I was laid off over a year ago from retail managment and have not been able to find work.  My mom passed away just prior to the layoff (I found out that I would lose my job the day I headed to the airport after mom’s memorial) so that was a doubly whammy that really knocked me to my knees.   I am single so there isn’t a "back-up."  I admit I’m beginning to really doubt myself and my abilities now although I had an excellent work history with proven results.  I KNOW it isn’t just me.  Still, it’s hard to stay positive and find the drive to keep pursuing jobs that don’t seem to exist.  I’ve gone door to door (most companies won’t accept resumes in person…they refer you to the on-line application process) and I have yet to hear back from anyone on-line.  They say network, network, network…well, most of the people I know are also unemployed now.  It’s really tough out there. 

The good news though?  I love not having to respond to an alarm clock.  I get up early, but it’s my choice.  That’s nice.  I am exercising more.  I spend time writing letters to friends when not actively job hunting.  (Yes, the old fashioned kind with a stamp and everything.  It seems to mean more right now.)  I play with my dog.  I fix meals for my aging and ailing father whom I’ve had to live with since my unemployment benefits and savings have run out.  I am grateful to have a roof over my head, but this certainly isn’t the life I envisioned for myself at 47.  Sometimes it just gets overwhelming.  I have worked for 30 years and it just never occurred to me that I would not be able to find a job of some kind.  As an older worker, I know the odds are stacked against me right now.  I believe experience still counts.  I believe in this age of technology that personal skills and empathetic managment are still important.  Yes, the bottom line is important but it isn’t the only thing.  Invest in people.  That’s where the real value is no matter what the endeavor.  I hope the workplace will once again respond to those things.  We desperately need to connect to and care about each other in these difficult times.  After all, without people, what is there? 

I now qualify for low income benefits.

PJ

This isn’t a benefit, but I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere on WOW yet, but in the news, more men are beeing layed off than women. I’m thinking it’s because companies can save more by letting the higher paid men go, and keeping the lower salaried women at work. What do you think. Ofcourse if a husbands income is lower than the wifes, that’s best. But often, that would not be the case, I’m thinking.

I have definitely benefited, although I am highly conscious that my good fortune is linked to the suffering of others: In addition to buying a beautiful foreclosed home at an incredibly reduced price with a terrific low interest rate, my consulting practice has actually increased with one key client due to their internal layoffs.

Morning Frannie, that is interesting about the Mexican drug money buying appliances to sell in Mexico.  I hadn’t heard that.  Boy the criminal mind is very creative.

As for our high corporate tax rate- there isn’t a business around that pays the 35% due to all of the deductions our laws allow.  Other countries may have a lower rate but they do not have the deductions.  So it would good journalism for someone to actually state  what the average U.S. net corporate tax rate is and compare that to the other countries.  I have not heard one journalist give an example of foreign corporate tax rates, have you? 

Liz, you pose an interesting fact about the utilities.  I have tracked our monthly utility costs for the past 5 years.  Especially with 2 teens moving out of the house our usage of water & gas & electricity has gone way down but our bills are higher.  The utilities have been raising customer cost before any serious "going green" conservation hit the nation.

No matter what the little guy is going to pay the piper for everyone else’s sins.  We will work harder for less and use less to  pay them more. 

We lost our home and our life’s savings when the developer of our beautiful new community here in Florida abandoned the property, leaving it mostly unbuilt.   Although this is a terrible thing, we are grateful that we still have our jobs, our health, and our family.    Trying to make the most of an awful situation, we’ve taken advantage of the disastrous real estate market to rent a stunning condo in a luxurious community that otherwise we would never have been able to afford.    This cannot make up for losing all that cash and investment, but coming home each night to such a wonderful place, in such a warm and welcoming community makes it easier to sleep at night.

Additionally, we’ve stepped up our volunteering efforts so that we are forcibly reminded that others are in far worse shape than we are - this keeps us from dwelling on the unchangeable past, and instead focusing on building a better future.

My husband and I are both employed, and we would consider ourselves fairly prosperous now compared to past years, except that I could lose my job any day now. Our new prosperity has lasted 6 months so far (we took turns going back to school) and we haven’t had a minute to enjoy it because I have this ax over my head. Unfortunately, I make 2/3 of our household income, and we can’t live on his income alone. We’re paying off debt, being frugal, putting money aside, and thinking about "what if" though. Every week I have my job, we’re a little better off in case it all tumbles down. It could be worse. 

Nearly 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with MS.  Even at the time, though I was noticing that jobs were harder to get.  At the time I was working a full-time job, two part time jobs, and running my own artisan business; health concerns have dropped that back to simply running my own business.

I know there are parts of the country that hurt far more than we do (New England) but coming from blue-collar, lower class income folks, times have always been hard.   Everyone I know has always had to scrabble to keep a roof over their heads.

What I am finding, now that I have more time to research and be careful with money,  is that I am able to cut costs amazingly so we can survive on my husband’s salary and the little side income I bring in.  It’s not easy, and we need to generate more income, certainly, but we’re surving and much happier and healthier.  These frugal options—I didn’t have time to learn, before.   Since my health requires a lot of rest, I strongly suspect that even if I COULD find a regular full time job again right now, I’d be in a wheelchair within a short amount of time from the physical stress; in a way, my being home means that we keep me functional and save money on medical bills. 

I do NOT think this recession is a blessing, but it is giving us a bit of "camoflage" for our frugal lifestyle, and does make me feel like less of a freak.   Or failure, for not working.  Which is a purely personal benefit.