Laid off--Support thread

[Disneydreamer5]

Rachel,
I just read your post and almost started crying myself. I am so sorry that this happened to you and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as I have been so everyone here going through such a hard time.
I too have been have it hard latly. Besides my own lay off my husbands job has been going though many changes as well. He is a truck driver and has been in the same barn for over 2 years well now they have sent friehgt else where and he had to follow it. It has to stay there for no more the 30 days or he can't go back to his original bard and will lose his senority. We just found out that they "walked" 5 guys yesterday so we don't know what is going to happen when he has to go back there in a few weeks.
To add to all this, my dryer died on Saturday, motor went, its going to take 1 week to get the part so now I have to figure out where to do laudry, there are 7 in this house so the laundry mate can get very expensive, and now this morning I woke up at 5am to DH flipping out bacause we have a leap in the dinning room ceiling. No idea where it is coming form as we haven't had rain in over a week. Its just never ending. Although some may see this board and think its depressing, I have to say that for me it makes me realize that I am not alone in what is happening in my life and that there are so many who struggle daily as I do just to get out of bed in the morning. It is so easy to just give up but I know I have to be strong and just take it one day at a time. I pray that we will all come out of this ok and who knows, maybe this time next year we will all be in a better place, on a different board, taking about our vacation plans. At least I hope we will.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Can someone please explain to me how unemployment works? I was trying to read the manual online and was getting confused. How does my DH apply for it? How do you get paid? Do you have to work with an employment center? Please help me!!!! I am so confused. TIA.

 

[Disneydreamer5]

I'm not sure what state you are in but here in NJ, I just google NJ unemployment and the website comes up.
Under the main heading there are direct links that take you to where you need to go. They say "to apply for benefits"
I click on that and then there is another page that says to apply click the link and then I am taken directly to the page that begins the application.
As I said I am sure it differs from state to state but here we do not need to go to any unemployment centers. I would try to google your state and see what it says and try to follow the links the best you can. If you are still having a hard time I would call your local unemployment office and try to speak to an actual person. You may wait a while to get someone but they don't make it easy on purpose. Don't be thrown off if the person you speak to is a bit rude and seems annoyed with your questions because I certainly was but I just took with a grain of assult. I know why I am in need after working full time for the last 10 years and that I am out there trying to find something else but there are many that are not and I guess working in that field can get to a person after a while.
Chin up and good luck.
Hope this helps.

 

[brandylouwho]

Is it bad that I find some sort of comfort in the fact that I am not alone? I was laid off in July and have found nothing. Then the dentist tells me I need $2000 in work done (I was bad--I charged it, I was in pain and I needed to take care of it).

I think my main problem in the job hunt is that I have 2 kids in daycare, so it doesn't pay for me to work unless I am making a certain amount--and the only jobs I am qualified to do at anywhere near that pay rate are in the mortgage industry--(this is what I was laid off from and prospects are not good right now). I have a degree, but it is generic-English (long story) so it doens't help me much except to say that I have one.

I have recently changed my mindset and am now concentrating on part time evenings & weekends work to avoid daycare cost. Even that isn't going so well. I am not above cleaning or even a call center, but at $8/hour I would have to work full time to even make as much as I am on unemployment right now. So it is all very frustrating.

I even started donating (selling) my plasma. What a flash back to college that was. But that is only about $40/week around here.

My hubby doesn't want to hear it, but I am looking at what we can cut and how we can save to prepare for me to not work at all long term. We discussed living with one car this past weekend. He is not on board, but I think we could do it. I keep going back and forth emotionally, sometimes I believe everything will work out fine and other times I freak out when he decides to go out for lunch (and spend unecessary money). I think he is going through similar emotions and sometimes he is very supportive of me being home, other times he is not so understanding. I have always worked. It is only the past several years that he even made a lot more than I did. (Thank goodness he makes a decent wage now. Thank goodness his company is a stable, profitable, debt free company. Thank goodness he meets or exceeds his monthly sales goals each month). No job is ever 100% secure, but I am not worried about him losing his job any time soon.


