Out of Work? How are You Making It? How Are You Paying the Bills?
By davebrown64
@davebrown64 (443)
United States
February 12, 2009 7:31pm CST
I am 44 years old and to this day, I have broke all records in my own personal life in how long I have been out of work. It is now nearly 6-1/2 months. I am a college graduate and have so many years of experience. I live in a state where unemployment is reaching near the national average or has almost bypassed the national average. Assistance is probably close to running out. I have a mother who has been diagnosed with a form of leukemia which I am trying to cope with along with her. I am her caretaker and having a hard time deciding what to do in ways of finding work. I am married, yet, my wife does not make a great deal of money. She has been extremely supportive.
I have been hearing how people are having a hard time coping. What are you doing to make it? What are you doing to pay the bills? I am trying to do as much on-line work where there are ways to make money. Just the other day, bad thoughts entered my head, yet, I try to fight them. I am what I call myself a Judeo-Christian, and I believe that God will give me direction. I am trying to learn to write grants and see if I can get some assistance in starting a ministry to help others come to know God. These are trying times and I am wondering if more people are coming to know Him.
If you care to join in the discussion, I am willing to read and listen and respond.
Thanks and Good luck to all of the others who are in the same position as me.
2 people like this
6 responses
• China
13 Feb 09
Everyone has a tough time and just hold on then make moving .Don't always think what should I do but to do .U change a little the world change a lot.
@davebrown64 (443)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Thanks so much for the response. Sometimes short is sweet. I do a great deal trying to make things work. I am doing so much, the wheels are beginning to burn out. Oh well, I know things will be better!
Good luck and again thanks for the response.
@mrgeebee (133)
• United States
13 Feb 09
the key words here are supportive wife. im in same position and my wifes doing over time, im pecking out a living where ever i can doing whatever i can and keeping my eye out for employment . you have to cut back on luxuries, take the extra cars off the road, ive done so to take some weight off my wife . You can ask God for help and direction thats your right but youd be better off hoping our new government pulls us out of the hole weve dug in the past 8 plus years . good luck
@davebrown64 (443)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Yes. My wife has been very supportive, yet, I wish I could find that right connection with work. Since returning to Georgia in 1991 from Washington, D.C., I have not had the best of luck with jobs or working for someone else. I had success working for myself in the mid-1990s until the Clinton tax increases put a major hurting on small business.
We have really cut back. Not much eating out anymore. Only one good car as my car was destroyed while parked in front of my apartment last November. Very sad time.
Thanks for the response.
@Island_Geko (3759)
• Canada
13 Feb 09
Canada is also now starting to feel the resection bug. I am a double college graduate and live on disability, but I am hearing in some areas jobs are drying up and in other areas like hospital staff they are crying out for help, especially for nurses and caregivers. Have you ever thoughof looking in job counciling for helpin in findings a job? There are signs pointing you in a direction to a new job, you just need to have faith in finding them. Take a look at your past job and see if there is a way to use some of the skills in a similar type job. For me I was a computer technician, now I spend my time getting the odd pay check helping people fix their machines and I also make and sell jewelry.
@davebrown64 (443)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Sounds good. I have been working almost 30 years and trying to improve each and every year. It appears that I am either overqualified or getting older. They say that anyone over 40 is going to have a tough time in the job market. I do not want to make the excuses or hear them anymore. I am sure that you feel the same way. I am working on a 5-year plan, because it is time that my wife and I, both hard workers deserve to go on a honeymoon. Was unable to do that at the time of our getting married because I received a promotion on my job at the time and had to report to work within the week. Things looked great and then whammo, 9-11-01 hit. I think as does my wife that that year and that terrorist incident was the cause of what we are going through now.
Good luck to you.
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
13 Feb 09
I am ordained Its easy to start your ministery through the Universal Life church. http://www.ulc.net.. I hope that helps. I am 29 never made it to college, I have only had a job working for three days inventory.. but my sister worked at it too and kept fussing me out so it did not turn out so bad..
But then Joanna fabrics passed this law if your family is a manager I can not work there.. So I never worked there again never could get in anywhere else...
I am living with my parents, and they run a foster parenting group home.. so its always a crazy house.. my mother wants me around to help out as the kids behave more when I am around because I am unique and they are busy trying to figure me out most of the time :) ...
But, I want my own job and life and want to be on my own, My parents brought my Grandpas old house for me and can not afford it. So I am here working internet earnings trying to earn as much as I can so when that house goes for sale again I can buy it and save my home or maybe talking my parents into selling it to me...
If not I want to get up to at least 250,000$ and then I know I will be safe on my own for sure with that amount.... in a bank would give me at least 1000$ a month in interest... and if I still lived with my parents and did not spend alot that interest could grow pretty fast and I could withdrawl it and deposit it in an acount at at different bank... so it was still FDIC insured to make sure I do not lose the money, and still have enough to survive on my own...
That is my plan... I have achieved 1/20 of it so far :D .. Just shoot big, work hard, and hang onto that hope. That is how I make it. - DNatureofDTrain
@davebrown64 (443)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Thanks for the response and good luck. I am looking at having to take a job where the salaries are going backward from what I am used to. I have a 5 year plan and really hope that I am in my own business by the time I am 50. I am working a freelance paralegal business as well as a freelance writing business. This does include Mylot.com and Helium.com. I am working on my second book and will self-publish it like I did my first. I am working on a ministry with my best friend and have been working diligently on the website which should be up and running within the month if all is well.
Again, good luck and thanks for the response.
@Chevee (5905)
• United States
13 Feb 09
Hi Davebrown64, I just checked your profile page and it says Atlanta I am not that for from you. I live close to the new Kia site.
I am without a job too. Employment down this way is the same or worse than where you are. I got laid off from my job in December, as of right now I don't have any income and I don't have any medical insurance I am on prescription medication. I am living off my severance and it is running out. I can not claim unemployment insurance for another month. So I am penny pinching. I am a little closer to retirement than you are but that isn't helping me now. I am to old to be out competing with the younger generation for a job and not old enough to retire.
Have you tried for any kind of government assistance with your problems?
I will be praying for you and your family? Just hang in there, God will answer out prayers, he didn't bring us this far to leave us.
@davebrown64 (443)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Well, hello neighbor. I am having to drive a Kia Rio since my SUV got destroyed while parked in front of my apartment. I am not at all convinced that the Rio is a good car. Anyway, thanks for the comments. I have applied for government assistance and working on a government grant program. I am convinced that this is like asking to be bailed out (LOL). I am working on a 5-year plan hoping to be working solely on my own and making a good living at it. I did this in the mid-90s and did well at my own business, but had to end it as Clinton tax increases hurt small businesses. I am afraid this is what is going to happen again. The government assistance in Dekalb County is light, yet, I did have to apply for food stamps for a second 6 month period so that I can eat any my mother can eat.
Good luck to you neighbor and happy Mylotting!
@hong19 (4)
• United States
27 Mar 09
Hi i wrote a response on one of your older posts about this same question. I have a class project where I want to interview people who have lost their job because of the recession or for whatever the reason. just wondering if i could do an interview with you on your story. you can contact me at hnguye32@xula.edu or hongxnguyen19@yahoo.com. thanks.
