I discovered something good and uplifting yesterday when I called to check on my unemployment filling status. Apparently, while I wasn’t looking, I was approved to receive unemployment benefits! It’s not a cure all for my current lack of employment; I only have six months worth of benefits before I stop receiving any money, and even during those six months, I’m getting less than I would from working full time at my previous position. But still, it gives me several months where I don’t have to worry about tapping my investments or spending absolutely nothing in order to make ends meet.
All of that said, however, my new good fortune is not reflected in this week’s net worth update; the earliest I think I will get the money is on Monday. I’m trying not to count my chickens before they hatch, as far as unemployment benefits are concerned, since this whole ordeal has taught me that forces beyond my control can drastically affect how much I can get in terms of benefits. Better to treat it as money I’m likely to get rather than money I already have. On that cheery note, let’s go to the tape to see where exactly my finances stand:
So, not too bad; I managed to keep my spending to a minimum (helped by a storm that’s kept me home-bound most of this week), and my investments didn’t do half bad. If I can keep my spending low, I should be able to start putting money away again when (or if) I start to get unemployment benefits again, which will be a nice change from recent days.
- Your Mind and Your Money: Hyperbolic Discounting
- Unemployment 103: Beating Job Hunting Fatigue
- Net Worth Update: March 2010
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Lulu
on January 5 2010
Well congrats on getting approved. Like you said it is not much but it is better than having to eat your fingernails while you look for a job.
The job market is VERY tough still…..are you holding out for the job you really want or will you do part time stuff like retail or substitute teaching in the meantime?
Lulu´s last blog ..testing schedule 5/1/09
Financial Samurai
on January 5 2010
Good stuff Rog! The best stuff happens when one isn’t looking! HNY!
Roger
on January 7 2010
Thank you both. Lulu, I’ve been considering finding a part time job, but even those are in short supply; my fiancee is working at Wal-Mart while she goes to school, and she tells me that even they aren’t hiring at the moment. Finding something even semi-decent is going to be a chore (especially when my attention is also focused on getting a permanent job, spending time with my fiancee, etc.)
And yup, that’s the way it works, isn’t it, FS?