Guest Post by Jessica from Utah Deal Diva
Like millions of other Americans, I hadn’t anticipated my husband suddenly being out of work. We’d always lived within our means and had little debt, but we didn’t have much in savings either.
How were we going to pay our bills? Would we lose our house?
Those were the thoughts running through my head as the reality of our situation began to sink in. I am a stay at home mom for our three young children; my husband was the sole breadwinner and then suddenly he was without a job.
How were we going to make it with no income? I was overwhelmed with our sudden change of circumstances.
Thankfully, my husband and I quickly resolved that we would not let this situation break us. We had worked too hard to let this ailing economy make victims out of us. We made a plan and prayed hard that God would help us. Little did we know how abundantly our prayers would be answered.
Here are some lessons we learned while my husband was unemployed:
1. Being unemployed is hard work. My husband and I are both hard workers, but never before have we worked so hard to stay right where we were at. Our only goal at the time was to pay our bills and stay in our home.
Within two days of being out of work my husband secured a part-time job working retail. When he wasn’t working there, he was spending hours and hours every day searching for a new job. I helped him search before the kids woke up and after they went down for naps. We worked with recruiting firms and friends to find new employment. In one word I would describe it all as exhausting.
2. The companies you pay your bills to are more willing to help if you ask. Within a week of being unemployed, I called all of the companies our bills were through, telling them our situation and asking what they could do. I was so grateful to find that every company I called was more than willing to help us. We switched phone plans, downgraded our cable, and canceled services. Suddenly our meager income was stretching a lot farther.
3. I didn’t miss luxuries nearly as much as I thought I would. Right after my husband lost his job, we declared a spending halt. We bought nothing unless it was absolutely necessary, and even then, we most often bought second-hand.
We re-discovered the value of family time and truly enjoyed spending it together. We made meals from scratch and had a new-found appreciation for the items we already had. Our lives became very simple and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
4. Meal planning and cooking from scratch saves a lot of money. This is something I’d known for a while, but I learned anew just how true it was while unemployed.
We had built up a nice food storage thanks to using coupons so I regularly assessed the items in our pantry and planned meals accordingly. We made our own bread and found joy in creating yummy treats ourselves.
I also got very creative in seeing how far some food items could stretch. A member of our church dropped off a whole ham one night and I stayed up late slicing and packaging it so as to use the entire thing. I even boiled the ham bone in soup! We were able to feed our family over 7 meals with that one ham!
5. Using less of everything really didn’t affect our way of life. And when I say everything, I mean everything! One of the areas we made a real effort to use less of was gas and electricity. We wore sweatshirts instead of adjusting the heater and used the warmth of the oven to heat the house after we baked something.
We were mindful of even the little things from the length of showers we took to how much shampoo we used. We turned our water heater down and adjusted our dishwasher to the lowest settings. As a result of changing our actions, we didn’t freeze, our clothes and dishes were still clean (as were we!), and we ended up shaving 25% off our utility bills!
6. We didn’t really need many of the items we already had. I regularly walked around the house assessing what our family could live without and I sold the items online. I sold books, clothes, and electronics. Anything we didn’t need that I thought might have value was suddenly on the market!
My husband scoured the garage and cashed in a load of scrap metal. I’d been couponing for years and had quite a supply, so I assembled coupons and sold them in groups. We spent $20 to cosmetically fix up an old car we’d had for years and hung the “For Sale” sign on it, unsure if we could even sell it in this economy. We sold it for our full asking price a month later.
Each time I sold something I’d calculate what bills that item could pay for or how long it would enable us to live in our house. Tens of dollars turned to hundreds, and hundreds turned to thousands. It was incredible and we felt so blessed.
7. Our trials give others the opportunity to serve. As difficult as it might be to be on the receiving end, it’s necessary at different times in our lives.
We saw the Lord’s hand in so many small acts of service given to us by neighbors and friends. People wrote us kind letters with thoughts of encouragement. Others sent small amounts of money anonymously. It was all very much appreciated and we are grateful for the services rendered.
After only a few months, my husband was able to find a new job–for which we are very thankful! The truly amazing thing is, due to the changes we
quickly made in our lives, not only did we not have to touch our
savings, but we added to it!
