Need help with a plan.

[Teagers]

OK...so it's to that point. I'm turning 25 this May, Ive done my RLE and then some (nearly three years), Ive been on HRT a year. Call me impatient but I made the decision 2 years ago if I didn't have a surgery (SRS) date by 26 I wasn't going to go any futher in life. Yes that means exactly what it sounds like. I can't do this anymore. I cant wait any longer. I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I just need to know how. I will be honest I hold a lot of skepticism that I can accomplish this, and to be quite honest am prepared to die without it. But I don't want to. So down and dirty, here is what I am working with.

$9/hr job. I talked with HR about adding SRS to their health plan as our insurance company covers it but my company declined the add on to our plan despite my pleas.
Little to no history with my bank at Wells Fargo.
I'm a veteran so I get VA coverage but only for hormones.
I can only realistically save around 150-200 a month given I only make around 800 and my rent is over half that.
I live in Oregon, I'm four hours away from San Fran. With their new SRS inclusive health care is it worth starting all over again and moving there?
I have bad credit. Before I moved to Oregon I had a nice string of five horrid roommates who all ditched on utilities and I was forced to let them go to collections. My score is only like 570 at best.
I used to do web cam porn. Brought in money for a while until it opened the doors to alcoholism. I'm now in recovery and wont turn back to it.
I already owe student loans from 2 years ago making me think windfall is out.

So bottom line I'm poor as hell but have seen poorer do it.. What do I do?

[Zumbagirl]

Get a second job or a third job whatever it takes. A $9/hour part time job will make you almost $7500 in the bank after taxes. We've all been there. I look back now and wonder how did I pay for all of this? I had a 401k that I got about $5k after having it taxed to almost nothing but it was a start.

I have seen people move mountains and live in deplorable conditions just to have surgery. If you have a fancy car then sell it and get a clunker. Turn off cable tv and Internet if needed. A hundred here and a hundred there and presto you have surgery money. All of us sacrificed to be where we are myself included. I went for years with no tv, driving a car that lived its life on empty and couldn't even pass vehicle emissions, turned down the heat in the winter, a pay as you go cell phone with $20 on it that i would stretch for a month, whatever I needed to get my butt to Montreal. I thought a few times it was impossible to save that kind of money but it's not.

[Angela???]

I just left a job that was paying me around 75K. I find it a shame that the USA way of paying wages is a rip off to the workers. In Australia we have a minimum wages that company's can pay their workers, I think it's around 700 or more before tax per week. Plus Australian's don't have to pay tax till we earn over 18k, yes that's right 18k tax FREE before any tax, I love Australia! Plus we get a health care system that helps cover medical expenses etc.

Personal for me I have an old car that I'm willing to sell to cover any expenses that I in cure in my trip of discovery. The cars worth 50k as it sits but I am very good with my hands, so I will clean it up and do some work to it, that way I can get 60-70k or more for it. Good old muscle cars, was my second car GMH HJ V8 Holden GTS Monaro 1975 with 130,000 km on the clock, just run in so speak (GMC to everyone else) I've had this car for 25 years. Means a lot to me but still I would sell it!
So to sacrifice the things that I have collected over my life is the only way that I can see that I could pay for SRS at this point, seeing that I don't have a job and don't want or need one, (lucky my wife works) then that's what will happen.
I'm lucky I think, I live in the lucky country and would live no where else! But I will still do what ever it takes to complete my journey, a job or maybe 2, like I said what ever it takes!

[Teagers]

I should add. My phone is my only expense outside rent.Im stuck in a contract but this phone is my internet, my news, my everything. It cost me 98 a month. I have no car I walk to work, all I own is my clothes, my bed and my phone. My family lives 3000 miles away I need my phone in order to keep in touch and see them through skype and such. My minutes are minimal. My living conditions shouldnt even be legal. I live in a basement, no electric in the bathroom, no heat. My bedroom floor sometimes gets wet. Here in portland it rains alot.

