I can totally relate to what you're saying. My husband went through a two year period of on again/off again work after being laid off. I was so scared. We managed to make it through with temp work and help from our family. Do you have any family that might be able to help you during this difficult time? Is your husband going to be receiving unemployment benefits? I'll be praying for you. That's the only way we really made it through, a lot of praying.

he should get unemployment and they are extending it because of the job market.

sorry to hear about your stress. but don't despair I think you can make it. Try not to think about worst case scenarios. Focus on what you can do not how bad it could get.

Thank you friends. He did apply for unemployment & are waiting to recieve payments.

I'm sorry that you and your family are going through this difficult time!!! I hope the unemployment compensation comes through quickly and that it is enough for you to live on!!!! Hang in there!!!!!! You can make it!!! (((((Hugs)))))

I am in construction and it is one of the worst hit in any down economy. The "canaries in the mine" are the realtors, architects and builders.

There is only piecemeal work right now in Oregon and most of it is government related. If he qualifies as a Small Business Enterprise (SBE), he might have more opportunities for some of these projects. There are so many bidding on projects these days that if yu do come in low, you likely missed something in the bid and will regret it later.

His best bet may be just making the rounds to all steel fabricators and generals and make up some business cards and a resume to hand out and at least get some face time so when work comes up , he may get a call.

Good luck!

Love the crazy cat lady icon from the Simpsons. That made me smile. I stopped smiling when I read the word suicide. Now honey how will that help anything? What's the worst that can happen if you and your family lose all your money and materials? Let's see now you still have each other and that's more than a lot of people have. You have social assistance, food banks, goodwill, sally ann, soup kitchens. Not fun but not permanent either. Nothing lasts forever. Everything is transitional.

I was almost going to post the exact same story but you beat me to the punch. My problems began more than two years ago and we've been running on fumes since.

We're worried about being out in the streets as well. I made a suicide attempt 2 years ago because I thought I would be more valuable dead. My family could have "redeemed" my life insurance policy. I've since learned how distorted my view was but I constantly need to remind myself. This is the kind of stress that never goes away and there's never any relief as long as unemployment continues.

I wish I could say to "just hang in there and everything will be okay", because I don't know that. All I do know is that I take it one day at a time and I don't worry obsessively about the future. One day at a time, trudging across the tundra until we finally arrive at the "promised land". Oh well, it may be a fairy tale but it will have to do for now.

I hope that we can both get just a few minutes of relief today from the worrying.

I can relate as my husband has had 3 job losses in past years. We qualified for food stamps at one point and took advantage of that. Call around and see what you qualify for the most they can tell you is no and it doesn't cost anything to call and find out except your time. Lots of churches have food banks. I know my SIL gets food from a church and no pressure to attend or anything. Cooking from scratch is a good way to save money also. I hope your husband qualifies for unemployment benefits and that you all qualify for medical as well. WIll keep you in my prayers if that is ok with you.

i lost my job in oct 2009. I have apply for diability and well start getting it in April and also have started getting food stamps this helped with my stress alot it was hard for me to ask for help but i had too. Find out where u can get help in your town dont wait til the last minute like i did . I will keep u and your family in my prayers good luck

It's pretty rough living in these trying times of our economy. I try to live one day at a time and hope for the economy to turn around soon. There are some small signs of a beginning of a turn around,the economy will change but may be different than before. I think we all need to prepare for life in the new global economy,whether that my mean retraining for different careers or accepting the constraints of our present one.In the early 80's the economy tanked and I went back to school and started a new career and have been busy working ever since,it's something to look into and the government is offering grants and loans for continued education right now.

You should know by now that tough times are character forming.

Wish you get out of them anyway. I'll pray for it.

has he tried talking with a temp agency? the positions often lead to permanent jobs. the economy is very scary, but i do believe it is on the upturn. but will be slow to recover and may never be quite the same. which in some areas won't be a bad thing. when i was waiting for ssd, homelessness was my worst fear. but you'd be surprised at the ways you can find to make things work. and regardless of the economy it would be a terrible thing to leave your family without you. they will always need you.

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.
Mother Teresa

and don't please please ever consider suicide an 'option'. there are other options like temping, even soup kitchens are better than tearing up your family like that.

Hang in there, be strong and take it one day at a time.