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Home > A Light at the End of the Tunnel and It's Not a Train

A Light at the End of the Tunnel and It's Not a Train

March 22nd, 2017 at 08:10 am

Company B came through. DH has a job. He starts April 14th. He'll be making more than he was when he was laid off from Company A, but not as much as he was before Company A's 9% pay cut. They said they'd mail out a benefits package and it should be here on Monday, so we will know how much medical costs through them and whether or not there is 401K matching and how long it is before he can contribute.

He'll be working 3 weeks on/3 weeks off, which is not the most favorable of schedules, the 2 and 2 is much easier on the family and is easier to budget, but a job is a job and we can't afford to be picky right now. The way I did the budget in the past on a 3 and 3 is that I'd take 2 weeks, which was for one month and the third week I'd put in savings until the next month's budget. Each month's budget only dealt with two paychecks, whether it was a month that had 2, 3, or 1 paycheck.

That's another thing I'll need to find out, whether the pay is weekly, every two weeks, or once a month. The norm up there has always been weekly, but who knows with this company?

DH ran the numbers for me so I could figure out the new budget. At least what the numbers will be before they start taking out health insurance and retirement. I should be able to start rebuilding the Emergency Fund, though not at the speed I'd like. My goal for it is going to be $30,000, because $20,000 was not enough. If it wasn't for the Farm Down Payment Fund, we'd be living on credit right now. So $30,000 with perhaps $60,000 as a longer term goal.

$60K would cover a year's expenses with health insurance for the four of us. Although I'm hoping that if there is a next time, my kids will be on their own and it would only be the two of us, which would be much cheaper to cover. Or at least working jobs where they can pay for their own health insurance.

My earnings from youtube and AdSense and Pinecone will go into the EF. And if I do publish my novel (which is coming along) after I finish it, any earnings from that will go to rebuild the EF as well, I think, though I would like to start an IRA for myself also. Plus the old coin jar and $1 bills trick, which always serves me well.

Once the Emergency Fund is rebuilt, we can start adding to the Farm Down Payment Fund again, although somewhere along the line, I'd like to purchase half a beef.

We have learned to live on so much less, but with income again we'll be paying my mother $1000 a month again for 3 years and that's a big chunk. Maybe buying a farm is a pipe dream. Maybe it'll be something I have to give up. Or scale down. I know we can be pretty self-sufficient on two acres, but I have always wanted five with at least two acres in trees so we'd have our own renewable wood supply and not be dependent on propane.

I don't know. We'll have to see. The important thing is that DH has a job and we can at last get things turned around and going in the right direction again. Thank you all for your prayers. They have meant the world to me.

23 Responses to “A Light at the End of the Tunnel and It's Not a Train”

  1. alice4now Says:
    1490174565

    So happy for your family! And don't give up on that farm, you managed your family finances well and it got you through this challenge. You will be stronger as you rebuild!

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1490180173

    Congratulations to your dear husband! So relieved for you. I agree with alice, don't give up on the dream! Sometimes it is hard to see how it will be done, but if we don't expect it or try, it won't happen at all. Maybe this company will have even better bonuses?!

  3. Laura S. Says:
    1490181931

    This is great news. I am so happy for your family. Congratulations! I agree; keep the dream alive!

  4. Carol Says:
    1490184734

    Happy for you and your family! You all did a great job weathering this storm and you will be able to go after your dreams!

  5. NJDebbie Says:
    1490188057

    Yay!!! Congrats to your family. Don't ever give up chasing your dream!

  6. Guppy Tender Says:
    1490188313

    So Happy to hear that you Husband finally got a new job. I know what a relief that can be.

  7. My English Castle Says:
    1490188397

    Oh, Robin, I'm so happy for you! What a relief. Great job hanging in there through this drought.

  8. MonkeyMama Says:
    1490190230

    Great news!!

    Taking on such a large mortgage later in life sounds absolutely daunting to me. I think it sounds wise to be thinking about scaling down. It doesn't surprise me at all that this experience would have you reconsidering. I feel the same about emergency funds, but dealing with very long-term unemployment will do that to you.

    I am just so happy for you! You did awesome weathering the storm, and so happy that you get to move on to greener pastures.

  9. Petunia 100 Says:
    1490191739

    What wonderful news! So glad for you and yours. Smile

  10. ThriftoRama Says:
    1490192357

    Yay! Congrats on the job.

    Boy, the 3 week paycheck cycle made my head spin though, probably because I've never had to try that.

    Also, your Youtube channel is bringing in cash? Good for you!

  11. Butterscotch Says:
    1490195474

    That's wonderful news! I'm so happy for you and your family!

  12. snafu Says:
    1490199475

    Wonderful news. Enjoy the good news and good health.

  13. Thrifty Ray Says:
    1490203357

    That is awesome news! I am so glad to hear the light has arrived for your family!

  14. CB in the City Says:
    1490207663

    Awesome! Congratulations to you and DH!

  15. scottish girl Says:
    1490255386

    Brilliant news!

  16. VS_ozgirl Says:
    1490263232

    Woohoo so very happy for you!!!! Congratulations and so happy you can start rebuilding with no more hemaerrhoging Smile

  17. Bluebird Says:
    1490282808

    That is great news! So happy for you all!

  18. Kiki Says:
    1490324947

    So very happy for you!

  19. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1490411014

    What fantastic news LR!!

  20. terri77 Says:
    1490454553

    Congratulations!

  21. Dido Says:
    1490495477

    I'm so glad for you that the long haul us over, and I hope DH likes the new gig!

  22. LuckyRobin Says:
    1490506926

    Thank you, everyone.

  23. LivingAlmostLarge Says:
    1490888514

    Congratulations on the job!

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