Breaking News from every news hack -
Unemployment is up this week...again...No kidding, Skippy.
And, if you are getting visions of standing in unemployment lines dancing in your head as a possible solution for you, well you better get another plan. Gone are the days of coasting into an unemployment office with a weekly quota of job searches in exchange for your check.
Oh, heck what am I saying... I know nothing of getting a dime of unemployment. It always seemed too ridiculous to me. As with any government aid, all that work just seemed silly. I would rather have my own income, instead of a caseworker and a report to turn in. So, those few that I have known that experienced the other worldly phenomenon commonly referred to as unemployment benefits, apparently it used to be a simple gig. Well, folks...those days are so over! Here is the scoop: The News is going to amp the unemployment percentages to its usual hyper-hemophilia blood letting. The Economy is hemorrhaging faster than the transfusion. Panic, Panic, Panic...Drama, Drama, Drama...Everyone will be out of work by next week. Yes, I said it - Next Week! 100% percent unemployment! Oh, wait a minute... that would actually be great! No one has a job, no one pays taxes - the government flatlines_____________________!
Ok, enough of that pipe dream.
Back to business - 5 Tips To Help You Steer Clear Of The Unemployment Line: 1. Cut your costs. And, be realistic about it. Yes, the ugly b-word/Budget. The majority of people spend most of their income on roof-over-head, fuel and food. Home, utilities, feeding the belly and gasoline for the autos. I know someone right now that went from a $4500 per month house payment to a $2000 per month rental. Guess what? They cannot afford the rental either. Well, like most home zombies.... they could not get it through their undead brains that when you are broke, you gotta really get cheap. And, this does not mean that the standard of living or quality of life changes. This means finding something to live in that is safe and that you can afford easily. Yes, 6 bedroom/4 bath houses are lovely. Not when they become your tomb and you are sailing the Mental Mediterranean River of Denial. It is silly and stupid to stay stuck. So, cut those costs and have some liquidity. Get real right now!
2. Work for yourself. You never get into an unemployment line because you work for yourself. So, you work and make money in your own business of goods or services that others pay you for on a regular basis. And, every dollar that you make, is one less that that can be taken from your pay. The buck comes to you, so therefore you get first dibs. So, when the layoffs whisper to the corporate bottom feeders waiting for the next bailout, you are able to keep your stuff in order. By the way, I never wanted to work for big companies. I tried the corporate route several times, and hated it. Power lunch this, memo that, meetings about meetings and who needs so many damn managers? YUCK! Corporations are so creepy to me. They are akin to a really bad '60s commune except there are power suits and way too much coffee.
3. Invest in what YOU know. That means get advice and check it out. Invest in items that are not debt based paper like the stock market. Only invest in things that you understand completely and can explain to someone else in less than 7 minutes. If its more complicated, forget about it! Move on to something else.
4. Educate yourself. Get your school of hard knocks PhD and know what is going on in the world around you. I do not care how tired, overworked, stupid, pathetic or whatever you think that you are... No More Excuses People! It's about time that you finally become "Dr. Doing-It-My-Way." The reason why all of these jerks get over on everyone is because they bet on the fact that we are all going to lay down and roll over wanting our bellies rubbed instead of knowing that the jig is up. You want to know the real deal, then spend time knowing it. Find out what it all means. If you are reading this, then you are within 24 inches of the internet. Get on more sites and get this stuff in your head. Take a class. You will be an ace in no time. And, for crying out loud get on
http://www.pionomics.com/ and use the information!
5. Make your plan. No, I mean it. Take a breath and exhale. The world does not write your history or predict your future. You do. Everyday is really yours to choose. If you get nothing else from the panoramic view of all of this, get one thing clear - YOU are the key. There is way more to you and what you offer than the wages you have earned. The government sees you as Taxpayer (insert your 9 digit number) that keeps taking their juicy bait.
How do YOU see yourself?
May you live in interesting times...