What would you have done differently?

**Judi Dial** · 08-15-2011, 04:35 PM

For a variety of reasons I cannot go into, there's a major shift going on with DH's job. I'm afraid this is an "opening act" to closing this branch of the international company he works for.

Given that I really believe he might lose his job in the next 6 months to a year, I've been trying to remember the things I wished I'd done when we went through this before.

Stocking our panty, stockpiling shelf-stable foods
Paying down our bills
Buying seasonal stuff (wood, winter clothes etc.) ahead
Having a little negotiable stuff (some silver, etc.)

The other one was renegotiating our mortgage, and we may do that too.

I'd love to know what you wish you'd done, have done, are doing in case of impending disaster, probable disaster, or the one that washed up on your doorstep.What worked? What DIDN"T work?

TIA --

Judi

**mh3rdwheel** · 08-15-2011, 04:52 PM

I would do all things that you are planning on doing, stocking up on clothes, food, I can't think of anything else right now.

Hugs and prayers.

**oheoh's momma** · 08-15-2011, 05:06 PM

cleaning supplies and hygiene.Tp ,pet foods, a few fun things for the kids to put up for really broke times. cards, board games, a $3 -5 dollar movie. Jigsaw puzzles, books. I think this is important for adults to it takes the doldrum out of hard times. hugs

**Imarachne** · 08-15-2011, 05:27 PM

Use the skills you know from FV and good luck ! These are sucky times but we'll get through it somehow !

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-15-2011, 06:27 PM

Paid off more debts sooner.
Stopped adding to the debt.
Put a whole lot more money aside in the emergency fund.

When you're out of work and there is no paycheck food is the least of your problems. It is one of the easiest things to get a handout for. Cash is hard to come by, for car repairs, gas, medical bills, paying the utilities, etc.

Stockpile carefully. There will come a time when you will wish you had the $20 rather than the extra winter socks or cans of green beans.

**Ramona** · 08-15-2011, 06:54 PM

If you have medical and dental insurance through his company, get all your medical and dental needs attended to now.

I agree with Contrary Housewife, pump up that emergency fund.

**shoiji** · 08-15-2011, 07:55 PM

I have paid off my debt and saved as much as I could when I knew the company was moving. At the time stockpiling was not practiced here. Knowing that my debt was paid off and I had some savings really helped me feel more empowered. My bills were just rent, phone, food, gas, electric, and car insurance. So try to pare down as much as possible on cable, cell phone, phone, etc. That way you wil have a more manageable budget.

If you have thrift stores around you go now to stockup on fall and winter clothing since they will be cheaper. Once September rolls around the prices will go up. Now is also a good time to purchase any school supplies that could be used as stocking stuffers for the holidays with the sales going on.

If you do a lot of holiday spending, figure out how much you want to spend on everyone and start saving for that.

As far as stockpiling, you will probably start seeing good sales on canned fruit and vegetables with fall just around the corner. I think the other poster is correct, you do not need to go overboard, but a decent size one will help you for awhile.

You are doing all the right things by thinking ahead and preparing.

**shoiji** · 08-15-2011, 08:00 PM

I would see what unemployment will pay. This will help give you an idea of how much to widdle down your monthly expenses so it will be easier to handle. Any type of severance package should just go into savings. Don't even count it as income.

**NikoSan999** · 08-15-2011, 08:03 PM

Agree with above poster. If you have medical, prescription, dental, vision....get any and all done that can be done...see if you can get samples of meds.

What do I wish we HADN'T done? Easy, put so much money into remodeling this house and refinancing.

Besides that, I'd stock up on the higher priced food you don't get as a hand out. Unemployment will probably knock you out of unemployment. I say probably. Here in Florida the max you can get in unemployment is $275 week BEFORE taxes and that's to much for food stamps even for a family of 4 ( personally know someone in that situation ). Food pantrys are near broke

Cash is good. Wouldn't have it in the bank tho.

Winter wood is good. Do you have a propane that needs filled?

What DIDN'T work? Was draining every dollar we had beating a dead horse paying bills when we knew we had no chance of winning. If we hadn't done that there may have been possible to keep the house. Should have given up sooner. But that's just us and you asked.

**Russ** · 08-15-2011, 08:33 PM

At one time, wasn't there a thread about things you wouldn't stockpile?

**Russ** · 08-15-2011, 08:44 PM

I thought these were good threads.

What three things do you wish you had stocked more of

What do you have in your stockpile that you won't need to buy for at least 3 months?

**Josephhgoins** · 08-16-2011, 08:26 AM

My suggestion is to stock pile MONEY! You are a Frugal person and I am sure you will be able to get what you need at a good price (or make do with something else) during your hard times. Money is universal, no matter what materials you are out of it will help get more.

I woudn't buy silver or gold right now. Both are incredibly high and it is the time to sell not buy. You will pay a premium for them and their value will surely start declining. Also, keep in mind that at the best of times you buy jewelry retail and sell wholesale. Profit is almost impossible, unless the market really increases.

My suggestion is put all available cash in the bank and live as lean as possible until it hits.

Also, go online to your State's employment commission and see how much UE he can get. In NC you just need his SSN and it will tell you your benefits and how much side money you can make. If you can't make your bills on that, its time to make the hard changes once again. Personally I would go ahead and cut them now and start stockpilling that extra money.

I wish you luck!

**Josephhgoins** · 08-17-2011, 08:27 AM

BTW!!

Check with your state UE and see what they consider severance and how it effects your benefits. Some states consider it normal compensation and it of sets your UE by the number of weeks the pay would be. So here in NC, if you get paid $500 a week and you get $2000 severance, you can't even apply for UE for 4 weeks.

If that is the case where your husband works, ask him to cash out any Paid time off or other benefits that he can cash out now. I know in NC they only go back 2 weeks from your last pay date anything before that isn't counted towards severance.

**adelaide** · 08-19-2011, 02:31 AM

Are you able to buy gift vouchers for store you frequent so you can use them later e.g. buy a $20 card and you can use that towards gifts or food later.

Beats having cash in the house but make sure you take note of the expiry date.

**Judi Dial** · 08-19-2011, 02:12 PM

Things got weirder this a.m. I HATE waiting for the axe to fall. Right now, he's got work, more than he can handle thank God, but I do NOT feel good about what's going on.

Thank you everyone for the hint/tips!

btw, the "negotiable stuff" that I talked about was that last time we were here I wanted some silver, etc. to sell. In between times, I got some. Not much, but some. Sold 2 pcs yesterday.

Also we're going to ramp up our ebay store, bonanza store and the antique booths and see if we can't turn STUFF into CASH...preferably sooner than later!

Thanks again and keep those ideas coming!

Judi