Having a REALLY bad day...

[kwitcherkicken99]

So... I just found out that DH's factory is shutting down sometime in the next 2 years. There's no date... it could be tomorrow!

I'm just sick with worry about what we're going to do. There are no jobs in this town, and I make money, but it's a low, low wage.

If they close the doors anytime soon, we'll have to cancel our vacation... my one place to get away from the stress.

 

[chrisw127]

I'm sorry. My parents lived in the midwest for years and the whole town was dependent on one business. It was very stressful for everyone.

No words of advice, but hang in there.

 

[Doug123]

I'm in the Midwest too. The economy is horibble here. Unemployment benefits should help you for a while (if it comes down to that).

Good luck.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

It's just not fair. 10 years of employment means nothing!

 

[princesslily]

My husband has been with a dealership for 16 years, has been the top in sales every year since he started. Our income was cut in half last year! You would think that they would help but it turns out they really don't care about him!

 

[MSSANDRA]

You at least have the gift of time. Better than a same day announcment. This happened to DH 2-3 years ago and though we did not know exactly when ,we knew. We did cancel our trip. We also went ahead and cut back anywhere we could..cable etc. He went back to school and was almost 2 years into his degree when the company close.

Go ahead and grieve for a few days (we did) but then get pro-active and be in the best situation you can be when it happens.

 

[Mathfailure]

The economy is so bad, some areas seem to be picking up the pace, but the midwest is BAD.

Have you thought about retraining? Can you start saving more now? I hate to state this on dis but can you save the vacation money for the upcoming unemployment? Do you have any standing payments you can chop down so your money can go further? Any possiblility of relocating?

Business is business, and as the "Godfather" movies so clearly put it, its not personal.

I wish you well, and please start planning now.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We were in the same boat 5 years ago. DH was informed that he would be laid off "in about a year" with no definite date. We were told 2 weeks before a WDW trip. We did go on the trip figuring that we needed a little stress release and we would have lost money at that point if we cancelled. We got home from the trip and DH immediately started applying for new jobs before the shut down actually occurred. It took 2 1/2 months but he found another job. He missed out on the severance package by not staying until the end but who cares...he had a job.

I know firsthand that this seems like a nightmare at the time, but it will turn out ok.

 

[MrsPooh]

I totally understand. Dh lost his job last spring. He has found a new job but it is commission only. November and December paychecks were ok but he got a very small paycheck mid-January, none at the end of January, nothing for mid-February and will get just about $600 at the end of February. My employer cut my pay last month and I know my job is in jeopardy because of funding. Because we are a religious based non-profit the organization is exempt from paying unemployment so I will not receive any unemployment benefits if/when I do lose my job. Dh hasn’t been able to find anything better and I’ve been job hunting for about a month with no luck.

Sorry you have to deal with the stress of this. Since you may have a little time, try to take a good, hard look at all of your expenses and see what you can cut if your income dramatically decreases. Planning ahead helps a little.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We actually have very little debt. We got rid of 1 of our car payments and we save as much as we can. What is really going to help is that DD (17 mo) is already potty training - her idea, not mine, but I'm not complaining.

We don't spend money unless we have to, have no credit card debt. We really only have our mortgage, my student loan, and our truck. We are in pretty good shape but I hate not knowing what is going on!

He's put in for a transfer, but according to the company, he hired in 2 1/2 months too late. They aren't accepting transfers if people hired in after Oct 18, 1999. He started Jan 2000.

I think we'll be okay for our trip. We are going value in value season, and if FD comes back, we'll be in even better shape. Half our plane tickets are paid off and we don't buy souvies other than a silhouette and a plush for each kid. I have some supplemental money opportunities coming up to as I judge 4-H fairs during the summer for extra cash. We also have about 3 years worth of aluminum cans to cash in. DS would be broken hearted if we had to cancel. My grandmother has offered to give us money too as my brother borrows from them all the time and we never ask for anything, but I don't want to play that card if I don't have to. I like to earn my money.

Hopefully DH can find a way to transfer, and if not, he's got a buddy in another town that can try to get him on there. Argh! I hate money!