Tips for surviving a lay off?

[vigilant20]

I'm sure I can't be the only one effected adversely by the economy. I hope a thread like this will help some others too.

I have a couple weeks left, but I've been planning ahead for ways to cut costs once I'm laid off. My gas bill is huge, so I plan on contacting them for assistance. I know I can also request a forbearance on my student loan.

What else would you suggest doing?

[codemonkey]

I seem to be doing alright right now but I've been laid off before. It sucks. You can get an unemployment deferment on your student loan. It's different from a forbearance. On most of your utilities (gas, electric, water, phone), you should be able to get some kind of low-income discount. If you have credit cards, call them up and see if they can work with you. Also, apply for unemployment the second you get your notice. It takes some time to get approved so get the ball rolling as quickly as possible. In addition to unemployment, look into other programs you might qualify for. A friend of mine was laid off recently and she's getting unemployment, food stamps, housing assistance and free tuition to go back to school so look into all that stuff. Even though your still working, start living like a church mouse now. Save as much money as you possibly can. Once you stop working, your new job is to find a new job. Set office hours for yourself and use that time to work on your resume, apply for jobs, make phone calls, and hopefully interview. You might be tempted to take a part-time job just to have more money coming in, but when you're getting unemployment, they subtract any money you make from your benefits so you might as well use that time to find a good job.

What do you do for a living? If you're an engineer and don't mind building weapons for a living, I can probably totally hook you up.

[vigilant20]

I'm an analyst with pre .NET programming experience. The things I have going for me are early notice and permission to job search and interview during work hours all I want until I'm gone. They are also sending me to an outplacement agency.

Thanks for the tips. I'll definately look into whatever aid I can find. I believe I'll be able to visit a food bank too. Interestingly enough it looks like they'll send me to second harvest, who I've done volunteer work for. It all really does come around :)

[karenlovessnow]

I'm sorry to hear this! :( But it sounds like you have a bit of a jump on things and a really good attitude. I hope things go ok for you!

[SheThrowsDown]

I'm not sure if there is a rule against posting about other forums. But there is a forum I HIGHLY suggest its at www.frugalvillage.com there should be a link on that page for the forum. The women and men there have helped me through some tough financial times!

I'm sure they could help you A LOT! Good luck!

[Skylark]

Get "The Complete Tightwad Gazette." I found it at a garage sale for $.75. Read it and memorize every section that remotely applies to you. Go forth and prosper, even in the tightest of financial times!





I'm only 10% joking.

[SheThrowsDown]

I love the tightwad gazette! I have all 3 books (they were 3 different ones before being out together as the complete tightwad gazette).

[vigilant20]

I'm not sure if there is a rule against posting about other forums. But there is a forum I HIGHLY suggest its at www.frugalvillage.com there should be a link on that page for the forum. The women and men there have helped me through some tough financial times!

I'm sure they could help you A LOT! Good luck!

Hehe I go there too. Haven't started a thread about it yet tho. There were a few that popped up before thanksgiving when a wave of layoffs hit that I haven't read, will have to go back and check those too.

[vigilant20]

thanks skylark and prya...I actually requested it from the library this afternoon...should have it in my paws in a few days :)

[Kiseki]

Well, I don't know about you...but my home does not have central heating. Central heating costs SOOOO much! It's obscene. In my house we have separate heaters for each room. The house is freezing, but bearable.

Anyway I don't run my room's heater in winter. Instead I bought myself an electric blanket and a space heater. Also buy yourself a hoodie and some long johns.

It's really not as bad as it seems. If your area's temperature doesn't go below freezing or so, try not using your heat.

[vigilant20]

Well, I don't know about you...but my home does not have central heating. Central heating costs SOOOO much! It's obscene. In my house we have separate heaters for each room. The house is freezing, but bearable.

Anyway I don't run my room's heater in winter. Instead I bought myself an electric blanket and a space heater. Also buy yourself a hoodie and some long johns.

It's really not as bad as it seems. If your area's temperature doesn't go below freezing or so, try not using your heat.

I wish I could get away with that! It's -10F right now, with windchills up to -40. I've turned the heat down to 63 when I'm home and 57 when I'm not and have been bundling up.

[Michael]

The first thing I would do is sit down and make a list of every single one of my financial obligations. I would then get rid of everything that wasn't essential - cable TV, internet, cell phone, land line, etc. I'd look around the house and sell anything I haven't used in the last 6 months. And I'd stop eating out and start trying to maximize my grocery dollars. All common sense I guess.

