All OT is cut

[HALEY]

after the bad times, comes the good times... Were having fun now staying home with the baby... can't afford to go out,,, so this is a good thing ... and he's still young yet, he'll be happy with a couple gifts under the tree this year. when i get my bonuse (hopefully) in January, i'll take him toy shopping again.. Mike will also get a bonus at the end of December, so we will hit the after Christmas sales...

[Janet]

Hubby just left to take an application back. He is so down, but what can you do? He just rec'd his inheritance from his step-mother recently, so that has been the weekly paycheck so far. He has signed up for unemployment, but they told him it would be 6-8 weeks. I don't understand that....what are families, that are in worse shape than us, suppose to do for 6-8 weeks?

I hadn't updated his resume for quite a few years, so this morning that is what I did. I think he's going to take it to all the body shops and car dealerships and see what's out there. The sad thing is that all he has ever done is auto body repair. From the time he was 16 years old...that's all he knows. Oh he is applying to the factories too, but we all know how most the factories are doing. How can you apply and have a decent resume, if you've never done anything else?

If anyone has suggestings, I'd love to hear them. May not apply to us, but maybe a suggestion will lead us in another direction.

Haley, I wouldn't worry about Christmas so much now....it's a perfect time to teach how to give things from the heart and what the real meaning of Christmas is. I know that is what we are planning to do.

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by Janet

Hubby just left to take an application back. He is so down, but what can you do? He just rec'd his inheritance from his step-mother recently, so that has been the weekly paycheck so far. He has signed up for unemployment, but they told him it would be 6-8 weeks. I don't understand that....what are families, that are in worse shape than us, suppose to do for 6-8 weeks?

I hadn't updated his resume for quite a few years, so this morning that is what I did. I think he's going to take it to all the body shops and car dealerships and see what's out there. The sad thing is that all he has ever done is auto body repair. From the time he was 16 years old...that's all he knows. Oh he is applying to the factories too, but we all know how most the factories are doing. How can you apply and have a decent resume, if you've never done anything else?

If anyone has suggestings, I'd love to hear them. May not apply to us, but maybe a suggestion will lead us in another direction.

Haley, I wouldn't worry about Christmas so much now....it's a perfect time to teach how to give things from the heart and what the real meaning of Christmas is. I know that is what we are planning to do.

Your right about that Janet,, Micah would be happy with a box this year, he loves playing with boxes, pots and pans,
Unemployment is so unfair i dont' know why you have to wait that long, i tell you what if something happens up here, i;m changing Mikes address and going on unemployement and welfare,, everyone else gets it so screw it, that is the mood im in, i been working since i was 13 years old, i'm going for everything i can get my hands on like the rest of this valley....

[Tiramisu]

Haley, I disagree with your statement that "everyone else gets it", because I don't. I hope your mood changes. Relax and let's all hang in together.

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by Tiramisu

Haley, I disagree with your statement that "everyone else gets it", because I don't. I hope your mood changes. Relax and let's all hang in together.

i was talking about the people around my "valley" and believe me they do get it and know how to work the system, and laugh about it... i remember when i was single a lady drinking all day at a bar, she only worked part time cause she had to to get welfare, while he kids were in daycare that walfare paid for....

[Tiramisu]

Originally Posted by Janet

Hubby just left to take an application back. He is so down, but what can you do? He just rec'd his inheritance from his step-mother recently, so that has been the weekly paycheck so far. He has signed up for unemployment, but they told him it would be 6-8 weeks. I don't understand that....what are families, that are in worse shape than us, suppose to do for 6-8 weeks?

I hadn't updated his resume for quite a few years, so this morning that is what I did. I think he's going to take it to all the body shops and car dealerships and see what's out there. The sad thing is that all he has ever done is auto body repair. From the time he was 16 years old...that's all he knows. Oh he is applying to the factories too, but we all know how most the factories are doing. How can you apply and have a decent resume, if you've never done anything else?

If anyone has suggestings, I'd love to hear them. May not apply to us, but maybe a suggestion will lead us in another direction.

Haley, I wouldn't worry about Christmas so much now....it's a perfect time to teach how to give things from the heart and what the real meaning of Christmas is. I know that is what we are planning to do.

My brain's in OD trying to think of helpful suggestions. Does Rick have tools and facilities to make small repairs at home for now? Maybe he could put out a newspaper ad and/or some signs and bring in a few bucks while looking. With the cost of everything, lots of people can't afford dealership prices for repairs.

My son has been home from Iraq almost three weeks and he will probably end up going offshore to work on the rigs. One SIL is going to work in Iraq because they are getting behind in bills and have vehicles that need repair. The other SIL is trying to find something outside of real estate work and his wife (my youngest daughter) has gone to work.

[judy]

It will be a lean Christmas. I'm sorry Haley, and Janet. I hope things look up for both of you soon. It's like a house of cards when it comes down to the economy and keeping your income.

