How to deal with current economy and layoffs......
- Rating: No Rating
I remember a year ago when I started to hear that Wall Street will hit Main Street. I did not take this seriously until I was laid off for the first time in my life about 5 months ago. Life has never been the same since. I think this would be a great opportunity to reach out to others with similiar experiences. How to cope........ Share some words of encouragement......... How has it affected your family, your finances? This has been an extremely difficult time for me, but when you know you are not alone and there are others with similiar experiences; it makes it easier to come out a survivor, not a victim.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Michele on -
I don't have any advice. In November, I came home to start my VA business, and be there for my kids and elderly parents. My husband was finally making more than me, and had benefits (which we have to have due to two kids with special needs.) In February, he lost his (extremely stable) job. He hasn't been able to find a job since, which means he's been unemployed 7 months. We've had to get one extension on his unemployment. We're currently on Cobra. We've defaulted on student loans. We've maxed out credit cards. We've lost our savings.
I still don't know what we're going to do. I have no answers. I have no advice.
-
Permalink Reply by Evon Duncan on -
Wow michele, I fell alseep crying one night about losing my job, I just couldn't take the stress no more and I say shame on me whining. what about all these people that lost their jobs too with little children..We are all going through the storm and God got a blessing for us..We got to hold on michele, have faith..I'm so busy worrying about tomorrow and it's not even here yet..I'm sending up a prayer for you and your family hang in there..
Michele said:I don't have any advice. In November, I came home to start my VA business, and be there for my kids and elderly parents. My husband was finally making more than me, and had benefits (which we have to have due to two kids with special needs.) In February, he lost his (extremely stable) job. He hasn't been able to find a job since, which means he's been unemployed 7 months. We've had to get one extension on his unemployment. We're currently on Cobra. We've defaulted on student loans. We've maxed out credit cards. We've lost our savings.
I still don't know what we're going to do. I have no answers. I have no advice.
-
Permalink Reply by Angel Villavelazquez on -
Beth,
I was with a company for 6 years, until I was laid off in March. I can say it definitely brought on a range of emotions but for some strange reason I never cried. I think my close friends and family took the news much harder than I. The day I was laid off, I made a promise to myself- to use this time productively to complete everything on that little "list" that's usually put off until thenext day, and then another, and another.
I have improved my sleeping and eating habits- even started working out- tried yoga and meditation for the first time. I started going to church again and now get more involved with my community. Now I can volunteer at my sons school and have much more one on one time with my 19 month old daughter. I live by the motto everything happens for a reason. I have learned to be humble, budget, and enjoy the simple priceless moments that surround us all. I count my blessings daily that I have my family, health, and for today- a roof over my head. Don't get me wrong, this by no means has been an easy process but it has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am just thankful to be alive......
-
Permalink Reply by Holly Ord on
-
I don't have any advice because I have never really been conventionally employed. I have worked from home my entire adult life, besides when I had just turned 18 and worked as a telemarketer which lasted 10 months, and I also worked at Borders Books and Music for 7 months. After then, I started working as a VA for a friend of mine for a few years and then started working from home for a prestigious web design and development company, although I quit as soon as I saw how corrupt they are and how they rip off their clients. I didn't want any part of that. At the moment I'm just trying to make whatever income I can from my blog, although it isn't going too well. I also manage to freelance a few articles a month, which is the up-side when it comes to me job-wise. I have PTSD from childhood so it isn't very possible for me to go out and find a job if they were even available for me.
What we have been having tremendous difficulty with, however, is the fact that my partner cannot find a job for the life of him and it doesn't help that we live in a residential/farm town that is pretty empty. We're trying so hard to pay our rent and our bills, but money just isn't there for us and it's very difficult to live like this, as I'm sure all of you ladies know.
On top of no jobs and no money, I am living with Periodontal Disease, which isn't too-too bad, but it has accelerated so badly that I have impacted wisdom teeth that grew in late and I already have crowded teeth. With all of this combined, my gums are rotting my teeth and I have a tooth that is completely rotten and I am in excruciating pain pretty much all the time. And even with living with all of this, because of the financial state of the country, no state assistance is available to me and sliding scale clinics are sending me bills for money that I can't pay them and I had a consultation with an oral surgeon who told me he would take out the 5 teeth I need out, but I have to pay him $2k up front and in full. This isn't boding too well for that whole money thing, either.
It's great that you started this thread, I really needed the space to vent, so thanks!
As for everyone's replies, I hope things start to get better with the economy and for all of us soon. Here's hoping.
