Are You Unemployed?

I aint kidding about my willingness to do anything. Some of those odd jobs I have been doing include shoveling goat and chicken poo for the farmers around here. I have a degree in massage therapy but not too many people around my small town seem interested... that and their already is a massage shop here in this town and that woman is a local where as I am not. I have past managerial experience and have worked in a variety of fields...but that was in the city... This is the country.

Originally I calculated 32 hours a week at minimum wage would be enough to support all of my financial debts... Unfortunately economy tanked and all the places that are normally always hiring (Like lumber mills) have stopped hiring. So odd jobs for the farmers and help from my family till something steady comes along.....

At least I got my health.

I live in a rural area. No work here. Health care is even laying off here.

I am too sick to work anyway, but my husband has been looking for a second job since his hours are cut and he can not find one. We are now going to have to choose the car or the house. It sucks.

Originally posted by amatrine
I live in a rural area. No work here. Health care is even laying off here.

I am too sick to work anyway, but my husband has been looking for a second job since his hours are cut and he can not find one. We are now going to have to choose the car or the house. It sucks.

so what are you living off? the dole? savings?

reply to post by Donnie Darko



My husband works, hours cut in half, we use that money to pay what we can and now have 5 payday loans out. No joke. It is a trap. I can not get SSI disability because we are married and he makes over 13k a year. My husband and I were just talking about this this morning, how doing the rite thing always gets you screwed. Anyway, we tried to refinance the car but were turned down as the Nissan has lost a lot of value this year and now the Loan to Value Ratio is to high.


In Arizona you have to be making nothing to get any kind of help.

My husband too would dig a ditch if a job was available. His current job is already an hour and half away each way.

reply to post by argentus


While I consider myself a bit more privileged than most people, my family still teaches the value of the dollar on us and our family knows work. Having to take care of 5 kids and a mother financially is draining on a single parent (money wise), so even though I have my own beater mobile, phone, and a few toys, work is the unspoken rule of our family once you hit the 16-17 age marker. I still consider myself lucky being able to attend a university next to me while living at my parents when the time comes.

Trust me though...when I spend money I look at it in a conservative way. A pop in a sit-down restaurant equals out to about a half an hour of work...Ill stick with the water.

reply to post by titorite


You call back? Many places do not even bother unless you make a personal appearance or show a real interest. I had two part time job offers after waiting two months...I took the one where I went in and just gave them my name and number. Then again, I did act like I knew someone who worked there and got a "free" reference - but everything turned out all right

reply to post by mrwupy


Hey, I respect you for loving life even in times of "down". I am perfectly content sitting next to a lake in a chair sipping some water! The only cost is the gas to there...


reply to post by mrwupy


Hey, I respect you for loving life even in times of "down". I am perfectly content sitting next to a lake in a chair sipping some water! The only cost is the gas to there...

reply to post by sillyboystrucksare4girls


Trust me...I have spent my time doing research. What I learned? Do what you enjoy, make a living off what you are good at. I love writing, but authors do not feel the same way about some of my work! Haha...we all have different goals in life, but financial security is something anyone would be satisfied with. So for that - my life dream of an ice cream truck driver is gone...even though the ones nowadays are creeps and there isn't no soft serve.

reply to post by kyred


I do not know your family so do not take this the wrong way - but is she characteristically repulsive? If I was starting my own business, I would take the bright, energetic high school kid with good grades over the mom of three unless conversation said otherwise. Does she actually make herself an attractive prospect?

I went into a Family Dollar, but couldn't get hired due to being under 18 at the time. The manager was telling me stories how half the people that go in answer the "character" questions in such an absurd manner - as if they don't even want the job.

One rule in life is to make yourself interesting. Hollywood might be for the rich and famous, but having charm and character is something anyone can have, yet many chose not to.

reply to post by amatrine


There isn't a single burger joint closer to you that is hiring? I live in a decently congested area, so my point of view is more from a "city" upbringing. Outskirts of it that is.

