By AJ Cross

Imagine that you are losing your home to foreclosure, and have just found out that you are about to be dismissed from your job because your employer can no longer afford you. With very little money saved, and a mountain of bills so high that you could paper your walls with them, you find yourself searching for a way out. How did you get here? You were financially responsible, worked as hard as anyone, and now find that you are losing everything. To top it off, you realize that people once eager to see you socially aren’t interested in hanging out with you in your home, because you simply can’t afford to go out.

Loneliness takes over quickly and unexpectedly.

You are not alone. Millions of Americans are going through the same dilemma. Here comes the scary truth. You will more than likely lose your home. You will more than likely lose your car as well, unless you are able to find enough money to hold on to it for one month longer. I do not tell you to this to bring you down, but to prepare you for what needs to be done.

You are going to have to make the “Climb.” You are going to have to step out of your comfort zone and consider possibilities for generating revenue that you never would have before. Harder still, you will have to let go of your ego and pride and put that nerve-shaken hand out and ask for help. Now more than ever, with so many people experiencing similar circumstances, people are showing compassion, empathy and humanit–and someone will likely help you. They may help you to find a job, or put you in contact with someone that perhaps has helped them in prolonging the foreclosure and eviction process just a little bit longer.

Ignore the letters in the mail from socalled help-with-foreclosure companies. Find out if you qualify for any governmental relief (but don’t hold your breath on that). Fannie Mae may be an option, but the process is long, and the bank that holds your mortgage may not even work with Fannie Mae. The first part of the climb is to get money back in the bank. Do odd jobs: clean toilets if you have to. Do whatever it takes to get money—legally–because you are going to need it.

The next part of the climb is to create a budget. First write down everything you buy, from gum to cigarettes, social activities, bill, children, lovers, etc. When you have that completed, you will need to start eliminating expenses. Take out what you “like” or what you “want,” and leave only what you “need.” Stay away from get-rich schemes and casinos or scratch-off tickets. Avoid asking for loans, because you will only have to add that to the very expenses you are trying to minimize.

The key to the climb is to do exactly that: climb. Climb out of your self pity. Climb out of your financial stress. Climb out of your fear and rise above your situation. You are the same intelligent, motivated and talented person you were before everything started to change for the worse. The only thing that you need to change is your circumstances. You may end up being the only Doctor at McDonalds, but you will at least be making money. Just believe that you are not bound by your situation and that you can rise from the ashes like a phoenix, and you will shine brighter than ever before.

AJ Cross

AJ CROSS  is originally from Montreal and has written the “Cross Eyed” column for seven years. He lives in Fort Lauderdale where he serves as budget advisor to the City Commission.