If I can pass on one piece of advice for others who find themselves suddenly unemployed it’s this: even in this economy, you have more influence on your personal and financial situations than you think. Never forget the power of prayer and hard work!
Jessica blogs about all the deals, steals, and freebies available in Utah at her blog Utah Deal Diva.
Excellent post. My husband lost his job more than 14 months ago, and while we’ve struggled to say the least, we’ve been able to pull through with a little help of our friends. And yes, prayer works!
Thank you for the inspiring account! I feel like with this mindset, we’ll be okay too, no matter what happens!
As a friend of Jessica’s, I knew her “inside story” already, but reading it this way, written from her heart and with some great advice thrown in, makes me realize just how much they went through last winter. The power of prayer is awesome. Thank you for sharing!
Great post – and kudos to you both for taking the bull by the horns and not sitting back playing the victim as so many are these days.
Beautifully written! Thanks for posting this.
During the dot com bust in 2001, I found myself unemloyed and looking for work. I had intended to go back to a similar job but found no opportunities. As things began to get bad I calculated on which day I would need to move out. I was on my knees praying when a Federal Express truck drove up and left me with a package. Inside, a job that I hadn’t remember applying for had a job offer. At first, it didn’t pay anywhere near the job I had left and I was hesitant to take it. It took some months for them to get back to me and once again I was praying on the day I would have to leave, when the phone rang and I was offered the job I still have today. What seemed like a small starting salary subsequently became much better than my last job. I thank God everyday that He cared so much for me that he did what He did.
What a great post!
My boyfriend (now fiancee!) and I found ourselves unemployed at the same time last summer. We made it through, and now have both been working in our new jobs for almost a year now, and are living in Houston together.
Also–scrap metaling is a great side stream of income. I wrote an article about it you can find on my website (or here: http://www.frugalconfessions.com/extra-cash/scrap-metaling-for-extra-cash.php
I know exactly what your thoughts were like. Sole bread winner, no-savings, etc. I’ve been unable to work for severel years due to an illness.Although couldnt get S.S because we were told he made too much $, now I dont qualify due to not working 5 out of the last 10 years,lol. My husband and I are currently going thru the worries of utility shut-offs and losing our home. Havent really been as fortunate as you yet so if the power of MULTIPLE prayers is better maybe you can take out a moment for us. Before this my husband was laid off 1 time in 27 yrs. so it is very hard for him, it has been SIX months. To the poster who is considering moving to Ohio, think hard that is where I live and after more than 300 resumes got 2 callbacks for jobs that cant pay you enough to live. Good luck all.
Sharon
Wonderful guest post! One of the best I’ve read in a very long time. Thanks for sharing.
Back to the basic.. what an unfortunate, yet wonderful, way to teach our children that less is more!
I think it so amazing how far food really can go if you stretch it and cook from scratch. We usually have so many leftovers, which translates into even more savings!
Thanks for your wonderful post. It is under similar conditions that I decided to start cutting costs and found moneysavingmom’s website. My mom was unemployed and got to the point where she would have gone into foreclosure if we didn’t step in and help her. Paying two mortgages ate into our ‘safety fund’ in a nerve-wracking way.
I decided that – sweaters were made for a reason and we turned down the heat to 64deg and made good use of them! (o: Found MSM and learned about couponning. It all adds up and definitely helps.
I liked your piece on liquidating the things in your home that you no longer use. I think this doesn’t occur to many people – there are certainly many venues available these days (craigslist, ebay, garage sale)
I am fortunate for this upsetting but inspiring change in my total outlook. We are now committed to paying off our mortgage in 10 years so that we may never face what my mom had to face.
Anyways, your post comes at a time for many that are facing these hardships. Thanks!
Emily
My husband was laid off in Novemeber 2008 and thankfully, we have had enough in savings that we are doing okay. It has always been his dream to own his own business, so we decided when he was laid off that if was a good time to start that. We had enough to fund the new business, plus a year of living expenses. I can’t speak highly enough of having savings. If we didn’t have that the experience of being unemployed would have been totally different in a negative way. I have to admit when we had that money in our savings would think at times how nice it would be to have a nicer house or nicer cars, but I can’t tell you what a huge blessing it is that we had it available to us. My advice it to save, save, save. You never know when or for what you will need it.
