Coping with a Layoff: POST STICKIED SO PLEASE CONTRIBUTE.

[jtollison78]

I've been pulling in a little money at the 1/3 NL game at Treasure Island (Vegas Strip). But the last couple of days, it's been hard to get a game started.

[everyman44]

Northwestern Inc. has shut it's doors in Pensacola Fl. After 42 years in business the once ever present street repair, street maintenance and sidewalk installation company has gone down for the count. Don Dalton who has been with the company for 40 years of that time said it was just to hard to compete in this economy and he was sad to leave. .

Other companies I deal with almost daily are barely hanging in there. I wonder where the edge of the cliff is for small businesses? They are the doves I'll be watching from my coal mine.

[n0c0sm0s]

Things are coming to a head here in Vegas and I may have to leave sooner rather than later.  It's awful and I'm ill prepared but I don't want to be trapped here in the desert.  We'll see and I'll post updates as I can.  I'm totally open to advice and thank you all for all the wonderful advice given so far.


Danny

[islandgirl]

I've talked to my ex bf who still lives in Vegas and he said that he didn't see any tents on the streets (I told him I saw the tents on the streets in the youtube videos).  And both he and his new gf still have their jobs.  He did say it was quieter and seemed less crowded and like there was more vacancy in the townhouses complexes where they live.

Also I have some friends going to Vegas on vacation in November.  So I'm just curious, when you say things are getting bad there...is the crime rate up? 

n0c0sm0s: If you're going to leave, find someone or ppl leaving too and share in the cost.  If you're going to drive or have a car, pick up 1-2 ppl and have them pay the gas if you're going the same direction.  And find a place to stay and plan it first before you go.... I'd moved to places before without planning and the motels cost me more than if I'd gotta a room for rent or a studio somewhere.  Find friends that live in that area that can point you to things or places locally, they'll tell you about who's hiring and who's not and what the local economy is like there (which you might want to know before you go).

[graveday]

Good ideas for any trips, Islandgirl, not just hardship ones.

[aconsta383]

Aconsta, I hope at least you are feeling better after your bout with the "you know what". 

I'm terribly sorry to hear of your pending lay-off.  Fortunately you got a little notice.   Best wishes for finding something worthwhile when you begin looking. 

Thanks!  After steady finger-crossing, I was placed on another contract (ending in October...aaarrrggghhh!!!) with a 3k a year bump.  Temporary reprieve of execution, but it's better than nothing!

And Texican...they've picke up some more govvies, so hopefully things will work out, in the end!   

[Abhaha]

n0c0sm0s: If you're going to leave, find someone or ppl leaving too and share in the cost.  If you're going to drive or have a car, pick up 1-2 ppl and have them pay the gas if you're going the same direction.  And find a place to stay and plan it first before you go.... I'd moved to places before without planning and the motels cost me more than if I'd gotta a room for rent or a studio somewhere.  Find friends that live in that area that can point you to things or places locally, they'll tell you about who's hiring and who's not and what the local economy is like there (which you might want to know before you go).

You can use Craiglist for this--both to find a rider and for temporary housing at your destination. It is free to post. Portland and Seattle both have an active Craigslist....if that is where you want to go??

[n0c0sm0s]

I've talked to my ex bf who still lives in Vegas and he said that he didn't see any tents on the streets (I told him I saw the tents on the streets in the youtube videos).  And both he and his new gf still have their jobs.  He did say it was quieter and seemed less crowded and like there was more vacancy in the townhouses complexes where they live.

The tents used to be visible on the 15 north near the Craig exit.  Haven't driven up there in a while, they may have been moved.  They aren't very visible anyway but they are there.

[beamofthewave]

I read in the BBC I think or maybe Guardian about some people in Vegas living in the tunnels under the city because they lost their jobs or had drug habits.  Some of them made a living by checking out the gambling machines and taking whatever someone who was drunk or spacey forgot to get.  Sad dangerous life IMO.

[EyesWideOpen]

Well, it just happened to me about an hour ago. No warning. Ought to be interesting.

Thank-God for preps.

[graveday]

My sympathies.  How ya doin'?

[EyesWideOpen]

I think I may still be in shock, but so far I have to say I think this may be a good thing-I really hated my job. I must have been pretty good at hiding it though because several people have already called and asked me if I'm OK since they knew how much I really loved my work.

LOL, I really hated the financial industry-I can say it now, I worked for a rewards company that spun off from its bank parent a couple of years ago. I'm not going to miss the place at all, I just wish I'd been able to find soemthing before they laid me off-the severance package on a 30K job wasn't all that, either.

I think I'm going to clean house the rest of the week and then start looking for work next Monday morning. I have called a few people, and I'll polish up the resume to reflect my newly laid-off status.

The only thing that worries me is that I am a 53 year old female-the stats for my group don't look too good at all. Oh jeez. I'll be slogging my way through this thread now, taking notes.

[pamplemousse]

EWO, you have my sincere sympathies.  I was laid off last year, am older, and actually found work in 13 weeks, a bit of a miracle.  I will hope for the same for you.  And at the same time, I hope you can make the most of your time away from paid employment and fully enjoy it, as much as is possible anyway.

And yes, thank god for preps.

[Grower]

Oh, I sure hope you find a job you like. Then it will be a blessing.

[EyesWideOpen]

Pamplemousse and Grower, thank-you for the good thoughts.

I've got three interviews lined up for Weds and it would feel miraculous if I get an offer from one of them because I could ride my bike in good weather to any of the jobs, and one actually comes with a car. All three are good places to work, so maybe...

But I am mentally prepared for it to take a lot longer to find another job.