So you loose your job, can't find another, and can't get help from the state...

[AnW819]

Then what? What if I cannot find another job for a few months, if at all? To make matters worse tonight DH found out his job may be performing lay offs. DH will be able to get unemployment but this will not be able to pay our bills because we cannot even pay them now.

We cannot get any help from the state as far as food stamps, etc.

So what should I be doing to prepare for this? I can't start saving money left and right because any money we get is having to go right to rent because we are past due again with me loosing my job.

I told DH, unemployment will not approve me, so what are we suppose to do, live under the ben frankin bridge?

I am scared, really scared. We have no family to turn to.

I could use some hugs and prayers and any suggestions.

I am looking like crazy for a job!! I am looking for anything. On craigslist to.

I am feeling really sick right now, and still applying for jobs online.

I really hope something falls through!!!

[hollyhill]

First don't panic.
Start applying everywhere. Something will show up.

I don't think you have children. So there is nothing stopping you from earning a living.

Seven years a go my husband lost his job.
I had 3 children aged 5 to 11 at the time and I was homeschooling.

Unemployment ran out. He couldn't find anything in his field and decided to retrain.

We lived (not well but lived) for two years on my part time work ( i did tutoring and gardening, they were flexible jobs I could do around my children's schooling). We had no help from Dh's family (they used that time to say, now put the kids in school snd get a full time job...), my family did what they could including lots of child care while I did work. It was very stressful. But we knew there would be an end.

Dh now has a much better job. But we were saddled with student loans and it has been a struggle to just get back where we were before the job loss.

My point is. You will make it. It maynot be perfect. It maynot be your plan but you will.

So start applying everywhere... good luck.

[Preston]

Agreed. Do not panic.

I will say to cut everything you possibly can.

Look for a plasma donation center if you can and donate if you are able to. It may not be much, but one near me pays $65 a week if you do two donations. May not be much, but everything will help.

Do not just stick to online applications. Pound pavement. When you fill out an app, follow with a phone call. Network like hell.

Be determined, but do not be panicked. You WILL survive to see tomorrow.

[dcompton]

I don't know much about it, but why can't you get food stamps? Are you a member of a church? If so, could someone on the staff direct you to community resources?

Here's hoping your DH doesn't lose his job too.

Others here will surely have suggestions for you. I just wanted to post to say I was thinking of you. You have had more than your share of rain on the parade.

[mndtrp]

In my opinion, any job is better than no job. Wal-Mart / grocery store night stocker, for instance. If the money is better, become a night stalker, as well.

Get rid of anything extra you don't need: cable, extraneous extras on phone plans, lower the speed of your internet, scrutinize the cost-per-use of food, forgo any unneeded expenditures.

Raise your thermostat in summer, lower it in winter. Do all your driving errands on the same day, making as many right turns as possible.

[AnW819]

In my opinion, any job is better than no job. Wal-Mart / grocery store night stocker, for instance. If the money is better, become a night stalker, as well.

Get rid of anything extra you don't need: cable, extraneous extras on phone plans, lower the speed of your internet, scrutinize the cost-per-use of food, forgo any unneeded expenditures.

Raise your thermostat in summer, lower it in winter. Do all your driving errands on the same day, making as many right turns as possible.

Trust me, I am trying for ANY job as I have stated before. I don't care what the job is.

I apply, and call, and call, and call. I am trying =[

[Michelle]

Like the others said, do not panic. Deep breaths.

Why can't you get unemployment? Did they already say you couldn't collect?

Sell everything that's not nailed down. Didn't you say your dh traded a gaming system for an Iphone or Ipod? Sell it.

We're coming up on summer time when people go on vacation and will need someone to pet sit. Have you looked into doing something like that?


Babysitting? Being a nanny to kids over the summer? Can be less expensive for the parents to hire someone like you vs. putting them in a formal day care.

Delivering a newspaper?

Keep your fingers crossed that one of the jobs you interviewed with this week come through...don't count them out until they've actually told you no.

[akolb]

Some food banks will let you get food from them even if you don't qualify for food stamps.
Or church based food programs.

There's always something you haven't thought of yet.
I've sold plasma, sold clothes, run deliveries part time for businesses, worked the crappiest jobs with the crappiest hours and survived off of ramen...it sucks, but we made it.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I went through this eight years ago this summer. I got out of the Marines in 2001, had a hard time finding a job, got one that lasted three weeks in 2002. After I was let go from that job, I was scrambling. NY State wouldn't help me until six months later and I had a disabled child. I had a 1 bedroom apartment that my DBF (now my DH) was staying with me in. I sold my car and everything.

You know what I did?

Moved to Canada.

