Posts: 10,890
9/14/10 10:56 A

Thankfully I am eligible for unemployment....hopefullly I can find a job before it expires. At 56 not too Many employers want to hire you....
Hugs,
WW

current weight: 181.0

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Posts: 3,211
12/24/09 3:05 P

I am lucky I qualified for benefits and can collect food stamps and medical. My boss did call the worker and try to get me disqualified but my income is less than 1/2 of the cutoff amount for either. (Such a nice guy - the worker). I also found several thrift grocery stores on the way to work which are low cost and take the EBT card. I don't spend my entire food allowance.
I got my cell phone bill decreased. The first place told me I couldn't and I went in on a stolen cell phone and that store found a lower plan. Apparently, they vary by location even with the same company and you can also find most of the plans online to see if you could lower the bill.
I also found out that paying bills by phone can add extra charges (I wasn't always aware of them). I take the free options and will now be aware of which ones I should mail in (cost of a stamps vs $3.95 payment processing fee). I feel like we are paying for the wages of the customer service person. I did have one company tell me they did have a fee for questions. I told them I would not be doing business with their company.

SparkPoints: (9,574)
Fitness Minutes: (180)
Posts: 1,110
12/27/08 10:39 A

Hello. Since my husband and I are both laid off we are doing everything together. We have been walking 3 blocks to the library and have been taking advantage of free reading and $1.00 videos. Reading different county newspapers available. Looking for jobs in and around the areas. Because we are residents we can go swimming at the community center 2 miles from us to excise or swim for $ 5.00 a day (each). We also have a discount store for Wonder Bread bakeries not to far from where we live.
We also try to do all our errands in one day. I hate to leave the house because boredom leads to shopping and spending money on things we don't need.
I also pay bills over the phone so I don't have to drive to the business in case I forgot when I was out. I am thankful gas prices are falling so that has helped us.
We also have been riding our bikes more , weather permitting.
I use coupons from the weekend newspapers to buy things that are name brand. I try to buy store brands.
We have loss our insurance so we asked our doctors to find us generic drugs that we save us money. WE asked for FREE SAMPLEs of drugs that we are on also.
Also being connected to the computer and I am over coming the depression that comes along with being unemployed.


Edited by: MARIE4950 at: 12/27/2008 (10:39)

SparkPoints: (80,399)
Fitness Minutes: (105,437)
Posts: 15,007
12/22/08 1:18 P

Here are some links to other resources here at SP related to budgeting, meal planning on a budget, coping with job loss/cutbacks, turning money problems into opportunities for change, and staying motivated when financial times are tough:

Financial Fitness Lifestyle Center

Coach Tanya's dailySpark Blogs on Recession Eating

Beating the Recession Blues Sparkteam

SparkGuy’s Savings Jar Sparkteam

Frugalists & Simple Living Sparkteam

Debt Haven Sparkteam


And, for those moments when you need to take a mental break from your problems for a while, try this:

A 2 Minute Exercise to Improve Your Mood


Have you found any other resources helpful? Share them here.



Edited by: SP_COACH_DEAN at: 12/22/2008 (13:21)

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