Living in Hawai‘i offers many advantages, but the high cost of living makes covering daily expenses difficult even in the best of times. When people are confronted with reduced hours, work furlough, and job loss, the resulting loss of income can be stressful and traumatic. If you find yourself in this situation, you should know that people can and do survive periods of financial stress, and you can, too. With preparation and strategic actions, you can lessen the negative impact of job loss and/or lower income and achieve positive transitions to the next phase of life for you and your family. The following sections outline what you can do for yourself and your family, and identify community resources that you may find helpful.

The contents of this post are extracted from a helpful guide, “Managing Job Loss and Financial Stress” by University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. 

PERSONAL GUIDE

The issues associated with losing one’s job or having hours cut are often much more than financial. For some people, these challenges can mean losing identity, the routine in daily life, and relationships with coworkers. The future might seem uncertain. People react to losses and increased uncertainty in their lives in different ways —some positively and others not. Taking the actions below can bring positive changes to your life during these traumatic times.

Reduce spending. Take immediate steps to reduce spending. Review all income and expenditures, and develop a new budget that ensures that all necessary bills are paid and all unnecessary expenses are curtailed (see Budget Worksheet to get you started on this task). Avoid buying on credit except to meet critical needs. Learn new ways to be frugal and take pride in stretching your dollar.

Share the news with your family. Whether you realize it or not, your spouse or partner and children are affected by what happens to you at work. Explain what happened so that everyone understands the situation, can express his or her concerns, and can support one another. Reassure children that the family can weather the financial crisis and that if everyone works together, the ‘ohana can emerge stronger than ever.

Learn about employer and union benefits and services. Be knowledgeable about all of the benefits and services (e.g., medical insurance, severance pay, unemployment payments) that you are entitled to and for how long they will be provided. Your employer and/or union may also have other assistance (e.g., job placement, resume preparation, retraining), of which you should take advantage. Ask questions and continue the discussion until you thoroughly understand what benefits and services are available and how to access them. Ask your supervisor for a letter of recommendation if you know it will be positive, and file the letter for future use.

Develop a job-hunting strategy. Put time and energy into planning actions that will lead to your next job such as preparing a resume; registering with several employment services, career centers, and recruiters or “headhunters”; posting your resume online; calling employers about job openings; and responding to print and online advertisements. Tap your network of supporters. Turn to friends, relatives, and former workers for job referrals and employment opportunities. Send these supporters your resume if that would be helpful. Keep in touch periodically to exchange information and to get advice and suggestions.

Take care of yourself. Financial problems and accompanying stress can sometimes lead to unhealthy behaviors such as drug and alcohol use. Such behaviors should be avoided as they often create more problems that can be harmful to you and others. Taking care of your mental and physical health is important. Be sure to eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep and exercise, and make time for fun and relaxation. Nurture your faith by seeking spiritual support.

Understand your feelings. It’s common to be angry irritable, and anxious; to lack energy or to be restless; to find concentrating difficult; to have trouble sleeping; and to have an increased or decreased appetite. Make a conscious effort to take a break from your worries: go for a walk, play a game, do some gardening, or engage in some other activity each day that provides mental relief. Talking things over with your spouse, partner, or friends often helps to relieve stress. If your problems weigh you down, negatively impact your daily life, and are prolonged (see Depression Checklist), seek professional assistance. Don’t consider yourself a failure. Recognize that you and many other good people are experiencing what you’re going through for reasons that are beyond your control. Focus on the things in your life that you can control.

Help others. One of the best ways to keep things in perspective is to help others, especially those who are less fortunate than you are. Now that you have the time, volunteer with vulnerable children and senior citizens, assist at a food bank or homeless shelter, or offer your services to a charitable organization. Your children’s school or sports team may also need your help. Assisting others results in a more positive attitude and less helplessness, higher self-esteem, and stronger connections with people. Besides improving the lives of others and the community, you will also widen your network of supporters and gain information about employment opportunities.