Wow Kichigai that sounds like a similar situation I was in in NYC back in 2004. I just got laid off from Satellite and my landlord suddenly was like "Oh your a great tenant but I'm selling the apartment!" I was completely fucked as I had no savings living in NYC and had to totally go live with my family for a year (which was quite humbling at 35). Hope things work out for you.

Just heard when my contract is up I'll be let go, I'm really glad, horrible job

I'm sorry to hear about everyone who's been losing their job. There's no good time to lose your job, but having it happen during the holidays probably compounds things.

I have been lucky, there were layoffs at my company at my last month, including the closing of an entire office in Texas, but my department was left untouched. Technical writers are "non revenue generators" at my company so it's entirely possible that I'll get cut, but I'm not counting on it. I'm also not stressing about it, either.

The day before Thanksgiving I totalled my car. I was unscathed, so was the other guy, and the whole stupid thing is a solely result of my own impatience, but now I'm incurring an array of expenses I really wasn't planning on: ticket fines, possible lawyer fees (I'm required to appear in court and am considering hiring one), increasing insurance costs, and, of course, car payments.

This comes at the end of a year when I decided not to spend the money I was saving on a house and treat myself to a few things instead: a larger apartment (with a higher rent, of course) and some luxury goodies (new TV, a GPS, roller skates and gear, a couple of toys). I also more than doubled my 401k contributions, something I see as critical at this point, so I don't have as much money around as I did.

Thankfully, my "little bit of everything" sale which accounted for about half of my toy collection was well timed and helped absorb some of this. In fact, the last packages were dropped off at the post office minutes before the accident. I packed up the rest of the collection last week, all the time thinking that if things get worse next year and I have to, I will sell them all. This doesn't stress me out, either, because I know in the end, it's only stuff.

We were just given an anonymous survey by the company about the state of the economy and how it's affecting the way we do our job. There were some open text fields where we could express whatever we wanted about how the company is doing, and I was brutally honest about the decisions management has been making. I don't see anything changing, though.

Looking at the "big picture," things will get worse before they get better, but the ones who will weather things the best are the ones who don't set limits for themselves and willing to adapt. Those who are willing to take on jobs in new fields, or multiple jobs, or those who find ways of saving money for themselves that they hadn't previously considered. Most people around here look at life a little differently, so I think Skullbrainers are going to excel at doing the above.

If I can give any unsolicited advice, I guess it's this: if you're employed, there's nothing wrong with having a little extra liquidity. Find ways to build up that "cushion." If you're unemployed, set aside some mental space to mope and/or panic, but then move on and start putting one foot in front of the other again. It's cliched but true: there's nothing to fear but fear itself.

I feel for anybody going through this and count my blessings,

Personally what I find inspirational is reading or hearing bios of people I admire from at least 20 years back. Like Steve Martin's bio where he explains the long road it took him to get to where he is. Or even Ernest Borgnine's bio where he talks about how he had no shame to do day laborer work when acting gigs wouldn't come in so he could take care of his family. Even the Barack Obama book "Dreams from My Father" sounds really genuinely inspirational in a no-bullshit way.

I don't look up to any of these people as idols, but their stories are so based in reality that it makes them human and sends the clear message of: There's ups and downs but it all depends on what you do and how you deal with it. Which sounds corny, but you know what? I have a lot of faith in the immigrant delivery guys riding their bikes and delivering food toughing out this mess. Much more than the undergrads with massive debts who think they are owed something for simply getting a degree.

No disrespect meant if anyone hear falls into the recent college grad territory, but we're entering a weird time where you're just going to have to deal with some B.S. if you want to make it through and get what you want.

Ugh! Oh peoples I am feeling for you!
I got canned almost 3-4 yrs ago when they no longer needed an in house art director after a merger. I guess I've gotten used to being broke ass all the time, but getting to paint again is a true pleasure. Of course I'll also mow a lawn, clean toilets etc when given the opportunity to make some additional cash and have a most patient and understanding wife!!!

I need one of those

Trust me, there's nothing more valuable on this green earth than a patient wife. And that goes quadruple for toy collectors.

I gotta get to step one first....lol.

Patient hubbies are also angels!
Hugs to all who are facing hard times. I was out of a job two years ago, but fortunately I found a much better one, or it found me. Couldn't have survived without faith. There is always hope, and hopefully good friends and/or family. So much heart and positive vibes being passed around here too

Similar things happening in the UK. I work for a financial software company and although things are tough it looks as if we'll be okay for now (next 6-8 months at least).

After that who knows - things seem to be changing so much it's hard to predict anything now. Other than when it comes down to it i'll simply lay off buying the toys.

Just a lil' something for all you slackers to aspire to . . . .

Shit....it's a damned prerequisite!

Laid Off Club? I'm in like Flynn once 2009 hits. Two more weeks of work sweet! How much does unemployment pay?

I've got a chin-muffler going on, got to keep the 'tach short so you don't get it in your tea.

It's all about the Flapwings.

Being facially follically challenged anything more radical than the 'Chilly Cheeks' is a none starter here!

I've already got this beard going, so I should find another job in no time.

I'm good at babysitting.

I have a full beard going now, but if I had to go job hunting again I'd get rid of the whole thing. You can never gauge how people are going to react to a beard, and mine makes me look a lot older now (there's more than a touch of grey in it), which isn't a good thing.

Started growing the goat back out to a full beard Oct. 1. Sold and am selling a lot of toys, but am keeping a nice core collection, so no boohoo here. Enjoying learning the selling aspect. Not liking no time to paint, 'cuz of all the "workshop"s and such, but that'll even out. Much more interested in lottery results...
Getting huge reading and photo practice done.
Life could be worse!

evryone should keep getting haircuts and beard trims or i will be out of a job

I got shitcanned officially in September...though I had been on "sabbatical" (highlight of which was watching "Price is Right" daily while babysitting my nephew) for a few months with some pay...was able to find work of sorts since, but things are def. sketchy in the world I had been a art of my whole adult life...the very expendable fine ahht world.

Damn. The bailout of the Detroit auto makers failed. Although I am glad that, as a taxpayer, I don't have to pay for their idiocy- I wonder and dread how this will affect the economy.

If those auto makers go under I think we are going to start seeing some scary shit. I wonder how we are going to get out of this.

The problem with the Detroit bail out is nobody really cares about these companies, products or management being bailed out. The big issue are the workers who will be truly left out in the cold and screwed over by horrible decisions made by management.

And after the bank bailout that resulted in 100% of nothing other than banks getting money and credit markets still being frozen, nobody is ready to just throw more money at folks.

What I do hope is Obama forces a WPA/public works initiative into place. It's the only practical solution to helping this country, reviving dying infrastructure and helping workers.

Seriously, if you know anybody out there who still thinks that such a project is "socialism" and shouldn't be done by "patriotic Americans" you need to start getting their heads straight now.

Also, the inauguration on January 20th will be MASSIVE and historic. I think when the nation sees people who are sick and tired filling Washington D.C. up wanting true change, people will snap have to snap out of it.

Not enough!! But hey - it's something right. Been out of "real work" since April. Thank god for E-bay (even that sucks ass)!

Not for the bail out but i see it as a necessary evil to keep people employed from the assembly line all the way down to the kids that wash the cars at the lot. I like how all the GOP senators that killed the bill come from states that DON"T have auto manufacturing plants that are supported by the UAW but instead by non-Union overseas car manufacturers - Nisson and Volkswagon to name two.