So my job is going away in 9 mos. What to do to prepare my family?

[Sjisty]

Good luck - even with unemployment so high there will be something out there, you just have to hunt for it. If you were at your last job for 9 years, then you are dependable and must know what you are doing, or they wouldn't have kept you on! I'm sure you will be a valuable asset to your next company.

My DH was out of work for 8 months last year. We made it through on my paycheck. It wasn't easy but "when life gives you lemons ..." This year I was out of work for about a month but have just this week started my new job.

The worst part for us was my DH feeling so helpless and dependent on me (even though he cooked, cleaned, did laundry, etc. while he was off work) because he wasn't "bringing home the bacon." He is in construction so there really wasn't anything going on out there but now he is back at his original company and while he isn't back up to 40-hour weeks yet, things are looking up.

 

[bargain]

ditto all of the above. Also, I cannot mention the name of the site but there is a coupon mom place where she shows which coupons to use out of which paper for groceries, etc.

Using it I don't spend hours clipping coupons and putting in categories and trying to match against the grocery stores. It's already done for me.

We probably save $30 to $60 a week on groceries, health supplies etc using this and its free. I stockpile necessities when on supersale.

We also keep our friends and neighbors on the lookout for basics we need for the farm when they are out and about. Our convenience center has a recycle table and I've scooped up treasures their like canning jars. But most of all it's an attitude of spending less and I consider myself thrifty and I'm proud of it! Will be praying for you!

Let me know if I can point you to any great coupon resources on line as well.

 

[kezabel]

I think most importantly is to pay all your bills and debt, well as much as you can before they lay you off. It will help not to have to worry about these debts when you become unemployed.
I'm praying for you and your family. I hope you get a new job soon, what ever you do don't give up, you'll find a job eventually, I'd start looking now.
Ditto to all the other advice as well, get those coupons and start growing a huge vege patch and fruit trees. If you get alot of eggs sell them too.
Good luck

 

[Quack Shack]

Thanks to all. I am going to take advantage of the website mentioned and I've learned to read the Wednesday flyers in the paper to see what the best bargains are for the week. I met with the loan officer this afternoon and her advise was to not refinance, pay up on one outstanding item and sell my house. I would lose all equity in my house and wouldn't be able to recover if I went with a refi because I've only been here 2 years. She thinks I should be able to sell my house with no problem but of course she's not a realtor. That's going to be my next call. Meanwhile the prayers and any tips you found useful is greatly appreciated. (Love the recycle table idea and wish we had that around here).

 

[English Chick]

I am so sorry to hear of your plight. I will keep you in my prayers and hope that you are in a position to get a job very soon.

.....

 

[Quack Shack]

Here's an update. I talked with a loan officer yesterday and she advised against refinancing my current house. So, I need to payoff something I forgot 2 years ago, let it post to the positive and apply for a loan. She said the rates are holding so bottomline is I'll be better off to move and sell my current home. Selling a house when I work full-time and have kids and pets isn't going to be easy. I'm considering packing up everything but the bare essentials, renting for a few months while my house is on the market and then buying a house. Seeing chickens in the backyard and toys in the living room I've been told will hurt my sale. I'll see if my dad will be OK with the birds staying with him for awhile (fresh eggs, dad!). I think I'll wait until the kids start school in August before I uproot us and move our stuff into storage. Thanks for all the sweet thoughts. It's very much appreciated. Sometimes I just have to talk it outloud so I feel I've got all the angles and then make my plans. I think we are in transition bound for better things.

 

[Whispering Winds]

We were buying bags of ice, and when our kids were all home, I froze water in milk jugs or any plastic bottle I could find, since hubby was a BIG soda drinker and still is. . .saves at least $5 a week. I coupon shop, went to Wal-Mart, which I hate, but they are cheaper on so many things where I live because we are so rural there is not much else to pick from . . .One IGA store and that is it. I saved over $20 with coupons and didn't buy one thing I didn't need. I got enough stuff to last in some cases for a month, others for two. I make my own detergent and fabric softner and love it, and have a huge garden, so will at least get tomatoes and beans canned. Hopefully the neck pumpkins will produce so I can freeze pumpkin puree. I save any bananas that go bad, puree them and freeze them in the amount it takes to make banana bread. . .its just little things, but we are on fixed income, and every little bit helps. I am realtor, things are slow for me (not so much because of the economy as it is me just being part time and not hitting it really hard right now) what I do make pays for alpaca chow and all the other animal food which is a blessing. My little Honda has two more payments, has over 200,000 on it, but it runs like a champ and I plan on keeping it until it literally dies in my arms. . .at almost 40 miles to the gallon, I am sold on Hondas. This is our time in our lives, with the world and our country being in such dire straits that will show what we are made of. My mom washed her foil and plastic storage bags and I use think what a waste, but now I keep my plastic bags and reuse them alot . . .I also take a very good quality vitamin at $20 a month, as its preventative care. I also put two tsps. of organic vinegar in my iced tea and can't tell the difference and that is a big health promoter. My husband takes thousands of dollars a month of medicines (one blood pressure patch he changes every week is $1330 a month, we pay $14 for a three month supply, VERY blessed) so I figure I need to keep myself going as long as possible before I have to do anything. . . .I made my own bread from the recipe on here that is just fabulous, and usually my own biscuits and cookies and desserts. We eat a lot of chicken, not my own (yet), but my husband is diabetic and it just works better for him. We need to fish and start keeping it frozen and ready to eat. I can't eat it

but our 8 year old and DH love it . . .We need to keep this thread going and keep adding things as we figure out better ways to live off the land and our self-sufficient gene we were born with and never grew!!!!

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i wish you good luck with your transition. Sounds like you have a positive attitude and this will be a good change.

We sold our house and moved early last year when my husband's business went south. Moved 90% of our possessions into storage and staged the house beautifully. Unfortunately, i wasn't able to find a place for my chickens while it was on the market. i know it turned a lot of people off. But we were very lucky to get two good offers and sold within a month. Moved to an area with a much lower cost of living - back where we both grew up.

It was a very stressful time, but we are now both so very happy with the outcome. It was a blessing in disguise.

 

[Quack Shack]

Enchanted, I'm actually looking the county from where we moved 2 years ago as where we need to be again. Adds a little driving time to my current job but what a savings in lower taxes and fees. Tough times with the children in tow but when you have to walk what you preach then it's a learning/growing time for us all. I've already been upfront with my son about no sportcamp but I was able to treat him to a youth function in August for 1/3 the cost of the sportcamp. I told him we have so much truly and it's OK if it's maybe not what his friends may have when you see it all together.

I hear you, Whispering. I'm learning so much from the great folks here on cutting corners. I recycle storage bags I wash with vinegar and air dry. I'm rethinking the same old menu items but adding a twist to keep it interesting. I got my kids to eat acorn squash by serving it up as a quiche. Same $$ but redistributing. Giving up my coffee has been the hardest. Silly, huh?

 

[Buckhorn Farm]

Pray....when God closes a door He opens a window

He has something wonderful for you!