What I Wish I Had Done

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 at 2:23 am

Before losing my job…

Below is advice from people who gone through this recently.

1 – “I should have asked for extra work.” – Have raised my hand and volunteered for new projects.

2 - “I should have kept track of my business contacts.” – Not leaving all email addresses and phone numbers at my old job, in my desk. I should have kept a copy of my personal agenda.

3 – “I should have kept an emergency fund.” – Have saved more, because now, it’s difficult to pay my bills with unemployment pay.

4 – “I wish I had paid my bills when I could have.” - Have put more effort in this direction.

5 – “I wish I’d remembered that would be ok.” – since a year before losing my job, I started giving cooking classes for children at home, when I got unemployed and decided to do this full time. Now I am the proud owner of my own business, my day never ends, but also the days are fun and exciting.”

Were you fired? One thing you can not stop doing, if you are in America: Keep your health plans. If COBRA (the coverage you are entitled to have in case of unemployment), is too expensive for you, find the better options at www.ehealthinsurance.com.

Or try to find a higher deductible, which has a lower premium (you will just pay more of your own pocket, if any emergency happens).

(The above advice, is from Carmen Wong Ulrich, who works as a counselor in Finance)

(The lessons shared above, were a collaboration of: Brooke Gorman, Marivel Mendoza, Amanda Johnson, Isadora Quintanilla, and Amy Richter Jessi Walter)