I am cleaning/organizing the house and selling what we can (donating the rest). I figure I should make the most out of my time off, right? I love being home wiht the kids, so there is something good that came from this mess.

Ugh, thanks for letting me vent--I feel better, for now.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

It is hard but being on this thread makes us all realize that we are not alone. That we are not pathetic losers. We did our jobs and through no fault of our own we're kicked to the curb. Being an unemployed teacher is no picnic. I get the constant "Isn't there a shortage of teachers." or "Oh they always need teachers." The reality is vastly different. There is no shortage and even if there were a shortage the budget mess puts a halt on most hiring. The main season of hiring is Spring/Summer. One district isn't even hiring subs!

The mortgage is killing us. We're paying $200/month for an escrow shortage from last year and the escrow of course went up to cover the increase. Now because my house lost $30,000 in value my taxes dropped like a rock. Will my mortgage company adjust that? Not till next month. I keep saying to myself the mortgage will go from $1600 to $1200 in January. Can we make the payments? Yes and after January it will be much easier for us.

I'm still waiting for this one school to contact me. I started the interview process with them a month ago. I'm to the point where I almost don't care if I got the position. I would just like to know something. Daily depression vent over. Time for more laundry.

 

[got2travel]

Can someone please explain to me how unemployment works? I was trying to read the manual online and was getting confused. How does my DH apply for it? How do you get paid? Do you have to work with an employment center? Please help me!!!! I am so confused. TIA.

As stated before, each state will handle it differently. Here in CA I did everything online and have not spoken to anyone live. I've been collecting unemployment since June. Here in CA the employer is required to give information to the outgoing employee on how to apply. The company is also required to provide the state with the salary and dates of employment. I did not have to provide any of this.

I could apply during my last week I was employed but had to wait 7 days after my last day before unemployment would kick in. Every 2 weeks I receive a check with a short questionaire asking did I work, did I look for work, was I too sick to work, did I turn down any work, etc. I just fill out the questions, mail it back and get another check in a week or so.

I was required to register with our state's job database but not required to submit for any jobs there. Also, on the questionaire included with the check there is a box that when marked I am supposed to provide more information on what work I looked for (like who I applied to, what position, what was the outcome) but my box has never been checked, so I haven't had to provide that detail.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Thanks for all your help. I live in Colorado and have never had to experience unemployment so we have no idea, we are so clueless about it.

 

[mommybrown]

I am new to posting but have read the boards for a few years. I am not laid off,but I quit my full time job to relocate with DH. I am a Dental Hygienst and have held my license for nine years, I have never been with out a job since I was 15. We bought our house with the thought of me working as well. Luckily we didn't buy what the mortgage company told us we could afford. We can live on dh's income,but it is tight. We were hoping to be cc free by summer 2009. That's not gonna happen. We do not have the financial freedom we had 6 months ago. I was working FT and dh was going to school,but house and property taxes were much less. Dh also has student loans starting to come in.

I have sent out 45 resumes, no job listings in the area. I had one interview to temp one day a week for three months. On Tuesday, they hired the girl they interviewed before conducting my interview on Wednesday.

I know things could be much worse. We are able to stay afloat. We have had an extreme lifestyle change. Many things for the better. I pray for all that this will pass. I have loved the budget board for many new ideas. I love seeing how little we can spend to feed a family of five. On the plus side I am enjoying being home, but dread when bill paying time comes. Sending job vibes to you all!!!

 

[nannerbadnanner]

I am new to posting but have read the boards for a few years. I am not laid off,but I quit my full time job to relocate with DH. I am a Dental Hygienst and have held my license for nine years, I have never been with out a job since I was 15. We bought our house with the thought of me working as well. Luckily we didn't buy what the mortgage company told us we could afford. We can live on dh's income,but it is tight. We were hoping to be cc free by summer 2009. That's not gonna happen. We do not have the financial freedom we had 6 months ago. I was working FT and dh was going to school,but house and property taxes were much less. Dh also has student loans starting to come in.