I really enojyed reading your post. My husband was unempolyed for about six months last year, and right before his benfits were about to ran out God provide him with a job. It pays alot less, but we have insurance and I still can stay at home with the kids. I will have to start subsuite teach after the end of the year, but I can chose which days I want, and I knw God will always provide and we need to trust him.
Wonderfully written post! Two years ago we started to see signs that my husband’s job could be in jeopardy (just due to overall contraction in the construction industry). I looked for part-time work as a CPA so that we had a bit of room to move and something to fall back on if need be. I started my job last June, working 2 days a week after being home with our four kids (the youngest is 2) for 10 years.
During the past year, we did not learn to live on our higher combined income, but continued to cut and purge ourselves of things we did not need. We paid cash to make important and well thought out improvements/repairs to our home and vehicles as necessary after making due as long as we could.
This past May my husband did lose his job. My work had been pushing for me to work full time, so I was able to go full time. Even though my full time pay did not kick in until 8 weeks later (due to our payroll lag), my benefits did right away and we tightened up even more and did not have to dip into our savings AT ALL – it was amazing.
Things are going so well, that I am cutting back to 32 hours a week because I miss being home more and we can afford it.
Who knows what lies ahead for any of us, but if you work hard and are prepared, often times you are ready when opportunity strikes. Sometimes it is still a hard road, but you have to do all you can for yourself.
Thanks so much for sharing! My husband and I went through a similar situation and it is amazing how God provides in ways you wouldn’t even imagine!
Absolutely a GREAT post! Thanks!
What an amazing and inspiring post, thank you for sharing! We have been living on one income for the past month and a half, and we too learned the lessons of “going without”. Now that we have a part time second income again, we are still living as though we are only on one income and that whole second paycheck is going straight into savings. It is a great peace of mind knowing that we can survive on just one income! Thanks for the great post!
It’s so true, unemployment really brings into perspective needs vs. wants. When my hub lost his job a couple years ago, we immediately put all spending on hold, ate all the food in the house, and prayed. We also of course, spent hours looking for and pursuing jobs. It brought our family closer together, and our neighbors out of the woodwork. People we had rarely talked to stopped by with Christmas gifts, food, etc. That was the best Christmas ever, as the Lord blessed us beyond measure. Now, we’re back to work, but never forget the lessons we learned that Christmas.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for not going the “woah is me” route with this situation. In your decision to not let life happen to you but to make the best of what you were handed, you have let God move in some mighty ways. I’ve found that when we sit around and mope, we’re not allowing Him to work. You are truly an inspiration! Thanks for sharing!
you know this type of story could also apply to alot of moms out there who feel they HAVE to work to keep themselves in this lifestyle when really alot of them CAN stay home with their kids if they use these ideas and work on their budgets etc, after a while the kids wont miss all the new stuff etc, a big thing in my area is garage sales, ive gotten my daughter her entire summer wardrobe including sneakers (real leather keds too) and a ton of new toys, books etc by hunting down these sales each week in the spring, probably for about 1/100th of what i would of spent in stores etc same with going to the thrift shops etc their not what they used to be their very nice some of them with designer labels going for a buck or two especially young teenage jeans like old navy the gap etc……….
Thanks for sharing about your experience and how the Lord blessed your efforts to stretch your finances. Your positive attitude through a difficult time is an encouragement and reminder to be thankful in all things.
The story made me want to cry! It also made me realize that I am so blessed and have so much, I feel selfish whining about stupid little things when I truly have so much, especially family and friends. Many blessings.
Wonderfully written! My husband just got laid off and the reality of the economy came right to our door. Thankfully, he was able to find (through prayer) a new job, but the pay is less. We thought we were already frugal, but are actually excited to learn new ways to cut our pennies. It’s our new adventure! I relate with so much of this article, and I was encouraged to read it today. Thank you.
AMAZING and INSPIRING
great post- very timely!
What a wonderful article! Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.
