[TRANNY SMOKE]

Well I got the axe today. I'm a union sheetmetal worker, so you would think that being laid off from time to time would be normal. I've been very fortunate in that I've only collected three unemployment checks in my life and that was in March of '01. The company I've worked for, for the last seven years has no work and has plans of going from 40 or so employees down to six or eight. There are 110 workers in our local and I signed the book at 49. So that's 50% umemployment. They are talking like it's going to be six to ten months from here. Any advice on how to keep from losing my sanity or house for that matter? I have some money saved up and my wife has a good job, but we are use to both incomes. Thanks

 

[7-t-elco]

I sure hope you dont have the trouble with Indiana Unemployment like I did, good luck. :thumbsup:

 

[66 L78 ragtop]

I'd say either find a new job or create a job...put those sheet metal skills to work...
There are alot of people that need metal work done on their cars...
You will make money just offer the highest quality product for the cheapest cost...
People will come your way!
Since your wife is working, she can take care of the health insurance issues
Sometimes hard times lend themselves to bigger and better things

 

[Mstehle]

Rice and beans, beans and rice. Do what you have to to make $$. deliver pizza's, clean offices at night, male gigolo, whatever.

 

[TRANNY SMOKE]

I'd say either find a new job or create a job...put those sheet metal skills to work...
There are alot of people that need metal work done on their cars...
You will make money just offer the highest quality product for the cheapest cost...
People will come your way!
Since your wife is working, she can take care of the health insurance issues
Sometimes hard times lend themselves to bigger and better things

Yeah, I'm an hvac guy. I do side jobs from time to time, but even those are hard to land right now. I gave a lady a price for an A/C on the side and it was $1800 cheaper than the price she had from a contractor and she still didn't take it. She got by with a window unit all summer. I don't know. It's going to get interesting that's for sure.

 

[jpete]

Yeah, I'm an hvac guy. I do side jobs from time to time, but even those are hard to land right now. I gave a lady a price for an A/C on the side and it was $1800 cheaper than the price she had from a contractor and she still didn't take it. She got by with a window unit all summer. I don't know. It's going to get interesting that's for sure.

I know where you're coming from. I've been pricing roofing jobs and have it down to just over what I can do it myself. But I still can't part with the money. I might be in your shoes come the end of October.....

 

[65 Turbo Camino]

Try to find some side jobs. Maybe get some more welding certs from the hall.

 

[TLee38]

Rice and beans, beans and rice. Do what you have to to make $$. deliver pizza's, clean offices at night, male gigolo, whatever.
__________________
Mark







Somebody listens to Dave Ramsey.

 

[Andy69]

Rice and beans, beans and rice. Do what you have to to make $$. deliver pizza's, clean offices at night, male gigolo, whatever.

you sound like DAve Ramsey. Well, except for the gigolo part

 

[Randy Mosier]

See what sort of tuition assistance you can get. Take some college courses. Or trade school courses.

 

[Mstehle]

Rice and beans, beans and rice. Do what you have to to make $$. deliver pizza's, clean offices at night, male gigolo, whatever.
__________________
Mark


Somebody listens to Dave Ramsey.

you sound like DAve Ramsey. Well, except for the gigolo part

Yep. Dave is THE MAN! :yes:. I was doing "okay" with money and then I started to listen to Dave and went to FPU earlier this year. It's kind of like getting a professional engine tuner to tune the car. Dave showed me how to get better performance. Now all I neeed to do is keep my current income for a couple of years and, God willing, things should be pretty good.

 

[sg5492]

Yep. Dave is THE MAN! :yes:. I was doing "okay" with money and then I started to listen to Dave and went to FPU earlier this year. It's kind of like getting a professional engine tuner to tune the car. Dave showed me how to get better performance. Now all I neeed to do is keep my current income for a couple of years and, God willing, things should be pretty good.

We bought Dave's book total money makeover about the 1st of the year and have been on his plan for about 6 months. We are planing on go to FPU soon.

 

[Berto]

my boss called me into an office today with a director and I thought it was lights out. I asked, "am I in trouble?"

they said, we are striving for efficiencys and looking to save money wherever possible, I was like oh man its finally happened.

I have been "reassigned" I was doing network management for a 700 node WAN, now I am passing my duties off and being moved to projects and more support engineeer stuff.

"either that or I am training my replacement" I will find out in about 120 days

 

[Chris R]

And I was planning to look into HVAC careers too. Guess the grass isnt any greener in that industry these days either.

 

[sschevellefan]

And I was planning to look into HVAC careers too. Guess the grass isnt any greener in that industry these days either.

depnds on your area. I was a mechanic for 7 years and lost my job back in november. I was a harley mechanic and there are very few shops in the area worth a crap to work for so i was out of luck. I was going to get into hvac but the course here is 2 years. There is plenty of work in my area but everyone wants experience. I decided to look elsewhere. I was able to get some assistance for school and just started school to get my class A license. Within 7 weeks I shouldhave my class A and should already have job offers waiting for me when I graduate. It`s not my dream job but I gotta take care of the family somehow. Meanwhile I`m working part timeat jiffy lube making enough money to cover daycare if I`m lucky but at least I`m employed.

 

[Jeffry72]

Sorry to hear about you losing your job, but welcome to the club. Not having to go to work every day isn't so bad, it just doesn't pay well. I've been so busy, I don't know how I had time to work.

 

[mingles]

Its never fun to be in your shoes. One idea would be to try and do as much work as you can on the side for cash to make sure you don't get dinged while collecting unemployment. Not that I am for circumventing the process, but you need to pay the bills while waiting for things to turn around.

Best of Luck and hope things turn around soon.I would also suggest downsizing the luxury items early as opposed to waiting and hoping things turn around quickly. By that I mean get rid of cable and other "luxuries" early and save on those expenses now. You never know how long you'll go without work and that extra 100 or so a month could be the difference in making your mortgage payment or not 6 months from now.

 

[Randy Mosier]

Sorry to hear about you losing your job, but welcome to the club. Not having to go to work every day isn't so bad, it just doesn't pay well. I've been so busy, I don't know how I had time to work.

About four months ago, we went on three day work weeks. We only had to do that for a couple of weeks and then things picked up again. But let me tell you, if my house was paid off, I would only work three days a week. When it finally is paid off, I'm only working part time.

 

[TRANNY SMOKE]

And I was planning to look into HVAC careers too. Guess the grass isnt any greener in that industry these days either.

I would recommed the hvac industry to anyone that likes to work with their hands and not sit at a desk. I've been in the industry in one capacity or another union and non-union for twenty years now and only collected three unemployment checks. That was my point in this thread. It's just not normal. I also belong to a labor union (not saying it's a bad thing), but you sort of depend on the hall to put you to work instead of finding your own. If I were non-union I could find employment easily, but it's not going to pay what I make. Not even close. Picked up a side job though, so...

 

[LeoP]

If you are willing to relocate, type Pierce Associates in you browser, they are here in the DC area and usually have work. Local 5 IIRC. I know they have tin knockers there too.