DURHAM, N.C. - It’s never a good time to lose your job. However, the current economic environment has resulted in business closures, downsizing and layoffs for many Americans. The unemployment rate hovers near 5 percent with recent graduates preparing to flood the market.
The Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) Raleigh and Durham offers the following tips for surviving a layoff, should one occur:
Allow yourself to be upset or even afraid. - These are natural reactions. However, should they become intense, be willing to seek professional help. Talking things through and hearing another person’s perspective can bring relief and restore your positive outlook.
Resist the urge to tell your boss what you truly think of him or her. - Remember, you may need him or her as a reference for a future job.
Take advantage of any assistance your workplace offers. - Many companies provide placement assistance, job retraining and severance packages. Make sure you are aware of all benefits offered.
Apply for any applicable government benefits. - Your HR representative at work will be a good resource.
Resist the urge to solve your problems by spending recklessly. - It may feel good for the moment, but the high of spending won’t equal the low of dealing with additional debt when there is no income.
Don’t be tempted to live off of your credit cards. - Someone with a good line of credit could actually support the family at the current standard of living by using credit, but there’s no guarantee a new position will materialize any time soon. One rule of thumb job counselors use is to expect one month of job search for each $10,000 of annual income you hope to replace. In other words, if you seek a $50,000 salary, it may take you five months to land that job.
Take a personal inventory. - Consider all assets, income and expenses. Hopefully, you will not have to liquidate any assets to survive, but it is good to know what you have to fall back on.
Drastic times call for drastic measures. - Nothing is off-limits. If necessary, consider selling the second car, or any recreational vehicles, real estate holdings, rental properties or jewelry.
After reviewing income versus debt obligations, - if there is not enough money to make ends meet, calculate how much is needed to meet the basic household living expenses. Your goal is to pay everyone, but if you must make a choice, keep your home-life stable by paying your rent or mortgage, utilities, childcare, insurance premiums, health care, food and keeping gas in the car.
Have a family meeting that includes the children. - You do not want people pulling in different directions, and a joint effort yields a greater result. Make cutbacks wherever possible, knowing that this austere lifestyle will only be temporary. Resolve to stop all non-essential spending immediately.
Tracking your spending is always a good idea, but when money is tight, it’s essential. - Write down every cent you spend. At the end of 30 days, review where the money went and make conscious decisions on where to cut back. You’ll be amazed by how much you can save and not even feel the pinch.
Contact your creditors to arrange lower payments. - Most major credit card issuers have in-house help programs. Explain your situation and what you are doing to resolve it. The creditor may be able to temporarily lower your monthly payment and reduce interest.
Call your mortgage lender or servicer and inform them of your situation. - Be prepared to provide them with documentation of the setback, and have a resolution plan in mind. Since the average consumer doesn’t know all of the loan modifications available, it is smart to first sit down with a certified housing counselor and map out a plan. This way, you will know that you have selected the option that is best suited to your situation.
“No one is immune to a layoff. Stalwarts of the American economy have laid off workers by the thousands. Financial setbacks are never easy, but with help, most can survive unscathed,” said Leslie Barber, Director of CCCS and Emergency Housing Assistance, with TFS. “Reaching out to a trained and certified credit counselor can be one of the smartest steps a person can take during times of financial distress.”
You do not have to solve your financial problems alone. CCCS Raleigh and Durham, a division of Triangle Family Services (TFS), is just a call or click away. To reach the certified credit counselor closest to you dial 919-821-0790 x307, or online go to http://www.tfsnc.org/ .
About Triangle Family Services
Triangle Family Services (TFS) is a local United Way agency helping families and children throughout the Triangle. Established in 1937, it is one of the oldest and most comprehensive nonprofits in the region. All of our services are confidential and nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation. Through skilled and compassionate care, TFS annually helps more than 5,000 Triangle families and individuals achieve Financial Security, Family Safety, and Mental Health. For more information about Triangle Family Services, visit http://www.tfsnc.org/ .
About the NFCC
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), founded in 1951, is the nation’s largest and longest serving national nonprofit credit counseling organization. The NFCC’s mission is to promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior and build capacity for its members to deliver the highest quality financial education and counseling services. NFCC members annually help more than two million consumers through close to 900 community-based offices nationwide. For free and affordable confidential advice through a reputable NFCC member, call1-800-388-2227, (en Español 1-800-682-9832) or visit http://www.nfcc.org.
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