If u suddenly found yourself unemployed, do u have a plan?
What would u do?

I've been thinking about that alllll morning.
I've actually been thinking about it for a year now. Not actually planning, just wondering what the hell's gonna happen. I've been saying we're heading into another great depression for about a year now.

I'd probably have to move - find a roommate to share expenses with - though I'd put that off for as long as possible. And bust my ass looking for work, I guess.

That's my only plan.

The rule of thumb is that people should have 6 to 12 months of living expenses saved up and at their disposal. That seems unrealistic given the monthly demands on most people's income.

Graycap23 said:

For a year and a half I have been trying to save 3 months salary and I'm still at just over half a month. Something always comes up.

CarrieMpls said:

Always.....and it seems 2 require $$$$.

I live in the state with the highest unemployment rate in the country, so I think about that a lot.
Most likely, I'd have to plan to move out of state and pray that I could make my expenses in the meantime. There just isn't anything here.

Not looking for pity but I've been since the first week in January. I've been relaxing and slowly getting the resumé together.

As Apples has already said, it's tough times where I live so my plan (like hers) is to leave the state if I can't find a job. I'm giving it a few months, we'll see, I've got multiple abilities that's why I found it odd that I would be let go first.

What would I do? I'd go on a vacation and then look for another job. I too live in a state with the highest unemployment rate so a move might have to happen. I think if it did happen it would be a blessing in disguise and I could start fresh. Worse case scenario I'd move in with my Mom to save money...WORST case scenario. I'm fortunate enough that I would never be out on the street. My family wouldn't allow it.

I'd probably do voluntary work and look into emigrating to somewhere sunnier.

Graycap23 said:

that's the hard part. If I was laid off I'd be in trouble--fast!

amazingly, I don't really know anyone who's been laid off in this past year

Well...having 17 years with my current employer...I'm hoping I would get at least some severance. Enough to cushion the fall a bit.

I have marketable skills, a pretty decent network (so I could get contract or freelance work without too much trouble), and a willingness to work my ass off.

If push comes to shove, I have limited savings. I also have some equity in my home...a 401K that I could borrow against...and several credit cards with low balances and very high limits.

I'd hate to go that route...but would if I had to.

I'd be frantically looking for a new job while I lived off what little I had saved and if I ran out before I found that new job I would have no other choice but to apply for financial assistance. I can swallow my pride on that because it's not about me, it's about taking care of my son.

I'd probably have sex a bit more often, and find comfort in that. Drink more, but eat cheaper food to compensate. Not sleep quite as well. Maybe post on the org more, say at 5 in the morning. Something like that.

Graycap23 said:

I'm in that situation right now, and all you have to do is just keep going... there's nothing else to do. forget week to week, I'm pretty much living day to day right now. I have exactly one week before I get money again (from the government, unemployment benefit I'm embarrassed to say) and because of the cost of living in Sydney basically I'm left with nothing. I have about 70c left in my wallet and a bit of food that will have to last me a week.

That will change soon, though, I will MAKE it change...

Natisse said:

There's no shame in getting unemployment benefits, you earned it when you were working.

One thing NOT to do: Today, a brotha in Wilmington, Ca. just took out his WHOLE FAMILY (Wife, 3 daughters, and 2 sons) in a murder-suicide over possibly losing his job. Damn shame.

MuthaFunka said:

SCNDLS said:

Nothing to be ashamed of Natisse. Could happen to any one of us.

Hang in there.

Nat. I agree with SCNDLS AND CARRIE. Nooo shame in unemployment. It is YOUR money.


I really don't know what I would do if I got laid off. I would literally freak out! The kinda freak out that you see on the news.....

I've been consulting for seven years so I'm used to finding out suddenly that I don't have a job cuz a project is over or lost funding. As a result of the constant uncertainty, I do not carry any credit card/consumer debt and maintain 8-12 months of savings at all times. One of the good things about consulting is that I'm constantly looking for a job, updating my resume, and adding to my skillset which tends to increase my marketability. That can be hard to do if you've worked for the same company for many years. So, even if you're comfortable in your current work situation, it's up to you to ensure you are constantly improving yourself and learning new skills, just in case.

I have been thinking and planning just in case something happens to my job. My biggest concern is what I would do without insurance. I am a Type I Diabetic. My diabetic supplies would cost an outrageous amount of money without insurance.

SCNDLS said:

I felt ashamed the first time I got them until someone explained that to me. Then I LOVED it!

applekisses said:

I hear ya on that! Cleveland is also really bad right now too, with people losing their jobs.

MuthaFunka said:

Wow, that's messed up!

CarrieMpls said:

I've been collecting unemployment benefits and working part-time for about 6 or 7 months now. I'm not ashamed of it at all. I figure that when I am working, part of my tax dollars are going into the unemployment fund anyway. I might as well collect it, if I need it. I live alone and there's bills to pay, so I gotta make ends meet somehow.

i've never been on unemployment before, so it would be a shock to the system but i think i'd use the situation as a chance to re-strategize how i go about making a living. right now i am very comfortable, but not very happy with what i do. it's hard to walk away from my job because the pay and benefits are great and the workload is just tolerable enough for me to keep coming back to it every day. but if i found myself laid off, i think i'd use it as an opportunity to make myself re-imagine my life without some of the creature comforts i'm used to, and to maybe aim for some more creative/idealistic ways of earning a living, even if it means i have to cut corners like crazy.

i guess what i'm saying is, i'd try to find a bright side to it.

Anxiety said:

I wanna be like you Anx.

Options:

Look for another job;
Apply for unemployment;
Go back to school;
Change careers;
Start your own business;
Take time off for yourself to recharge before looking at options.

Graycap23 said:

i live week to week, always a bill to pay

when i finish up at my current job in march, i will get part long service payout, so that should help... 4 a while


looking 4 a job when the rugrat goes back to school next mth.

but im networking while at work:woot:

a customer who i have helped 4 many yrs told me today i could put her name down as a reference, im holding her to that


getting references from all of our sales reps


and if all else fails, i have arthritis, dodgy discs in the back and an anxiety disorder.

i might qualify 4 assistance ....


but i would much rather stay in employment


i havent been unemployed 4 22 yrs

and in that time i have only had 2 jobs. the second (current) one i didnt even look 4, right place, right time.


im scared