I’ve Done Anything I Could; Help US Out!
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories!
I am a single 46 year old white male living in Wisconsin. At one time I was engaged to be married and working for General Motors. When my Fiance’ passed I took a chance at changing careers. I froze what little retirement was there and used the last couple of thousand I had saved leftover from future wedding turned funeral expenses to get a certification. The online company I paid was a sham and I’ve been struggling against the lack of education in the computer field I need in order to gain employment ever since.
Despite that setback, I started my own PC Repair business and dialup internet service, but saw a chance and gave that up to take a job with a major telecommunications company. I was hired on experience alone, and was even contracted by an even more major corporation during my time there. I had an exemplary record, with letters of commendation from higher up who noticed my abilities. However, it was quite a commute, and at a time of downsizing, I found myself having to go on unemplyment.
Since that time, the recession went full swing. Where once I would get several calls when posting my resume, I now get NOTHING. I get NO calls or interest on a resume that begines with “Award Winning, Highly Motivated…” and I can only surmise it is due to my lack of education and certification. I feel if I can only get an interview, I’ll get hired. So when I heard I would finally get a break, and have help to go to school, I applied. I made 97% on my tests for school, paid the fees, have applied for the Federal Aid, and then find that those funds no longer exist. Now I am in a dilemma.
I DESPERATELY NEED this extension just to simply prepare for a year of striving to keep my head above water while trying to go to school so I can GET a job. In the meantime, for example today, I collected scrap metal, aluminum, and took that in for gas money and food for my cats, the only ‘family’ I have, and who rely on me to survive as well, besides cutting firewood to keep warm.
A friend sent me a $20 bill in the mail, knowing I was on hard times. Although touched, I am ashamed, being a capable man able to work and willing to do whatever it takes to make a living. However, in these times, it gets more and more strained, and unless I can get a break from SOMEONE who will give me a chance and offer me a job, these extensions are the only thing that keep me from being HOMELESS.
I’ve swallowed my pride, worked hard, slept in my truck in the winter for my job(s), I’ve done anything I could, and I hope that my government would do the same to help me out somehow. Help US out. And YES the UTILITY COMPANIES so NEED to be forced to be more lenient with people who are trying so hard to survive. Winter comes, I have no fuel in the drafty cottage, and I’ve been trying to save enough wood to make it through the season, because it’s the only way I may be able to stay warm should we not get some assistance in a GREAT time of DIRE need. NOW after we’ve taxed ourselves trying to get a job that isn’t there. NOW when we’re losing our dignity, our utilities, our homes.
Thomas France
Indianford, WI
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU are thankful that unemployment benefits have been extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
Struggling Beyond Belief; I Can’t Find a Job
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories!
Hello,
My name is Christine and I have a lot to say about this topic. A former HR Director and a former business owner. I sat and watched it all go up in smoke because of the crisis of this recession. There are no jobs and the ones I apply for I am over qualified for.
Admins in HR used to make 35, 000.00 to 42,000.00 a year. They are now getting $18.00 an hour PT. FT jobs are now temp jobs it is so upsetting to hear recruiters tell me it is really bad out there. I have even taken additional classes to get into another field but was told today it is so so bad that I might not see anything until March of 2010.
I am in my early forties and struggling beyond belief. I can’t find a job and I have done everything to down sizing getting rid of my car to a more affordable one, I rented my home
as I could not afford to be there. Modified my loan and I am still having trouble paying it
because I can’t find a job to pay for condo fees ins. etc.
If it was not for unemployment I would be in the street. It has been 2 weeks without these benefits as I exhausted it all. In these 2 weeks without it I have had to not eat to put gas in my car to try and find a job. I have even filed Bankruptcy chpt 7 to try and just start over. The fear I am facing with having to file chpt 7 is can I start over without a job.
I am not married or have children so if I have to live in my car it will only be me who will be cold. The house I am in right now is a family members but it is in for closure and in the next few weeks I may have to leave.
Friends and family can’t help me because they are all out of jobs. It is like the whole world stopped. I am on career builder and monster daily and the only jobs that I can find are the ones I am not qualified for.
Without this extension I may not make it. I hope I will be eligible for it.
I have been so depressed that I have thought about ending my life.