Thank you Jessica for sharing your inspirining story. May it encourage us all to higher heights.
That brought tears to my eyes!! Thank you for sharing your story. I think we can all learn something from living more simply, and you had some great ideas on how to begin!
I always enjoy the guest posts, but this one has really struck a cord with me. It is so inspiring and refreshing to see someone choose to not a victim in this economy. To make their own way and to actually prosper from it. What a blessing! My hope is that more and more people will start to see that most of us don’t need a bailout, we can do it on our own with a little bit of creativity and sacrifice. What a wonderful post!
Thanks so much for this motivating and touching post. I especially appreciated your point on how your trials gave others the opportunity to serve. At times, we have struggled with humility when receiving, even though we were overflowing with gratitude as well. I think that the perspective you shared is a wonderful example of that humility we continue to work for. As you have suggested, we have come to accept that there are many seasons in life, and we will someday have a greater capacity to help others.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. Both my husband and I are unemployed right now – and our days are filled with searching for jobs online, making phone calls, and generally fretting over our situation. I’ve started posting things online to sell through Craigslist, and am getting some results. That video card I don’t use will pay for 1/2 a month of internet service. My son’s old Leapster will pay the cell phone bill for a month.
You are right, it is hard work. My husband and I are trying to remain upbeat, but it isn’t easy. Thanks for your words. They helped me today. A lot. *hug*
This is a beautiful testimony. God’s still in control and has a plan for us and thank you for sharing your story. Very
practical–one of my favorite saying is 12 step , “suit up, show up, leave the results to God”. You demonstrated that
perfectly.
wow, moneysavingmom. i don’t always read the posts you put up from other people, sometimes, im just looking for the good deals with the only few minutes i try to be on the computer, but i read todays and WOW! what a great post! i know its a different author, but sheesh, im really glad to have read it even though my husband is promoting in this economy, we still can get back to the basics like this post! thanks!
Being a person who was just laid off and has decided to stay with my children, this post is SO uplifting! We just cut our income in less than half, now we don’t have to pay for childcare, but it is still hard. To see someone who took a situation much worse than ours and prevailed it is amazing! WOW!! This is such an inspiration.
Think of the environmental impact if we all lived like we didn’t have a job. How much more likely would we be to turn off the lights, turn the heat down, make do, reuse, reduce? Maybe the silver lining in all of this economic hardship will be a healthier planet. Good for you for doing with less… we ALL can stand to do that!
inspiring
This was an amazing guest post. Thanks so much! MY husband’s work seems like it is about to go under, and we’ve been worrying ourselves sick about what we’ll do if that happens… This gives me some hope!
How inspirational, for others of us struggling financially! I have said that as long as money is our biggest problem, we are doing really good! God has blessed my husband and I with a beautiful daughter and wonderful tightknit family! Those are the things that really matter, and we got lost sometimes in what we “need”. Thank you for this story, it just reminds me how much I have, and how much of it I don’t need!
God bless you and your family, as he already has!
Truly inspiring! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your story!!!
Wow… Truly inspirational. God is so good! Thank you for sharing!
What a wonderfully written story, with a great piece of advice for us all. Thanks.
I agree about the power of prayer. There is no substitute. I just did something today for myself that I felt God was impressing upon me. It lifted a load off my shoulders and felt freeing. While this is about a personal relationship with my sister in law and not finance-related, it was on my mind for TWO YEARS. God makes all things possible, things you swore were not can be done with the grace of God.
Thank you for this post. My husband, also, just found himself unemployed and I am a stay at home mom. We live in a county that due to job cuts is at 32% unemployment. NO ONE is hiring. We have been sending out resumes, calling, going to businesses to see people. Between the two of us we have sent out over 200 resumes. We have sold almost everything we have to sell- including couches, bedding, clothes, etc. We live in a manufactured home community so there really isn’t room to miss lot rent, but when you have 0 money there really isn’t a way to pay it either.
Right now we are a week- two weeks away from packing up everything we can and driving from FL to OH to stay with in-laws just so we can have a roof over our heads.
This is the absolute worst. I keep telling myself and my husband every day “this too shall pass” and we will be stronger for it.