Help! I'm joining the majority...

[icemaiden]

It's very likely that I will be made redundant by Xmas, so I need lots of support from all you nice people.

I have never been without a job, so this will really be a culture shock. I'm scared, like so many others, who have mortgages, bills and children to support. I will be hunting like fury to get a job, anything, I don't care what it is. I'll scrub toilets, wipe peoples bums, I don't care!

How do people get through this? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

[Bathsheba]

Aaww bless you. Sorry to hear that hun. :-(

[Annna]

Talk to your mortgage company, they should agree to freeze your mortgage for a few months, with no penalties.
Also if you have any debts or overdrafts, the interest can also be frozen so talk to your bank.
This could help get over the period where you job hunt.
Free school dinners is a possibility.
It is no shame so ask for all the help you can get.
Good luck.
Annna

[icemaiden]

Thank you both for your support.

I guess I'm lucky in the fact that I don't have debts except of course my mortgage. They will be the first people I speak to Annna as you have suggested. I feel so deflated :0(

[funnygirl]

Oh Icey, I am very sorry to hear this.

What very bad timing, but please don't let it spoil your christmas and maybe come January you can start looking for another position in earnest.

[4getmenot]

I jave never been in that situation so cant advise, but would just like to say that well done for actually working hard and getting a job straight away, some just dont bother. x

[Annna]

Other suggestions: get the forms for family credit, income support and housing benefit etc now and see if you will be eligible. There often is quite a delay so get them off as soon as possible. Remember there is no penalty for applying and they will tell you if you are not eligible, but if you do not apply they will not tell you if you are missing out.

[natalie_1982]

Oh icey, I'm really sorry about your news. Thankfully I haven't been in the position, my place have made their redundancies last week and I was not one of them although my hubby's job is vulnerable :-(

Look, when I win the lottery this weekend, you can come and work for me, how does that sound? We can be ladies wot lunch, shop and get our nails done, you can be my personal shopper :-)

[Schutzengel]

Icemaiden.
I do hope it doesn't happen. But you are very wise to be prepared. You sound as if you have plenty of go about you, and if it does happen, with your positive attitude to work, I'm sure you would be chosen for any position you applied for. I know it's scary, but will be thinking of you, and hoping for a good outcome. Schutz.

[LoftyLottie]

Icey,

Being one of the 'elders' of this site, I have been through all this before. I have been made redundant once and my husband has been made redundant twice, during similar times. I have also had some long periods of sickness and had to give up jobs through ill health.

All I can say is, yes there is light at the end of the tunnel!
I look back now and wonder how we coped at times, but we did. I am now at the point where I could be panicking about us both managing on a meagre pension, but I don't get as worked up about it as I would have done when I was younger. We will manage, it will change things, but we will manage.

You will manage too - believe me, and good luck with your job hunting - your attitude to work is just brilliant!!

xxxx

[carrust]

Having been made redundant 3 times in the past, I think i know what you're going through. The 2nd one was the most difficult, as my son was born on the same day I was sacked! But, if you keep positive & be willing to take any job on, you'll come out of it much wiser & a stronger person.
Look on it as a door opening, not closing. Take the opportunity to re-train or to do a job that you like. If it wasn't for redundancies I would have never have done youth work, probation work, worked in a bail hostel or become self employed.
I also did a myriad of other jobs...farming, driving, child minder for a lesbian mother. I even worked in a sex shop!

[logic]

sorry to hear of your situation, Icey,
But, I could darn near repeat lofties post there,
As I had to finnish work at 46 after sinking my savings into a driving school, still had 20 years left to go on the mortgage, but we got through, don't know how I could have done it without my wifes help, but we did it,

And you will too.

wishing you the best of luck,
pete.

[icemaiden]

Thank you all so much. I knew I could count on you.

My spirit is slowly, but surely being lifted. I know it's going to be hard and I can only do my best to keep positive and keep looking for work.

Natalie... I could very easily get used to being a personal shopper! Let me know when your numbers come in.


Thanks everyone.

[jen78]

So sorry hon, it's such a scary time at the moment.

My job is very vulnerable with what I do (property) and have seen many good friends lose their jobs recently it's just heartbreaking.

I lost my job once, right before Christmas as well, and it's a very scary time but things will come right and often work out in wonderful ways you wouldn't have thought of.

I very much doubt I'd be where I am now if what had happened hadn't.

Thinking of you xxx

[Aprilis]

Hello Icey hun, I'm so sorry to hear of your possible redundancy (your job I mean, not generally, lol). I am a firm believer that things happen the way they do for a reason, even bad things. I can't see someone like your lovely self being out of work for long and this will perhaps open the door to better and more fullfilling things for you in the longer term.

Good luck with the job hunting sweetie, I'm sure it'll all work out fine.

T xx

[Annna]

I have been giving this some thought as I really feel for you. Christmass......... tell the kids, they may realise more than you think and might forgo the big pressie. Give them a cut out picture of the main present and tell them they will get it in the January sales. Cut down on cards, send e-mails instead. If the family know perhaps they will invite you for lunch so you do not have that expense. If you let family and friends know they shoul be understanding.

Anyway best wishes to you. Please let us know how you get on. X

[icemaiden]

Thank you all for your kind words.

I have done all my xmas shopping for this year, I was extra cautious so I think I have done pretty well. We had already booked to eat out Xmas day as we felt it would be cheaper, (we got a good deal with the Landlord of the pub) but we shall see what happens there. I'm sure my family won't see me starve.

There are so many people in this situation I know, and I have so much sympathy for them, as some are in a far worse state than me.

Thanks again everyone.

[petal54]

a late arrival today,sorry to read you're pos to be out of work,bad enough when you jump ship,,which I did & wish I'd not done so,but not best time ,nothing but gloom 'n' doom,so long as you are fine otherwise.all the best!!!!!

[Ice.Maiden]

Sorry to hear of icemaiden's predicament - especially at this time of the year.
To funnygirl, noknow, LoftyLottie, logic and others - this is the other icemaiden you're talking about, not me. I don't go out to work, as such, but if I did - I think the idea of a personal shopper'd be brilliant!