It is a serious situation and the Senate and the President really need to understand how real this is for the people who were making a six figure income, who are educated people and who have used all savings to survive in this past year. I am facing this crisis alone but I know I am not alone in this. I just hope some day we can all recover from this. It is almost like one of those disaster movies where you wake up and the whole world has been wiped out.
We need this extension now
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU are thankful that unemployment benefits have been extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
I Need a Job to Live!
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories!
Well I am sitting here crying now after reading a posting on your website. We are all in the same boat now,,no matter what color we are or where we come from, we are doomed. I actually searched google
on ‘how to kill yourself’. Yes I know this is outlandish, but what am I to do now?
I got laid off last May, 3 months after having a total hysterectomy, at that time I of course lost my health insurance. I had and still do have post surgical issues that I cannot go to the doctors about. So one would think I really need for the health bill to pass ASAP. WRONG. I NEED A JOB TO LIVE!!! OR ATLEAST THE UI EXTENSION..I WOULD BEABLE TO MAINTAIN!!
My story is the same…my UI benefits ran out in August of this year, so that was the last time I made
a car payment, now the repo man is looking for me and my car..the thing is I may as well let them take it because the car insurance lapsed on Sept.18th, the registration is now suspended so I am afraid to drive the car now any way..not to mention it’s against the law..oh yeah it also won’t start because it needs a battery that I cannot buy..why am I holding on?? maybe because it’s pretty 
I did manage to get one phone interview this year but then the lady wanted me to interview the very next day.almost 40 miles from my home? How was I going to get there? I couldn’t even bumb a ride because i didn’t have money to pay for gas.
Last month I to sold my dining set and my washer and dryer to pay most of the rent I owed for Sept.
Now I owe Oct. and Nov…thing about this is,,my rent is only $500!!! That is so wrong that I cannot afford to pay this little amount of rent..why is it so low..because in April I lost my real house and an acquaintance said I could rent a room in his nice house until I got it together..okay fine..house was in my same neighborhood, it was nice and clean..3wks in I find out he is on drugs, this put me over the edge, I packed up at 2am and left in my little SUV-sat in the drive way of my old house til morning..afraid in the dark..I found this little house in the sticks surrounded by goats..aka Atlanta suburbs..my electricity was cut off, I pawned my little bit of gold jewelry to get that back on but now it’s due again on 11/12/09..Like one of the other poster persons I will begin to start listing my stuff on good ole Craigslist to try and survive? I am totally alone and have honestly tried to figure out the best way for me to kill myself..I figure I would sell all of my things then I wouldn’t put family in the terrible position of having to go thru my stuff and get sad all over again..I would take enuff money to fly somewhere nobody knows me and kill myself so that in my family’s pshychy I’d be out of site out of mind,,oh of course I’d pay a funeral service in advance for my cremation…WHO THINKS LIKE THIS?
ME, I DO ..I am a 46 yr old single woman that grew up in lovely Saratoga NY. my 2 daughters are grown, I used to be a Property Manager last year, I used to have a little cleaning biz, yes I have a little free website,,no bites..and if I had any I can’t clean anyones home or business because I can’t buy supplies..I am only half azz eating because another friend that gets food stamps buys me a few groceries every month..and I could stand to lose a few pounds any way…HAHAHA
My daughter came over here this past Sunday to make sure I was still alive because no one had seen or heard from me in over 5days..I was trying to OD on fake tylenol PM..my only blessing right now is my landlord, he is really trying to be patient with me, he came and checked on me today because he to had not seen movement in my little house..thank the Lawrd for him..but how much longer is he going to put up with it..Why is this happening..I used to be the head of my family even though my kids are grown, I used to help them with their bills or car needing repair ..my grandaughter called me last week asking me if I could buy her a poster board for her school project..I WAS NOT ABLE..JUST WRONG..I CANNOT TAKE ANY MORE OF THIS!!!
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS..WHO THAT CAN RECTIFY OUR SITUATIONS IS READING WHAT WE WRITE..ARE WE MAKING EACH OTHER MORE MISERABLE IF WE ARE THE ONLY ONES READING ABOUT ‘US’?
TL IN ELLENWOOD GA
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU are thankful that unemployment benefits have been extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
Unemployed and Trying Stories; Why Bother?
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
- I lost my job in January of 2007. I have been looking for work since. I apply for 5-10 jobs per week. I have been on 3 interviews this year. One was as a low level supervisor for an insurance company processing claims. It was a supervisor job that ran a 4 person department. There were 700 applicants, and they did preliminary interviews on 35 people. I was the oldest person in my interview group, and did not get a call back. One gentleman in the interview group and I chatted after the session and his qualifications for this low level job was that he recently was a regional manager for a malpractice insurance company. He was roughly 4 levels of management above the person hiring for this one! Who do you think they were going to hire?
I have depleted my savings, lost my home, they would like to repo my cars if they could find me, and my UI benefits ran out the last week of August. I have been selling my personal belongings on craigslist to put food on the tale and gas in my tank. I live in a 1988 RV in someone’s driveway and I cannot come up with the 300.00 I need to pay him this month for my space rent. These Republican Senators are playing games while real Americans are suffering. Honestly I feel like jumping off a bridge most days. It is incredibly exhausting to struggle daily to get enough money to be able to go to the store and buy milk and bread. Do you know how depressing it is to look around your home and pull your SHOES out of the closet and list them on craigslist for 10.00? I WANT a job. I NEED a job. There are just none to be had around here. I am applying for things I never thought I would have taken in the past. I have a college education and I am thinking about a fry cook position. Trouble is I don’t have the year’s experience flipping burgers they require. I do not know how much longer I can go on.
Signed desperate in Seattle
- This just does not make any sense. I will waste my time and tell you I’m pissed and everyone is suffering. (blah blah blah) But that does not matter. We will all have to sit back and watch the bull crap. I am talking about the democrat and republican show that goes on every time the people need something done. these butt heads (mainly republicans) need to be shoved out of these seats of power, knocked off their high horse, voted out of office !!! Do any of these people know what it’s like to have your gas shut off, having to heat water on a hot plate just to wash clothes, dishes, or themselves? Or getting your lights shut off? How about getting evicted ? I doubt it!!! They all sit back and talk about the hundreds of thousands that will lose their benefits at the end of the year. WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE LOST THERE BENEFITS ?????????????????? It is very simple, they just don’t care. I’ve got one question for you. What the hell does a first time home buyer tax credit have to do with people who can barely afford to stay in the houses that they are in now ?? I’m not stupid. I know that amendments get tied to a lot of bills. But to make the American people wait, while you childish, uncaring, heartless, clueless individuals argue over this, is irresponsible. The people need this help now, and we may need more help after this !! I’m telling you one thing right now, I have got my list of republicans who chose to do nothing but argue instead of helping the people of this country, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that they do not get voted for again !!!! someone please write me back at WTERRELL74@AOL.COM
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
Unemployed and Trying Stories; How Can I Pay the Mortgage?
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
- For the thousands and thousands of us who are looking for a bit of help when we need it most, let’s try to remember these Conservatives’ ( not Republicans, there are loads of good Republicans ) tactics and mindset in 2012. How they can look in the mirror in the morning is beyond me, or maybe they just avoid it.
My story is no different from hundreds of others. Worked for 40 years, got laid off in a merger, and now I’m overqualified and having to sit through interviews with BABIES, who ask all the questions in the “Interview 101″ question book. It’s embarrassing…..FOR THEM!
It’s been 21 months now, and by the way, for you sanctimonious conservatives who think I may be lazy, I paid all my income taxes and FICA for all those years.
Believe me, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to stop taking UI benefits.
So, in 2012, let’s remember the likes of Kyl and McConnell, who after 8 years of the worst management I have ever seen, have suddenly become “fiscally responsible”.
Makes me want to vomit.
I voted accordingly…..and I have a LONG memory.
Is there a way to get the 13 “people” concerned, c’mon, you know who they are………… to go ONTO unemployment for a couple of years?
Have them wonder how to pay next month’s mortgage/rent?
- I have been employed for 30 years now, an i believe that the bailout of big banks has contributed to extended depression. I now after paying unemployment taxs all these years I still face months before this is over and a few holding up benefits to unemployed for there miss action on this whole situation. I believe we would have been better off helping uneployeed than bailing out the rich and banks. Now trillion dollars later we’re no better off you should have let banks an wall street fail all you did was save the rich not the working man.
