http://www.funadvice.com/my/advice/listof7 en-us Yes, but it's not easy, and may not be legal in your state. I suggest you consider why you want to leave and understand what it takes to live on your own. Plan. Get a steady job BEFORE you leave. Don't start sleeping on couchs. And don't be to proud to go back home later, they probably love you... listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:47:17 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/can_i_leave_home_at_16 117447 Consult Professional. Usaully, it depends if it was sole and seperate property prior, and who has the best lawyer. Also, if you refi'd and added them, it's joint usaully I had intended to give my wife my/our home, and only kept it beause she had another idea that worked better for her. If you and your other half had the house mostly together, do the right thing, what ever that is. If you had the house for years and years and then met and only lived there together for a year or 2, don't feel any guilt -- it's yours. listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:42:47 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/can_i_keep_my_home_even_though_divorcing 117444 Not likely. you may qualify for EBT (food) or other social services, but as for your house arrest cost...not likely...now, from what I've heard, they usually don't sweat you to much -- even after discharge, they know YOU WILL PAY EVENTUALLY!! listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:37:18 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/can_i_get_help_with_paying_for_my 117440 Drive/walk the subdivision and stop and chat with anyone you see out. Go knock on the neighbors doors and talk to them, a Realtor or seller can't say certain things, but a neighbor can! Come back at various times of day to see what changes for the better or worse. Also, once you are in the neighborhood, say hi to strangers, remember your neighbors names and talk to them when you see them or wave at least. Pick up trash whether it's yours or not. What's right/wrong with the world starts with you and I... listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:34:11 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/what_type_of_concerns_should_a_new 117439 Don't listen to these do gooders that offer no real advice. Yeah, sure, don't stop eating!! That's not rocket science, in fact, for many people, if you stop eating regulary, your body will go into shock and trigger and reserve, you body will store fat becasuse it assumes starvation is coming. DO watch what you eat, eat healthy, drink only water --no soda-- and eat very small portions every 2 hours, that's our bodies natural cycle. Also, look at the patterns and cuts of your clothing, are they complimenting your figure? 140 pounds is "full figured" if you're under 5'7" that's jsut what it is, be pragmatic, but if you carry yourself well, wear the right cut of clothing, have a walk, and smile brightly...you can still light up the room and turn heads!!! listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:25:53 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/please_help_me_279 117432 Exercise 3-4 days a week, be active & eat VERY small portions of food every 2 hours instead of other "meal plans" and that includes eating less often. And if someone says laxitives...that's not as bad as barfing, but it's still got health problems attached to it in the long run. Try colon cleansing instead. listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:18:30 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/5_10_130_pounds 117429 I don't encourge lying, to a just society!! Being creative is helpful at times. A great man once said... "Necissity is above all law" Thomas Jefferson I also have a felony conviction (12 years ago), so I know that there are many times where we don't get the job based on that (on paper, sometimes I can't blame them). I want you to remeber something though, you are what you believe yourself to be, I am not A FELON, I have a felony, but I am not a criminal. Who am I? I'll tell you who I am, I stand up to bullies, I have traveled the country and left the country at times. I have started and sold businesses. I have fought injustices. I have made mistakes. I have morals, principlas, dreams, goals, and dam it PEOPLE LIKE ME. I have something to offer! FUCT keeping your head up -- keep your feet moving if you want to get somewhere! As for the job search, wow, I KNOW!!!...one area that we may be over looking is CREDIT RATING...especially when combine with the conviction history. Now this is a bit of a catch 22, I know - it's hard to maintain good credit without a decent paying job, but life is just that way and we have to coupe with it, the people who care, rarely can help, so it's on you to find a way & make it happen. I can tell you first hand, when your credit score is sub 500, you're in TROUBLE with or w/o a felony even. I reached a 680 at one point and even with felony conviction and a scattered job history, I was able to find good jobs. I'm sub 400 now and the world is very different for me. I won't say lie about you record to get job (I do). It's better to have a chance, than no chance. Since everyone is focused on the felon aspect, I'll spice it up and focus on credit. Here is my sage advice... 