[DMZdogs]

I'm "housesitting" a house that didn't get sold...a massive four-bedroom three bathroom affair for just me and my dogs. Utilities are kept at a minimum by:

Whenever I need to get hot water, I run the water into a bucket until it's hot. Then I have a bucket of water for other uses: watering my plants, simple clean-ups, flushing the toilet (just pour it into the toilet and it'll flush itself w/o using more water), drinking water (after running it through the brita filter), etc.

I have a space heater that stays in the bedroom where I sleep. Whenever I'm at home, I stay in the bedroom unless I'm cooking. The rest of the house stays at 55 degrees when I'm at home and 60 during the day when I'm gone (because of the dogs). However, the dogs also each have their own electric heat pad so that they won't get too cold, plus two kennels full of soft pillows and fluffy blankies. I'd let it get colder than 55 when I'm home but can't in case prospective buyers come to view the house. That row of lightbulbs above the mirror in the bathroom? I unscrewed all but two. I don't use the space heater at night when I'm asleep--I use a huge comforter that got ruined in my parents' last move (horribly stained, easily covered) and a snuggly dog. (One snuggles, one refuses.)

I shop sales almost exclusively. I LOVE bell peppers, but can't justify the high cost. So, I only buy them when the local store has them on sale for 99 cents each. Then, I eat a LOT of them. Basically, whatever is on sale at any given time is what I eat a lot of. I love gala apples, but when I went to the store yesterday, they were too expensive so I got a 3 lb bag of granny smiths for $2 instead. Oh, and buy in season produce...it tends to be cheaper. LOVE grapes...but they're too high right now. I'll be eating massive amounts once they get back in season and that'll be when I think apples are too expensive. Organic? I can't afford it, so I'm really choosy. I'll buy my carrots organic because I read that farmers use carrots to "clean" the soil. *shudder* I've given up soy milk due to its high cost and the health factor and drink water almost exclusively. (once a month I splurge on a bottle of "simply lemonade")

Coupons are also good. Anything that I buy that has a label gets googled for a coupon. I save all the coupons as images in a separate folder and then paste them into a word document so that I can get as many on a single sheet of paper as possible. My library allows 5 copies for free. That's a lot of coupons and I go to the library every week anyway as that is my main source for entertainment.

I don't eat out or "go out". My outings involve the library, a park, a walk around the neighborhood, hanging around in the backyard (weather permitting) with the dogs, and of course there are the excursions online.

I don't have a TV or internet access at home. I use the internet at work (my job right now consists of sitting alone in a room of 30 laptops...even when the schedule finally gets worked out, I'll still have at least my lunch break which is more than enough time to e-mail) and at the library on the weekends. If I feel like watching/listening to something while I knit, I borrow some DVDs from the library as I have a lap top.

Once the weather gets better, I'll be using my car less as I can ride my bike to the library on the weekends (live too far from work to commute on bike). I also plan on not using the a/c. Yes, I live in Oklahoma, but I also lived in South Korea for years without a/c. It's very doable...open windows, turn on fan, drink cold drinks, only cook at night when the temperature is down and use microwave during the day, etc.....but this is not the right time of year to go on about that.

Oh, and for a small luxury, fill a cloth bag with plain ole cheap white rice. Sew it shut. Microwave it. Voila~! You have a portable, warm spot for your butt. I heat mine up in the morning so that when I drive to work, I'm warm and toasty even though the car is not. How long to microwave depends on amount of rice in the cloth bag...you'll have to experiment to get it how you like it.

Once you have been laid off and if you don't have a new job by then, set yourself a deadline for finding a job with the promise to yourself that you'll take just about anything if you haven't found something by then. I had two weeks left on my deadline before I was going to have to be a cashier again. Now I'm a teacher's assistant (though, without a class or students or really, anyone around me for now). Whatever "junk" job you get to tide you over, make sure that you get days off during the WEEK, not the weekend so that you can still easily job search. Or, work part time. Whatever...just leave time available to continue looking.

Hmmm...what else? Do you have a dryer? Stop using it. Hang your laundry outside on a line if you have a yard or on racks in the house if you don't (or it's too cold in your area to hang outside). Outside will give you free, wonderful smelling dry clothes. Inside will give you free dry clothes that alleviate the dryness in your house.

Don't buy any new clothes (except underwear and socks). If you need something, go to goodwill or another thrift store.

Join your local freecyle.

Unplug appliances when not in use except for obvious ones like the fridge.

