The Unemployment Budget
Your financial survival plan.
By: Patrick Mellody
Copyright 2011 Patrick Mellody
All rights reserved.
Smashwords Edition
EBook cover by: Ryan Mellody Freelance ryan_mellody@yahoo.com
EBook editing by: Chris O’Byrne www.ebook-editor.com.
Special thanks to my author friends that spent hours reading, editing and guiding me.
Jan Siebold, author of superb children’s books www.jansiebold.com.
Bruce Eaton, author of “Concurring Your Financial Stress” and other fine books. www.eatonresources.com.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: So it happened to you.
Chapter 2: That’s not the way we planned it!
Chapter 4: The Unemployment Budget
Chapter 5: Am I worth more dead than alive?
Chapter 7: It’s like finding new-found money!
Chapter 8: What is a variable expense and why should I care?
Chapter 9: What is the magic formula for spending and how do I size up?
Chapter 10: You mean I don’t get to spend it all?
Chapter 11: Clean off the kitchen table and put it all together.
All the forms in this book may be downloaded free at Budgets That Work www.budgetsthatwork.com/forms.
For privacy, the names in this book have been changed.
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Chapter 1
So it
happened to you.
You have been laid off, down-sized, right-sized, fired, or your employer locked the door because of the economy. You are upside down on your house value and the future is looking bleak. You need to survive and protect what you have left. You need a plan to ride out this economic storm. Bad things do happen to good people like you, but you don’t have to be one of the casualties of this unemployment nightmare. In this short book you’ll find two budgets—I’ll walk you through both.
#1 The “Crisis Budget” If you are down to the wire financially and need to make quick but informed decisions, this is the budget you need. You can do this today!
#2 “The Unemployment Budget” This budget is more detailed and it will help you get more organized. You’ll have a solid foundation on which you can not only survive, but be able to move forward. Your financial stress will be reduced and allow you to focus on finding your next job.
Each short chapter starts with a story of someone I have helped develop a budget over my past 17 years as a volunteer budget coach. Every story is unique and has a part to play in the budget process. Not everyone faced unemployment, but they all faced financial challenges so severe that it led them to talk to me, a total stranger, about how they spend their money. There is something to be learned from every story. At the end of each chapter you’ll find a simple form to fill in that will help you on your way. If you are like me you dislike financial books that scold you for not doing everything perfectly all your life. I also dislike the ones that tell you to do this or that in a specific order which implies that you fit into a cookie cutter group. Let me tell you what I have found, unless you are in the small majority the last thing you want to do is create and live on a budget. The second last thing you want is some author telling you what to do as if you are a fifth grader. I respect you and what you are going through because I have been there also. If you’re reading this book the motivation for you and your family to survive must be greater than the alternative. I congratulate you on making this step and applaud your efforts. You’ll be happy to know that I wrote this book in a way which allows you to start where it is easiest for you. Getting started is the most important thing. We all have books collecting dust that we never finished, this one allows you to be in charge. Simply read the short chapters, look at the forms and do the easiest one first, then the next. Before you know it you’ll have read some fun stories, completed all the forms and have everything you need to pull it all together in the final chapter. At the end of the stories and the activities you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and control. You’ll know where you stand financially, how to survive unemployment and prepare for the future. As I mentioned, I have been where you are. I stared bankruptcy in the face, but because someone took the time to help me learn what is in this book, I survived. Thank you, Harry, this book is dedicated to you.