There is hardly a family in the country unaffected in one way or another by the downturn in the economy, and the chances are that at least one of their family members has been laid off or let go from a position without little or no warning.
Being unemployed is an uncomfortable place to be, but it doesn't have to be the end of the world.
True, it is devastating to work your way up in a company for years, and then be told, sometimes with no warning at all, that your job is gone, or that you will have to take a huge pay cut you can't afford.
And it is small comfort to know that you are not alone in your misery.
Hundreds of thousands of people out there are in the same boat with you.
You will survive this, just as you have survived other unpleasant things in your life.
There are many people, probably many you know right now, who survived the great depression of the 1930's and others who lost jobs, homes, and other possessions even more recently in the 1980's.
They survived and you will, too.
The problem is, what do you do in the meantime while you are holding on and waiting for the economy to recover? What many people are doing, and successfully, is to create their own job.
By this I mean they are figuring out something they can do that will bring them in enough income to feed their families, keep a room over their heads, and maybe pay a few of those overdue bills while they are waiting.
"But I have no talent!" you say.
Everyone has some talent.
Do you know how to clean a house, rake a yard, run errands, or take care of children? Of course you do.
Maybe they aren't your favorite occupations in life, but no one said you would have to do this forever.
(Although a large number of people have used "get-by" types of jobs to launch themselves into profitable and enjoyable full-time careers.
) Now that we've decided you do, after all, have some talents, make a list of them.
Brainstorm what could be done with each of them.
You may want to enlist other members of the household to help you with this.
Here's an idea.
Do you like animals? Did you know that pet stores often purchase mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, and even birds from private suppliers? A friend of mine used to raise finches for the local pet store and sold dozens of them every month.
While we are on the subject of animals, how about offering to board a couple of puppies or kittens for people who are taking vacations and don't want to leave their "family members" in a regular kennel.
Your kids would love temporarily caring for the animals, and you could get away without buying them a permanent pet of their own.
Farms that board horses for wealthy people sometimes hire riders to exercise the horses on a daily basis.
You could pick up a little extra cash to pay the light bill while indulging your unfulfilled dream of having a horse of your own.
(With the added benefit of none of the expenses you would incur if you owned the animal.
) But, suppose you can't stand animals.
Maybe, instead, your talents lie more in the direction of working with kids.
I have personally spent several summers tutoring slow readers.
As a former teacher, I am convinced that kids who never learn to read well, have at least two strikes against them by the time they finish the third grade and will probably drop out of school at a young age.
Teaching these kids to read-many of whom only need a few hours of one-on-one attention-is not only a great way to put some extra cash in your pocket, but a wonderful way to make a real difference in the world.
Don't like working with kids, either? Well, I was trying to save your physical strength, but if you are the outdoor type, one of the quickest ways to start earning some extra money is to distribute flyers around the neighborhood offering your services as a yard maintenance person.
Most of us can pull weeds, rake leaves, and mow a lawn.
Some can even trim hedges, repair a sagging fence, or paint a peeling house.
List all that stuff on your flyer, and it won't be long before you have a list of regular clients lining up for your services.
In fact, if you live in my neighborhood, I might be interested in having my outside windows washed, and I'll be glad to furnish the ladder and any other equipment you will need..
Those are only three ideas for things you can do to get by when you are feeling a financial crunch.
One of them may not make enough to get by-then try two or three.
By getting out there and making a job for yourself, you will establish your reputation as a person who is willing to work.
That means that you will be a person more likely to get job offers when the economy starts to pick up again.