Feeling more settled today, after Thursday's news. After posting, I went and took a long, hot, and UNinterrupted bath (thank you so much to M and the kids for leaving me alone). Friday, I called in sick to work, taking a "personal necessity" day, and we spent the afternoon at park day, surrounded by friends. And thanks for the kind comments on that post!
M is encouraging me to go ahead and file for unemployment, something I have never done in the 26-27 years I've been working (really... I'll be 40 this year, and have been working since the age of 13). To take some time off between jobs, and just be a mom. We know that this would make finances even tighter, but M said he would see if he could pick up some extra hours and/or find some supplemental work. And yes, even with unemployment, I would continue looking for work... I'll admit in part because one has to. I guess I could look into other aid as well, if needed. The kids are already insured through Healthy Families, so we'll keep them on that.
In the meantime, since my raise is in place, and all that, I am going to stretch every dollar to its breaking point, and pinch every penny until it screams so that we can start July off in the best financial shape possible, whether I decide to immediately find work or not. No, I still am not going to clip coupons, or buy those weird big log-tube things of ground beef. The vegetable garden is increasing in size though! Thanks to Jessica, I have recipes for household cleaners. Thanks to my mom, I know how to cook from scratch, to mend, alter a little, and so forth.
I haven't decided what to do at this point. But, I do have two and a half months left to figure it out... well, maybe a month and a half, because I'd like to know before the end of June what I'll be doing next!
Stretching every dollar - that's what you've got to do.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's enlistment ends next year and where will that leave us? He'll be a full-time college student, and the Post 9-11 GI Bill will only go so far. So I'll probably have to go back to work, unless I manage to land an agent and a fabulous publishing deal. ;)
So we're just focused on saving up for a house and that's going along very well. By anticipating the end of his guaranteed employment, and all the things that come with it, we're (hopefully) better prepared for the challenges we will face.
Good luck!
Gillian~Hey, I've been meaning to mention...have you considered refinancing your home? We are in the process if you'd like more info.
ReplyDeleteE-mail me...I'd be happy to give you an idea how it works, what it costs, how it's changed our payment, etc.
In the meantime, pinch those pennies!
"log-tube things of ground beef" Hilarious!! Wishing you all the best in finding more ways to make your dollar stretch. We're in the same boat...always looking for ways to live more frugally without compromising our health and happiness!
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