My apologies to my readers. I had full intentions of following up my review on Philip Brewer’s article, Things to Do if You Lose Your Job, more promptly but here I am playing catch up instead. So today before discussing Part 4, Get Free Stuff and I will take a few minutes to look at Parts 2 and 3, Boosting Your Income, and Cutting Your Expenses.
In his second article, Boosting Your Income, Brewer points the reader to a multitude of possible revenue sources that we often overlook. Sure, we really want a full time job in our chosen field of expertise but in the mean time, could we make a few dollars here and there painting a neighbors house, walking their dog or shopping for shut-ins? Do we have hidden treasure stashed around the house? BBC’s Cash in the Attic series illustrates this principle week after week as participants unload Uncle Milton’s comic book collection to pay for the kitchen remodel.
I find it interesting to see renting space in your home on Brewer’s list. In working on our family’s genealogy, I noticed that census data from the Depression years inevitably had large groups of non-related persons residing at the same address. Many of the adults were identified as ‘borders.’ In general, household sizes were larger too, often several generations of the same family shared a dwelling. Hard times makes this option often a necessity.
It may be time to adjust our perception of how big of house we need to how many people will our house actually accommodate? Brewer does caution readers to be aware of the legal ramifications involved if they entertain thoughts renting out spare rooms or taking in borders. I find it sad that such a caution is necessary but we do in live a sue happy culture so it is good advise. Unfortunately, some less scrupulous folks consider frivolous law suits a viable option as another source of income, one which Brewer doesn’t recommend and neither do I. Those that do are out there though, so do be careful who you take into your home.
Part 3 of the series Brewer tackles what I would called the BIG ticket items: downsizing your home and automobile. Lets face it, they are our biggest expenses and ones where we can continue to poor thousands of dollars in an effort to maintain our image or ‘standard of living.’ Image may be one luxury we can’t afford if we are out of a job. Stay tuned for Part 4…
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