I know I’m not going to lose my job any time soon, but I am anxious. Very anxious. I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I am not as secure as I’d like. But the weird thing is that my job is secure. I am doing well at work and the way things on my project are going, I’ll be gainfully employed for at least another 12 months. No layoff for me barring some serious breakdown in civil society.
And yet I am going crazy. I’m strategizing how to save money and turning off my home phone service and DSL line. I just bought a netbook for cheap (just over $400) so I can keep it at boyfriend’s place. (There’s another post coming tomorrow about this.)
I am paying cash for my plane tickets to California. (Actually on a charge plate with a long float. Same on the netbook.)
I’m cashing out all my savings and tossing it at debt.
I’m eating cheaply for lunches at work because the guys are all brown bagging it for various personal reasons and we’ve stopped going out every day. (Buying engagement ring, wedding, first time home buying, etc.)
I’m selling hockey tickets and making money to pay for my other tickets.
I’m actually doing great myself on my regular savings plans and yet, I feel like it’s all a mess.
It’s very weird. I guess I should just ignore the news and markets and just keep on doing what I’m doing. The only investment change I’ve made is to buy a slightly better bond fund in my 401k plan than the one I have. I’m holding onto everything I already have to collect the dividends, and riding out the storm.
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Hey, MG -
My company is collapsing around me, and still, I admire your take on how you’re getting things done. I have put together a layoff checklist that I’m running down to ensure that I can minimize spending if I find myself without a job.
I think your problem is that the panic is causing things to jumble up in your head. Take a second to jot down a list of things on your mind – have-to-dos or want-to-dos. At the bottom of the list, write out your short-term goals. Make them quantifiable and underline them. Then post the list on your fridge.
Finally, try to tune out the media coverage. I’m lucky because I don’t actually have television service anymore (it’s one of the things I cut after Comcast dished me an EPIC FAIL in customer service), so I really only hear about this stuff through the Blogosphere or on the Radio. I’m much calmer now that I’m not being bombarded by media input.
Deep breath, hon – we’ll make it through.
I’m in the same boat. I don’t think someone could take over all my cases if they got rid of me, but I’m still worried. I’m also about to ask for a transfer to another office and I’m really worried about it. I feel your pain.
yeah, the entire thing is pretty scary no matter what your situation. I’ve been told 3 times this year that my job is safe, but when you worry, ya just worry, ya know?
I think it’s great you’re keeping aware and being safe just in case…a little tightening of the ship every now and then can’t hurt ya! Love the honest you always bring btw
I have talked to manay people experiencing just what you describe. While it’s probably a good thing that we are all paying off our debt, the poor consumer confidence is probably the major problem with our economy.
Hi, I just came across your blog for the first time.
I’ve never heard anybody use the term “false sense of insecurity” before, but I love how well it applies to the world around us right now.