How are your finances?

[holyorders]

After I graduated from college (in 2007) it took me 3.5 years to get a job at career level. I lived with my family the whole time and lost a lot of hope.

In 2010, I got a break as a Technical Writer. That payed alright but only lasted a year.

6 months after that job I am now about to file an extension for unemployment. I have a very good job prospect lined up but issues such as funding put it in question. I don't want to wait 3.5 years again. I probably spent a year of that time in a comatose-like depression.

St. Joseph intercede for us who need jobs.

Jesus help us.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Kyrie Eleison.

 

[mjolnir81]

Both me and my partner are currently out of work my partner left to pursue a more motherly role for our daughter I was forced out of work by bullys, we are current surviving on goverment help (a meager 177 pounds per fortnight) I am not a gluttonous man I only want enougth to support my family but so far I have had little luck I pray daily that God will show me the right path.

 

[Fantine]

My hubby is retiring at the end of 2013 when he turns 66. Our finances are quite good now. He has quite a good job, not quite as good as his two VP jobs (1980-95) but still high up on the bell curve.

His company, like many other companies, occasionally lays someone in management off....but when I say, "You may be next," he says, "I wish!"

I have three jobs. I work 30 hours a week at my main job. I play the organ at my own church as a volunteer, but I also play at another church, usually two services a week. I have thought about leaving ever since I went back to work almost full-time, but the church needs me and I feel that God wants me to help them out until they can replace me. I also do some freelance writing, primarily for one newspaper, and probably spend about 3-4 hours a week on assignments.

I don't know when I'll retire...I'm happy where I am now.

My hubby has a pension from one of his VP jobs. I will have a pension from my 30 hour a week job. He has an Agent Orange VA disability that has increased as his health problems have increased, and it gives him 100% medical.

Our IRA's and 401K's are not where financial advisors say they should be, but they are an additional cushion.

Finally, we live in a very low cost area of the country. I would like to move back to St. Louis when I retire, but might have to content myself with frequent visits.

 

[MikeK]

Still looking for a full-time job in my field.

What is your field?

 

[MikeK]

Our finances are sound. I could certainly spend more if I had it, but meh. I'm blessed to have a job that I enjoy that pays well and offers me the freedom to pursue my little whims now and then. My wife is an RN and does okay for herself as well.

I've been unemployed and I've been underemployed, and my prayers are with all of you who are in that situation. I know it can start to look pretty bleak.

If I were starting over, I think I'd either join the Navy or go to community college for Instrumentation and Control or Health Physics and then hop around the country helping out with nuclear plant refuelings for 5 months out of the year. The pay is good, little education (but a fair amount of knowledge) is required, younever risk staying in a place you hate for very long, and you get to take months off at a time.

 

[AMDG]

Hubby retired early due to health problems (actually job was originally just a temporary part-time that "evolved" into full time.) The jobs I have had have *always* been temporary (well except for one as homemaker ) and with my age, health, and economy, I've just figured that I won't even bother looking after my last temp. Gives me more opportunity to cut back and live frugally and not listen to even Catholic parishioners who are "nay sayers". (Want to bet? Phillippians 4:13. Besides children and friends help when necessary and for the most part, we've made certain to have taken care of debts before the early retirement and don't require much to live on.)

 

[MikeK]

....and don't require much to live on.)

...and that's one of the key things we should all be focussed on. It is never a good idea to pile up debt so that you have to have a job that pays $x per month to keep your head above water. Debt kills flexibility. Pay cash or wait. Eating is cheap, keeping the house livable is cheap, utilities are cheap if you manage to only touch the thermostat when you need to. 60 degrees is fine in the winter when push comes to shove, and people in all areas of the US lived just fine before air conditioning was invented. Too often people look at the luxeries that give them comfort as if they are necessities.

 

[princess_ballet]

...and that's one of the key things we should all be focussed on. It is never a good idea to pile up debt so that you have to have a job that pays $x per month to keep your head above water. Debt kills flexibility. Pay cash or wait. Eating is cheap, keeping the house livable is cheap, utilities are cheap if you manage to only touch the thermostat when you need to. 60 degrees is fine in the winter when push comes to shove, and people in all areas of the US lived just fine before air conditioning was invented. Too often people look at the luxeries that give them comfort as if they are necessities.

60 in the winter? Are you kidding me? I feel bad that I used to make my best friend leave it at 65 (of course, I had a heated mattress pad at the time...).

It doesn't get any lower than 68 here now, and usually stays at 70. We had a wood burning stove growing up so I was used to being nice and toasty warm.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

What is your field?

History Teaching.

 

[MikeK]

60 in the winter? Are you kidding me?

Not routinely, but if necesarry, why not? It beats paying your energy bill with a credit card.

We had a wood burning stove growing up so I was used to being nice and toasty warm.

I burn in winter too. Generally speaking, if it's January, you'll find some rooms in my house in the low 60s and some in the high 90s. Something for everyone.