-
Permalink Reply by Beth Gutierrez on -
I hurt for you and yes I will pray for you too. How do I cope? I'm still trying to figure that out. Thank goodness I have my faith in the Lord. I thank him everyday that my family is healthy, we have each other..........it could be worse. We are paycheck to paycheck right now. I was laid off because of a site closing, I never got the unemployment benefits that were owed to me. I fought and I fought, but the fighting did not pay our bills. I had to settle for a job making a fifth of what I was making before. We are learning to do without. We took no vacation this year, my kid's school clothes came mostly from second hand stores, and clearance racks. I worried myself sick at first, it really had an effect on my health. I'm better now, but not a day goes by that I don't worry, we are one disaster away from a financial disaster.
This is the time to remind your Spouse how much you love them and appreciate them..........if you have children hug them tighter. Material items like money come and go, but your family will always be there.
Evon Duncan said:Beth I know what your going through, I too got a lay off notice from the county of sacramento, my last day is this sat, funny I have my fingers crossed hoping I would here something by 4:30 today saying we are bringing the 5 of you back..I work with the chilldren that come into protective custody, it's very stressful at times seeing such horrible things that happen..Now that I lost my job i'm so concerned for the children. who will do my job?.. they have no one so the children will sit alone watch a video and cope on there own only to be checked on when someone can. I have no benefits and we may not even get our last check till mid october. Beth how do you deal with the added stress? what do you tell your landlord? I have always been one of those people that prayed and let God have it but this lay off has consume me with worry and stress. I say I'm to blessed to be stressed but now i'm say stressed but blessed..I will say a prayer for you and you do the same for me..Good luck to you.....Needed that..Had to vent...
-
Permalink Reply by Beth Gutierrez on
-
You can defer student loans. I think you can do it for 6 months at a time. You sacrificed a lot it sounds like, I am so sorry. Our savings too is about gone. Do you have other family members or friends with children that you can volunteer to watch? Pay you instead of daycare? Have you tried the temp agencies? Right now I am doing telemarketing for a paycheck. My whole life I considered myself to be above this, I was in a very successful career doing consulting work, and now I feel quite humble with this type of job. Every where I applied for work I was told I was over-qualified. I had to accept the reality that a small paycheck is better than no paycheck and take the first job I saw. Where I am at jobs are very scarce. But your husband might have to consider doing some type of work that he is not entirely comfortable with. Just remind him that it would be temporary. You never know, entry level jobs sometimes turn into opportunity. That is what I am hoping for now with my entry level job. Thank you for sharing your story.........you have touched me. I will pray for you.....
Michele said:I don't have any advice. In November, I came home to start my VA business, and be there for my kids and elderly parents. My husband was finally making more than me, and had benefits (which we have to have due to two kids with special needs.) In February, he lost his (extremely stable) job. He hasn't been able to find a job since, which means he's been unemployed 7 months. We've had to get one extension on his unemployment. We're currently on Cobra. We've defaulted on student loans. We've maxed out credit cards. We've lost our savings.
I still don't know what we're going to do. I have no answers. I have no advice.
-
Permalink Reply by Beth Gutierrez on
-
I live in a farm community myself and it is very hard to find a good paying job. It does feel good to vent.......ite>Holly Ord said:I don't have any advice because I have never really been conventionally employed. I have worked from home my entire adult life, besides when I had just turned 18 and worked as a telemarketer which lasted 10 months, and I also worked at Borders Books and Music for 7 months. After then, I started working as a VA for a friend of mine for a few years and then started working from home for a prestigious web design and development company, although I quit as soon as I saw how corrupt they are and how they rip off their clients. I didn't want any part of that. At the moment I'm just trying to make whatever income I can from my blog, although it isn't going too well. I also manage to freelance a few articles a month, which is the up-side when it comes to me job-wise. I have PTSD from childhood so it isn't very possible for me to go out and find a job if they were even available for me.
What we have been having tremendous difficulty with, however, is the fact that my partner cannot find a job for the life of him and it doesn't help that we live in a residential/farm town that is pretty empty. We're trying so hard to pay our rent and our bills, but money just isn't there for us and it's very difficult to live like this, as I'm sure all of you ladies know.
On top of no jobs and no money, I am living with Periodontal Disease, which isn't too-too bad, but it has accelerated so badly that I have impacted wisdom teeth that grew in late and I already have crowded teeth. With all of this combined, my gums are rotting my teeth and I have a tooth that is completely rotten and I am in excruciating pain pretty much all the time. And even with living with all of this, because of the financial state of the country, no state assistance is available to me and sliding scale clinics are sending me bills for money that I can't pay them and I had a consultation with an oral surgeon who told me he would take out the 5 teeth I need out, but I have to pay him $2k up front and in full. This isn't boding too well for that whole money thing, either.
It's great that you started this thread, I really needed the space to vent, so thanks!
As for everyone's replies, I hope things start to get better with the economy and for all of us soon. Here's hoping.
