Dave Says: Young, Jobless, and Scared

Dear Dave,

I’m 23, and I lost a good job a few days ago due to layoffs. My wife has been a stay-at-home mom with our 10-month-old daughter, and we have very little in the way of savings. What can we do to keep our heads above water?

Seth

Dear Seth,

I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I’ve been there, so I know this is a scary time for you. There are some short- and long-term goals to think about in a situation like this, but let’s look at the immediate future.

Go crazy about finding some kind of income. I don’t care if it’s delivering pizza during the week and working at the mall on weekends. Even if it doesn’t completely replace your previous income, it will give you some cash to pay bills and stay afloat. On your off days, and before and after work, you can line up and do interviews for a more stable, full-time job. You may even have to trade off babysitting duties with your wife so she can earn some money too.

While all this is going on, have a garage sale and sell anything you don’t need or want anymore. Just about anything that can be turned into income should be turned into income. In the process, prioritize your bills and other financial responsibilities. Take care of food first, then utilities, the mortgage or rent, then transportation. You guys don’t need to see the inside of a restaurant for a while unless you’re working there, and if things don’t get better by Christmas, any gifts you give should be handmade crafts.

This is doable if you two work hard, pull together, and focus. God bless you guys, Seth.

— Dave