In the last two weeks I have been approached by five aquaintences that have found themselves unemployed and sought my counsel, as I have been "on the bricks " now for almost a year. They were surprised at my response that "No thinking person is ever unemployed, they only work a different type of "job"". Personally, I have always used the "rubber band" budget, putting all my funds in a rubber band and pay out of the wad. If I know a bill is coming due and theres not enough in the band, figure how to make more money. Today, I got my lawnmowers and weedeaters tweaked to get out and cut some yards ($50 for 3hrs work taint bad). What gets me is yardwork was what I did before entering engineering and I sold out my interest to my partner so I could take the job in the industry that laid me off. 20 years later, he has 10 crews landscaping 12 months out of the year and I'm back where we started, but happy. Maybe I won't screw up and "take a job" this time around and throw the landscaping career away :>)

What are some of your stategies to survive "unemployment"?

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 07, 2002

Answers

Thanks Jay I know I am one of the friends who has found themselves unemployed. It is all still too new for me and I am in a state of shock and feeling very blue about the whole thing. I think it would have been easier if I had seen it coming down the pike. This was out of the blue, totally! I went and bought the Sunday paper to start the search for a job all over again. Unfortunately I do not have the where with all to get something going out of my house. I have kids I need to support and animals to feed. On the plus side maybe I can finishe cleaning my house. Spring is here, almost 50 today. Soon I won't have to buy hay for horses. Ground is still frozen but will be workable in another month or so.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 07, 2002.

Start a big pot of beans, get a sour dough starter (so don’t buy yeast for bread) and cut out everything, but internet. No long distance phone bills, no eating out, consolidate bills, try to eliminate/bring down credit card debts, etc.

Now start networking the sources that you have for leads, revamp your resume for several different job possibilities, sure up references and consider taking an internet course (shows on your resume that you are adaptable, forward looking and will keep you busy while you are looking and waiting). Might consider volunteering with a local group, another way to network and being a volunteer is a good way to account for a time period on your resume, (ie you left a situation to pursue a volunteer position). Set a schedule if you need to, but avoid ruts.

Put more time into garden, home, etc., by fixing up and cleaning up, not necessarily investing money here. Allow more light into you home and your life (the garden or anything outside thing).

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), April 07, 2002.

I get layed off every winter,,so I plan for it,, you just have to be able to live on what you would get a week,, I get the max, but its still nothing compared to what I get working

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 07, 2002.

Susan,

You wern't actually one of the five I was referring to, they all came out of the plant that axed me last year. However, I do have a possible strategy for you to consider. Set up an IM with me so that I can explain it to you. My apologies on the email snafu, "Yahoo Delivers", only sometimes its 18 hours later :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.

Wow, Susan!! My feelings exactly. Little bit different circumstances here, I'm 51 and not out of a job (yet). But I've been doing home care of a 90 yr old lady, been a nurses aid for many years. I don't want to do this any more. She will be dying soon and "where do you go from here?" At least my kids are grown. I know exactly what you mean though. Hope Jay can give you some good ideas. Jill

-- Jill (lance1_86404@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.

Over on the countryside forum there is an e-book by Ken S. which deals in a variety of ways to make some cash..I highly suggest looking into it.

-- Dave in Ohio (dr43147@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.

And Ken will e-mail it to you for free, too. You can't beat the price! He's got so many possibilities listed in there. I'm sure you can find at least one or two that may work for you or give you some ideas for another way to go.

-- Fran (on MD's Eastern Shore) (simpleplesurzfrm@dmv.com), April 08, 2002.

And his e book comes with a "money back guarantee" also :>) I highly reccomend it also.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.

Jay, Sounds like the story of Mr. Roebuck selling out the Mr. Sears. I used to feel badly about that kind of thing. But now I know both sides of that fence. Sure don't want to live in Chicago (no offense to those who do--each to their own). Can't imagine contentment is found sitting behind a desk surrounded by chemically impregnated man- made materials, pretending that the Earth isn't real but the phoney environment is. Been there and done that! I know you know these things, just thinking out loud. I have been "unemployed" for 6 months now. I have to look at this as my opportunity to get out to my land and living the way the Great Spirit intended. How I loved fending for myself when escaping into the wilds on vacations. I know it's no longer a vacation....now it's for real. I can do this!

-- Susan in Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.

Susan in Michigan,

I didn't find "total contentment " in a CIS/Electronics engineering lab , however, by giving myself the fexibility to pursue my agronomic and biology studies in the form of my gardening and worms, while addressing my engineering endeavors , I find I can be quite content. I do hope to one day have a woman beside me to share my excitement of success and discuss solutions to failures to make successes. Until then I have this forum to share my successes with. It is amazing what changes 20 years can have on a persons attitudes.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.

Age has a mellowing effect! I like it :D

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 09, 2002.

You know, I'm sitting here feeling really depressed over this thing. I am still stunned. I went and talked to my professor (chair of the department at the university and he is pissed. He is encourageing me to look at legal action. I have the policies of the organization and it seems pretty bogus to me. I just really want to know the real reason. I may never get it though. I have worked for 32 years and never been fired, I am devistated. I look around me, at my house and think of selling it and all the critters and starting over with nothing. Maybe I should have the kids go live with their father and step-mother. Oh god what an awful thought, but what if...? I think of the things I could do if I didn't have my kids right now. I feel emotionally sick at the thought of not having them with me but I can not ask them to give up their lives as they are right now to make me happy or to make this place work. Can I? I think they have been through enough the past several years and deserve to be kids and be settled for awhile. At least my oldest is more prone to upset by change than my youngest. So in another 4 or so years I could up root to another place if I needed to.

I'm just thinking out loud here, I hope you all don't mind! There is another job I should apply for. It closes on Friday, I hardly have the energy to fill out the application, much less try to be clever about myself and write a cover letter.

I would love to stay home but there really isn't much I can do that doesn't require a lot more work, money, or cirtificate to accomplish. I may go back to school!

I am not happy right now! Thanks for the space and time.

Susan

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), April 09, 2002.

How do we (I) handle unemployment? With much difficulty, deep pondering and many ideas,,now getting some of those ideas to work is the eternal goal.

I have 2 stand-bys that I can and do return to when not employed. (Fortunately I am employed part-time at the present time) I am a long time Kennel manager and manage my own small dog kennel. I also do Dog Grooming when needed,,,My little dogs bring in some money (and fun) maybe once or twice a year,,and it really helps..more than a person might think. I raise registered Pomeranians and Poodles...on small scale. They are my pets as well. Bring in a little money by Dog Grooming on the side when I am unemployed also.(which is more often than I like to admit,,lately) Anyway, I always hold onto these "old stand-bys"..I think being frugal is very important,,being content with what we "need".( til we can go shopping and buy that special new coat or saddle..:-).

As we get older,,seems it is harder to get employment, for me anyway. I am a artist also,,painting is my hobby,,but haven't seriously tried to sell any of my work,,,have thought about it. I have a few other "last resorts" I can do also, if hitting bottom..I would like to see Ken's e-book,,for some more ideas. I don't worry as much as I used to..like many others,,time has mellowed me ,,and helps us all "see" the real important things in life,,Time well spent on the garden,,with our kids, (grown or small) and friends,,projects,,are among the most enjoyable..next to riding a favorite horse into the sunset,,Take care,,,,Patsy

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), April 11, 2002.