Financial Management in Marriage

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joanna on November 2, 2009 at 11:05am

Hi Dawn,
The economy right now is still very weak so I bet it is tough to find jobs these days. Have you look into finding some job agency to help you find a job? I think during these tough times, even finding a part time job or contract positions may help get you into the door and start gaining some more work experience. Usually, a job agency get commission but at least they have more job contacts and that can increase your chances.
Also, if you don't mind, I can help review your resume and see if there is anything to be added or modified in describing your previous job.. I don't know if this helps but I will try...
Joanna


Dawn DeMarco said:

The job search is going nowhere. No one is hiring me, because I have no experience, and no one is hiring Joe either because of lack of experience, lack of smarts, or overqualified. I am in no field. I have had one job in my entire life and I was paid under the table (which is why I can't sue him for not paying me...long story..ish) and the business fell through within 3 months after I began working there. The job was electronic recycling company which I can't find another one hiring. His field is cars and computers; mostly computers. No one is hiring him either. My problem is I literally cannot work with food, which is pretty much the only thing hiring. I can't work with food because it makes me sick (the smells.. yeah I'm allergic to smells of all things and that includes food scented candles, ivory soap, generic fragrances, the Suave waterfall scent, etc). That kind of hinders me but I can't help it. Even Wal Mart wouldn't hire me.

Joanna said:

Hi Dawn,
Thanks for sharing... Given the situation, I think the best thing is hopefully find a better job for both you and your husband... So how is job search going? Any progress? Which field are you guys in?

Joanna

Dawn DeMarco said:

We have cut back a lot. It doesn't help that most of our left over money goes directly to food, because we are so scared to starve for a week. It's happened more than once and that gets hard. Luckily, we are blessed in small amounts and are able to eat at least once a day. I'm so used to it, that's all I eat anyway so things will last longer. Probably not the healthiest thing to do, but it works. His phone bill is the second highest bill, and we're trying to get that fixed. He went with a smart phone when he went to college the first time but realized the data plan could not be removed a little too late. It didn't help that Alltel/Verizon have been giving him nothing but runarounds and lies. They told him that he could switch over for free in October, but then told him it would be extra. The lady on the phone said it would be billed, but the guy at the counter said upfront. We didn't have it, so we're stuck with a $125 or so bill. That's not on our top priority list to pay. We try to get cheap food that will last longer, and I am proud of him for turning down cookies that were on sale (like homemade, and he loves to cook). I will check out the recipes and see what we can do. Sorry for being so long winded; I'm just trying to answer all the questions. Oh, and no we can't move. It's actually the cheapest place for lot rent for what and where it is. It helps to be right across from where he works, so that saves on gas (he walks). It's also pretty centrally located, and he is going back to school out here online (for now). And of course, we don't have the money to move. As for the job thing, we are both looking. The place he works is being extremely stupid and they "don't want to lose him up front" even for a higher paying position in the back.

Joanna said:

Hi Dawn,
In this situation, I would think first about cutting back. I would pick the biggest expense item I can save money on and make a change in that area. For example, rent may account for the biggest monthly expense and if possible, I would start there and find a cheaper place. If that is not possible, then I would save on the next biggest expense. This is because saving a little probably wouldn't help but saving at the biggest expense may make a big difference. In addition, I would also think about how to make more and really find a job or a better job aggressively. Only increasing income can eventually improve the financial situation...
Hope it helps and let us know how it goes...
Joanna

Dawn DeMarco said:

My question is if the husband is the only one working (not for lack of trying) but the bills take out everything but $70 that has to last for two weeks. It's hard to make that money last that long, and we're trying to figure out what we can cut and sacrifice, but he's a big guy... He eats a lot (and he's a compulsive eater, so that doesn't help any) We try to budget but we already starve for a week as it is. And without gas in the car, if I do get an interview, I can't get to it. So... any suggestions?

Permalink Reply by Dawn DeMarco on November 2, 2009 at 5:14pm

deleted the quotes; they were getting quite long.

my husband's step mom in law looked at it and helped me make revisions, and apparently she's so good at it that several people asked her to help them rewrite theirs. I can't find the agencies except for one online, and unfortunately, I don't have the gas to drive around.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page