Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Weren't you without a job for a while?

Just curious if you gave up any luxuries and if your priorities were straight.

Yup, and absolutely I did.
I changed my eating habits, I changed my electricity habits. I had my truck up for sale (took it off when I got a job). I sold several collectible items as well. I used my wife's car instead of my truck cause her car gets about 15 miles more per gallon. Completely drained and shut off the circuit breaker to my hot tub. We used to go out to eat 2 or 3 times a week, and we didn't go out at all. I also planned ahead for a rainy day, so I lasted several months without having to go all out crazy to afford to live. I also did not have insurance, I took the chance there and didn't expect a single soul to help me. It was my problem, and I handled it. I had to adjust my priorities to fit my lifestyle. Not once did I put my hand out.

ps- it's killing me I can't think of that program...I'll ask around tomorrow. Maybe it's just a New Mexico thing...not sure...but I know some of the people I work with will know the program. I'll post it here tomorrow.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Yup, and absolutely I did.
I changed my eating habits, I changed my electricity habits. I had my truck up for sale (took it off when I got a job). I sold several collectible items as well. I used my wife's car instead of my truck cause her car gets about 15 miles more per gallon. Completely drained and shut off the circuit breaker to my hot tub. We used to go out to eat 2 or 3 times a week, and we didn't go out at all. I also planned ahead for a rainy day, so I lasted several months without having to go all out crazy to afford to live. I also did not have insurance, I took the chance there and didn't expect a single soul to help me. It was my problem, and I handled it. I had to adjust my priorities to fit my lifestyle. Not once did I put my hand out.

ps- it's killing me I can't think of that program...I'll ask around tomorrow. Maybe it's just a New Mexico thing...not sure...but I know some of the people I work with will know the program. I'll post it here tomorrow.

What's scary is you have an advanced degree and here you were without a job. Think about people out there without a degree or meaningful experience in place to fall back on. So many people just jump from dead end job to another. Once you're in that cycle it's not easy to climb out.

What if your period of unemployment lasted longer? What if you started exhausting all of your resources, it's possible at some point you might have had to ask for some help. You're lucky you didn't get to that point I guess.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

What's scary is you have an advanced degree and here you were without a job. Think about people out there without a degree or meaningful experience in place to fall back on. So many people just jump from dead end job to another. Once you're in that cycle it's not easy to climb out.

Well, out here is worse than in most parts of the country. There are very few specialty jobs, but a lot of labor jobs such as mining work. I would have caved eventually and took one of those underground jobs, but I'm glad I didn't have to.
It is scary to have such a good degree and it not be worth much to people. I am way over qualified for 95% of the jobs out here. Other states won't hire me because they don't want to pay the relocation costs.

What if your period of unemployment lasted longer? What if you started exhausting all of your resources, it's possible at some point you might have had to ask for some help. You're lucky you didn't get to that point I guess.

I would have had to accept a job that was something I didn't want to make ends meet. It came real close too.
Point being, I planned ahead, and I worked hard to get what I have. Sure, everyone will get kicked in the teeth at some point, you need to plan for it. I did. I suffered with horrible cars, a crappy apartment etc to save money and make it to where I am now. That's what people don't see. There is a lot more that went on behind the scenes.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Well, out here is worse than in most parts of the country.

Probably not worse than where I live. Luckily for you, you were young enough to find another job relatively easy. What sucks is that there were plenty of people here that lost their jobs who were not old enough to retire, but too old to be considered for employment elsewhere.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Probably not worse than where I live. Luckily for you, you were young enough to find another job relatively easy. What sucks is that there were plenty of people here that lost their jobs who were not old enough to retire, but too old to be considered for employment elsewhere.

Here is a link to most of the jobs that are available at this time in my area:
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeek...=PI&lr=cbga_ca
That comes straight from the local newspaper online. It's NEVER good here, but there are always a few jobs to shoot for.
I had my share of no calls when I applied to jobs, shit happens. I know I'm too old / out of shape for a bust ass labor job. I need something that is not very physical.
We have an employment agency in town that is always looking for people to work at constructors digging ditches and such. They don't care about age. Maybe you have something like that in your town (job placement agency that is).

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Here is a link to most of the jobs that are available at this time in my area:
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeek...=PI&lr=cbga_ca
That comes straight from the local newspaper online. It's NEVER good here, but there are always a few jobs to shoot for.
I had my share of no calls when I applied to jobs, shit happens. I know I'm too old / out of shape for a bust ass labor job. I need something that is not very physical.
We have an employment agency in town that is always looking for people to work at constructors digging ditches and such. They don't care about age. Maybe you have something like that in your town (job placement agency that is).

It's just as bad here if not worse. We have had just every single factory closed in this area. Thousands have lost their jobs and have had to sale their homes, uproot and move. I'm quite lucky because I was able to find a programming job for a non-profit community service board. Which means, I basically get paid half of what other programmers doing the same thing would get paid for, but those jobs just don't exist around here.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

It's just as bad here if not worse. We have had just every single factory closed in this area. Thousands have lost their jobs and have had to sale their homes, uproot and move. I'm quite lucky because I was able to find a programming job for a non-profit community service board. Which means, I basically get paid half of what other programmers doing the same thing would get paid for, but those jobs just don't exist around here.

I understand...we had a few mines close and a lot of people left town. My wife works for a non profit orginization, so I am fully aware of what they pay.
I was lucky enough to find my job too. I make less than I should, but I'll make it with a smile on my face!

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

It's just as bad here if not worse. We have had just every single factory closed in this area. Thousands have lost their jobs and have had to sale their homes, uproot and move. I'm quite lucky because I was able to find a programming job for a non-profit community service board. Which means, I basically get paid half of what other programmers doing the same thing would get paid for, but those jobs just don't exist around here.

If you're talking about Martinsville, then yeah, it doesn't get much worse anywhere in the country (Unemployment rate as of October 26, 2007 = 8.8%. )