John I have to disagree with you in regard to this article not applying if you have children. I was laid off from a job back in March of this year, a well paying job that was close to six figures. For a high school educated guy this was big stuff. First thing I did was to sit with my children and wife and review the financial situation that we were faced with. My children got the message from the meeting that we would be clamping down on the fringe benefits and those extras that were not needed. During my three months of unemployment, not one request for ps2, movie night, cable tv, go out to eat etc.

I took a job that was paying less than 25k a year and sat with my wife and children and reviewed the budget again. Amazing what ideas you get when you involve them in ways to save money. Suddenly lights are turned off, we are recycling our bottles to the redemtion center, we don't buy name brand foods and we shop at the thrift stores for clothing. Cell phones were shut off and pay as you go phones were bought. Saved us close to $250.00 a month. Amazing how a 17yr old can come up with that idea as they were the biggest expense on the cell phone bill.

When I finally found a  new job, it was because I was telling everyone that I met that I was laid off. This paid off for me.

I was grateful for the opportunity to be able to provide the $400.00 a week that I could. Combined with my wifes income we were getting by and still contributing a very small amount into the savings account.

I am now employed at a company that is paying me close to what I was used to making. Again, sat the family down to review the budget based upon the new income rate and all of us decided AS A FAMILY to change only one thing. Increase the amount that is going into the savings account, just in case this happens again.

Involve your kids in times like these. It teaches them a lesson in life that they will never forget and perhaps give you some ideas on ways to cut cost in that business that you own, called your family.

When my,old school district decided to eliminate the art dept I was 54.  Age discrimination is a big part of hiring in education where Supt. are told to throw out resumes of anyone over 40.  So here I was a single mom and breadwinner (the only one in my district)  and I got the ax even though my program was winning art awards left and right.  I immediately put my house for sale,  started taking sick days to send resumes, and applied for unemployment insurance starting the week school ended in June.  I eventually was hired but only had 6 interviews and three job offers.  I had to send huge packets of info with my resume plus transcripts from all of the schools in which I took classes. Very expensive.  When I started this job my salary was cut by 10,000 a year and no dental or vision benefits.  But I am working and looking forward to my retirement.  I am respected by the board, peers, and students.

I'm with Dave......     Who actually has $$ in the bank to live off of for the next week????    Much less the next year????     Dave, Myself, & a very large chunk of the US population live paycheck to paycheck!!!!   Any advise for us ???

Community is so important in a time like this. Get to know your neighbors and maybe you can help each other out like they did back in the early days. If one person had what the other person lacked, you gave what you had. You babysat free of charge. Stick together as a community!  Put your faith in God, HE will provide no matter what! Just as you thanked him for the steak when you had a job,  Thank HIM for the pork n beans and ramen noodles when you don't have a job, because he is still providing !   If you are faithful, he will never let you down! I have seen it for myself! The bible says,  "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. "  Develop your faith and become involved in your local church.

Please don't find a girlfriend.  It's too hard to date on pennies.

Jason...I know it's tough for millions of Americans right now, but it can be done.  You can deliver pizza a few nights a week.  Work part-time for UPS.  Can you fix things?   If so, advertise around town and you can make some extra money.  Can you tutor school kids, teach music lessons?    There are many things one can do to earn extra money if needed.  This will allow you to build up an emergency fund.  I became a CPR/AED/First Aid Instructor and currently building that business.  I'm also doing some other related services to enhance my income.  During the tax season, I'm going to be preparing taxes during the tax season for $11 an hour...it's no where near what I was making, but it's something and keeps gas in the car, food on the table and allows me to take my wife out to nice dinners once a week.  I know I'll be back to making six figures in due time, but in the mean time, I'm going to do whatever I must to keep moving forward.  We're in a very tough crisis and government is NOT going to bail any of us out, no matter what you've heard.  The very people who helped created this mess are going to bail us out, are you kidding??   That's like asking the fox to guard the hen house after he just killed a half dozen.   Stay the course and look hard to those opportunities to earn extra money...they are there, I promise.   God Bless.

The Link to 11 Things to do when your laid off does not seem to be working properly.  ?

The government is bailing out businesses.  I want my bailout also to pay for food, heat, water, you know the basics, and to get to and from work because in this economy no job is safe.  My salary and my wife's salary has not increased in over two years but the costs for everything has gone up steadily and continues to go up except for gas.

Get educated is that the answer put yourself into further debt. college degrees do not insure jobs.  Simply put your only stable in fields that can never be downsized. We as a nation are to passive about every thing we do. Our country wastes money like it is our job. Our CEO's and upper management are not affected by this crisis they will go on their vacations and gather their profits like nothing has happened. I have only been in the working world for 10 years after college and have seen it all. My friends and i all got degrees and every other year we are fighting to keep our jobs or looking for new ones. People talk of careers what is that. Teaching nursing, environmental nothing is secure. it would be nice to one day for my generation to talk about retirement and social security it is not going to happen the last 20 years our country has swindled away money, information, and everything that made us a super power for one thing greed.  I hope and pray my generation when we finally hold powerful positions can start using the education we were told gauranteed us success later in life and fix the crap the baby boomers screwed up. There was no need to have suv's and 20 kids by the age of 21.   To younger generations i have confidence to ones dead i say thanks to the current leaders pat yourselves on the back this is your mess

Anyone having financial issues please visit www.daveramsey.com

Follow him fully and you will see a difference. His advice sometimes is so common sense you wouldnt have thought of it. Times are getting harder and everyone could use his help. Even if you have a great income with no chance of a layoff.