Just been made redundant

[limescale]

Lone parent.
One months notice.
Should get 2 months redundancy.
I work for a Hong Kong company, so I’m under their laws.
Need to find a new job. Sharp.
I have a 16 yo at home (26 yo as well).
My divorce 9 years ago wiped out savings. I do not have a big buffer to fall back on.
😢😢

I was just thinking that if you run out of money you won't be able to take out a loan while you are unemployed. If you take it out now, yes you will have to repay it with interest but at least you will have a back-up for when your redundancy runs out.

With the autumn budget looming I fear you might be in a limbo for quite a few months and at least that way you would have a much bigger breathing space of a couple of years.

Yes annoying to pay back bank interest but better than losing your house.

Understand re the car. I lived in a city at that point so it was doable although still inconvenient.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Reading in the press recently that construction industry is contracting now. Isn't that usually the first sign the country is heading into recession? I just remember the 2008-2010 period and it wasn't fun.

I started out in university libraries- I loved the work, but the main reason I moved to IT is because I need to pay bills and keep a roof over my head, and I just couldn't afford to cover all of even the most basic options on my library wages.

I was just thinking that if you run out of money you won't be able to take out a loan while you are unemployed

That's true, but if I run out of money a bank loan will only delay the problem (plus add some new ones) by a few months. I don't want to add to already existing commitments (mortgage, car loan, small credit card debt).
If I get to that stage I will of course take any work I can find.

I will also then be eligible for UC and with a 16 yo in full time education.

I am getting ahead of myself. I have many months of £.
I will lose my state of mind before I lose my £.

Maybe they just want someone who needs some pocket money but are willing to write a dissertation to earn that pocket money.

So I popped into the Job Centre and they were very nice.
They asked what time my appt was. Said I didn't have one. I was quite willing to turn around and book an appt, but they were lovely, asked what I needed and told them I just wanted to make sure I was doing what I needed to do.
When he learnt I'd done my JSA application yesterday he told me it would take a month for me to get a call. I'm glad I had that info, as I would have been a bit concerned after a fortnight.

OP here with a new username.
I've had a real time of it, but I am happy to report I have been offered some short-term freelance work. The pay is good.
I also had an interview last week which I think I did well in, and will hear next week if I've got through to the final round.

So many rejections. Gruelling and dehumanising. I went through a period of depression a few weeks ago, but felt somewhat brighter since I was invited to interview. It's so hard to remain positive yet manage expectations.

OP you should be so proud with how well you’re doing. You haven’t given up despite how hard and stressful this whole thing has been. Things will work out, you’ll make sure of it

Thank you. I did see my GP a couple of weeks ago when I was clearly depressed and couldn't stop crying. My future was looking very bleak.

Today I've also heard that I've been invited for the final interview for the position I interviewed for this week. They said I would hear next week, so I think this has got to be a good sign.

It’s definitely a good sign. And well done for seeking help when you were struggling with depression. That takes huge courage. Recognising there is a problem and taking action with it, is the start of being able to get things in a more stable position. I really do hope you find something permanent soon so you can draw a line under this nightmare and look to next year with excitement and possibility ♥️

That's a good sign op!
The job market is brutal right now.
DH was made redundant at the end of April, he's applied for over 60 jobs and still hasn't been successful in finding anything. Never in a million years did we think it would take this long to find another job.

It WAS a good sign! I've been offered the position.
It's only for a year, but foot in the door and all that.
I am giddy with relief and Christmas is BACK ON.
Now I can have a few days doing something other than applying for jobs. I haven't been doing it all day, every day because that's impossible, but it's been a constant knot in my belly since mid Aug.
It's a role very similar to what I was doing before and the company is very similar in ethos and working practices.

I don't know if I'll be able to do the freelance stuff alongside this - it might be too much (lone parent). I have a meeting with them on Wed. It would be nice if I can do a bit; just enough to pick it up if I need to.

congratulations OP, really pleased for you. And what a relief. It seems to be so tough out there at the moment.