Plan B – What will you do when the unemployment checks stop coming?
If I can't find a job before my unemployment benefits run out, i'll need a shirt like this.
In the past year congress extended unemployment benefits twice. Now we can all live meagerly, for as many as fifty-nine weeks while we look for a new job. I consider 59 weeks of unemployment to be pretty generous, actually. Under most conditions anyone should be able to find a new job in a year, right? But with layoffs increasing by hundreds and hundreds of thousands each month, it’s not a surprise that many people are having a tough time finding their next paycheck before their benefits dry up. And since the U.S. has lost 5.1 million jobs since the recession officially began in December of 2007, many people have remained unemployed far beyond their 59 weeks of unemployment checks. In fact some estimate that 700,000 people will have exhausted their benefits by the second half of this year.
So here we are – the broke, the downtrodden, the wretched. Scratching and clawing at job boards, networking like rabid dogs and ‘trying to squeeze a dime out of a nickel when we haven’t got a cent.’ At the end of each long week, dozens more resumes have been sent out without as much as a phone interview while you’re one more week closer to the end of your unemployment. So what’s your next move? What’s plan B?
That’s the question I’d like to put to our readers. What do you think you will do when you reach the end of your lifeline? How will you get by then? Will you move back in with Mom and Dad? How creative or industurios can you be when you run out of other options? Will you go back to the land, or take the most basic of jobs? What would you do? What will you do?
We at the Unemploymentality would love to hear your answers or anything else you’d like to add to this conversation. Share in the comments section or email us pictures, videos and/or stories that tell us something about your plan B. Don’t be shy – we’ll still respect you in the morning.
And remember – just because you’ve got a job, doesn’t mean you can’t have an unemploymentality – so don’t be afraid to join the conversation if you earn a paycheck.
People are already stressed and running out of money and options. When Unemployment runs out, there could be runs on the banks, just like in the Major Depression of 1929.
By runs on banks, maybe people will have to resort to extreme measures to make a living.
I am by no means advocating criminal activity, but for some people they are at the end of their rope when it comes to getting a job and keeping it.
1 in 10 Americans are Unemployed, not counting those who are part-time or less Employed, 25 MILLION Americans are FIGHTING for their SURVIVAL.
What is a shame is that No one in our Government seems too concerned about solving this problem and putting an end to it.
True our Nation is in Debt, but if we can’t get out of debt then everyone is on a Sinking Titanic headed for Disaster.
DEAR SANTA,
All I want for Christmas is a JOB! Both my husband and I are out of work over one year after being layed off from the same company. My benefits for unemployment end next week with no more extensions. My husband will try to keep paying the mortgage and other expenses and I will begin attacking my savings to keep us afloat. This past year we lost our jobs and I lost both my mother and father to the horrible illness of cancer and my husband’s father died suddenly at a young age as well. I foresee losing our home if we do not find work and cannot keep things afloat. I myself have always worked hard running my own business for 17 years after closing it, 3 years ago. Nobody is responding to online applications or dropped off resumes. This year, it’s beginning to look a lot like…
losing hope.
My unemployment ran out on 11/6 at the 99 week mark. I am over 40, so apparently I have a better chance of being hit by a bus than getting hired again. I could not even get a holiday job!
My guess is that if a Tier V is not passed, millions of people will simply STOP PAYING THE BILLS. We will go bankrupt. This in turn will hurt the financial institutions who caused this whole ‘friggin mess.
I figure I can survive about another two months (due to some money my mom gave me). I do not qualify for any welfare, food stamps, or LiHeap, because of the unemployment money (go figure!) so once that money is gone, so will everything else and I will be on the street.
What are we supposed to do? This is the US and it is going down the toilet? I am not ok with this at all. UGH. I recently lost my job and will get unemployment, but what happens after the fact? There are no jobs out there and my mortgage is way higher then what I will be getting on unemployment. Yikes. I am scared of what is to come. What do people do? What are people going to do? You know what I mean? I am so scared………………..I don’t want to end up homeless or in any bad circumstances. I’m confused as to what to do. I can’t even give any good advice since so many people are in the same boat. Please any advice would be welcome. I’m open to suggestions. I think it is good people can post on sites like this
Hi All,
On a horrible period like this the endless tries and effort for a job sometimes become life thretning. But lets be awaked and open our eyes little more beyond the US borders, there is a much beger human inhabited world beyond the US fence!
I got to hear a wonderful storey happened to a friend of mine recently., He got layed off an year and half ago and his wife also got layed off. Both did have better paid jobs and had 3 kids to feed and educate. They did a smart move and it brought fortune for them.
I will bring point by point of their masterplan to survive.
1. Searched economic opportunity around the world as they were sure that US economy will takle another atleast10 years to comeback to where it was which you cannot afford with your short life span. There are many countries where the economy is booming right now, we dont consider this and we stick into odd plan with drying out unemployment until a child die with hunger. Consider the people come here from other countries for work and being winners in the strange land and language. so why cant americans do the same?
2. Their chois was ‘Sri Lanka’ for several reasons
a. After 30 years of war everything is booming
b. Stable political erena and 8.0% growing economy with best asian share market
c. Most potential location next to bussiest sea rout which it will become next singapor
d. Very low living cost
e. less than 4% unemployment and they are predicting a manpower shortage in future
f. Best tourist destination prescribed by national geogrophy and Times mag.
g. Free education for your kids , free universities as well, british exams followed
h. Free health care for all, private hospitals for low paid but best facilities.
i. Everywhere you go exotic food and places, beaches.
j. 2600 years old living history and culture, runied kingdoms
k. Tropical rain forests with lepords, Asian elephants, deers, bears
l. Lush green tea plantaions on mountains after just 3 hour drive to inland from any beach
the size is 1/3 rd of california, little bigger than west Verginia
m. House rents are low, 4 bed house in the capital city Colombo with a 1/4 Acre land- $500
or you can buy as my friends did, same house for $ 100,000
Well they dont have football or baseball, but famous for Cricket ! having won the 2006 world cup and runners up in 2007 and 11 – cricket crazy nation
my friends doughter got her masters in Electronic Engineering just for $ 1000 in their best University recognized by many europian countries..
So why dont you guys try out a chance than dying here on streets for food..!