How do people on unemployment live so well?

 i HAVE HONESTLY WONDERED THIS MYSELF IN THE PAST & I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.   mAKES ME IRRITATED WHEN I SEE SITUATIONS LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE DESCRIBING SINCE dh & I WORK REALLY AHRD FOR OUR MONEY & STILL STRUGGLE.

I was on unemployment for 6 months. All our bills were paid, we were still able to put money into savings, and still able to do things we wanted to do. We don't live beyond our means, and we adjust expenses accordingly to have our needs met and still have room for wants. We scaled back in certain areas and didn't even look at our budget in others.

 

Some people are smart with their money and are able to keep afloat regardless. You also don't know the circumstances around their income. They may be charging all these events on credit cards and behind the scenes be drowning in debt. Or their spending is less in other areas and it balances out in the wash.

We also were able to pay our bills and still do many of the things we used to do when Dh was unemployed.  We had a good amount of savings plus Dh got a severance on top of being laid off.  After 18 months of being unemployed, though, our savings was depleted.

 

Of course, we did start cutting back.  I still met my friends for lunch, but would just sit and chat--not buy anything.  However, none of these cuts that we made had a huge impact on us.  Without savings, we wouldn't have made it.

 

True, you know them we don't. But still....why do you care? It's not your life, your expenses, your income - and you still only see what's projected outwards, not what may be going on behind closed doors. Seems like wasted energy to be worrying about what they do.

I think we should all care because if people are able to live well on unemployment then maybe the services are above what they need. I have know several people on unemployment who considered it a break from there job. I have seen people take the money and go on Vacation. I have also seen people loose there homes and everything else. 

What you don't see is all the background.  I had a friends with a beautiful home in a really nice area. Thought they were well off til I found out they rented from his parents. The point is you never know. 

There are those who really do need it and there are those who can live well only because they use credit or have an outside source, such as family money. 

 

I know for us loosing our income would mean taking drastic steps. We might get by a month or two but after that we would have to rent out our home and move in with the parents if we wanted to try and keep our home. 

Missy, has your DH's employer TOLD him he's losing his job? and does the lawyer still think he will be able to save your DH's license? If so, can your DH get another job? I'm not sure what the jobs outlook is in CT, but if I was fairly certain I was going to lose my job in a month I'd be looking......unless he thinks he will lose his license. That will certainly complicate things. Although I suppose if it was a job he didn't have to drive around during the day you could drive him to & from work. Are you still looking for a full time job? All sounds stressful to me. We'd be hurting if my DH lost his job.

 

Even though we survived, unemployment was a godsend (and like I said, our savings, which we scrimped to save, were completed gone by the end).  We would not have made it as long as we did without it.  I think those people who utilize unemployment as a break from their jobs are not the norm--I admit they are out there.  Most are really trying to find decent employment and just can't get hired.

 

And I agree.  You just never know what is going on in someone's household.

 

Missy, I will say that when Dh first lost his job, I was in total shock and started panicking.  But you have to just take it one day at a time and you'll survive it if it happens.  Just focus on the positive.  I do agree with Aliadam.  If there is in anyway a chance he might lose his job, he should start networking now. I know you are already doing this for yourself.  Good luck.