It's been a week! M got laid off a week or so ago, and we're still trying to figure that out. He has 8 weeks to job search internally, and if he doesn't find something within that time, he gets a severance. He would prefer to stay where he is, as he has quite a bit of stock still available to vest.
In the meantime, I've been much more aggressively job searching. Financially, we can weather quite a storm, but we absolutely need health insurance. I need to start considering doing regular infusions, and those are crazy pricey. So, that's been taking up the majority of my time.
Nick & I had a great trip to Colorado, and he absolutely loves Boulder. So, that remains a top choice, while we wait for the final schools to trickle in. He is likely to have a decision in the next few weeks, which will be really helpful as we lock in our college payment plans, as well as travel, schedule, calendars, orientation, etc.
On the frugal side, I've been doing the basics:
- (Mostly) eating at home, although ate out with Nick in Colorado, and then again with a soccer mom group I put together a few weeks ago.
- Eating from the freezer.
- Made smoothies a few days when lunch didn't sound great. I'm *still* getting over some sort of chest congestion thing, which seems like it's come & gone a few times. It's a very unwelcome guest at this point.
- M drove us to & from the airport, to save on transportation.
- I've done a few surveys here & there, to earn a little bit more.
I'm so sorry for M and your family. I'll send any good energy your way. My son has kept to piecing work together, not much in his industry for regular positions. Like you, but also as he has no housing costs, he can wait out this slow period too. I feel bad for restaurants because I don't know a soul who hasn't decreased their eating out or take out and that's my aim too.
ReplyDeleteIt's really hard for everyone, and I definitely envision it getting worse before it gets better, particularly as federal employees become unemployed & start job searching as well. Your son is so lucky to have you as an option, to give him a chance to ride this out. (HP)
DeleteI am sorry to hear about M's job. I know y'all do not need that stress right now.
ReplyDeleteWishing both of you the best of luck with your searches.
Thank you! I appreciate that. (HP)
DeleteI'm sorry to hear about M and the layoff. Hopefully the job search isn't too long for either of you now.
ReplyDeleteThank you! He's got lots of internal interviews, so hopefully one of those pans out. I've also got a few interviews, so fingers crossed. (HP)
DeleteBest of luck to M on his job hunt. Hopefully something internal comes up for him. Fingers Crossed!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! (HP)
DeleteMy advice. As soon as Nick enters college - DOWNSIZE to a condo which is quite big enough for the two of you. You don't need a large house, just as you did not need to own a vacation property. The funds from the house sale will provide security. Roderick
ReplyDeleteAll options are on the table, Roderick. It's interesting to me that you never choose to engage on any posts aside from with criticism. You've never added a positive comment (as far as I can remember) & you love to bring up our vacation house. :-) Some might consider you a troll. If you are, in fact, not a troll, you might want to ask yourself how your comments are being viewed & why your comments are interpreted in that way. Food for thought for you. (Hawaii Planner)
DeleteOh! my! Temper! Temper! I know that this is a very stressful time for you and so I make allowances. I know my style is direct and even blunt but, if in blog land good advice can only be offered when coated in sweetness, it is a sad comment on the medium. As to my being a troll, don't make me laugh. Your obsession with finding quarters stopped and your sold the vacation property. Be grateful to me. Roderick
DeleteOh my goodness, Roderick. This really made me laugh! And yes, definitely think you're a troll now. (HP)
DeleteRoderick, you can say things nicely without being ugly. If not, then for God’s sake be quiet! Both have lost their jobs just as their kids are going to college and she has serious health issues. I don’t know if you are a troll but you are definitely a jackazz! Cindy in the South
DeleteHP Stay Strong as you will always come out on top against a troll like Roderick. Commenters like this are just looking for attention and love to hear themselves talk. Best of Luck to you family. You all strike me as one of the smartest and hardest working bloggers that I follow so I know that you will figure it out and come out on top.
DeleteOh my scary. You might consider one of you working for a state job even though the pay is low as the insurance is good and those infusions will likely not be covered by any private insurance you buy. Trust me I know this. They just will not pay. If you consider the 5-7 thousand and infusion costs, taking a lower somewhat demeaning job could be the answer. Dang this is so hard. But you two are talented so I do believe something will come up! Think positive.
ReplyDeleteBoth of us are totally open to taking a job for largely insurance purposes, if it comes to that. I have an interview next week, and M has been having lots of interviews, so fingers crossed there. Healthcare in this country is so deeply broken, but here we are. (HP)
DeleteI am so sorry to read about M and the job loss. I so hope that he and you find something very soon. This is really scary times for both our countries.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thanks, Jackie. I'm with you, it's a very scary time right now. - HP
DeleteI am so so sorry about M’s job, and yes, I totally understand about the need for insurance. I had the same situation during The Great Recession and had to move almost three hours away and take much less pay for a state job with insurance. In retrospect, I am glad I did because I have a pension. My point is that you will bounce back in one way or another, and maybe in a way you didn’t even envision because I certainly didn’t see the new job coming.