Buy in bulk. If you are in a cold enough area and have the space to do so, store excess frozen food outside. Free freezer space. :D

Before you wash your clothes, look at them. Do they really need it? If you were wearing layers and didn't do anything to get the outside layer dirty, it's probably fine. Just shake it out, maybe hang it outside for a while to freshen it up. I smell everything before washing it (except socks and underwear of course) to decide if it really needs washing. If it is just a tiny bit "off"...I'll save it for wearing just around the house rather than at work. People used to wear their clothes for a long time before washing them and really, they'll last longer if you don't wash them every single time you wear them.

Stop using shampoo and conditioner. Baking soda and vinegar work even better and are far cheaper.

Don't buy more deodorant. Get a thai crystal stick. It works FABULOUS on keeping any smell at bay and lasts for years and years (provided you don't drop it repeatedly on a concrete floor). It doesn't work so well at preventing huge sweat marks under your arms, but it's winter, so that shouldn't be a problem anyway. Plus, it's far easier on your clothes than deodorant which can discolor material.

Grow your hair out. Then you don't need hair cuts. :D

Hmmm...can't think of anything else right now.

[codemonkey]

I'm an analyst with pre .NET programming experience.

I'm a software engineer and I've been working for government contractors for the last 10 years. If you're not deadset against moving to Arizona, California or Northern Virginia, I know some people I could send your resume to.

[Digger]

Be sure to check into LIHEAP for heating assistance if you need it, and any other public programs that may benefit you. There's no shame in it. I've worked hard for 25 years but recently became disabled. You've paid into the system all these years, don't be embarrassed to apply for assistance if it comes to that. I'd like to think it's people like us that these programs were designed for.

[vigilant20]

Be sure to check into LIHEAP for heating assistance if you need it, and any other public programs that may benefit you. There's no shame in it. I've worked hard for 25 years but recently became disabled. You've paid into the system all these years, don't be embarrassed to apply for assistance if it comes to that. I'd like to think it's people like us that these programs were designed for.

I'm not afraid to ask for help when I need it :) I try to help where I can too and give back when I have the resources, so it feels right. And thank you for the name of the program, I knew something was out there but I hadn't known what it was called.

[vigilant20]

I'm a software engineer and I've been working for government contractors for the last 10 years. If you're not deadset against moving to Arizona, California or Northern Virginia, I know some people I could send your resume to.

Arizona is actually a possibility for me. My parents want very badly to retire to Arizona or New Mexico and have been trying to convince me for years to come with them so someone's close in case they need anything. Or in case I need anything I suppose :)

I only have a few years experience, but if you would like to give me an email address I could send it over so you can decide if it's worth sending it on to anyone.

[codemonkey]

I PM'd you.

[vigilant20]

I PM'd you.

You are awesome :) Thanks.

[codemonkey]

Anything to help a fellow programmer in need :)

[codemonkey]

Another tip for surviving a layoff: look into to getting more education and upgrading your skills. Depending on the program, you should be able to get financial aid. Just show the financial aid office that you've been laid off so they don't use the income for the job that you don't have to calculate your eligibility.

And for computer people: if you see a job that you're mostly qualified for, but don't know a specific programming language, there are tons of free tutorials on the internet. That way when they ask you if you're familiar with it, you can say yes.

[Kiseki]

Oh, yeah...one more thing I do.

You're gonna NEED entertainment to get by, and also because going out is really expensive. So I just DL everything I want to watch. No cable, no movies. I know it's technically illegal but who cares.

I hooked my computer up to my TV (not difficult if you have a relatively new TV). Just buy a AV cable. I can watch anything I want this way, and the quality is great. All free! Except for the internet.

[Annikat]

Oh, yeah...one more thing I do.

You're gonna NEED entertainment to get by, and also because going out is really expensive. So I just DL everything I want to watch. No cable, no movies. I know it's technically illegal but who cares.

What about the people that own the copyrights? To me the library would be a better choice.... It is free as well...

[Skylark]

Or borrowing movies and music from friends. Not copying them, though.

[ripvanfish]

Oh, yeah...one more thing I do.

You're gonna NEED entertainment to get by, and also because going out is really expensive. So I just DL everything I want to watch. No cable, no movies. I know it's technically illegal but who cares.

I hooked my computer up to my TV (not difficult if you have a relatively new TV). Just buy a AV cable. I can watch anything I want this way, and the quality is great. All free! Except for the internet.

I do this, too. :pibo: