<prompt> Human: First off, I just found this sub and Ive been doing quite a bit of reading. I suspect this will become my new favorite sub.And now, the main event. Im 25 years old. The same week I turned 21 I closed on a three bedroom house on two acres in central Georgia that had just been renovated for 71,000 with a mortgage at 4 interest over 30 years with an 8,000 down payment. My monthly payments were 540. At the time I was making roughly 24,000yr post tax. The truck I bought while in highschool was paid off and the only debt I had was a loan for a Harley that I am still paying 156 a month for only another 7 months. Two years ago, my now ex moved in with me. It was a huge mistake. She was in a nursing program and didnt have a job aside from a cleaning gig twice a week that essentially paid for her gas and our water bill. I supported her after allowing her to move in for almost exactly a year. I realized two things towards the end. One being that I had asked her to move in with me out of some twisted hero complex to save her from her toxic home life and pityfear of leaving her with nowhere to turn were the only reasons we lasted as long as we did. The second realization was that I had ruined myself. I was struggling just to eat and I got behind on my taxes and blew any and all savings which wasnt much because Ive only recently started thinking of the future. I also lost 4 grand in the stock market my only investment. Fast forward a couple of months to December, last year, and things are starting to get straightened out. Ive had an accountant go over my taxes and Im about to mail off a payment agreement to the IRS. Then I get laid off. It took me 6 months and countless odd jobs to stay afloat and find steady income. I dont believe in a welfare state so I didnt tap into any unemployment, I just worked hard everywhere I could. June second I started a 10hr warehousing job where I was promised Id be able to get about 20 hours OT a week. I set a budget and went at it. The first two weeks things were looking okay. I had no plans of staying there, but I did need to play catch up. Now Im lucky to get a full 40 hour week in. Ive had to borrow money from my family to stay affloat. I swore to myself this week would be the last week I did so. Im going to start selling possessions. Probably my Harley and Tacoma as well, to get a cheap car. My AC broke and dumped water everywhere in a part of the house I never see, so now I have water damage and mold. This is why I havent rented or tried to put the house on the market.I couldnt afford my ad valorum hell, I cant even afford gas anywhere but work and home, so I ended up with two citations for expired tag. Next week is the first court date. I cant afford fines and Im having to borrow the money for the tag this week.On top of all that, Ive started getting sick about every other month. Ive missed a couple days work at first, but its so regular now that I just tough it out, miserable, for 7 and a half hours in a 90 degree warehouse doing manual labor.Im just at the end of my rope. I have no idea what to do or where to start. My father a successful and diversified business man and I have a good relationship as long as were both stoic, but I cant have this conversation with him without emotional difficulty neither of us are equipped to handle.My only option that I can think of is to find another job in Freight. I have 8 years experience and I could probably get a starter job for more than I was making before I was laid off. I just hate the industry, it was a mistake to get started there and its not where I want to be in 10 years. Yeah, this is what Im going to do. But any other tips, advice or even encouragement would be lovely.I feel like Im forgetting something, but there it is.Anyways, thanks for reading. It feels good to talk about it. I feel a little weight lifted.Edit: Oops, I left out my question. What should be my absolute FIRST move? Where do I begin straightening this out? I need a direction, a start here sign; something to just get me moving. A way to stop at least the accrual of more problems.  <response>: Hey man let me just say that Im kind of like you and dont like taking charity but those unemployment programs you dont believe in couldve helped you. You paid for them with your taxes and theyre meant to be there for people in rough situations. Its not as much a welfare state as it is a service you paid for with your taxes. Still try and get back on your feet as quick as possible but there was nothing wrong with getting some help you already paid for. 