I know that my scenario isn't for everyone, but it's what happened with us. I'd check in your area to see if you have something called The Samaritan (or something like that). They help out with food and clothes and the like. Food banks should be good too. What about temp agencies? I would scour your local newspaper and check the unemployment office. Go to a temp agency and ask them what sort of employment they have.

Do you have any friends that you can social network through for a job? It's good to have a large networking circle with people who have good, stable jobs.

As a last result, you may want to go back to school for a new career. A lot of employers are looking for solid education backgrounds even for regular jobs.

Good luck!

[happymomof4]

Take the advice from the others don't panic. My husband has been unemployed for 22 months now. He still gets unemployment. I work fulltime and always have. I cover our insurance, etc. We are not eligible for anything either. If my husband does loose his unemployment we make to much to get help. We can pay our bills as long as he get unemployment.

Look in your area for food pantries, local churches. They will help with out asking questions.

[AnW819]

Like the others said, do not panic. Deep breaths.

Why can't you get unemployment? Did they already say you couldn't collect?

Sell everything that's not nailed down. Didn't you say your dh traded a gaming system for an Iphone or Ipod? Sell it.

We're coming up on summer time when people go on vacation and will need someone to pet sit. Have you looked into doing something like that?


Babysitting? Being a nanny to kids over the summer? Can be less expensive for the parents to hire someone like you vs. putting them in a formal day care.

Delivering a newspaper?

Keep your fingers crossed that one of the jobs you interviewed with this week come through...don't count them out until they've actually told you no.

I can't collect unemployment because they go from time periods 1/09-12/09 and during that time I only worked 5 weeks. Stupid, I know. We have sold everything that we can sell except my computer. We are yardsaleing every weekend. DH did not sell his itouch, because when the internet and phone and cable goes out that is all we will have and its my only way to check my e-mail about jobs and it will be our only entertainment. It WILL be sold though if it gets so bad, where we would be on the streets. Its a second generation itouch though, so we will get mabye 75$ for it. The girl who traded it to us, lied and said it was 3rd gen which still sell for about $175.

I have ads on craigslist for babysitting, housekeeping, and petsitting. I repost them every three days. I have gotten two e-mails about babysitting and never heard anything back.

I cant deliver newspaper, because I don't drive and DH works during that time.

Its a bummer.

I went through this eight years ago this summer. I got out of the Marines in 2001, had a hard time finding a job, got one that lasted three weeks in 2002. After I was let go from that job, I was scrambling. NY State wouldn't help me until six months later and I had a disabled child. I had a 1 bedroom apartment that my DBF (now my DH) was staying with me in. I sold my car and everything.

You know what I did?

Moved to Canada.

I know that my scenario isn't for everyone, but it's what happened with us. I'd check in your area to see if you have something called The Samaritan (or something like that). They help out with food and clothes and the like. Food banks should be good too. What about temp agencies? I would scour your local newspaper and check the unemployment office. Go to a temp agency and ask them what sort of employment they have.

Do you have any friends that you can social network through for a job? It's good to have a large networking circle with people who have good, stable jobs.

As a last result, you may want to go back to school for a new career. A lot of employers are looking for solid education backgrounds even for regular jobs.

Good luck!

I don't know how someone as a last result could go back to school? I don't even have enough money to pay rent right now.

I don't really have any friends. I tend to isolate myself and lost them a long time ago. The ones I do have can't get me a job.

Is it cold in Canada, because I sure would like to move somewhere cold!!!

[kittykatstrong]

Dont panic, my BIL and his family just moved out and took off with 2 months rent. So not only are we out that money but we now need to come up with all the rent every month. I was super stressed for a few days and then buckled down and went over everything I spent. There is no spending at all until I go back to work(on leave right now), we went to the food pantry, looking in to getting food stamps, on wic, and looking in to a getting a smaller place.

Sorry to ramble on but I know what you going through, I will be praying for you and wish you the best.

[bumplett]

Have you searched for a job in another state??

as you have stated, you have no family & no real friends holding you to New Jersey - Jersey is an incredibly expensive state to live in.

[AnW819]

Well, my dad and brother is here. That being said, that does not mean I can go back to live with daddy again.

And to move to another state, I don't see how that is possible right now. I have no money to actually move.

We did this a few years ago. Up and packed and moved 6 hours away to west virginia. Very cheap state to live in but there are no jobs. DH moved there with a job, but I could not find one and it still did not work out. Thats why we moved back to NJ.

I would love to move to another state, but one, I dont have the money for that, and two, I don't know if I mentally could handle that.

[Russ]

two, I don't know if I mentally could handle that.

Just curious Ashley... Why do you feel this would be difficult to do mentally?