The R word came out today

[weekendwellies]

Yes folks, the economy problems have reached Liverpool.
I got made redundant today.
I have a months notice and finish on 2nd April.
Fortunately, due to having sold our dads house just before Christmas I have a bit of a cushion.
As some of you may be aware I was thinking of using the money to relocate, but now I am thinking I would be best just buying my council house instead of going to all the cost and trouble of moving.
I should have a good discount as I have paid rent for many many years to Knowsley.
I have strong opinions about social housing and am reluctant to be responsible for taking one out of the social pot. However, it is a good deal for me I think.
I can also look into paying off the balance on my car, and then seeing what I have left, if anything.
I am determined not to feel depressed about losing my job though.
I am looking at it as an opportunity to change direction in my life.
I may even just spend the summer working my allotment and look for another job come autumn.
They offered me a position at the Manchester office, which I told them that I would think about.
This subject has been broached before, when that office was opened.
I offered that I could do a day or two per week there if they wanted me to, and verbally agreed that I would get petrol costs, and leave home at the same time I would normally do in order to get there, and leave appropriately early in order to get home at the same time as I normally would.
However, now the situation would be that if I took this position I would have to travel on my own time, pay my own petrol, etc.
This would mean leaving home an hour earlier than I do now, arriving home an hour later than now, and doing it every day would be a huge expense in petrol and wear and tear on my little Clio.
And all for the same salary that I get now, which by the way is pathetically little in my opinion considering the responsibilities that I have.
I think they will need to reconsider their terms if they want me to do that, rather than employing someone new in Manchester and having to train this person up.
They also said that they may consider reopening the Liverpool office in a new location in 6-12 months time.
I may suggest that they contact me if that does happen and if they would still want me to do the job.

Your thoughts and suggestions on any/all the above.
I know I can rely on you all for moral support, advice and suggestions.

[Pies]

Defo buy your house

[SlugLobber]

Sorry to hear about your job. As for thoughts, whilst Liverpool isn't millions of miles way from Manchester, at the times you'd be travelling in and out, I can't see it being a nice day's work, even if you leave early! The Manchester ring roads are a bleedin nightmare!

Glad that you're seeing it as an opportunity, though and that they're giving you notice. In my game, when people are made redundant, they're escorted to their desks and then off the premises - that's how paranoid they are about intellectual property!!

[Bramble_killer]

oh gosh, what awful news.

Would it be possible to move to manchester (where the new office is)?

Whatever you decide, I hope it's the best for you!

[janeyo]

I don't have any advice or pearls of wisdom but am LOVING your positive attiude towards it all. I am sure this will go a long way to helping you find what you need to do

[geoff]

I was made redundant a few years ago, though I have a job now, and became quite ill with depression amongst other things. I'm not going to give you any advice on dealing with all the different aspects of unemployment and redundancy
But the advice is not to try to manage on your own. There are loads of offices, quangos and charities to go to for help, don't be too proud. The benefits and claims system is very complicated, try to find someone to guide you through it
I also got a job for one or two days a week in a charity shop, to get me out of the house and keep occupied; that sort of thing also goes down well with a prospective employer

Best of Luck Geoff

[Glutton4...]

Every cloud has a silver lining!

If you have your 'cushion' make the most of the summer and decide what you actually want. I'd look into buying your House anyway, you can always sell and move elsewhere later if you decide that's what you want. At least you've got a month. When I was made redundant I was given about minus half an hour! ie. I had to wait to see the Boss who had arranged to see me at five PM (I was contracted to finish at quarter to) and he wasn't 'ready' until nearly half past. My only concession was I was allowed to drive the van home (half an hour) to save me the walk!!!!

I hope it works out for you, just think how much gardening you can do this summer! Oh, and remember, we're always here if you need a shoulder!

[Jeanied]

I'm sorry to hear your news Weekendwellies - but I am so pleased you are able to look on the bright side and I hope a fantastic opportunity comes your way! Keep us posted on the vine - we none of us know what is just around the corner!

[Seahorse]

I hear you on the social housing thing but I do think you should buy your current house, if you can get a decent offer. That will give you a great deal of security, from which you can decide to look for a local job, or in the longer term, sell and relocate.

I'm not sure how much of a financial cushion you have but I think I'd be hesitant about having the summer off, then starting to look for work. I guess a lot depends on your field and how often local(ish) jobs in it come up. Do you enjoy what you do now? Maybe you could take some time and cash to retrain in something you'd rather be doing?

Either way round, good on you for seeing it all as an opportunity and not cause for despair

[Scottishnewbie]

you'll have to change your user name to "fulltimewellies"....seriously, i think you have a fantastic attitude and having been there myself i can vouch for it being a 'start' rather than an 'end'.

if it were me; i'd pay off as many debts as i can; buy the house, enjoy the summer and stay in touch with as many people as you can - there are always opportunities when you least expect them!

have a wonderful summer and just think how much money you'll save by growing your own fruit and veg x

[organic]

My dad did a Manchester-Liverpool commute every day for a scratch over 6 and a half years.
Leave early and it's a 45 minute drive (He went from North Manchester to one of the big offices on the docks) - leave later and it's 90.

I understand what you're saying about the cost of petrol and wear on the car - but I think you might be looking at it a bit backwards.

That view makes perfect sense if you're working in Liverpool and they ask you to move to working in Manchester... but you're not going to be working.