- At least we are not eating horses, not that we ever would, thank God. I know personally these New Depression Blues times can drag a good man to the bottle. I’m Country Carl the artist an advocate who has been recruited by UNEMPLOYMENT-GONE-MAD.com to add video content to their newly launched web site. The web site is an advocate community for additional emergency extended unemployment benefits. Across the nation the pawn shops are the only ones mining gold. As we wait for an unemployment extension, thousands more become dumpster divers, tent pitchers and street corner beggars. Even pets are becoming a burden for tearful owners and freaking out when they become abandon. I have produced a video to keep our voices heard called the NEW DEPRESSION BLUES also on CountryCarl.com. I have two checks left and the last one is only partial. Consider also it take 3 weeks to establish a new claim and actually receive an extension check. I live in an RV on the camp ground in the video.
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
Unemployed and Trying Stories; To the Senate…
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
- Job growth is expected to lag well into 2010 – early 2011, and some predict that we won’t see normal levels of unemployment until 2012.
The predictions for holiday spending thus far are not good. If Congress does not extend unemployment benefits, the prognosis will be most definitely worsen.
Everyone agrees that extending benefits means pumping money into our fragile economy.
While people continue to suffer, it’s business as usual at the Capitol. While billions of dollars flow into Iraq, millions of Americans suffer (don’t get me started on health care reform).
Well, time for me to go shopping. My family of 4 is running low on peanut butter and jelly… this is what we live on now-a-days.
- To the Senate,
I am staving out here. My rent is due. I am going to a food bank to put food on the table. All my bills are due, electricity, health insurance ($535.00 per month), car payment, telephone payment, back payment of taxes, etc.. Should I go on? I have been out of work for (3) years. All my savings have been depleted.
My family have been laid off. We are all suffering. I do not know how I will get by without the extended UI. We American can not survive without some funds coming in, even though it will not be enough to meet all of my expenses. It will keep shelter over my head.
Please pass the extended UI. HELP ME! - Come on GOP do u really know whats it like to not have the bill passed ASAP, It’s a good thing
that our current President Barack Obama is a “CHRISTIAN” and know what the amercian people are
going thru, so of you have had everything in your life giving to you even the current position you hold
at the White House..I have worked since I was 14 years old and currently have a son in college that I need
to pay the balance of his tuition by 11/10/09, my mortgage is due and all my utilities bills…Let get
this done please show some “URGENCY” for those who continue to put you in office “GOP” but looks
like how quick some of you forget your “REAL” purpose in the first place. PLEASE PASS THIS BILL ASAP…
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
PLEASE WE NEED THE EXTENSION NOW!
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
I am a 64 year old man raising two grandchildren and taking care of two of my own children that have serious problems and a 4 month old baby.
My last Job was a six figured income as a CIO and was let go back in September of 2007, with the payment of my contract and unemployment along with partial social security I have been able to support my family, pay my bills.
I send out on an average of 5-10 resumes a day (7 days a week) across the country, which is crazy because most companies hire local,I have been on about 3 interviews a month. Almost everyone of the interviews I went on, they hired from within.
I tried to get a lesser job, lower pay, and because I have been a V/P and CIO they do not want to hire me for multitude of reasons. Mostly they do not want to hire someone for lesser amount with more experience the them for fear of their job, could you blame them in these times.
I am still looking for any kind of work even a greeter at Wal-Mart but there are a list of people looking for that job also.
The unemployment will stimulate the economy because you can’t afford to save and it will go back to increase spending.
PLEASE WE NEED THE EXTENSION NOW, NOT TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK OR THE END OF THE MONTH.
I have been a republican, voted republican all my life but that is changing now because the people I voted to office do not give a d__ if I starve or thrown out of my house.
What I have found out the the credit card people work with you but the utilities do not care, they shut off my water, electric and I told them I have a 4 month old baby in the house. You know what they said, PAY THE BILL plus a reconnection amount and a security deposit also. I could not afford the bill at that time let alone the $75 dollar reconnection and the $100 security deposit, Why can’t the monopolies get real and have compassion.
