A friend called me the other day and said, “I’m scared. My dad gave me an ultimatum to be out of his house by December 2011, and I don’t know where to go, and how I’m going to support myself.”
My friend is not in her twenties, but in her late fifties, and her husband passed away a few years ago. She does receive some rental income but it’s often sporadic and not enough to live off.
Her voice quivered and she started crying. She needed help, and instead of the, “Poor you” speech, I decided to think about her options. I put myself in her shoes and we brainstormed about what she could do. This made her focus on some of her own desires for her future.
“I wish I could take a year off and travel,” she said.
“How would you pay for it?” I asked, thinking about the article I had just read by Chris Guillebeau’s on How to use frequent flyer miles to go anywhere.
She didn’t answer. I know she’s frugal, and doesn’t expect to stay in luxury hotels so I suggested she could teach abroad.
“You know there’s a group called CELTA, which offers a teaching English abroad certificate. I believe it takes 3 months to train and then you work for a minimum of three months in a school. Apparently it’s cheaper to get certified abroad rather than in the U.S. You’ll get paid and that way you get to learn about the country, the food and the culture.”
Other options we discussed were to apply for the Peace Corps. This is a 27- month commitment, but they are seeking men and women over the age of fifty, and they do cover health care and living expenses. For more information about the Peace Corps: Life is Calling How Far Will You Go?
I’m a firm believer that there are always options in life. At first, we may not want to try them because they make us get out of our “comfort” zone, but every experience offers at least one positive nugget, if not more.
There are many women who fear being alone and stuck in middle-age with no money, no job and no companion. Especially after a divorce or a loss, they cannot see their future.
Here’s a list of options I came up with for my friend. Many of them can also be applied to couples who no longer have a job or a steady income. Some of them are temporary, or can turn into a career if you so choose.
Accommodation Options:
- Sell your house, if you’re a home owner, and move to a cheaper part of the country.
- Downsize to a smaller house.
- Rent out rooms to (foreign) students to supplement your income.
- If you’re single you can rent a room in someone’s house. I know one woman who divorced and is now renting out several rooms in her house to help pay the mortgage.
Job Options (including accommodation)
- Apply for jobs as caretakers. The Caretaker Gazette, offers list of short and long-term stays in homes around the world where you either get paid to take care of properties when owners (often rich) are traveling around the world, or else live for free in someone’s home and watch their pets, water their plants, etc. while they’re gone. Some positions are long-term.
- Work for a storage company, and sleep in one of the units. I knew a married couple in their fifties who did this short term. (Takes guts!)
- Volunteer abroad. (Some pay for room and board.)
- Peace Corps with added benefits during and after. There are jobs offered on their website.
- Teach abroad. (CELTA certificate)
- Work on a cruise ship/lecture/teacher/personal trainer/gift shop.
- Take care of an elderly person full-time.
More Traditional Options
- Look for a full-time job. (Not easy to find in this economy.)
- Sell your house and move to a cheaper part of the country where cost of living is less
- Rent your house out and collect income while working a job that offers room and board.
- Have a part-time job and do some pet-sitting at people’s homes when they’re on vacation.
These were the options I discussed with my friend. Are there other options you can think of? Are you, or do you know anyone in this situation?
Great blog post, Gutsy Writer! And I love your new branding/website look. I see you taking huge leaps, and you encourage me to take me own.
The resources listed here should be invaluable to those who feel like they must start over–or who are just plain Gutsy!
Shirley recently posted..In Praise of Sonia Sanchez: Living a Haiku Life
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for your comment and encouragement. I’m always amazed how homes and rents vary in price across the United States. For example, food and gas is so much less in Florida than in southern California.
Sonia,
This is such a good article. I know several young people who could benefit from this information, too. Very helpful and practical.
With the economy as it is, we can get discouraged. But, as you show here, there are always options if we will look and work.
wb
Hi Warren,
Thanks for pointing that out. yes, young people can also use these options especially when jobs are scarce. Thanks for coming over to my new website.
I love that you helped your friend see the possibilties rather than just help her bemoan her fate. I prefer to see life as full of options and when a door closes there is always a window open somewhere, we just have to be willing to look sometimes! Great post and great options, I agree with the above comment, some of these options are great for younger people too!! Thanks!
Kathy recently posted..My Dishwasher and I
Hi Kathy,
Funny that I didn’t think about how this applies to young and older people. You and Warren both made me realize this after I wrote it. Thanks for coming over.
Great Post, Sonia! We have a friend who taught ESL in China for a few months with the YMCA, kept a blog, travelled a lot, and made a little money. Opportunities expand dramatically if you are proficient in a language other than English.
Hi Dee,
Almost didn’t recognize you but then saw your link and your Dr. Eclectic. Did your friend enjoy teaching ESL in China? That’s one place I’m more and more interested in learning about the culture and people.
So nice to come and visit you on such a beautiful tropical beach, Sonia!
And this is a fantastic list of inspiring ideas for anyone wanting to change their life on a shoestring.
I know someone who did exactly what your friend is contemplating. Only slightly younger than your friend and having left a sixteen year relationship she trained in Canada, gained her certificate to teach English as a Second Language then went to Thailand.
