The Unemployment Budget

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 do not have to be one of the casualties of this unemployment nightmare. In this short book you will find two budgets. I will 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 will 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 seventeen years of being a volunteer budget coach. Every story is unique and has a part to play in the budget process. There is something to be learned from every story. At the end of each chapter you will 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 and 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 will 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 and look at the forms and do the easiest one first and then the next. Before you know it you will have read some fun stories and completed all the forms you need to pull it all together in the final chapter. At the end of the stories and the activities you will feel a sense of accomplishment and control. You will 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.

Here is what you can expect from this book:
• You will have a complete understanding of where your money is going on a monthly basis
• You will know exactly how much you are over/under spending in every category of life. Housing, food, auto and so on. You will also know how much you are over/under spending totally per month and what to do about it.
• You will have "New Found Money" that was saved by adjusting your spending habits.
• You will be provided a web site where you can download all the forms in this book for no charge.
• If you just have too many bills that you cannot pay I will provide solid contact information for a non-profit organization that I have recommended dozens of times. They will help you work out a debt management plan that will relieve your financial stress.
• You will discover how to survive this temporary season of life.

Let's start with my own personal story; hang on it's going to be a bumpy ride.