ReplyDeleteIt is unnerving while you are in the middle of the storm though. My prayers and good thoughts are with y’all. Virtual hugs. Cindy in the South
I appreciate that, Cindy. Thank you! A few of the jobs I've applied for are not local, so we will see what works out. That said, the jobs M is looking at require us to stay put, so it's a bit of a waiting game as we wait to see who gets the first job. If M got a job, we would prioritize that, given his stock equity would add a lot more value to any potential offer. - HP
DeleteScary! Like you, we could weather quite the storm, with the exception of health insurance. We are still on DH’s family plan(he is on Medicare), but, as I was in a career where you could work anywhere, anytime, I considered it many times if only for health insurance.
ReplyDeleteIt’s Friday evening, candle lighting time, so I will send good thoughts south when I light them! I am sure something will turn up soon!
-Meg B.
Thanks, Meg! It's really the insurance that's the challenge. The rest is good & we could get really creative. Appreciate thinking of me during the candle lighting! - HP
DeleteBreathe - scary times to be sure a year worked in this valley when Lockheed was the major employer When they laid off25,000 people is was scary. We were lucky and relocated to Vandenberg I predict M will get a new position at current company Vesting the stock is critical. But this could also be an opportunity for him to join a start up Either way you’ve got each others and the boys have their college expenses mostly secure. Take it from me-you are going to be fine. Maybe take a walk together around the block after dinner just to de-stress. One last thing I do t think Roderick is trolling you. I think people might be a little jealous that you were able to buy your house so quickly. DO NOT sell in a panic. You would hate a condo. Trust the process and focus on the family. You’re the Wife and Mom so keep everyone calm and centered- will be thinking of you on my walk this morning - I’m going to tackle a trail up lack Mountain. Peace
ReplyDeleteHP I do somewhat agree with the commenter above about the condo. I own two in a large university town. The pros are that I was able to purchase them cheaper than a house and they make sense for a university town. Also, I don’t have to take care of maintenance outside. The insurance is also cheaper. The cons though is that although one is in an upper scale neighborhood, and is geared primarily for visiting professors and grad students in a gated complex with lots of amenities, it is still a glorified apartment in my view, which means wall noise. It is on the middle floor. I also think if a tornado trashed the complex I might have issues with my good insurance, even with additional umbrella ins. You would have to make sure the condo building meets current earthquake codes where you live and I think , if you decided to move later from the condo, your location is not very landlord friendly so it would probably make sense to sell it. You would also need to make sure the condo assn had adequate insurance and good mgt bc I do have issues with one of the condos regarding outside repairs. Also, the condo HOA goes up every single year,, as least at my condos, and you would need to make sure it has the necessary reserves for things like roof repairs, major plumbing issues, etc. I am sure you know all of this but just confirming from an actual condo owner the pluses and the minuses. For a personal residence, I would say a smaller cheaper house would be my preference, depending on health issues regarding ability to have outside repairs done, or if I felt well enough to do them. Since the kids are graduating, depending on the job market, you might move somewhere in a cheaper area of the country, and/or closer to family. If you do that I would also suggest a one story house bc I have reached Medicare age and as we age, stairs are not our friend. My personal observations, as always, and they could be totally wrong for your situation. Virtual hugs. Cindy in the South
DeleteWe've tossed around a condo idea, Cindy, and I recently had a job discussion that would likely involve a move back to Seattle. In that case, we would definitely do a condo (rent or buy, depending on timing). At this point, we're at the point where we likely will prioritize having a safe landing space for the teens, while they are back & forth between college & breaks & summer jobs, etc. I think the next 2-3 years might change that, as they will likely work in their college town, etc, and come "home" less often. I love all of the ideas, not offended at all. Except for the ones who sound like a snarky bot wrote them ;-) - HP
DeleteThanks, Anonymous. I also think Roderick is a troll. ;-) I don't mind people giving advice or constructive feedback, but it's always a little telling when the person is only ever responding to the downs & never the ups, or even just the general daily blog posting about menu plans, or frugal wins, or whatever. Otherwise, it comes across a bit like they enjoy the down moments. Whatever floats their boats, I suppose. I never want to be a person who relishes when someone else is going through a hard time.
DeleteI appreciate you putting good thoughts out into the universe. I also took a gorgeous walk up a big hill & was thinking about your comment. - HP
Nothing major to report here. I'm so sorry that M got laid off, but it's nice of them to let him look internally for 8 weeks. Best wishes to both of you as you search for new jobs. I am LOL at Cindy in the Souths comment to Roderick. hehehe
ReplyDeleteI know, Cindy cracked me up as well. - HP
DeleteOh, no! I am so sorry about the lay off! I'll certainly be praying he can find another position internally. I can certainly understand your insurance predicament. I will never understand why healthcare has to be so outrageous here. I'm praying and sending good vibes your way!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mandy. I appreciate that! - HP
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