I worry because my pension is from NYC, social security is certainly not guaranteed anymore and my annuity - I don't want to know! But, I'm okay for right now. The county I live in is known for its poverty. It is heartbreaking. I can't tell you how many homes are for sale, and businesses stand empty. I worry about these people now that winter is coming. I know they can't afford to heat their homes!

It's time for me to start donating canned goods and any clothing I don't wear.

I just can't stand the idea that people are going to be cold and hungry.

[HALEY]

same here Judy, there some house not even finish building for sale they can't afford to finish them, beautiful house... i wish i had the 20% down for some of them...
I just donated a bunch of clothes that i'll never wear and Micah's old baby clothes to a local church.. i just hope we don't have a cold winter this year, i do feel sorry for the elderly they are on a fixed income, there not going to be able to afford it. last year i remember on the news so many house fires, there trying to find other ways to heat there houses, one man had candles lite in his bedroom trying to keep warm and burnt his house down. so sad....

[DianaB]

Like everyone has said, this is being felt all over the country. We're going to see a lot of unnecessary spending come to a halt so that we can make sure that we have money to pay for the essentials. It's time to tighten the belt. I'm glad that your job is pretty secure.

[Tiramisu]

Haley, I'm really not picking on you, and I do worry about the elderly and less fortunate, but I'm on a fixed income, too. I work for Exxon, but my monthly check is the same, even with increased gas and groceries prices. BTW, why haven't grocery prices started coming down with the gas prices?

[Janet]

It has been really cold here of a morning, down in the high 30's low 40's. I have a heater on in the bedroom (it's very safe) and this afternoon decided to have Ricky start a fire in the fire place insert. That should keep that end of the house warm. I'm just not ready to start paying a heat bill yet and for the first time....my cold blooded husband doesn't mind....LOLOL. He's just wearing warmer clothes in the house. I know the time will come...already has...that I will have to turn the furnace on, but I'm holding out for awhile longer.

Hubby has been out most of the day putting in applications and most are not hiring. A few said they would take his application for their files, but that's about it. I updated his resume and he will be taking it around too. I'm really not worried yet....just tightening up the purse strings a little bit. We've been through tight times before...we will be okay...I hope.

[judy]

Of course you will Janet. Poor Rick! They were so unfair to him. Their karma will suffer for sure, but for an experienced, grown man to have to pound the pavement looking for work is just wrong.

[gja1000]

I agree that the unemployment system is unfair - I wonder why one has to wait so long for benefits??? I remember when my husband got sick and could not work, it took him 8 months to get his social security disability approved and it takes many people much much longer to get it. I can sorta understand that it takes some time to determine that someone is completely disabled - but what the heck are you supposed to do for money in the meantime. Fortunately, I have a good job - but we were not accustomed to living on my salary alone - it's amazing how you can tighten your belt when you have to.

Then he had to apply for medical retirement and that took about 6-8 months too. He was also automatically eligible for some VA disability because he has type II diabetes which is directly connected to Agent Orange exposure from service time in Vietnam. It is an automatic disabililty - if you were in Vietnam and you developed adult onset diabetes, then you get the benefits. There was no question about him having diabetes - he'd had it for 10 years when we applied and it still took FOURTEEN MONTHS to get the benefits started. I still shake my head over that one.

I know you are supposed to have several months of salary saved for just this purpose, but it takes so darned much money to just live these days, I know many people just can't put back that kind of money. When we get our savings account built up, then invariably we have some unexpected big expense and boom, it dwindles down.

Sorry about the rant - there is just something wrong with the system!!!

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by Tiramisu

Haley, I'm really not picking on you, and I do worry about the elderly and less fortunate, but I'm on a fixed income, too. I work for Exxon, but my monthly check is the same, even with increased gas and groceries prices. BTW, why haven't grocery prices started coming down with the gas prices?

I know Sandy, it just pisses me off, i'm talking about young people that are able to work, on welfare,, they abuse the system and were the ones paying for it... i knew people that get disability checks cause there alcoholics, they need to change the system and give the elderly and veterns more money instead of these bums.... it just makes my blood boil !!!
i have to go grocery shopping tonight and i dread it, my grocery bill went from say like 200. to about 300... and groceries are suppose to go higher, the reason gas went down so im told is cause the stock market inflated the prices so much, that when it almost crashed it forced the gas prices down...

[HALEY]

Originally Posted by Janet

It has been really cold here of a morning, down in the high 30's low 40's. I have a heater on in the bedroom (it's very safe) and this afternoon decided to have Ricky start a fire in the fire place insert. That should keep that end of the house warm. I'm just not ready to start paying a heat bill yet and for the first time....my cold blooded husband doesn't mind....LOLOL. He's just wearing warmer clothes in the house. I know the time will come...already has...that I will have to turn the furnace on, but I'm holding out for awhile longer.

Hubby has been out most of the day putting in applications and most are not hiring. A few said they would take his application for their files, but that's about it. I updated his resume and he will be taking it around too. I'm really not worried yet....just tightening up the purse strings a little bit. We've been through tight times before...we will be okay...I hope.

Aww Janet your still in my prayers at night, hopefully something will come up soon.