plans change

THE PLAN

My job hired me at the end of October. My first day on the job was the busiest, it has become slower every day. Sometimes I would just walk around downtown dropping off invoices which could easily have been mailed out. They hired me when they didn't really need anyone and they were paying my a salary of 30,000 a year. I knew that they were going to have to let me go eventually, I was hoping it would have been closer to May, because that is around when Kristina and I are going to Europe.

I would be able to take a short vacation before the real vacation and collect unemployment while I am in Europe. And I could just cut my expenses during the period between being let go from my job and when I leave the country.

REALITY

I was let go "due to restructuring" on Wednesday. I knew it was coming long before it came. This is actually a blessing though, I went straight to the unemployment office after work. I made a list of things I need to do, including cutting expenses, getting on food stamps. I need to sell my car too, and now I have no excuse! If I am able to sell it for at least 3000 dollar then I will still be able to meet my 2009 resolution of paying off my debt.

NEW PLAN

I am going to enjoy this time off, unlike last time I was fired (378 days before). I am going to definitely collect unemployment this time, because I was not fired for something I did, I was let go due to restructuring. I am going to find new sources of income that I won't have to declare. I am considering selling some of my old CD's and records because they just sit there going unlistened to, but I think I might regret that someday.

I am going to try doing simple work online for amazon.com in order to pay for internet and a new phone (my work phone was obviously taken away from me). I also want to explore the option of selling stuffed animals online. I am also going to enjoy not waking up at 7:30am 5 days a week. I will enjoy the Wii my brother let me borrow.

One bad thing about that job is I was being forced to dress a certain way, shave, comb my hair a certain way, look normal, clothes must not be stylish in anyway. It was turning me into a person I do not want to be and I am glad that I have moved on from that place. I can wear tennis shoes and orange heart bracelets and whatever else I want.

Maybe it is wrong to collect unemployment when I could easily get a job if I just tried. Perhaps I should not be using food stamps when I could afford food if I just worked. Most of the arguments against this that I have come up with are fallacies: the government spends half our taxes on bombs, this world is messed up and I shouldn't have to work 40 hours a week, if I don't collect some fatcat will collect it instead, the deficit is in the trillions and will continue to be in the trillions until the US government collapses. Really none of these arguments address the fact that I am taking money from a fund which is designed to help those who need the money, when I do not in fact need the money. I don't feel bad though.