Tuesday, July 19, 2011
We still have no word on Mr. Struggle’s unemployment claim. His counselor did call yesterday to tell him it had reached the state capitol and should be adjudicated soon. We're hoping they will make a determination this week and maybe we'll actually receive some money next week. They said it usually takes 4-6 weeks, and we are well over four weeks today.
We completed two online job applications today, one of which sounds very promising and Mr. Struggle had the name of a current employee to use as a reference, besides. This is one of the job contacts set up by our Assistant pastor.
Mr. S. had another contact from the company he had previously refused. It wasn’t actually an offer, but an email wanting to know whether he would be interested in a lower-paying position, but closer to home than the first offer. It would still be a drive and Mr. Struggle isn’t really interested, but he answered that he would need more details about the offer in order to make a decision, trying to buy some time. We haven’t heard back since.
We have had another promising referral for a position that would involve a move and a radical lifestyle change, but could net a job for each of us. We are intrigued and a bit skittish about this possibility, but need a lot more information before we could seriously consider the proposal. We have submitted an application and are waiting to see whether an interview will materialize.
In the meantime, I sat down to pay bills yesterday.
Carryover balance: $2204.63
Income: $169.54 part-time paycheck
Bills: $100.00 Home Equity Line payment
11.32 Cable TV
203.58 quarterly life insurance (on Mr. S)
88.06 bi-monthly water bill (did I mention the kids are home?)
Other Expenses: $102.54 gasoline (includes lawnmower gas)
30.00 car inspection
42.49 household supplies (dog food, toilet paper, etc.)
28.27 résumé paper and leather folder for interviews
9.99 haircut for Mr. S.
38.46 groceries
17. 67 plugged a nail-hole in Miss S2’s tire, repaid in cash
5.00 watch battery replacement
Current balance: $1696.79
I also brought in $60 in cash by babysitting a neighbor's child a couple of days last weekend, which I haven't deposited into the bank account, but will probably spend on food or gasoline. We are doing way too much driving back and forth to the unemployment office for classes, but they have been informative and helpful with résumé writing tips and interviewing techniques. We also learned to use LinkedIn and BranchOut in one of the classes. I can't help but wonder if anyone ever really finds a job using these online tactics, or if it's all just smoke and mirrors, devised to keep the general population preoccupied while corporate America hires its cousins, sons and best-buddies.
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