I do not mean to imply I begrudge corporate leaders their salaries, or bonuses or jets or any other perks they earn by running a lucrative business. What I find dismaying is those who are given such salaries et cetera at the expense of their workers' & companies' integrity. Which is why I refuse to shop at a certain soul-sucking store, but I digress.
I know many people have faced and will face far more dire consequences than we will; I pray more for Stu's coworkers and all the other families across our country losing jobs than I do for our family at this point.
Essentially, what I mean to say is - I should have been reigning in my spending and living more frugally & thoughtfully long before now, but here we are and here are my best ideas for us so far:
- Date night = Wine at the neighbors' (their wine, of course)
- Compensate teenage babysitters by editing & typing their research papers
- Continue skipping breakfast & lunch
- Alternative date night = Reading Willamette Week personal ads to each other
- Download all CDs to iTunes then sell discs to Music Millenium for cash
- Use CD cash for special date night at Chipotle
- Give the gift of my love & friendship for everyone's birthday [I'll throw in a handmade card]
- Fine students $1 for every "F*ck," "F*ckin'," or "F*cker" uttered in my general atmosphere
- Memorize free admission days to art museum, history museum, science museum, and zoo (and arrive at dawn to get in line)
- Total potluck/BYOB for this year's Oscar party; my love & friendship [plus handmade card] for swag
- Moratorium on children growing to next clothing/shoe sizes
- Raise our own cow for brie production
- Rally for Double Coupon Day at Whole Foods
Live, from my blog (and many others), it's Thursday Thirteen
28 comments:
I'll pay for a bit of your brie producing cow...then you can eat breakfast (brie) and lunch (brie on toast) again :-)
You are much more kind to the blood sucking execs that tool around in their Benz's from their summer home to their fall home to their winter home..etc.
Nobody deserves millions in bonuses when the people that actually do the work are phased out for other people that they can pay less.
I am sorry for you...I hope new opportunities happen quickly.
It's hard facing job loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
That sucks. I'm sorry. Been there and I'm sure you will handle it much better than I did...And I'll be praying for a quick new gig for Stu.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. These are such uncertain times...at least you have a 13 step plan :-).
Excellent plan. And the brie cow? So many other things you can get there... like whipped cream!
I'm really sorry to learn of that bad luck. I hope the world starts looking better for you and the rest of us very soon.
I love this list, even though the reason for writing it sucks.
Oh, no. It's terrible when we know before we know. It might make the actual knowing worse.
I do think your plan is an excellent one. If I were your neighbor I'd happily exchange wine for your friendship (and a handmade card, of course).
Best wishes for a speedy new and secure job for your husband.
Sorry to hear about the job loss. Glad you've maintained your sense of humor lol But, buying a cow? You do know you have to feed it, right?
Happy T13!
I've tried putting bricks on my kids' heads to slow down the need for new clothes, but it hasn't worked yet.
Best of wishes for your husband and his co-workers' job hunts. I share your anger and frustration with those "business" practices. Grrrr.
I know it's an awful cliche, but I believe when one door closes, another opens. Or at least a window.
Meanwhile (or even after Stu gets another job) here's a good way to have fun at very little cost for your family:
http://www.wilinet.wccls.lib.or.us/lending_library/cultural_pass/index.html
had to come because bad mom intrigued me. it sounds like you are a great mom. i have to keep reading. thanks for being so real.
sorry for what you are dealing with btw.
That sucks, that sucks that sucks!!!!
Please make sure Stu starts going to Lunch 2.0. it's a great place to network! (Plus, free lunch.)
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1326795/
I'm so sorry you guys. If Stu's ready to look for work he should head over to "End Joblessness" on Saturday... I don't know what kind of jobs will be represented there but he should go... plus, free beer.
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1508236/
I'll be thinking good thoughts for you guys
There will be no skipping meals silly and squashing growth spurts; it will be okay in time. I promise.
(See also the year Greg went through two bankruptcies/job losses in 10 months.)
We will bring the food, come Oscars night. We can rent movies. We can see cheap flicks, go for walks, drink coffee at my place.
I'm putting out the word for Stu, hoping someone has a lead.
there is a really nice blended red "menage a trois" and it adds spice to the conversation just sitting there on the table, kinda like when bill use to have pizza in that egg shaped room :)
Find it at Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Red 2007
Sorry about the job loss. I hope he is able to find something new and better quickly.
I like your frugal ideas.
Happy T13!
sigh, I feel for you! There's got to be something much better out there! Much better, I know it!
Can I have your brie cow for meat and leather when you're done with her? :-) Happy TT! I'm up at TT # 23 Thorni is SFR!
I would be happy to share reviews of my fave under-$5-a-bottle wines from Trader Joes!
Perhaps if a number of families in your community are in the same boat, you could do a seasonal kids clothes/shoes exchange party? Perhaps a local govt agency, school or church could be convinced to put something like that together.
I feel for you. May his unemployment be as brief as my husband's was. Word on all the executives who take high salaries and bonuses by running their companies into the ground.
i will buy your brie and share my wine and take your love and friendship over birthday gifts any day.
be well. stu too.
also? does this mean stu will be commenting again soon? because frankly? i think he could charge like a buck per comment. he's that good.
I'm sorry about the job loss. Here's hoping he gets a good job soon.
I'm so sorry to hear it. But I think you have a gold mine in those cursing students.
Very sorry. Here's hoping for speedy transition, and maybe one of those endings where you say "it was a blessing in disguise."
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