Just because someone collects unemployment, it does not mean they are looking for handouts! My husband has been unemployed since just before Thanksgiving and his unemployment is now up. He has spent the last 19 years working in the civil engineering industry with the last 10 years strictly in schools (new K-12 public schools and additions); the last 8 has been in Project Management. He isn't an idiot or lazy! States are funding new schools...heck, they are closing them down in some areas. My husband CAN'T find a job. He has been looking. There are so many unemployed civil engineers out there now with more education that my husband has NO choice, but to go back to school now if he ever wants to continue in a career.
My mother is also a civil engineer...35 yrs experience in residential land development. She was laid off in March 2008, found work out-of-state and got laid off in Dec 2008 when that company lost contracts due to their clients going belly-up. Her unemployment is up, as is my brothers (same industry...runs in the family). Now, they are looking at the possibility of moving into my place.
I am lucky in that I went ahead to get my Master's a couple years ago (recently finished) and am one of the few of many I know to have found work (because of my education beyond what is typically required. However, because the economy stinks, I am paid ~$17,000 less than what I was offered 2 years ago. I am suppose to support 5 adults on my income now, 2 of which are going to return to school (no choice) with a 3rd strongly contemplating it. Meanwhile, they will all be looking for PT work to hold them over until they can find FT work. My husband doesn't have the choice to move out-of-state since I HAVE a job, we own our house (we just gonna give it up?) and where would he stay? We can't afford two places. My mom and brother are out of state and are looking at coming here since it is a roof over their head. Many in my family are in land development, two other households are all unemployed (licensed surveryors) and are planning on moving to Washington to move in with my aunt (whose husband is an employed accountant thankfully).
Two employed people (my aunt's husband and myself) are gonna support a full extended family while they help pitch in with whatever PT work they can only hope to find? Yes, there are lazy people people out there, but my husband gave up 40% of his income for nearly 20 years to CA and federal taxes and now he is being told he is lazy because we rely on his unemployment to make ends meet? He has 10 weeks left and it is gone. We have loved frugally for years, but my income won't cut it. We are trying to sell whatever we can (including the one car that has a payment) just so we can make ends meet.
Times are rough for everyone and we are doing what we can, but the attitude that the unemployed are lazy and looking for hand outs makes me madder than a red hen.
If there were freakin' jobs available, he'd be working!
My mother is also a civil engineer...35 yrs experience in residential land development. She was laid off in March 2008, found work out-of-state and got laid off in Dec 2008 when that company lost contracts due to their clients going belly-up. Her unemployment is up, as is my brothers (same industry...runs in the family). Now, they are looking at the possibility of moving into my place.
I am lucky in that I went ahead to get my Master's a couple years ago (recently finished) and am one of the few of many I know to have found work (because of my education beyond what is typically required. However, because the economy stinks, I am paid ~$17,000 less than what I was offered 2 years ago. I am suppose to support 5 adults on my income now, 2 of which are going to return to school (no choice) with a 3rd strongly contemplating it. Meanwhile, they will all be looking for PT work to hold them over until they can find FT work. My husband doesn't have the choice to move out-of-state since I HAVE a job, we own our house (we just gonna give it up?) and where would he stay? We can't afford two places. My mom and brother are out of state and are looking at coming here since it is a roof over their head. Many in my family are in land development, two other households are all unemployed (licensed surveryors) and are planning on moving to Washington to move in with my aunt (whose husband is an employed accountant thankfully).
Two employed people (my aunt's husband and myself) are gonna support a full extended family while they help pitch in with whatever PT work they can only hope to find? Yes, there are lazy people people out there, but my husband gave up 40% of his income for nearly 20 years to CA and federal taxes and now he is being told he is lazy because we rely on his unemployment to make ends meet? He has 10 weeks left and it is gone. We have loved frugally for years, but my income won't cut it. We are trying to sell whatever we can (including the one car that has a payment) just so we can make ends meet.
Times are rough for everyone and we are doing what we can, but the attitude that the unemployed are lazy and looking for hand outs makes me madder than a red hen.
