What is an "Essential"? Every single person who is reading this will have a different answer. I live about less than 4 miles from a drain basin of 4 rivers, within 45 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, within 40 miles of the mighty Hudson river which splits New Jersey from New York , but I am up on a slight elevated area so I do not get flooded. Down below me thousands of people are coping with yet another flooding of these rivers and the eroding of the beaches. Everything they own in many cases is destroyed by water damage and mold. These poor folks have nothing that they can salvage and their home is not inhabitable. What would you do? What is absolutely essential for you to take out of that home you have lived in to survive with the water level lapping up at your front steps. You have less an 1 hour to decide. What will you take that is an "Essential"?
In preparation for this post, I did some extensive reading on unemployment and on the importance of taking your "financial temperature" in your life. If you are employed, self employed, unemployed or just wondering how to budget, this post will help you. Let's get down to business.
Unemployment has touched every segment of society today. It is still stinging us some 24 months after we started this slippery slope. If you are one of the millions who has already found themselves out of time, money, resources and federal aid you will have to do some more tightening. I know there are many of you who are already down to the last notch on your belt. I also know that there is great power and positive energy in knowing where you are financially every day, every week and every month. Once a family, a couple or a person has experienced this situation they have a real appreciation for the times of plenty and a stronger countenance during times of trial and lean.