“job loss” Archive
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My husband and I sat down with sharpened pencils and sketched out a plan of action. We would have sketched this out earlier but we just received the unemployment numbers on Friday.
The big question…
How long can we hold on without my husband’s job?
Our initial numbers (without unemployment benefits) put us at 8 weeks. Our reductions to debt paired with our cash in savings and unemployment benefits put us at…
9 months.
Had this happened before we had taken control… had this happened before we made the decision to live below our means and reduce debt… we would have made it through a month, maybe two tops.
But now, we’re looking at 9 safe months. 9 months to find a job before things get hairy. Sure we won’t make progress other than minimums and we certainly won’t eat anything other than Ramen noodles but, we can hold on.
I have four words to say –
Thank. You. Dave. Ramsey.
I received a letter of healthcare cancellation for my husband this weekend. His benefits run out at the end of the month.
I expected his benefits to expire but I did not expect the high cost to maintain his health insurance through COBRA. We’re looking at $250 a month for an active healthy guy who hasn’t been to the hospital for a medical reason since birth.
This expense isn’t an option for us. It’s either healthcare or our mortgage payment and since healthcare won’t keep us sheltered at night… it lost.
In light of this, I have restricted him from doing anything dangerous. He is officially banned from riding a dirt bike, surfing near sharks, standing on ladders, and clipping his toe nails. I have also encased him in bubble wrap and tied large sofa cushions to his stomach.
I think it will work.
My budget was already threadbare but living with 50% less salary and on unemployment benefits has forced us to find ways to somehow reduce more.
First, we cut our dental and vision insurance. This is something that can easily be re-instated but the $25 a month can help me now.
Second, I cancelled all my appointments health related or otherwise. None of my appointments were an emergency and I requested that my doctor renew my prescriptions without the annual check-up since the last 6 years have been clear of any problems. These appointments and tests run in the neighborhood of $500.
Third, I called my cable company to cancel our cable, reduce our internet speed, and reduce our phone service. I explained our situation and was surprised when they offered reduced internet costs, reduced phone costs, and added free services and free channels for a 12 month period. I would tell you how much I’m paying – but I’m afraid they’ll figure out they made a huge mistake and ‘correct’ the discount… or fire the guy who gave it to me. I would have cut out the internet and phone entirely but my husband needs internet for school purposes and job searching late at night when he gets home (free internet at the library is closed) and I’m uncomfortable without a home phone for emergencies.
Fourth, I contacted my student loan company for a deferment.
Fifth, my husband and I contacted friends and family and let them know we’d be available for odd jobs. Since unemployment doesn’t start for nearly a month after a job loss, my husband has done everything from pulling weeds to insulating walls. I have been helping a company with paperwork at night after work. We use this money for groceries and for the important bills like electric and water. At no time should you feel you are ‘too good’ for any type of job.
Sixth, we cut off all our subscriptions and memberships. If you’re like us, you may not even remember you have some of them since they are automatically billed to your credit card and you may not look at each item on your online statement. Some examples: gym memberships, club memberships, magazine and newspaper subscriptions (some automatically renew unless you cancel). Savings – $50 a month.
Seventh, we’ve been using more public transportation. It takes twice as long to get somewhere, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s far from fun, but it saves $50-$75 a month.
It’s not a lot, but each item buys us a little more time.
My body is weird. Stress doesn’t make me eat more, eat less, or cry a lot.
When I get moderately stressed, the skin around my ears bleeds from an odd rubbing habit I’ve had since I was a kid.
When I get really stressed, my body goes into a self-induced coma.
This job loss has me REALLY stressed.
It’s not a big deal, I just don’t think I should operate any heavy equipment or walk in high heels. In fact, it’s kinda nice. If I ever require surgery, just tell me I’ve got to figure out a way to pay cash for the doctors and I’ll pass right out. I could save a fortune on an anesthesiologist.
My husband is dealing with it exactly as I expected – with a huge smile on his face. I married the eternal optimist. Some people are blessed with the ability to see only the positive in situations, and he’s one of those people. He’s been active in his job search and has been an all around very pleasant person.
It’s annoying as hell.
But at least I get to sleep through it.
Kidding!
If you are waking up to go to work this morning, you have something my husband does not…
A job.
He was laid off on Friday.
I’m struggling with this not only because of the lack of significant income but more because of how it happened. There were two employees laid off on Friday. The other employee was given three days notice, my husband was given no notice. I could understand if my husband had been at all unreliable or perhaps a bad employee, but he was neither. They simply needed some final projects completed and were worried he wouldn’t put in the extra overtime to complete them if he knew he wouldn’t have a job by Friday afternoon.
My husband has worked at this company for SIX years. I expected better from them.
I’m dealing with it the best way I can. I’m working to reduce, reduce, reduce. I’ll go more into that later.
I’m also trying my best to be something I am not – optimistic. Here’s my new list of reasons it’s G-R-E-A-T he’s unemployed:
1 – He can make all those mid-day calls to businesses only open from the annoying Monday through Friday 8-5 window. I’ve been trying to call my bank for YEARS!
2 – My husband, who is far more talented in the kitchen than I am, will cook more. Sure it will be Ramen, but it will somehow taste better since he’s making it.
3 –We won’t be weighed down by worries about job loss.
4 – We will be more creative in our bill pay process. Perhaps San Diego Gas and Electric will accept peanut butter cookies and hugs for payment? How about if the cookies are homemade?
5 – I don’t have to worry about my car getting repossessed because… I OWN IT!! And, we’re ahead in payments on the truck so we have some glide time.
6 – I will be able to empathize, once again, with some of my readers on what it’s like to not have a job and wonder how on earth we are going to pay the bills.
So here’s to my struggling readers – I’ve been there before, I’m there again, and we’ll survive it.
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