Losing Your Job: What Now?
It seems like almost everyone I know has had a season in their life when they have experienced being unemployed. It is not an easy thing to go through but it can be a time for a family to grow closer together. My husband is a full time
- Sign up for Food Stamps right away. (
Use Google to locate your program by state.) It could take up to 30 days to get these but they will give you some of the month before. - Check to see if you have a local food pantry. (
Google your town, such as Dallas Food Pantry). - Sign up for Energy Assistance.
- Sign up for WIC if you have children under the age of 5. (This will get you free milk and other products.)
- You might be able to find housing assistance to help you with your rent for a month.
- Check to see if you qualify for Unemployment checks.
- Take a financial inventory. Make sure you have a budget written out and try to cut corners.
Do you have any other tips to share?
I have three Jimmy Dean Sausage coupons ($7.99 value) to mail out to three separate readers compliments of Jimmy Dean. If your family is unemployed just leave a comment letting me know and I will send you one.
09 Aug 10
Thanks for posting this! My husband lost his job in April and we are now in a big financial mess. After our house and what to do with it, we are trying to figure out what to do for medical insurance. I work but it’s not near enough to cover our expenses and insurance through my employer is $888/month which is a huge chunk of my paycheck so it isn’t an option. I love your blog because it helps me find the best deals!
09 Aug 10
Interesting that you wrote this, I was going to suggest something like this when I saw you the other day.
Here are a few of my personal tips-
keep a pad in your car to write down the local gas stations that tend to have cheaper gas prices- then try and do all your errands at once so that you don’t waste gas.
Salvation Army and Goodwill make great spots for back to school, I also find “treasures” that we need in the house all the time. On Wed here is Family Day at Salvation Army so everything is half off. I find designer everything for the kids all the time.
BJ’s takes coupons so when you combine them with your groceries and the coupons that BJ’s offers in the Mail/at the door AND food stamps- the savings allows you to pay for non food items. IE- if you have $5 in coupons and buy $6 in toilet paper, you only owe $1 at the register.
Most major grocers have a seconds shelf, either dented cans, day old bread or turning produce. You can save a LOT of money by shopping these areas first before the rest of your shopping.
Give to get- I have found through these last 2YEARS of unemployment that the more I offer to help out a friend, the more they will help me. I have babysat for them in exchange for unused gift cards, I have cleaned house for them in exchange for them putting my electric bill on a credit card and I have volunteered for sports programs in exchange for scholarshiped registration fees.
ASK FOR HELP- really, if you need help with a school field trip, ask, if you need help with registration fees, ask, if you need some quick cash work, ask….. you never know what you will find.
Register for Freecycle in your area. Google it- our local one is via Yahoo groups. It is a free exchange where people put out things they are giving away for free and you can do the same. I have been able to get kids clothing, firewood and other random things that we have needed on this site. You have to give something as well- rather than throwing away, put it out there to givce to someone.
There are also barter groups (sometimes you can find this on Craigslist.org) They are very helpfull when you need to pay for sercices when you can barter something instead.
If I think of more, Ill let you know Lori-
09 Aug 10
I would suggest looking into the Angel Food Ministries (www.angelfoodministries.com). They provide low cost food through their Non-Profit organization. You can order online or through a local site across 44 states and then pick up your food at your chosen site. You purchase the Signature Box for $30.00 which contains enough food to feed a family of four for a week along with a dozen eggs and milk. You can then add on boxes such as a grill box with steaks and/or hamburger patties, a fruit and veggie box, after school boxes with great and easy snacks for the kids, and more. It’s a great program providing a great services.
Use coupon code ComeBacktoAFM15 for 15% off your online order.
09 Aug 10
I’m on disablity right now going through chemo. I’ve never been on any kind of assistance in my life. Raised two children mostly on my own. So I know how to work hard.
09 Aug 10
Thank you so much. Life is just so much more difficult when you are unemployed. You are indeed a blessing.