking (since I hadn't saved up in anticipation for such a hasty suspension of income) and racking up my credit cards. And those don't have such a stupendous available credit line so I'm now teetering towards the limits for each.
I paid December's rent, but this month, my landlord received only a note in his mailbox, explaining that I was starting my new job and would be a "few weeks" late.
But I don't have a job and have only tenuous options towards getting employment by even late next week. Accordingly, I will now most definitely be late for February's rent as well.
When you add in the debt of a month's rent I've been carrying for more than a year now, it would mean a catch-up payout of $1950 by early February...just to get current. This potential time frame is only possible if I start working by January 17th.
I have three "strong" prospects right now:
1. I interviewed Wednesday for a call center position paying over $12/hr. and it seemed to go positively. But, there were no less than 200 other applicants and I was told there are 15 positions available. I was told there would be a second level of interviews needed and if selected a start date of either January 17th or 31st. No callbacks yet on scheduling that second interview.
2. On Thursday, I attended a job fair at the same company Ric works for here in Lake Mary. They're hiring for customer service. The start date would be January 31st. I'm scheduled for a second interview Monday.
3. Also Thursday, I met with a clinical director for a Fern Park non-profit mental health residential facility. That's right, I'm hoping to get back into human service work. She seemed impressed but there are only 2 positions available and I don't know if my experience is up to snuff. I mean, I have more than ten years experience in the field but it was with a predominantly MR population and, after all, it was more than 13 years ago. She said she'd call, either way, with her decision on Monday or Tuesday.
Basically, if none of these work out, I'm looking at some sobering consequences. This is the point of no return.
A favorable outcome for any of the above means I might be able to stay here in my apartment, but with some stunningly austere spending freezes that would carry through to perhaps the summer.
An unfavorable outcome though, would definitely mean bailing out of here, leaving my landlord with nothing and with bleak prospects for a new home. It could very well mean homelessness.
So, even hoping for the best...as I learned during the height of Koyaanisqatsi...every thing crumbles so astonishingly fast when you have no income, I very much doubt I'll remain here in my little house on the lake for much longer.
Here we freakin' go again.