Would you be able to survive financially if you suddenly found yourself out of work?
This is a question many people are asking themselves in the new year as they face job losses in both the private and public sectors.
For example, when we hear about a looming government shutdown, we usually think of the legions of federal employees who will be impacted. But there are thousands of people working for government contractors who worry that they, too, might be pulled into the political tug-of-war.
If the government closes, many contractors can’t work. And unlike federal employees, they may never get back those lost wages.
And let’s not forget that there are thousands of other workers across the country who have been told they’re losing their jobs in the new year.
Last week, Wal-Mart announced it’s closing 63 Sam’s Club stores. It’s unclear at this point how many workers will be affected, because some might be transferred to other locations. But Wal-Mart said it will convert up to 12 Sam’s Clubs to eCommerce fulfillment centers for online orders.
Meanwhile, 18 Sears stores are slated to be shuttered this month. And Macy’s expects 5,000 job cuts because of store closings.
Whether you’re a federal government worker, contractor or private-sector employee, any disruption in your income can throw you into a panic. It’s tough making ends meet. More than three-quarters of workers live paycheck to paycheck, according to research by CareerBuilder.
And it’s not just low-earning workers who are worried. One out of 10 survey participants earning $100,000 or more said they usually or always live paycheck to paycheck, as well.
In the CareerBuilder survey, 20 percent of employees said they’ve missed a payment on some smaller bills. Seventy-one percent of workers are in debt.
When you’re faced with a pending disruption in your income or you’ve been laid off, here are four things you must do:
• Stop any aggressive debt reduction. Right now, you have to preserve your cash. You can’t afford to pay extra on your debt. You may need that money to keep the lights on or buy food. Concentrate on the essential expenses until you’re past this crisis.
• Call your creditors. Put your pride to the side and get on the phone. Call every creditor and ask for a reprieve on paying your bill. Explain your situation and see if you can get a month or even two months of deferral.
• Cut back on the nonessentials. Here’s something I found astounding in the CareerBuilder survey. There were certain things employees said they would not give up even when faced with a financial hardship. People said they wouldn’t give up cable (21 percent), eating out (19 percent), traveling (17 percent) and buying gifts for others (13 percent).
This is, as the saying goes, doubling down on dumb.
Cut what you can as soon as you can. Actually, lots of people not facing a shutdown or job loss could stand to revisit their budgets to cut the fat.
• Talk to somebody. If you’re covered by health care that provides behavior health services, go see a therapist.
If counseling isn’t covered under your health plan, look for free services in your community. Don’t keep your angst bottled up. My fear is you’ll make some bad financial moves because you’ve got so much pent-up anxiety.
Maybe a federal shutdown will be avoided and a long spending agreement can be reached by today’s deadline. Or there could be another short-term funding measure that keeps agencies open so that federal workers and contractors can get paid on time. I also certainly hope all the displaced retail workers find jobs quickly. But better to have a plan in case the worst happens.