She’s been away from ‘home’ for eleven years now, teaching English in Thailand, Vietnam, Tunisia and Senegal. She’s planning another stop in South America beginning in the second half of 2012. Your friend should take heart, it’s possible.
Maggie,
Thank you for this uplifting story. Your friend must have so many stories after teaching in all these countries. Enough material for several books and articles. I’d love to connect with her and find out more about her experiences teaching abroad. Please ask her to contact me.
I will, Sonia.
Maggie recently posted..THE SOMALI QUESTION
Thanks Maggy. I look forward to hearing from her.
Excellent advice!
Thanks Pam for stopping by.
Sonia,
What great advice! The caretaking – or house sitting as it’s often called – can be a great option. I house/pet sat for one year in Santa Fe and earned $25 a day. Was told that house sitters in LA were making $50+ though I doubt that is still the case except for professional house sitters. Nowadays, there are so many people willing to do this for free – particularly in the middle-age group – that it may not be as good an option as before. But it’s certainly worth looking into and there are companies that employ people with good credentials to do just that. A lot of hopeful writers get by this way.
I’d also suggest looking at online jobs. She may find work that she can do at home. Companies employ at-home workers to help out in a variety of ways.
Another is, since she has until December, to take a course as a paralegal or in some field that will give her credentials to get a job in that area.
Another is to look at companies needing phone room/customer service. They don’t pay much but they’re always hiring because of the constant turnover of personnel.
Another is to advertise her services on Craigslist. How computer savvy is she? Or maybe she’s great with kids or older people? Also, look at the classifieds on Craigslist.
The main thing is that she has to be willing to undertake a job search and stick to it, however long and frustrating, and also that she be prepared to accept even a low-paid job that she might feel is beneath her qualifications. Look what happened when I took that $7.50 an hour job in the phone room. I didn’t want it, it was a last resort, and I considered it just a stop gap until I got a better job. Then I stayed there two years, and it proved a turning point and led to a whole new career in research.
Penelope J. recently posted..Fired at Fifty
Pennie,
You have given so many other options. Thanks so much for your help. The $7.50/hour job that lead to research, is that what you’re working on now? Thanks again.
I’m sure you gave your friend the support and push she needed!
Lady Fi recently posted..Midsummer
She stopped crying and came up with some ideas herself, which was wonderful.
What great advice! I’m going to share it with my readers since many of them are struggling writers.
Personally, I found that freelancing is a great option. I just started freelancing and I already write online content frequently for one online site. It’s made me more of a responsible writer, made me feel confident now that I actually get PAID to write. It really feels great. (BTW, talking about it has made me think that I should write about the experience on my blog-note to self.) I’m a big fan of my fellow blogging buddy Carol Tice at http://www.makealivingwriting.com. She’ll give you the inside scoop as to how writers can get freelancing gigs.
I recommend this for writers, because unlike the above options you mention, it really does instill confidence, experience, and connections, etc. Feels really great to make money form your passion and what believe is your true talent.
For instance, I can no longer say that I’m an unpaid writer working on my novel. I am literally a paid writer!
Also, blogging is a great option, too if you work hard on it. I offer a consultation service through my blog that helps people with their writing. I’ve helped my readers with ebooks, story ideas, etc.
So maybe you can recommend starting a blog and start to offer services through the blog. Become a consultant! What is your friend really good at, or has experience in? She can quickly turn that into a business by offering consultation services through the blog. She can start for free or offer lower prices so that she gets testimonials and recommendations. Then slowly raise the price!
Anyways, just wanted to offer my ideas. Great post Sonia!
Ollin Morales recently posted..What Would You Like To See More Of On The C2C?
Hi Ollin and welcome here.
That’s wonderful advice especially as I know she likes to write as well. I just checked out your C2C site and noticed you received an award from Write to Done. Congratulations. I follow Mary Jakscht and Leo Babauta and actually met him at WDS in Portland, where he spoke. I have read comments by Carol Tice and thanks for the link. I have found blogging to be a wonderful way to meet people from around the world. Good luck with your novel, I saw the 2nd draft will be completed by January 2012. Come back.
I know someone who is now almost a full time house sitter (your caretaker option, but in just this local area). She specialises in pet sitting and is cheaper than most boarding places and with no bills to worry about, other than a cell phone and food she’s laughing. Hope it all works out for your friend.
Cheryl recently posted..The Third Musketeer – Merrilyn Part 11
Hi Cheryl,
That’s encouraging to hear about someone living as a caretaker and pet-sitter.
I know you’re busy taking care of baby kangaroos. What a wonderful passion/job.
I really do love your new format… the blog is SOO inviting !!
And I love that you were able to come up with so many options that actually GOT HER OUT… not necessarily out of the house, but out of that rut that she has been in, with an uncertainty of what to do next. Sometimes we all just need a little push and you gave her so many great options!
Thanks Kelli. I’m glad you find my new blog “inviting.” That’s what I was hoping for.
Great post and excellent advise!I just don’t understand why a woman in her 50’s don’t have a stable home and job yet. I know she had a good reason about it. Anyway I love your new blog theme, it looks very relaxing and serene!
Life can change unexpectedly.