 

[Davidnic]

Finances are difficult. But we chose to be a one and 1/2 income family with me being a stay at home dad and working overnights. I am trying to get a job using my masters but it is difficult when you consider moving and other things that are necessary. The offers I have been given do not offset moving, crime rates in some of the areas I was accepted in and moving that far from family.

Our plan is for me to do that eventually and then we switch. We are committed to one of us being at home with the kids. Getting some articles accepted and published and some editing work from home has helped.

It can get very tight and hard at times but we are happy. My prayers are for those who are suffering to the point where they lose peace and happiness. We can go on little vacations and I can get my wife and daughters some things beyond the necessary even if I have to be creative about it.

 

[AMDG]

60 in the winter? Are you kidding me?

Put on a sweater. (I lived through former President Jimmy Carter's energy policy. ) Take up knitting--wool is nice and warm. And if it gets too cool--consider donning a coat.

 

[balesom]

Well, folks. I just came on and saw this thread after filing for unemployment. My stint as a substitute teacher is up for the season, as graduation is tonight. Luckily, my only real bills are my student loans, so I was able to save up some money for the future as well.

However, I don't know if that money is going toward loan payments or future tuition, because I'm applying for grad school as we speak. This Fall may see me in a clinical psychology program, or it may see me back in front of the class. Who knows?

 

[princess_ballet]

Put on a sweater. (I lived through former President Jimmy Carter's energy policy. ) Take up knitting--wool is nice and warm. And if it gets too cool--consider donning a coat.

At 68 I usually have on leggings, the warmest pajama pants I have, a tank top, a long sleeve tee, and the heaviest sweatshirt I have.

After that, it just gets ridiculous.

I'll turn the heat up, thanks.

 

[FriendlyJosh]

Finances are difficult. But we chose to be a one and 1/2 income family with me being a stay at home dad and working overnights. I am trying to get a job using my masters but it is difficult when you consider moving and other things that are necessary. The offers I have been given do not offset moving, crime rates in some of the areas I was accepted in and moving that far from family.

Our plan is for me to do that eventually and then we switch. We are committed to one of us being at home with the kids. Getting some articles accepted and published and some editing work from home has helped.

It can get very tight and hard at times but we are happy. My prayers are for those who are suffering to the point where they lose peace and happiness. We can go on little vacations and I can get my wife and daughters some things beyond the necessary even if I have to be creative about it.

It doesn't surprise me at all that you have a masters degree, just about every post you make is highly articulate and I even find myself having to look up words you say lol. I'll never forget the kindness you showed me when my other house got knocked down and I asked for prayers for a new one. I pray The Lord blesses you and yours tremendously with plenty of money, peace, happiness, great health, and time. God Bless you.

 

[FriendlyJosh]

Well, folks. I just came on and saw this thread after filing for unemployment. My stint as a substitute teacher is up for the season, as graduation is tonight. Luckily, my only real bills are my student loans, so I was able to save up some money for the future as well.

However, I don't know if that money is going toward loan payments or future tuition, because I'm applying for grad school as we speak. This Fall may see me in a clinical psychology program, or it may see me back in front of the class. Who knows?

I pray The Lord has great things in store for you, and that when you get into grad school you'll learn a lot, meet a lot of great people who'll help you later on down the road and that when you get out of school you'll make a lot of money being a shrink And actually enjoy what you for a living.

 

[Brooklyn Knight]

History Teaching.

YOU DIRTY HIPSTER!!

Why didn't you get a more practical degree...like in liberal arts, that specializes in urine/blood art, abstract 21st century art...which is critiquing a canvas that is solely in one color!


Or doing something that not everyone is doing...like serving cherry and pickle juice flavored ices, housing bees, pigs, cows in your apartment...in the city, or making chocolate bars in your bathroom and then charging $25 for it!



No, but seriously, God bless. Hopefully something opens up for you in the near future.

 

[Virgil the Roman]

YOU DIRTY HIPSTER!!

Eh. It happens.

Why didn't you get a more practical degree...like in liberal arts, that specializes in urine/blood art, abstract 21st century art...which is critiquing a canvas that is solely in one color!

Couldn't specialise in NCIS, had to stick with the sucky CSI out in Vegas degree . . .

Or doing something that not everyone is doing...like serving cherry and pickle juice flavored ices, housing bees, pigs, cows in your apartment...in the city, or making chocolate bars in your bathroom and then charging $25 for it!

Meh. I already work part-time job dealing with food. So meh!

No, but seriously, God bless. Hopefully something opens up for you in the near future.

Thanks!

This is, seriously, what I am best at and am most able to do. It's always been my goal and dream since I was a small child. And we've far too many students that are deficient in their knowledge of History and their Constitutional Rights. And as a certified History teacher, Deo volente, I'd like to remedy that situation; most especially with a full-time job in the upcoming year!

 

[Virgil the Roman]

Oh, by the way, Brooklyn Knight: Abstract art sucks!
You can put that in your pipe and smoke . . .