I partially understand some of you who live in rural areas that can not find work...I am clueless on even how to respond to that. In dense areas though - I still wonder how people can not find work... restaurants and retail have such high turn over, all you have to do is go in dressed nice with good manners, and they sometimes interview you on the spot.

Plus, with Monster and Craigslist, one can look for opportunities across the country. Being laid off for a month can happen I am sure, but it still amazes me how some can go 2-3 months are more without a job. How do you even live?!

....

Just like to say thanks for all the replies. I try to return the thanks by answering everyones post who have some actual information in them.

Worked in the radio industry for 13 years (clear channel) and was, very unexpectedly laid off a month ago.

NEVER asked for a raise, actually deferred two to other employees who I thought deserved it and were underpaid, was executive producer, internship co-ordinator, assistant program director, AND produced TWO daily radio programs in Seattle. I also launched an accompanying simulcast TV show on comcast for one of my shows as well. I was let go two days before someone else was able to reap the fruits of MY labor. No, I'm not bitter.

I knew the industry was taking a hit, like everything else, but with all I did for how much I was paid, and the length of time I had been doing it without ANY pay increase. . .I thougth I'd be one of the ones they couldn't do without.

I was wrong. . . Still looking for work, but luckily have a wife with an amazing job (fingers crossed) and money saved. The job market though. . ugh.

Good luck everyone!

[edit on 19-6-2009 by amongus]

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


I'm currently un-employed. It's not that bad in my situation, as I'm a college student and live with my parents. I was very much hoping to find a job this summer, but so far it's been a couple of interviews at best buy, and I wont know if I have a job for at least another week (They explained that they were waiting for people to take severance at the store where I applied)

I do want money to pay for some college tuition in the fall, and other stuff.. However at this point the situation is pretty grim. I'm just thankful my parents still have good jobs at the moment.

I can't say whether the economic situation has led to my lack of employment, but I would say it's highly likely. If bigger corporations arent making enough money they won't take n as much employment. I believe the unemployment rate here currently is over 10%

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


expecting to hit the lottery jackpot

You know, I actually know one person who won the lottery

some guys get all the luck, eh?

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


Of course I call back. This ain't my first rodeo. I show up in person ask to see the manager so as to arrange an interview. Times are just tough. It is what it is.

All one can do is hit the classified ads and apply like crazy.

Count yourself fortunate that you have a job.

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


journeyman glazier (commercial)over 20 yrs so.cal. never been out of a job more than a week til a year ago. still got almost max. unemployment
bennies ,though barely makin it. when it runs out.well, that makes me nervous to think about that.scary.

reply to post by reject


Yeah...the lottery isn't the best investment

Adding an extra meal at Steak N' Shake a week or wasting money on lottery tickets. The shake wins!

Then again, those few dollars are nothing to some people who have the dream of living it big. I am the type of person that compares cost to profit, and then determine if it is a rip off or not...I get my entertainment by finding the best deals, while others get it by simply spending money.

About having a job alongside college. Best Buy is the dream job for any kid in school...great perks, easy going, etc. The thing is, I will be able to clean an entire work kitchen before they know what hit them!

There is someone I work with who works 3 jobs, and does gigs on the side. I think the real skill in life isn't having the job, but getting it. I consider myself lucky with mine, but there are some people I know who chase it like their life depends on it (which that does apply to some).

edit - About having a job during college to pay off loans...this is just my own opinion, but soak up the debt and treat yourself to a few cheap vacations instead of working that debt off while in college. The goal is to get a nice career afterwards...is it worth struggling for 4-5 years to kill the debt, or have a decent time and spend an extra 6-12 months at a better paying job and then eliminate it?

Sadly though, that ideology manifests itself into the wrong people, and some get the idea that they deserve a trip to Hawaii for working a day a week...


[edit on 19-6-2009 by FritosBBQTwist]

unemployed since Feb., not too bad for me, kids grown and on their own, so just me and the wife, she still working for now, I saw this coming over a year ago and paid off all credit card, combined bank accounts, did all necessary repairs to house and cars, so I get to spend a bit of time at the beach working on my fishing skills and tan. Between unemployment and wifes income all bills are paid, kids and grandkids get some help with groceries some, and we still are able to enjoy things like the still open Florida state parks, putting around on the atv's in teh woods.

