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Prepare for a Job Loss Before It Is Too Late

By Marilyn Katz

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 27Nov2008
Word count: 528
Viewed: 295 time(s)

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Unemployment figures are at alarming levels now. And the predictions about future US employment retes tell us we should expect those numbers to grow. This is no time for American workers to adapt a wait and see attitude. You should be prepared before you hold a pink slip in your hand.

Cut Expenses

Now is the time to reduce your monthly expenses. A lot of these cuts can be made without that much pain. Consider the gym membership you do not really use. I know I had one. Also look at your meal expenses. Do you really need to eat out 3 times a week? A $50 family restuarant tab could be replaced with a $15 meal at home. I can make spaghetti or tacos in about half an hour, and do it for less than $10 in groceries to feed my family of 4 people. Over the course of a month, replacing 8 restaurant meals with meals at home saves me a couple of hundred dollars. I know that I can use that extra money to catch up on bills or grow my savings account.

Keep Your Money Safe

Uncertain times are not a time for risky investments unless you can afford to lose the money. This is no time to play a stock market lottery game. Instead, consider one of the higher paying online savings accounts that is FDIC insured. If you have money you do not need right now, shop around for CD rates. In good times, bank CDs do not seem very exciting. Right now, they look pretty good.

Retrain Yourself

This is a great time to examine your skills. Can you take an online class, or a class at a local community college that will make you more attractive to your current or future employers? Computer and writing skills will always be in high demand. If you work in a technical train, is there some specialty you could master that will make you stand out?

Protect Your Income

If you are a W-2 employee, consider a layoff protection plan. These plans usually have a waiting period before you can collect private unemployment benefits so be sure to sign up before you know you are getting laid off next week. The cash from these plans will supplement state unemployment benefits.

It may seem silly, but this is a good time to learn how to clean out the closets and have a garage sale or online auction like EBay. I have known people who raised several hundred dollars this way, all by getting rid of things they had accumulated but did not use. If the latest exercise equipment just gathers dust, somebody else will want to buy it! If you cannot fit into that designer dress or expensive suit, somebody else can. Clean out your closets, reduce your clutter, and raise some cash!

Examine Your Career Goals

Is your current job your dream job? Some people cannot imagine doing anything else, but most employees are fairly flexible. A period of unemployment can be a great time to grow if the unemployed person has prepared for a few weeks or month without a steady paycheck.

Mortgage Unemployment protection plans pay you cash when you lose your job. Visit us to see if you qualify, and if these plans can help tide your over if you lose your job. Do not wait for a pink slip, but prepare for a job loss now.

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