[Devlyn]

Hi, when I was 25 I put in sixty to seventy hour weeks, I did it for years. I was fresh out of the service, just like you. It was just me, no dual incomes, no wife, no help, nothing. Everything I've ever gotten in life, I worked hard for. You can do that. Unless you're hoping it's all just going to fall into your lap. It probably won't. The only answer is to work hard towards your goals. Hugs, Devlyn

[calico]

Get a second job or a third job whatever it takes. A $9/hour part time job will make you almost $7500 in the bank after taxes. We've all been there. I look back now and wonder how did I pay for all of this? I had a 401k that I got about $5k after having it taxed to almost nothing but it was a start.

I have seen people move mountains and live in deplorable conditions just to have surgery. If you have a fancy car then sell it and get a clunker. Turn off cable tv and Internet if needed. A hundred here and a hundred there and presto you have surgery money. All of us sacrificed to be where we are myself included. I went for years with no tv, driving a car that lived its life on empty and couldn't even pass vehicle emissions, turned down the heat in the winter, a pay as you go cell phone with $20 on it that i would stretch for a month, whatever I needed to get my butt to Montreal. I thought a few times it was impossible to save that kind of money but it's not.

This is what I have done and am going in march to dr c.
Sold everything I could that was worth money, survived on bare essential foods, got rid of nice cars and drive a pos, to make it... I managed to make it in 6 months time by doing this.
Its not imposible but it does require sacrifice, which kind of sacrifice? That truly is up to you 

[Teagers]

Thank you for the advice but I think one point is being missed. I work minimum wage and I have nothing to sell or sacrifice. I own a bed I got for free, a phone and my clothes. My guitar isnt worth anything as its very beatup and the only thing that keeps me from offing myself on a weekly basis. Its my therapy. Also I should ad my current job doesnt really allow me to have a schedule I could have a second job. My sleep schedule is very wonky. To give you an idea, my schedule this week is thursday, 150pm-10pm, friday 9pm-7am, saturday 150pm-7am (a double) sunday 9pm-7am. I have mon - wednesday off but a girl needs to sleep sometime, giving me tuesday and wednesday, but on wednesday im trying to get as much sleep as possible to neutralize my screwy sleep pattern from the previous week so im not dead on my feet all weekend. Im not a machine.IDK maybe im too lazy and it is hopless. I just figured there had to be other way.

[spring0721]

Teagers,

First off, I have to say; you know the old saying, 'where there's a will there's a way' ?...yeah I completely agree with it.  In my opinion, you need to stay positive and upbeat, you have a goal and unfortunately it's one you'll have to work for...it's not going to happen over night or be just dropped in your lap as Devlyn said.  So, this is my personal advice:  your current job at $9 an hour prevents you from getting a second job? Alright, well you're 25; I think you can start looking for a different main job.  There are a lot of other jobs out there making $9 an hour or more. I mean in college I made that working at clothing store at the mall.  Have you thought about any call centers in your area? They normally pay well, apply for every job that has an opening in your area.  Once you get that job with a better schedule then quit your current job and look for a second job.  Second jobs are easy to come by, while you won't make a ton, all you really need is any job that a teenager would get....they tend to work around your schedule (again think, fast food, movie theatres and clothing stores.  All the money you make in the second job put in savings.  I don't think you're lazy, you just maybe need a jump start in the motivation area.  You can do it and I'm wishing you lots of luck!

[Elainagirl59]

Hi Teagers,

There is a foundation that provides financial support to a couple people each year for SRS
procedures.  I assume there is incredible competition for these awards, but it is worth checking
out.  Google the Jim Collins Foundation.

Best Wishes,
Elaina

[Felix]

You should check into recent changes in Oregon - http://www.basicrights.org/resources/trans-justice-resources/frequently-asked-questions-on-the-clarification-of-oregons-non-discrimination-law-in-the-transaction-and-regulation-of-insurance/