Hi all, so it happened to me this past Tuesday.  I was furloughed from my job.  There were so many things running through my head when it happened and just as many emotions.  How could this happen when you told me the Friday before I was deemed essential?  How am I going to pay my bills?  How do I tell my husband?

After coming home, I thought to myself that I need to be prepared.  There was information spelled out in the letter I received, but there were things I didn't know how to handle.  I have never in my life filed for unemployment, I carry the insurance on my family, and my son's cell phone plan is through my job... how do I switch over to a new provider when he is in basic training over a thousand miles away?  Holy, run-on sentence, but sometimes this is how my brain works.

After feeling bad for myself, I decided to look at the positive.  I get a bit of a vacation and can work on things I always say I have no time for, but first I needed to prepare my life for the changes.

Financial planning is very important, but for those of us that live paycheck to paycheck, this can be a very depressing and stressful time.  I wasn't prepared for this, but it doesn't mean I won't make it through this.  You will make it through this too.

Being unemployed does not make you broke, but it does teach you the value of the essentials.  Look beyond plan A or B... sometimes plan C is the better choice. Not letting go of the ultra-important facets of basic healthcare is so important. Being able to visit the dentist to have your teeth cleaned or to have a check-up shouldn't be overlooked or pushed to the back burner. If you're struggling to find a suitable and affordable practice for your family, Do Good Dental in Arizona makes sure that kids get the dental hygiene products they need.

What to Do

1. Set a budget- You can cut out things like cable, home phones if you have cell phones, ordering Uber-eats, and other really small changes to fit within the budget from the unemployment benefits.

If you have a Microsoft program on your computer you can download a budget to create one you need.  If not you can download an application via your cellphone.  Visualizing helps when creating a budget.

2. Don't feel down on yourself- This is an economic hardship for sure, but you have been through worse.  You didn't do anything wrong and sometimes you will have to tell yourself that.

3.  Set a routine for being at home.  Don't sit in your pajamas all day.  Read a book, watch a show, be productive.  This will help ward off the depression.  I start my day with a cup of coffee, taking a shower and making plans for the day.  I write I read, and I spend time with my dog. 

4. Update your resume.  It is always good to look at your existing resume and make changes or updates.  Post it on a job finding website.  It may mean finding a more permanent job for you.  Even if you don't want to find a new job, one may be wanting to find you.

5.  Take time for yourself.  Don't feel guilty about having a lazy day.  You have earned it.  Do something to make yourself feel good.  I put my makeup on and did my hair today and it made me feel so much better. 

6. Ask for help-  I have to rely on my husband more during this time.  I am a proud person and hate asking for him to help me.  I have to put aside my pride and ask.  Guess what? He is able to and so he will.
 
7. Find out what you can do in your community to help others. Do the grocery run for your elderly neighbors, write letters to people in nursing homes that cannot get visitors, or offer help to moms and dads struggling with at-home learning.

We will get through this.  Be strong. Be healthy and be safe.