Got your attention didn't I? Not used to someone talking to you so frankly. Well? Are you?
If you've been unemployed or under-employed for any length of time now, you have come to the realization that at least for now things have not gotten any better. Are you ready to face the harsh reality that things are not going to change any time soon? It is YOU that is going to have to be making the changes, even more so than you have already.
I'm sure some of you have held off cutting up at least all but one, preferably only kept the one with the lowest balance and interest rate, of your credit cards and you just couldn't give up your Cable TV or Direct TV and you are still eating meat every single night of the week. Well, it is time to tighten up that belt a few more notches and get real! If you have to, take that one remaining credit card out of your wallet and go freeze it in a block of ice in the freezer so that you only use it in the most dire emergencies. If you can't pay cash for things then you have to reevaluate your purchases. Either don't buy it, change brands or save up and wait till you can purchase exactly what you want.
If you just can't think of going without meat in your meals every single day, try going to every other day to begin with. Then try cutting back to where you only eat meat no more than three times a week. You can get plenty of protein by switching over to some meals with beans or even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches if need be.
Ditch that expensive Cable or Direct TV service and buy a converter box for $25 and get far less channels but save a pile of money. You can also cut back on your phone service, if using a regular landline phone remove all the extras like call waiting and caller id and even get rid of your long distance calling service as well. Many people are using "pay as you go" cell phone service instead of a "landline phone" and finding it much more cost effective.
Many of you have continued to look for work, hoping to return to the work force at just about what you left at salary wise. I can tell you that in most cases that just isn't going to happen. The longer you are out of work the more of a cut you can expect to be looking at. In many cases, you are not even going to be able to find new employment in the same field that you left. It may be beneath your dignity and you have to bury your pride but in the current job market I am going to advise you to grab whatever you can as fast as you can.
Many companies are not even offering full time jobs at the present time because they are not positive how the new healthcare law is going to affect their "bottom line." Consequently they may be hiring but it could be for as low as twenty hours a week to thirty-five hours a week if you are lucky. So you may have to find two part-time jobs in order to bring home enough money to care for your family. If you have children, the other alternative would be to have your partner look for a part-time job, working opposite hours from yours so that one of you will always be home with the children and you won't be adding day care costs to your budget.
When it comes to businesses either cutting back on employees or closing up entirely, it is usually only the big companies that we hear about. There are many little businesses that are closing daily that we never even hear about.
When you read or hear about unemployment figures, all you are hearing about are the people who are still drawing their unemployment funds or those who are now on the unemployment rolls. It doesn't even take into consideration those who are no longer drawing unemployment or those who have just plain stopped looking. I read an article the other day that stated of those who are of working age between 20 and 25%
are unemployed. Even young kids who used to find work cutting grass for their neighbors for a few dollars every week can no longer find work because unemployed adults are now looking at that as a source of income themselves.
Even though you may not be finding a job that you want to stay with forever, it is best to try and find something, either working for someone else or starting your own business from home. There is an old saying "it is easier to find a job when you have a job" and I can tell you that it is absolutely true. Your entire attitude changes when you have a job and it shows in every core of your being.
So get off your butt, get out your interviewing outfits and dust off your resume. Today is the day that you are going to go out there and find a job!
