Hi all,
Can y’all offer a quick prayer or two for my family? My husband was unexpectedly laid off a little over two weeks ago. Our health insurance ran out on Tuesday, but we have signed up for COBRA (which is wicked expensive) and are waiting on that to kick in. We just found out today that our entire upstairs shower has to be ripped out, mold remediated and replaced. Homeowners will cover some, but it’s a $500 deductible, and likely a $5-$10k job. We will have to camp in the kids shower for the duration. (YAY!) Severance was a lump sum payment, but has been taxed heavily. With that, unemployment benefits and anything else we can scratch up, minus our mortgage and expenses, we have about 8 weeks until we’re basically broke. No idea how we’re going to be able to afford the shower replacement, if at all. We may just be down a shower until my husband finds a new job.
We don’t have any debt except the mortgage and our extra expenses have been put on lock down. (Christmas is going to be sweet and far less material than previous years, even though we aren’t a big gift-giving family to begin with.) All our next-grade-level MP curriculum has been purchased, along with used read alouds from Amazon. The kids have clothes (thank you, WalMart) and we’re psychologically attuned for frugality. Both my husband and I came up fending for ourselves, and we both moved out as soon as we were able. So we’re acquainted with budgeting and poverty (he: ramen, me: vegetarianism). Our kids don’t know Daddy’s unemployed, they just think he’s on vacation. Schooling continues, as do regular activities (excepting Friday night delivery pizza — that gets made from scratch now). We have consulted a lawyer regarding all the severance legalities and my husband has so many business contacts and possibilities. His skills are in demand, even though we do not have anything firm in hand yet.
So we’re in pretty good shape. I’d still appreciate the prayers, though. We are heading in to the holidays and this is typically the time of year when companies are looking at third quarter earnings and readying to make their numbers for the year. Hiring might be nonexistent — or up for the holidays and then down at New Years. The housing market is not great this time of year either, even though we live in a desirable neighborhood in a lovely area. I’m not worried about being broke, having to live in an apartment, or having to move. I know those are more than likely just temporary realities. I really just don’t want to go through a foreclosure. That would be ... bad. (I can’t think of another word.)
Our collective attitude is pretty upbeat. We always land on our feet. But this is the first time in either my husband’s or my working careers that either of us have been laid off. It’s sort of strange territory. I am not in a position to get a part time job. I am a full time mom and educator. The cost of childcare would offset any part time gig (around here — that would be Walgreens, WalMart or waiting tables) to the point of pointlessness.
So... prayers? Thanks, y’all. And please, please, please feel free to add your own prayer requests to this thread. I don’t mind at all! I know other families struggle with much greater challenges.
Love to all,
Anita
Can y’all offer a quick prayer or two for my family? My husband was unexpectedly laid off a little over two weeks ago. Our health insurance ran out on Tuesday, but we have signed up for COBRA (which is wicked expensive) and are waiting on that to kick in. We just found out today that our entire upstairs shower has to be ripped out, mold remediated and replaced. Homeowners will cover some, but it’s a $500 deductible, and likely a $5-$10k job. We will have to camp in the kids shower for the duration. (YAY!) Severance was a lump sum payment, but has been taxed heavily. With that, unemployment benefits and anything else we can scratch up, minus our mortgage and expenses, we have about 8 weeks until we’re basically broke. No idea how we’re going to be able to afford the shower replacement, if at all. We may just be down a shower until my husband finds a new job.
We don’t have any debt except the mortgage and our extra expenses have been put on lock down. (Christmas is going to be sweet and far less material than previous years, even though we aren’t a big gift-giving family to begin with.) All our next-grade-level MP curriculum has been purchased, along with used read alouds from Amazon. The kids have clothes (thank you, WalMart) and we’re psychologically attuned for frugality. Both my husband and I came up fending for ourselves, and we both moved out as soon as we were able. So we’re acquainted with budgeting and poverty (he: ramen, me: vegetarianism). Our kids don’t know Daddy’s unemployed, they just think he’s on vacation. Schooling continues, as do regular activities (excepting Friday night delivery pizza — that gets made from scratch now). We have consulted a lawyer regarding all the severance legalities and my husband has so many business contacts and possibilities. His skills are in demand, even though we do not have anything firm in hand yet.
So we’re in pretty good shape. I’d still appreciate the prayers, though. We are heading in to the holidays and this is typically the time of year when companies are looking at third quarter earnings and readying to make their numbers for the year. Hiring might be nonexistent — or up for the holidays and then down at New Years. The housing market is not great this time of year either, even though we live in a desirable neighborhood in a lovely area. I’m not worried about being broke, having to live in an apartment, or having to move. I know those are more than likely just temporary realities. I really just don’t want to go through a foreclosure. That would be ... bad. (I can’t think of another word.)
Our collective attitude is pretty upbeat. We always land on our feet. But this is the first time in either my husband’s or my working careers that either of us have been laid off. It’s sort of strange territory. I am not in a position to get a part time job. I am a full time mom and educator. The cost of childcare would offset any part time gig (around here — that would be Walgreens, WalMart or waiting tables) to the point of pointlessness.
So... prayers? Thanks, y’all. And please, please, please feel free to add your own prayer requests to this thread. I don’t mind at all! I know other families struggle with much greater challenges.
Love to all,
Anita
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