1. Get your free annual reports I believe it's annualcreditreport.com - you'll know it's the wrong site if they ask for credit card info. However, to get the actual SCORE there is a small fee, pay it if you can, if not, do what you can with what you have. Once you have you report you'll know where you are at & what others see. (sub 400 is DEATH ; sub 500 is trouble ; 580 you MIGHT get a home loan through a motgage broke, you MIGHT get a decent car loan through a credit union ; 620 a mortgage broker will get you a home loan, you can get a car ; 650 and you'll get store credit cards ; 680 and you MIGHT get a signiture loans for under $10K ; 700 and you are looking good ; 720 the world is almost yours : 760 the bank offers you back massages LOL) 2.You're online, you may be able to dispute your credit report online depending on what state you're in. If not, look up credit dispute/verification letters and do it by mail. You will send these to TransUnion, Experian & Equfax. Follow the instruction, give a reason why you dispute the credit report accuracy (ie.this account was never late, ect.) This will usally result in several items being removed = score goes up. 3. Dispute inquries if/as unathorized. This will often get those removed = score may go up. Very seldom will any creditor bother to verifiy a credit inquire especially one that was declined. 4. You are allowed to explain poor credit so after everything is removed that can be, get creative (honestly LOL) and explain why you kept those 2 movies, why you hid that car for 2 years and had to use the note money to do it LOL. I'm kidding, don't get that detailed, but if you were divorced, explain it. You are sharing a "hardship letter" and it may help, and it seldom hurts. 5. Buy some credit, I mean a secured credit card.Expect to spend about $100 up front and be billedd $275 for a $300 card. This only helps if you are willing to be worthy of good credit, use it wisely. Don't expect it to be a great deal either, you will be charged high interest and a "through the roof" annual fee. Also increases to your credit line will cost as much or more $$ then you'll get. You are in fact PAYING for a chance to prove your worthy. It takes 2 years to really show, but 6 months of good history will help and there are other factors as well, that make this important. Keep +65% of your credit line limti, availible, for the best results. 6. Ok, so you've removed what you can and started building some good credit, now it's time to pay wha's left. After 7 years whether you pay or not, items should be removed, so start with the newest/cheapest. I mean, if you have a 1 year old debt for $200 and a 6.5 year old debt for $50, pay the $200, the $50 is going to be removed before you pay off everything anyhow - I'd guess - . Now, if you have a 1y $200 and a 3y $50 pay the $50 first, it's not going anywhere & most times it seems that it doesn't matter the amount of the debt, just time, so if you have a 1y $20 and a 1y $400, paying the $20 will do as much good as the $400. Ok, with me so far? Next in this step is that when you are paying off things, contact the creditor and negotiate, offer to pay less, say principal. They will often refuse. Be willing to pay the entire debt ONLY IF THEY REMOVE THIS ITEM FROM YOU CREDIT REPORT...get it in writing!! Don't except "paid in full" or "discharged", unless you have no choice, it's almost as bad as just being unpaid. Be polite, even though they're not, be stern, but don't start a war. Have a hardship reason and show that you are willing to "make it right". Don't be heistant of wishy washy. You have to be realistic so you don't start giving inchs right away, giv'em before you ever call. You first few calls are practice. Be prepared to give up all your contact info before they even talk to you. In your favor...with all the defualts happening, it's our market, they are scrathing for pennies and you have an upper hand, even though they won't say so. Lastly on this note...do you like it when someone owes you money and doesn't pay? Me neither...you owe, pay up if you can and don't borrow what you can't pay back if possible. A few more words... +3 applications a day (leave by 10am or sooner and never stop before 2pm) +2 phone calls a day (open the phonebook & start calling & asking if their hiring) +1 Walk-In (if you see a sign in the window, you have a good shot at a job, they are in need. Also, if it's mom and pops and they like you, they see no need to run a check with a cost of $20-$100+) +1 read a self improvement book a month ()() Never except that "it's god's will" your gift is FREE WILL, use it or you deserv e nothing!! listof7 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:12:52 -0700 http://www.funadvice.com/q/where_1468 117427