Life can be full of difficulties, causing many to declare, “The world is out to get me!” Sometimes, they are not wrong. Many important responsibilities and rules are riddled with Catch- 22’s, “a frustrating situation in which one is trapped by contradictory regulations or conditions,” according to dictionary.com. The definition is derived from the book titled Catch-22 where the main character pretends to be insane to avoid dangerous military missions, but his desire to avoid the missions are used to prove his sanity.

Catch-22’s are always going to enrage both young and old, and one of these people includes Battlefield freshman Julia Hyde. “People need to start paying attention to problems life these plaguing the common people,” she shares. One of the Catch-22’s that Julia believes should be fixed is, “How am I supposed to gain work experience if I’m always turned down at the door?” Freshman Gabby Evans’s mother had to try to break this Catch-22. “My mom did not finish getting a college degree, so it made it harder for her to get a job… When we moved to Virginia it was really hard for her to find a job because they said she was either over qualified for the management position or she needed more experience.” Gabby shares. It is proven to be tough breaking the cycle, but to improve one’s chances fastcompany.com suggests, “embrace your inexperience and leverage it as motivation to learn. Highlight examples of your dedication, curiosity, and commitment to learning and growth. People who are hiring are looking for people who are willing to work hard and want to learn.”

Now here are 4 frustrating Catch- 22’s and how to work a way out of the endless loop.

1. “If you go to college you are in debt to student loans, but if you do not go to college you do not have a high enough salary and go in debt.”

When encountered with this common paradox, one can address this challenge in two different ways. First, one could go to college and tackle the dreaded student loans. Www.realsimple.com provides some beneficial tips for those who need assistance. Students should pay off variable private loans first because they typically have a high interest rate. Students can also ask their employer to help pay off loans in exchange for a lower salary. While this may seem strange, the president of College Planning ABC Manuel Fabriquer shares companies will follow through because, “it cost them less in salary payments in the long run.” This is also something students can bring up in an interview during salary negotiations. Finally, one can sign up for auto-deductions, as they typically have a lower interest rate.

On the other hand, some may rather skip out on college and head straight into the workforce. To make some extra money to pay off bills, there are many unusual yet helpful strategies one can find. One way is to sign up for websites such as www.healthywage.com or www.dietbet.com who pay users to get in shape. Another useful website is www.inboxdollars.com , a site that pays someone to listen to certain radio stations, read advertisement e-mails, and take surveys.

2. “You can not get a bank account without a permanent address, but you can not start renting without a bank account.”

Proven to be a tough problem to solve, many people who are either moving from a different country or are homeless can find it difficult to open up a bank account. Moneyfacts.co.uk shares that homeless people can use, “a letter from the warden of a homeless shelter, or from an employer if the customer is in work,” in place of an address. On the other hand, those moving from a different country can sometimes use their national passport or national identity card instead of their address. However, this only applies to some banks, so one has to research what banks in their area offer this service.

3. “In most states, you can not register an uninsured vehicle with the DMV, but insurance companies will not insure the vehicle because it is not registered.”

When one buys a vehicle, they would find it handy to immediately get the car registered at the DMV after purchase. Waiting more than two days may get one stuck in this Catch-22. If in a situation where one can not register the vehicle, insurance companies may be hesitant to insure the vehicle because they do not know who legally owns it. One type of insurance that may cover an unregistered car is temporary or short-term car insurance. Confused.com states, “Temporary or short-term car insurance policies usually last from one to 28 days, providing comprehensive cover for the car and driver on the policy,” the perfect amount of time to get a car to the DMV.

4. “If you do not pay your electric bill it gets shut off, but you need electricity to pay the bill.”

Usually, there will be a notice in the mail if one’s electricity is about to be shut off because it is a public utility. If someone’s utilities are about to be shut off, consumer-law.lawyers.com says you should first contact your utility company. “The customer service representative should refer you to local, state, and federal resources that will help you maintain your services,” the website instructs. If one is in immediate danger of disconnection or they have already been disconnected, they can contact local social service agencies to provide short term funds to maintain utilities. Local churches and charities may be of assistance too.

Photo credit: Cafe Credit via Flickr via Creative Commons