-
Permalink Reply by Evon Duncan on
-
Beth I got a call a hour ago I was reinstated, so all things are possible..I thought i was having a nervous breakdown couldnt sleep felt like i was about to vomit from stress all day for the past 3 weeks since they gave us notices, I went to the doctor they gave me crazy pills which i refuse to take..I don't have much and i'm living pay check to paycheck too but i know that i have to set aside if it's only a few dollars a month now, i don't ever want to be in this situation again..Let me know if I can do anything for you..yesterday I had nothing it felt like. today I can buy your family dinner..let me know if I can do anything for you and belive that God works wonders..He said ask and you shall recieve..He knows what we need but sometime he wants us to humble ourselves and asks and you shall recieve..How old are your kids and what sizes do they wear?...
Keep smiling although you don't feel like
Beth Gutierrez said:I hurt for you and yes I will pray for you too. How do I cope? I'm still trying to figure that out. Thank goodness I have my faith in the Lord. I thank him everyday that my family is healthy, we have each other..........it could be worse. We are paycheck to paycheck right now. I was laid off because of a site closing, I never got the unemployment benefits that were owed to me. I fought and I fought, but the fighting did not pay our bills. I had to settle for a job making a fifth of what I was making before. We are learning to do without. We took no vacation this year, my kid's school clothes came mostly from second hand stores, and clearance racks. I worried myself sick at first, it really had an effect on my health. I'm better now, but not a day goes by that I don't worry, we are one disaster away from a financial disaster.
This is the time to remind your Spouse how much you love them and appreciate them..........if you have children hug them tighter. Material items like money come and go, but your family will always be there.
Evon Duncan said:Beth I know what your going through, I too got a lay off notice funny I have my fingers crossed hoping I would here something by 4:30 today saying we are bringing the 5 of you back..I work with the chilldren that come into protective custody, it's very stressful at times seeing such horrible things that happen..Now that I lost my job i'm so concerned for the children. who will do my job?.. Beth how do you deal with the added stress? what do you tell your landlord? I have always been one of those people that prayed and let God have it but this lay off has consume me with worry and stress. I say I'm to blessed to be stressed but now i'm say stressed but blessed..I will say a prayer for you and you do the same for me..Good luck to you.....Needed that..Had to vent...
-
Permalink Reply by Beth Gutierrez on
-
Evon you just put the biggest smile on my face:)) I'm so happy for you. God bless you for asking about my girls too. I've been fortunate to hit some awsome garage sales. They are not hurting in the clothes department. The clothes may be used, but they are clean, cute, and awnry as ever. Who could ask for anything more! :)
-
Permalink Reply by tina reynolds on -
My husband was laid off. We are trying to make 1071 in unemployment stretch to cover our bills we are both putting in applications every day. We live in a county were the unemployment is at 15 percent so it is hard. Luckily my two kids are small so they do not know what is going on. I worry every night about being able to take care of them. My husband and I both went to college but their is nothing. I applied for fred meyer and ross yesterday. I hope one calls. I am going to have a yard sale tommorrow to make a few extra bucks. I guess my advice is remember things always change never give up. I hope this will be a distant memory in a month or two. Make sure to talk to your spouse and reassure them.
Tina
-
Permalink Reply by Jayde Norman on -
My hubby lost his job in Feburary and we are currently on his first extention. We moved to California to be near his family and because he wanted to persue a dream of becoming CHP. It has not worked out for us so far and we have lost so much since we have been here, I dont even know how we pay rent every month. We are both currently going to school online while we look for jobs, which aren't here in California. Its been such a bad year for us and my husband feels guilty for talking me into giving up a full time job in Memphis. We were both working and had a really nice life, but he missed his family and it was a stupid choice that has put a lot of pressure on our marriage. The economy really needs to pick up or we might not survive another year. Our car was repoed, we are on food stamps, we have exhausted our saving and we have lost all of our credit cards.....if we didn't have our fait we would have given up a long time ago. I just keep saying that the Lord will point us in the right direction
-
Permalink Reply by Andrea Tannouri on -
From someone who had a 6 figure income that went down to nothing, loosing homes, cars, credit, employment - it was tough, but it makes you really appreciate the important things in life - like the people you love, who love you.
If you can't find a job, employ yourself. It takes courage, dedication, drive and faith, but you'll get through it.
The economy almost ruined our marriage, our health and our lives, but my husband and I stuck together and we are coming through the long, dark tunnel, that much stronger. Don't lay blame, find solutions. YOU CAN DO IT!
Like Dora says, Never Give Up!
=) Andrea aka @HolisticMom
http://www.ParentingOnlineClasses.com
(I also do New Media Marketing for small businesses)
Announce yourself!
Badge
© 2009 Created by Megan Calhoun