No matter the cost of petrol or the wear on your car, I just can't see any way you'll be out of pocket by commuting over this way - even on a daily basis. Sure, you might take home less than you would - but even after petrol and car wear you'll be taking home massively more than you would if you just sit at home or put in some time on your allotment.

It's good that you're taking a positive view of it all - but I think you need to re-think the "to commute or not to commute" question. It strikes me as being kinda nuts to turn down the chance to keep working (and in these times, that's not to be sniffed at) because you'll be taking home a bit less each week.

If, like you say, the Liverpool office does re-open in 6 to 12 months, you'll be 6 to 12 months worth of wages (minus petrol) better off than you would have been, will have far less impact on your savings and might mean you get to move house as planned and don't "take one out of the pot" by buying your social housing.

Just some thoughts that sprang up on reading your post.

I know what I'd do, but I'm not you...

[weekendwellies]

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone, and the PMs too.
Its great to know there is such a good support group here.

whilst Liverpool isn't millions of miles way from Manchester, at the times you'd be travelling in and out, I can't see it being a nice day's work, even if you leave early! The Manchester ring roads are a bleedin nightmare!

Glad that you're seeing it as an opportunity, though and that they're giving you notice. In my game, when people are made redundant, they're escorted to their desks and then off the premises - that's how paranoid they are about intellectual property!!

Yes Slug, I went to a seminar a few months back and was supposed to be in Manchester for 8am. I left about 6.45 and it was still about 8.15 when I finally reached my destination. The M62 is a nightmare at that time of day.

Fortunately, I haven't been escorted from the premises and they have asked if I will work the month.

Would it be possible to move to manchester (where the new office is)?

Whatever you decide, I hope it's the best for you!

I had been looking at properties between Liverpool and Manchester Bramble, in the St Helens, Wigan, Warrington area's. But I have not been able to find anything that was at least the size of house I am in now, or in need of almost total refurbishment.
I dont especially want to downsize at the moment and with the situation being as it is now I really don't want the expense and effort of moving when I have a perfectly good house here that I (hopefully) will be able to buy that doesn't need any improvements done to it.

I don't have any advice or pearls of wisdom but am LOVING your positive attiude towards it all. I am sure this will go a long way to helping you find what you need to do

Thanks Jane. I hope so.
After the last 12 months that I have had this really isn't the end of the world - no-one has died anyway. I may feel differently after a while, but at the moment I feel ok.

I was made redundant a few years ago, though I have a job now, and became quite ill with depression amongst other things. I'm not going to give you any advice on dealing with all the different aspects of unemployment and redundancy
But the advice is not to try to manage on your own. There are loads of offices, quangos and charities to go to for help, don't be too proud. The benefits and claims system is very complicated, try to find someone to guide you through it
I also got a job for one or two days a week in a charity shop, to get me out of the house and keep occupied; that sort of thing also goes down well with a prospective employer

Best of Luck Geoff

Sorry to hear you had such a bad time Geoff, and I am glad you managed to deal with it in the end. I will go see CAB sometime in the next couple of weeks and see what they have to say about it. Doing some voluntary work sounds just up my street. I will look into that too. A couple of half days per week would keep me in touch with the world. I dont think I will have trouble keeping occupied though, with one thing or another.

Every cloud has a silver lining!

When I was made redundant I was given about minus half an hour! ie. I had to wait to see the Boss who had arranged to see me at five PM (I was contracted to finish at quarter to) and he wasn't 'ready' until nearly half past. My only concession was I was allowed to drive the van home (half an hour) to save me the walk!!!!

I hope it works out for you, just think how much gardening you can do this summer! Oh, and remember, we're always here if you need a shoulder!

Sorry that you were treated so poorly Glutton4. I have heard some horror stories about redundancies and how people were made to feel like criminals. This hasn't been like that, at least not yet. Hopefully it will stay civilized.

Its good to know everyone is here to blubber over if I need to.

Keep us posted on the vine - we none of us know what is just around the corner!

Thanks Jeanied, I am sure that something will come along, and you can be sure I will let everyone know what happens either way.

Do you enjoy what you do now? Maybe you could take some time and cash to retrain in something you'd rather be doing?

I do admin, its a transferrable skill, and i have worked in all sorts of different industries with it, so I am quite lucky to have so many possibilities.
On the other hand it would be a good time to look into other jobs and train for something completely different.
I like gardening as a hobby so I am unsure just now if taking that up as a job would not take the fun out of it.

you'll have to change your user name to "fulltimewellies"....

x

Lol, Scottish. Yes I was thinking about the name thing myself.



You are all so great, I am glad you are all available to share these highs and lows of life with. Just typing about it helps put things into proportion so much.

[weekendwellies]

I think you need to re-think the "to commute or not to commute" question. It strikes me as being kinda nuts to turn down the chance to keep working (and in these times, that's not to be sniffed at) because you'll be taking home a bit less each week.

I get what you are saying Organic, and maybe 2 years ago I would have done anything to keep working. It is just that things are a lot different now. And I am confident that when I look for a new place to work I will not have to wait too long or travel quite so far. That may not be the case and I may regret it, but I am willing to take the chance.

[weekendwellies]

I am making the journey to Manchester one day next week to see just how bad it is morning and evening before making a decision.

I have also tonight, sent an email to the local volunteering services describing myself and situation to see if there is anything that would suit me in the local area.

[organic]

Cheers for the response. As long as you've considered all the options there's nowt more for me to say.
All the best whatever you go for!