I have sent out 45 resumes, no job listings in the area. I had one interview to temp one day a week for three months. On Tuesday, they hired the girl they interviewed before conducting my interview on Wednesday.

I know things could be much worse. We are able to stay afloat. We have had an extreme lifestyle change. Many things for the better. I pray for all that this will pass. I have loved the budget board for many new ideas. I love seeing how little we can spend to feed a family of five. On the plus side I am enjoying being home, but dread when bill paying time comes. Sending job vibes to you all!!!

If you quit your job to relocate with your spouse, you should be eligible for unemployment. You will have to apply in the state where you used to live, but relocation is a qualifying reason to receive unemployment.

 

[mommybrown]

Thanks- I am still working 4 hours a month at the old job- don't know if that would hurt. I will look into it. I though that since I left that was not an option!
Thanks!!!

 

[disneymarie]

I signed up in July. Did I read in the paper there is an extension in the works?
I just hated to look at the savings but we are down to less then $900 now. Makes me sick. What to do. Our taxes went up and I don;t have the funds to fight it anymore. they have us reassessed at $75,000 more then the market of similar homes selling in our area. This was a county wide. If I could get the amount they say we could sell for I WOULD sell in a heart beat.

I hated to look at the accounts, I am really scared now.
But not alone.
di

 

[Disneydreamer5]

Hi everyone, I just had to get on here and vent alittle. I am having such a rotten week and I am trying so hard not to let it get to me but its getting harder and harder.
Saturday:4 year old dryer died, motor went.
Mondayoing the whole watching every penny I spent in the food store while still getting enough to feed family of 7.
Tuesday:Woke up to Dinning room ceiling leaking, from where? No idea, why? again no idea? Wasn't raining so where the heck is it coming from?
Wendesday:Had to take dog to the vet because she has a big rad boil on her tummy. Vet said it could be many thing, gave her medicine and told me if it works great, if not she will need it surgiclly removed! Wonderful.
I don't want to get out of bed, shower, talk to anyone and this is not me.
I am just feeling so defeated. How do I pull myself out of this funk?
To make things a little worse, I booked that 4 nights 3 free deal the other day. It made me feel so good for like the whole day. Then reality set in and now I am so sad again. I know we could go as it really is a great price #3,800 for 8 people 4 adults(in Disneys eyes) and 4 kids. POR. The balance is not due until April and I booked for May so I was thinking we could put the deposit on a credit card and then we have plenty of time to pay it off. DH just looked at me when I told him. I think he thinks I have lost it altogether. He may be right but I need something to hold on to , to look forward to , something that I can use as motivation to not just throw my hands up and give up.
I'm loosing it aint I?

 

[mom2my3kids]

Stay positive, hubby was laid off for 4 weeks then found another local job for the same pay. I on the other hand waitress and I see most tips are down, I am hoping things start turning up for everyone..

 

[Disneydreamer5]

Stay positive, hubby was laid off for 4 weeks then found another local job for the same pay. I on the other hand waitress and I see most tips are down, I am hoping things start turning up for everyone..

Thanks for the support and congrads on your DH finding work. That is wonderful news. I hope people start tipping better but I would imagine people aren't being as free with their tips as they once may have been. Its hard times for everyone, I know that but somedays I just feel so ALONE.

 

[anabelle]

Thanks for the support and congrads on your DH finding work. That is wonderful news. I hope people start tipping better but I would imagine people aren't being as free with their tips as they once may have been. Its hard times for everyone, I know that but somedays I just feel so ALONE.

You are definitely not alone. It is a difficult time for most folks. I live in the Metro Detroit area where automotive sales support our entire economy. I don't anyone that is not feeling the pinch in some way.

