As unemployment numbers continue to rise, many employees are stressed about whether they’ll have a job next week or not. Some have already, some have already lost their jobs and are scrambling to find new employment. In this time financial planning is crucial. This is a time when people are feeling and are desperately in need of guidance. If you think that you are about to encounter a layoff, you need to be focusing your attention on what can be controlled: cutting expenditures, figuring out emergency funds, evaluating how to replace lost benefits, and making a game plan for the job search.
1. Save Emergency Cash
For those that are still employed but the future of their job is uncertain, I would encourage them to have at least 12 months of savings in cash. Unfortunately many will not have enough. But if they’re still employed and the emergency funds are not there, tapping into their 401(k) might be a viable option. I know what you’re thinking. Tapping into your 401k usually goes against all that I stand for. And with this dismal market, it might be a dangerous move, but; if they become unemployed that option might now be available to them.
Typically if you’re still employed you’re allowed borrow up to half of your 401(k) balance, up to a maximum of $50,000. Running these numbers you can guesstimate the period of how long you think it will take you to find a new job and then how much you would need to borrow to get you by until the new job is made. If you borrow from your 401k while you are still employed then you avoid the 10% withdrawal penalty. Sure there is some speculation in this move, but if you’re in a high demand field you may be able to use this move to your advantage.
Warning: If you do this, be sure to double check with your employer when you are due to pay it back. It tends to vary from employer, but it could be due back immediately, within 60 days or some period greater.
2. Don’t Pay Off Debt
Another common misconception of after being laid-off is that most people want to take their savings or take their retirement savings and pay off debt, such as credit cards or even the 401(k) debt. But in this type of market, paying off debt should not be the priority especially if you are unemployed. The priority is to keep get your savings intact and making sure that you have plenty of cash on hand. Sure credit card debt is bad, but just focus on making the minimum payment until you get your job situation in check.
3. Focus On Crisis Budgeting
If you’re used to going to shopping every weekend or eating out every other night at fancy restaurants, then most likely those changes are just around the corner. You need to sit down and seriously hammer out a budget of things that you need and things that you don’t need.
You may even consider working out two budgets, one for while you’re working and one for when you’re not working, so that way you can truly see how much you’re spending per month. And then, you can contemplate whether you can go on a cheaper cell phone plan, or cut your cable bill services. Sometimes adding that extra payment per month might not seem like a big deal, but $50 here and $50 there will surely add up, especially on a limited budget. Also, too, knowing which expenses you absolutely must be covered will help you realistically search for your future job.
4. Replace Lost Benefits
In the aftermath of a job loss, people should take stock of what benefits have been lost, which ones you are entitled to by law, and which ones may be portable. how to continue health care coverage, especially if there are dependents.
Typically, employees are eligible to keep the same coverage through COBRA for at least 18 months. But, they may have to pay 102% of the cost of their insurance premium. If there premium have been subsidized by their employer, then that cost will be a rude shock. COBRA can often be a good bridge choice, but it ends up being a health benefit. Families paying $200 a month for insurance under COBRA, it could be $1,000. Luckily, the government just passed new law concerning COBRA benefits that qualifying period will be only responsible to pay for 35% of the benefit. This comes at a time that should be very helpful to many that are facing layoffs ahead.
Many employers offer life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability policies and they may be portable as well. For another person or one who is not in good health, ability to take over the payments on existing $100,000 life insurance policy may save the worry of having to find another carrier. It’s better to keep it for a few months, although make sure they don’t need it, and drop it later.
5. Consider a Career Transition
Many people will be forced by an unforeseen job layoff to reassess what they want in their lives and what is meaningful to them. They may have to craft resumes, cover letters for the first time in years, and feel at a loss especially if they are switching to a new career path, which is an unfamiliar field.
If you haven’t jumped on the social media bandwagon, it’s time. Consider Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media sites to reconnect with old networks and also create new ones. The more people that know your situation the better. Also, consider starting a blog to showcase your talents. Need a good blog for inspiration? Guess what, you’re already here.
by Steve Rhodes
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