Even though I live in a large city, work is still hard to come by when you have major health issues, but there is work to be had if you look long and hard, but doesn't pay what it used to. And everyone in my neighborhood is still talking about how either someone in the family or themselves are on the board to be laid off. Drama contiues even after you turn off the T.V.

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


Yes, 56+ hours per week at twice the normal high wages rate for this area (PLUS time and a half and full benefits) to ZERO. Though this was a lot of money, it all went to medication for spouse.

7 weeks now.

No jobs available. Area is just now being hit with the massive layoffs. Typically, 1 out of 6 are being laid off here.

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


I'm unemployed, but to be fair it was self inflicted...

Just had to running across the country in the middle of the most severe economic down turn in living memory...

I'm not hurting financially though, I think I may be fortunate to be so young (23) I have no house or anything like that, and I'm not worried about my retirement (ha) so I live quite comfortably.. just with a lot of time on my hands.

(If anyone out there is hiring and sees this, I will work for beer, please U2U me)

Been unemployed since last month trying to find jobs in my area seems to suck right now. All the factories around here have been laying off it's hard to even find a minimum wage job. There seems to be a million medical jobs however, I guess I have been studying the wrong things in school.

Why worry?
Print and be merry!

Well i myself have been out of work now for nearly 8 months. I'm a high school graduate and completed some college. Everyday i look and apply for jobs. By the way i'm from Rhode Island, where the unemployment rate is at 12%. That's 12% of just over a million people statewide. Every place i go it's the same story. "we'll call you back" "you'll hear from us if for an interview" and in 8 months i havent even gotten a call back.

I have never in my life had this much trouble finding work. And i'm not talking high paying jobs, i cant even get a job at wal mart or as a dishwasher, honest to God no lies. it's bad out there, i have debt coming out of my ears, i just filed a deferment paper with my student loan company because i can't make teh payments, my credit is S%$# and it started at crap.

reply to post by FritosBBQTwist


I'm currently on work shortage. To make a long story short... or as short as possible anyway - My company does contract jobs. They are paid so much to get a certain job done and then they pay us to do the work. We got a raise at the beginning of the year, but apparently their budget didn't allow for it so they permanently laid off 10 people, thinking that would work, but it didn't. Now, I'm working every other week, indefinitely. I've had to cut back on expenses, but so far, I'm ok for the most part. Others that I work with aren't doing so well.

I'm unemployed, been like that for a while and it's damn near IMPOSSIBLE for me to find a job. I'm not going to lie and say some of it isn't my fault, like maybe if my home life wasn't so horrible I would've finished high school and gone to college, but there's no use regretting the past.

In all honesty, though, the most money I've ever made has been working for myself, a feat which is much easier when the economy is better.

I am unemployed by the typical norms of society. I had a cushy job, making 1600 a week, New home construction management. Wasn't a bad life, at all. But the housing sector tanked, people stopped buying new homes and those wanting new homes couldn't get the financing from the banks. I lost my job, I lost my home, I lost my wife. but she left me the kid.
Unemployment is not an option for me, I don't accept handouts, matter of pride, I work for mine.
SO I had to do what I had to to survive, I went out and got a job flipping burgers to feed my young son. 2 at the time.
That wasnt working out, i was falling in debt, got behind in rent, and wasn't making it, So I got a warehouse job.
working 12 hour days, 6 days a week to get by. All the while my son was growing up, without me seeing it, I was never home or too tired to notice.

My friend offered me help, take this package, and deliver it to someone and ill pay you 100 dollars.
After a few of these "deliveries" I wanted to know what I was delivering, he told me and told me how I could make 1000 a week while only "working" 3-4 hours a day.

So now I am what most of you would call a drain on society, feeding the need to release of the downtrodden. Call me what you will, I am vile, I am disgusting, but I am doing what I need to do to survive and this is the only way I can make ends meet and watch my son grow. WHen the housing market picks back up if it does, I will end this and return to "WORK" but until then, I will feed my son any way I can.


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