I will try to update this site as I progress in my efforts to help the poor through a charity.

Matthew5sixteen.

As the New York Times article says,

“…the millions of teenagers and twenty-somethings struggling to carve out a future for themselves when the nation’s economy is in its worst shape in decades. Many are settling for second choices or pursuing low-cost detours because the recession has wiped out hoped-for jobs.”

They are not alone in their struggles. A recent article from the Washington Post reports,

The share of working families earning less than double the official poverty threshold – $43,512 for a family of four – increased from 28 to 30 percent between 2007 and 2009…

An article from the Huffington Post reports,

Last year, 45 million people, including 22 million children, lived in low-income households…

Even older, more established people are vulnerable in this current environment. There are concerns about outsourcing and age discrimination. As another Huffington Post article reports,

“Job seekers and employees in their 40s and 50s seemed to have the biggest concerns. I think that’s been an age group that has seen more struggles than others, because of this notion that they are potentially ‘too old to hire, to young to retire…’”

In these uncertain times, where can we go to find a measure of certainty? Family? Community? Religion? Education? Government? What is the answer? Perhaps these trying times demand that we choose to depend on each and every one of these options.

The suggestion of education should be qualified. As these articles from Slate and Monster indicate, education will not provide a quick answer to a person’s problems. It should be emphasized that it is not necessary to spend a large amount of money on education. Community colleges along with the federal Pell grant present a low cost option for pursuing an education.

This current economic environment demands that we set aside ideals of self-sufficiency and independence. We must rely on one another to get through these difficult times.

Matthew5sixteen.

She says in a Huffington Post article,

“I want to focus on the positive and be optimistic … And assume that somehow things will work out, that there’s an opportunity out there with Velma’s name on it that’s right around the corner.”

But being positive and remaining optimistic has been a struggle for some of the unemployed.

As KOMO News reports in an article,

“Losing your job is akin to identity theft,” says Nancy Collamer, a career counselor in Connecticut and author of layoffsurvivalguide.com. “You’re robbed not only of a sense of who you are, but of what you were supposed to be doing on a daily basis.”

…

“I feel aimless, empty … worthless is also a good word to describe it,” Urbanski says. “I’ve had jobs for 30 years. It’s devastating.”

The Providence Journal reports in an article,

“When this first started, we saw a lot of anxiety disorder and insomnia — people laying in bed worrying about the economy,” she says. “But what has happened in the last two years is profound. That anxiety has morphed into depression. People are numb. They are reluctant to get up and look for work. They are feeling beaten down, helpless and hopeless.”

As unemployed people such as Rochelle Sevier, Errol and Gus Poulos have found, our current economy makes it difficult to find a job even when a person has one or more degrees and an extensive work experience.

But not all is hopeless. Both the KOMO News and Providence Journal articles go on to tell stories of people who have decided to not let their unemployment define who they are. Some have taken up hobbies. Some work on new business ideas. And others volunteer their time at nonprofits.

As a New York Times article reports,

About two years ago, to fight the despair, Mr. Cesarelli increased his time volunteering from weekends to seven days, 20 hours a week, caring for the medieval society’s three horses, stabled nearby at the Sands Point Preserve on the North Shore of Long Island. “Gives me a reason to wake up,” he said. One recent morning, he arrived at the barn at 9:30 and went straight to work, feeding the horses their oats, changing their water, spreading hay across the pasture, then taking Eli, Monte and Gunther out to graze. The temperature was just 23 degrees, but it was sunny and still; within an hour, sweat was trickling down his face. “Feels good to work,” he said.

For those of you who are unemployed, don’t let your unemployment define who you are. Don’t allow yourself to be caught in a downward emotional spiral. Develop safe, inexpensive hobbies. Find a nonprofit in your community and volunteer your time there.

Matthew5sixteen.

Imagine that you are a chef working in the kitchen of your very own restaurant. You get your ingredients from a local store. Any of your customers can go to the same store and purchase the exact same ingredients that you purchase. But what distinguishes you from your customers? It is your culinary knowledge. You have the ability to turn ordinary ingredients into extraordinary cuisines.

No one is born a chef. Even the greatest chefs had to learn their art or science. So, what does this mean for an aspiring cook? Culinary school.

