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Nov. 14th, 2009 05:47 pmThe article Life on Severance: Comfort Then Crisis really got me riled up, giving me the feeling that I'm already living in an idiocracy. It's about how a lot of people laid off with severance pay keep spending just like before, actually getting job offers but turning them all down because the jobs they're offered aren't as good as their last job used to be, and then, once they are out of money, deciding that maybe they better make some changes. The excuses for making no changes at all are that they think they'll get another job soon, they need to keep looking good and taking their contacts out to eat in order to help them find their next job or, my personal (least) favorite, they want to maintain their sanity.
The first guy they talked about got a $200,000 severance check plus had $100,000 in savings, and I couldn't help thinking to myself that if that were me, I would be done working forever. Of course he is not me but is part of a family.
If you got laid off, wouldn't you change your spending? If not right away, wouldn't it occur to you to at least think about it before you ran out of money (and maxed out your credit cards)?
**
The next day I realized that I don't actually know how I would spend differently if I were laid off. Would I sell my house and move in with my mom? No. Would I sell my car? Unlikely--not right off. Would I drive it less? I already drive it only once or twice a week.
I'd put off replacing or buying electronics (computer or camera) if what I have broke or I suddenly wanted something new, and I wouldn't travel. Other than that, my biggest fluffy expenditure is dance class. Because I take group classes at a nonprofit, they're considered to be quite cheap, and plenty of unemployed people have kept going to class, but it is $30/five weeks (times two because I cover Robin). I'd quit having fast food and try to spend a little less at the grocery store--I wouldn't start buying crap (fake whipped cream), but I might focus on recipes with cheaper ingredients (like beans or even dried beans).
In sum, I wouldn't change my spending much AT ALL, at least at first.
Clearly I would quit making charitable contributions (if I did get another job quickly, I could "catch up" if I wanted to). And I would quit contributing to my retirement savings. And all my other savings (next car, car repairs, house renovation, house repairs, health). My current savings and the payment for my saved vacation days would be gone in ten months if nothing vital broke.
I guess my biggest changes would be in job hunting. When I moved to Austin I found three jobs: one serving pizza at the student union for 19.5 hours a week and thus no benefits, one at a tutoring place for school kids for about 10 hours a week, and I did freelance tutoring of college statistics students for about 3 hours a week which all added up to $100 less than I needed if nothing vital broke. Who knows what sorts of jobs I could find if I tried now?
Baby lesson of the week - My baby niece can now sit up by herself. For several minutes at a time. Before she tumbles over, generally backwards. It's quite a struggle for her; you can see her using all her core muscles, plus other muscles such as her neck muscles and her eyebrow muscles.
It occurred to me that I can simulate this (somewhat) by sitting up straight on the bus instead of leaning back against the seat. I definitely get to use my core muscles, though not my eyebrow muscles.
Blog entry of the day - Something Good at All Mirth, No Matter - a great intro to a fun video. "Derek Hough (pro) and Joanna Krupa (model/contestant) got "Futuristic Paso Doble," which should have been an unmitigated disaster." Watch it once and you'll notice my favorite parts (the first drum ripple and the dramatic pauses at the word "stop"). Watch it again, focusing on the man this time, and notice that he actually gets down on one knee, one after the other, at one point.
The first guy they talked about got a $200,000 severance check plus had $100,000 in savings, and I couldn't help thinking to myself that if that were me, I would be done working forever. Of course he is not me but is part of a family.
If you got laid off, wouldn't you change your spending? If not right away, wouldn't it occur to you to at least think about it before you ran out of money (and maxed out your credit cards)?
**
The next day I realized that I don't actually know how I would spend differently if I were laid off. Would I sell my house and move in with my mom? No. Would I sell my car? Unlikely--not right off. Would I drive it less? I already drive it only once or twice a week.
I'd put off replacing or buying electronics (computer or camera) if what I have broke or I suddenly wanted something new, and I wouldn't travel. Other than that, my biggest fluffy expenditure is dance class. Because I take group classes at a nonprofit, they're considered to be quite cheap, and plenty of unemployed people have kept going to class, but it is $30/five weeks (times two because I cover Robin). I'd quit having fast food and try to spend a little less at the grocery store--I wouldn't start buying crap (fake whipped cream), but I might focus on recipes with cheaper ingredients (like beans or even dried beans).
In sum, I wouldn't change my spending much AT ALL, at least at first.
Clearly I would quit making charitable contributions (if I did get another job quickly, I could "catch up" if I wanted to). And I would quit contributing to my retirement savings. And all my other savings (next car, car repairs, house renovation, house repairs, health). My current savings and the payment for my saved vacation days would be gone in ten months if nothing vital broke.
I guess my biggest changes would be in job hunting. When I moved to Austin I found three jobs: one serving pizza at the student union for 19.5 hours a week and thus no benefits, one at a tutoring place for school kids for about 10 hours a week, and I did freelance tutoring of college statistics students for about 3 hours a week which all added up to $100 less than I needed if nothing vital broke. Who knows what sorts of jobs I could find if I tried now?
Baby lesson of the week - My baby niece can now sit up by herself. For several minutes at a time. Before she tumbles over, generally backwards. It's quite a struggle for her; you can see her using all her core muscles, plus other muscles such as her neck muscles and her eyebrow muscles.
It occurred to me that I can simulate this (somewhat) by sitting up straight on the bus instead of leaning back against the seat. I definitely get to use my core muscles, though not my eyebrow muscles.
Blog entry of the day - Something Good at All Mirth, No Matter - a great intro to a fun video. "Derek Hough (pro) and Joanna Krupa (model/contestant) got "Futuristic Paso Doble," which should have been an unmitigated disaster." Watch it once and you'll notice my favorite parts (the first drum ripple and the dramatic pauses at the word "stop"). Watch it again, focusing on the man this time, and notice that he actually gets down on one knee, one after the other, at one point.