Unemployed and Frustrated

I decided to start using this wonderful group as my outlet. As a brief history - I'm 27 years old, I started working since I was 14, paid my own way through college and graduated with two bachelors degrees, Math and Graphic Design. I got a job right out of college using my Math Degree (DECENT Paying Job for the area), and worked there for 5 years. I made is through the recession, but then towards the end of 2012 they cut government funding and I was furloughed. My husband and I started trying for kids a few months before I was furloughed. At that point, since I have worked for 12+ years, and paid into unemployment all those years, I thought I deserved some time off. I started collecting unemployment ... and decided to spend some time with my true passion, Photography... in hopes we would soon be pregnant. I loved photography at first, and still do. But, my main clients are expectant mothers, newborns, children, etc. So, when at first it was a JOY, now at times it's extremely difficult to be around so many expectant mothers and newborns.
My plan was to give photography 100% and turn that into something that I could do part-time once I was blessed with a child. Since my sister got pregnant her first month trying, and my husband's brother has 4 children (pregnant with twins right now) ... we thought it wouldn't be THIS difficult. I was hoping that while on employment I would dabble in photography and would have gotten pregnant and then, once we had the child, I would be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM). Well ... 6 months went by and not pregnant... then a 9 months went by and I knew I had to find a job. Photography paid SOME, but I knew it wouldn't compare to what I was making before, but since it was something I LOVED, I could sacrifice the $$. But, now with all the testing and insurance only covering certain things ... I started looking for jobs daily. I've applied to numerous jobs within the last year and NOTHING. I have a good resume and experience, but just live in a crappy town (Binghamton, NY) I think it's like top 10 depressing towns in the US. 
Anyway, my unemployment just officially ran out. I was planning on being a SAHM once we HAVE a child, but considering I'm not even pregnant yet, and the cost of treatments and such, I NEED to find a job and help support. My husband is a Mechanical Engineer, makes decent money, and is fine with the SAHM once we have a child, but would like me to work now to SAVE $$. Which I completely agree with. It's just hard to find a job in this area, and now I feel like I'm going to have to "settle" at just ANY JOB to make money. It's just difficult when I was making $50,000 at my last job to settle at a job that's significantly less, when I would be working just as much. 
I guess I was just hoping that I would have gotten pregnant sooner and then I wouldn't have the additional worry of finding a job from now until I have a child. I know this directly related to infertility, I'm just frustrated that I'm not pregnant yet (a year and a half of trying), and now the stress of $$ and finding a job doesn't help the situation!
 

Replies

LMWT
LMWT

Vent away! I know how you feel. My DH has been looking for a career job all through the recession and is still working his crap job. He unfortunately does not have a very strong resume now so no matter how many jobs he applies to, he does not get very many bites. And it does not help our insurance covers NOTHING when it comes to IF so we too struggle with the money thing since what he would really like to do is start his own company and do something he loves versus make lots of money.

One of the things he has been doing trying to get his foot in the door is volunteer for some nonprofits he would like to work with. May be something to look into since it seems like the only way to get a job anymore is knowing someone. So if you volunteer a bit it may be a way to get your foot in the door there or meet someone somewhere else that can hire you. I know they seem to be looking for volunteers to do photography and graphic arts. Just a thought.

Good luck! I know how frustrating it is to find a job and than you put IF on top of it and it really sucks.
PolkaDotGirl
PolkaDotGirl

I\'m sorry IF is so frustrating. It\'s crazy how much it affects all aspects of our lives.
TVEnvid
TVEnvid

Thanks for the support ladies!