God bless you, I pray that the economy turns around soon.

 

[glo]

Hi everyone, I just had to get on here and vent alittle. I am having such a rotten week and I am trying so hard not to let it get to me but its getting harder and harder.
Saturday:4 year old dryer died, motor went.
Mondayoing the whole watching every penny I spent in the food store while still getting enough to feed family of 7.
Tuesday:Woke up to Dinning room ceiling leaking, from where? No idea, why? again no idea? Wasn't raining so where the heck is it coming from?
Wendesday:Had to take dog to the vet because she has a big rad boil on her tummy. Vet said it could be many thing, gave her medicine and told me if it works great, if not she will need it surgiclly removed! Wonderful.
I don't want to get out of bed, shower, talk to anyone and this is not me.
I am just feeling so defeated. How do I pull myself out of this funk?
To make things a little worse, I booked that 4 nights 3 free deal the other day. It made me feel so good for like the whole day. Then reality set in and now I am so sad again. I know we could go as it really is a great price #3,800 for 8 people 4 adults(in Disneys eyes) and 4 kids. POR. The balance is not due until April and I booked for May so I was thinking we could put the deposit on a credit card and then we have plenty of time to pay it off. DH just looked at me when I told him. I think he thinks I have lost it altogether. He may be right but I need something to hold on to , to look forward to , something that I can use as motivation to not just throw my hands up and give up.
I'm loosing it aint I?

I know exactly how you are feeling. I ampretty close to there myself. I have paid off my trip in January. I had no special deal beacuse my friend is taking my daughters and I on her DVC. The airfare is paid for as are my tickets. We have already paid for out hoopdedoo...so all that is paid for. I can't get back our ticket money or our airfare so as long as we eat cheap then I am going. I need something to look forward to...If I don't I may fall apart.

My DH was out of work for 18 months a few years ago. He has his pride and would not take anything without a title or work two jobs when he can get unemployment. I already took on more hours on my part time job, started my surveys in full force again and am clipping coupons again. I am angry because I feel he puts his pride before us...he does not think so....oh well.

I do not know what we are going to do. My daughter is in the midst of applying for colleges. I have twins 12 years old daughters...I teach not the most well paying job on the market and my part time job only GIVES US ANOTHER $100 or so a week. My oldest is in a private school with tuition, that still has to be paid...I feel sick to my stomach just thinking of it.

Just wanted you to know you are not alone or loosing it. Huge hugs to everyone going through hard times.

 

[HenDuck]

I'm home "sick" today. As in sick to my stomach. We are going down pretty fast here too.

As I think I said in a previous post, we are heading for DH's slow time of year - the holidays. Clients just don't pay at the end of the year. To make matters worse, it's been a slow year the whole year. A lot of our friends who are solo attorneys like DH are closing their offices. He may be next.

We've already decided to move in with my parents and rent out our house. We'll take a loss on the rent v. mortgage payment and it will probably take us a least a couple of months to rent the house out, in this market.

We have been incurring debt at a rather alarming rate due to trying to stay in the house and fighting off a lawsuit by DH's former (scumbag) client.

My DH has really made a mess of things.

Some days, like today, I feel like chucking it all. Just give up the house, give up the marriage and move home, curl up in a ball, and cry. I'm not a quitter, but I'm tired of fighting and scratching just to get nowhere fast.

I'm hating life...sorry to be such a downer. Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[T. Lynn]

Some days, like today, I feel like chucking it all. Just give up the house, give up the marriage and move home, curl up in a ball, and cry. I'm not a quitter, but I'm tired of fighting and scratching just to get nowhere fast.

I'm hating life...sorry to be such a downer. Thanks for letting me vent.

You are truly not alone in this! I have MANY days I feel the EXACT same way!!!

I have no idea how to get past it either...

 

[Trish Bessette]

Bless all of you. I pray these hard times turn around quick for you. I am so sorry for what your going through.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]