Tough Economic Times!

When these tough economic times started, my sweetie and I were not affected at all. Recently. his company just did some restructuring and his dept wasn't supposed to be affected. Now his boss is urging him to move (1500miles away!) and take a job at head office...which means there will be massive layoffs at the management level all around the country. He panicked as he earns a really good living and to be cut off from that would be VERY hard. He said he doesn't want to move, so I told him to say no to the job, offer some other solutions and see what comes of it. Worst case scenario, he leaves with 6 months severance pay but jobs in our city are scarce and at his level he'd have to take a major paycut if he got another job. It's kind of scary. I told him not to worry as I didn't have a  bad feeling about it. He is one of those people that is really hard working, extremely brilliant (high IQ!!) and people just love him! I don't foresee a problem with him getting a job or asking them to keep him here perhaps taking a paycut if needed.

On the bright side, the place where I am currently doing temp work wants me to work more hours so I can have enough work days accumulated so they can hire me on for a few months with a REAL salary (not the bad hourly wage temp agencies give).  (I need 60 days for the temp agency to be able to release me without the company i am working for to be penalized). What all this means, is by mid-Feb I will be making almost double what I am making now!!! The contract might last about 4-6 months so if things do go wrong, I can support us with my fancy government salary for awhile! woohoo!

We also have insurance with our mortgage and credit card company, so if he loses his job we won't need to pay our cards or mortgage (I think it's up to a year). So the security is nice, knowing we won't lose anything.

To be on the safe side, I am going to stock up on staple items and household goods (there are TONS of sales right now) this weekend. I told my sweetie not to worry, that my frugal ways will make him feel like we're living a life of luxury..haha (ya right!) We don't have cable though we do have satellite radio which might have to go....let's hope nothing drastic happens but I am anticipating the worst and planning for it just in case.

I wanted to put my creativity to use for earning money, and since my zine sales have gone down after the holidays, I had to think of something good I could sell that would be cheap to send. I bought a bottle of potent pheromones on ebay and will be making small vials with them blended with some oils to sell as Valentine's Gifts. I'll just charge $3 or something so people can afford it and be able to give something fun! I should be getting it next week and will start production. I just received a bunch of essential oils and fragrances so I will use those as well!

Now I have to rethink my mom's valentine's gift. I was going to send her a dozen roses ($40 incl tax & delivery on flowerscanada.com) but now I have to scale it down. I decided to make some candles instead and will go to the grocery store to get some $8 tulips and will courrier them (I get 75% off next day courrier stuff). This might cost me $15 altogether. :)

Almost time for lunch. I forgot to bring my lunch again today! (duh!). I guess it's back to the $3 indian place!

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My hubby was also offered a job elsewhere - but without any extra $ or relocation expenses - Let's not forget that moving costs $ - Rent deposits/phone/utilities and so on - so that all has to be factored in, too - And can you find as good a deal for where you will live as you have now? Food for thought...Glad that things are picking up on your side of the financial aisle...

I think his relocation would be paid for, but the other city is ALOT more expensive and our quality of life would decrease with travelling time and bad city air. We'd give up a 5 bedroom house for a 1 bdr condo. No thanks! I like my garden :) We decided to stay put and cross our fingers. He has a high end job so it was recommended to go to a head hunter for him to find work if he gets laid off.

I retired years ago, and went from $600 a week, to $290 a week. I first got rid of all, ALL of my credit cards, and use only my Debit/Credit card for all purchases. It took me a year to get over i had no money to spend freely.
Now, with a wee bit more weekly income... I have settled in to not eating out very often, perhaps once or twice a week.
I live alone, so cooking is fun, and I can fix what I want to eat when I want it. I buy at the farmer's market and frozen at the market. I am not a meat eater but I do eat fish, and I get my fish at Trader Joe's... it is good and not expensive.
Any single person can do what i want. I save enough to buy my daughter a twin stroller for her new additions to her family, two high chairs, and I didn't charge anything. I drive an older car, insurance is quite cheap and it is mechanically sound, so it doesn't require too much gas, and I change my own oil and oil filters.
After living in a big city and spending lots of money on food and drink, now I have learned how to live the easy life. I have no bills except for monthly living expenses.
YOU CAN DO IT!!! i did, and never thought I could!
Enjoy. i do shop the 99 cent store, and Target.

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