All OT is cut

[Tink]

We're very lucky that the effects haven't hit here YET... but i"m sure they will in time. We're always behind the rest of the country in things. At times like this that's not so bad. lol

Our state unemployment rate is 4.7% but our county rate is 3.8%, up from 3.7% one year ago. Luckily so far it hasn't seemed to affect my sales and my husband is so high on seniority with his company that they'd have to go out of business to let him go. (He's about # 20 out of over 250) So for now we're lucky. As we all know though, that can change in a heartbeat.

I hope things pick up for you Haley, and Janet, I hope Rick finds a good job soon!

[HALEY]

thanks everyone, all we can do is pray on this, hopefully my company is big enough that we will survive this, if not i have to look for another job.. At least for now there is still unemployement till i find something else..
But i will be one of the last people to go if we have layoffs, Thank God...

[Ponyup]

They are laying off people like crazy at my job. I just got some new responsibilities due to the recent layoffs which actually makes my job more secure. My husband's job however is not. But he's been looking for other things. Hopefully we hear something back from the 2 jobs he's intereviewed with soon. However, if Logan needs surgery that's going to really hurt. Right now he's doing really good on his anti-inflammatories. I can tell a difference in his gate, but he's using the leg & not limping ever. I think we'll still take him to michigan state to be evaluated, but we'll wait as long as we can to actually get the surgery done. My husband & I have already decided to cut out our big gifts to each other. I was gonna get a new softball bat (which are pretty expensive) & he was gonna get Guitar Hero world tour with guitar. It's really not a big deal because we didn't need any of these things.

[HALEY]

We cut our Christmas giving too, it sucks but, now since i busted the basement door in were going to need a new door i found one steel door for 150 up at lowes so i'm going tomorrow to see if they have a cheaper one.. that will take from our Christmas money also.. just a bad year for giving...

[2tiredmom]

It just amazes me how everyone is coping with this mess. I'm very thankful I have a good job for at least 2 more years. But I work in county government and have for 25 + years. Our governor is trying to do away with our election process
and have only one person in charge of all departments. If that happens I'm sure I will be out of a job because it will be who you are not the job you do. Only time will tell. Keep your chin up..We've all been there at one time or another.

[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]

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.

[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...