Thank You for your ears
Bob Fox
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
I Just Don’t Understand
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
I must say (although I don’t believe that my saying this matters for a damn) that I am outraged at the Republican Senate (and frankly the Senate as a whole) I am 52 years old, I have been paying my taxes, and UNEMPLOYMENT surcharges since I was 16. Now by virtue of this wonderful economy I have lost in the last year and a half, my house, my marriage and any semblance of self-respect I ever had.
I just don’t understand; my benefits ran out on September 21st; I have no money, no job, no food…..no nothing. At least with the lousy pittance unemployment provided, I could almost survive…not have a life of course…but survive. Thank God I have no children to feed…I’d be out robbing banks.
I too have found myself in the “remarkably overqualified” world of no hire. I too have applied for any job out there including McDonalds, Wa-Wa, Target, Wal-Mart ect. They just don’t hire the temporarily jobless.
I just don’t understand.
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
Unemployed and Trying Stories; Out of Benefits and Need Help
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
- im wondering why is this even debated..millions of people unemployed and no work in sight–why is this an isssue..without the uc benefits the economy is worse doesnt anyone see this–or is this the greed deal again for the rich–wake up america–john claffey
- I happen to be one of the unemployed that is at the end of benefits and I am the only wage earner as I live alone but will not be able to pay rent, utilities , or any other necessities and since I have worked in manufacturing almost all my working years(50+ years), No one wants to retrain when they have a hundred applicants for every opening and out of that hundred, there are some that are already trained. Where are we supposed to go??? Sometimes there are situations where you never ever had a chance to have a substantial savings as I raised 3 children by myself as at that time dead beat husbands could be just that. Working two and sometimes 3 jobs and thinking when I get retirement age, I would get to rest a bit. Not so but now can even have a job and it is far more worrisome than working long hours. People in every state need help when their unemployment runs out.
- My significant other is out of benefits and I can’t handle house bills on my own and probably will lose my home. The republicans don’t care. They have food, gas, homes etc. I would never vote for a republican in my life. They are just plain idiots that play with people’s lives. They don’t care. I’ll be lucky if I can eat in a couple days when the food runs out. Hope they are happy dragging this thing out. What a bunch of morons.
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
Unemployed and Trying Stories; Out on the Street Soon
We would like to thank you all for your unemployed and trying stories. We encourage you to send us emails with your stories! Please vote on the Unemployment Benefits Extension poll as well!
- I would like to add my voice to the thousands that are out there that
need an extension of unemployment benefits. I have worked
continuously for 40 years until 2008. I have made money for companies
and agencies that I worked for that in turn contributed to the
unemployment funds. This is in addition to the taxes I paid
personally and the cash flow my efforts helped put into the economy.
I am no different than every other working American, I don’t want a
handout, but I feel that I have done my part and that myself and
millions of others need this help at this time. The economy appears
to be turning around, I desperately want to be a part of that
turnaround. I am feverishly looking for work. In our state the
unemployment office job service lists over a half million registered
out of work individuals and only approximately 12,000 open positions.
Couple that with the fact that I am an over 50 white male and the
numbers are working against me, even though my track record and
experience show that I am a very productive employee.
Congressman, Senators, we need your help. We greatly appreciate your
efforts and understand that the billions in bailouts for banks and
insurance companies were needed to help bolster the economy. But we
need your help too, and the small amount we get per week helps us pay
our utilities and keep our houses.
Please pass the Unemployment Benefits Extension as soon as possible.
I personally will be out on the street in a month.
- we are in need of unemployment for the reason, we are trying very hard to find work and cannot the holiday of Thanksgiving is approaching and people do not have money for food please take a look at all that have giving years to their jobs and was let go we have giving so much and asking for so little please try to pass it before the holiday. I have two grown children and a single parent trying to survive and pay bills now i will have trouble putting food on the table that is really hard.
UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to this issue! If you would like to write an article to those in Washington as to why YOU think unemployment benefits should be extended please email them to jwojdylo@subprimeblogger.com. If your article is free of profanity and any direct insults we will be more than happy to post it here on Unemployed and Trying so you can send the link to anyone you choose.
Author: Jesse Wojdylo