Some may say that school is not for them. There are various reasons. One of them is cost. For these people, community college combined with the federal Pell grant may be an option. Another reason is the lack of benefit that one may get from an education. For these people, I would like to present the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. The handbook projects the demand for different categories of jobs in the near future. It also lists the education and training required to perform these jobs. For those who want to start their own businesses, it is good to know what sectors are projected to grow in the future and which are not.

It is not being recommended that everyone immediately enroll at a school to obtain the highest degree possible. What is being recommended is that school be looked at as a resource. When you go to a grocery store, you don’t purchase everything in the store. Rather, you pick out the best ingredients that you currently need. Consider taking one or more classes at a time at your local community college. At first, pick the classes that you want to take. But later on, as you get more comfortable, consider the suggestions of your school counselors.

The first step in getting education and training for your business does not have to be at school. For example, the Small Business Administration has resources available for aspiring entrepreneurs. There is also a national network of Small Business Development Centers available for entrepreneurs.

One of the most difficult things to face is an educational bar set so high that you give up before even trying. Start where you’re comfortable. Work your way up.

Matthew5sixteen.

Some quotes from the first article:

“One thing came after another — boom, boom, boom,” Brown recalls. “I kept getting up and dusting myself off, but I could never get ahead again. I spiraled further and further into the abyss.” Her voice is trembling now. “I’ve done everything America told me to do. I went to school. I’ve never been to jail. I’ve kept my nose clean. My kids are great kids.”

She laughs a sarcastic laugh. “And now?”

…

“There are no jobs,” she realized. “Too many people, not enough jobs.”

…

Her friend had lost her home in spite of her MBA.

Some quotes from the second article:

Finley calls them “the new poor.” “That is a different category of people that I think we’re seeing,” he says. “They are people who never in their wildest imaginations thought they would be homeless.” They’re people who had enough money — a lot of money, in some cases — until recently.

…

This time the recession is also affecting well-educated people who had been earning a good living until now. These people, who see themselves as solidly middle-class, now feel more threatened than ever before in the country’s history. Four out of 10 Americans who consider themselves part of this class believe that they will be unable to maintain their social status.

What can we learn from these articles that warn us of the dangers that many face? A good place to start would be 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy. After that, go through this list.

Learning about financial literacy can give you the skills needed to reduce your expenses and increase your savings. It is the first step in preserving your dreams. The second step is in realizing that you need to take one step back in order to take two steps forward. Trying to maintain the lifestyle of our dreams will cause us to lose that very dream. Live below your means and you will build up the resources necessary to achieving your dream.

It should be mentioned that building up your resources can end up as a pointless endeavor if you cannot place your savings into investments that are able to survive a bad economy and/or inflation.

Live below your means. Place your savings into a diversified set of low-risk investments.

Matthew5sixteen.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an entrepreneur as, “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.”

Anyone who has done research into starting a business might come across the statistics regarding business failures. The numbers vary from source to source, but most agree that many businesses fail by their 5th year. That is why new entrepreneurs would be wise to plan not only for success but also for failure.

New entrepreneurs should design businesses that do not bankrupt them or put them into debt if they fail. Experienced entrepreneurs recommend that any business idea should be simplified until it cannot be simplified anymore. And how will you know if your idea is simplified? If your idea costs more than 1 month’s worth of wages to start, then it’s not simplified enough. Complex ideas tend to require large, ongoing investments to work. But a simple idea will force new entrepreneurs to focus on their core competencies and lower their costs. In other words, it will force them to focus on what they do best and help them avoid spending too much money on any new businesses.

Someone might ask, how do you start a new business with only 1 month’s worth of wages? Think outside the box, as they say. A new business does not have to be a traditional brick and mortar business. It could be based out of a person’s home. Instead of using expensive, traditional offices at the beginning, try to create a virtual office. Some entrepreneurs report that there will come a time when a real office is needed. But until then, virtual offices will save a new business a lot of money.

One of the most important things to remember about starting a new business is limited liability. Make sure to pick a business structure that protects your personal assets from liability in the case of any lawsuits.

Starting a new business is risky. But it is possible to reduce that risk by planning wisely.

Matthew5sixteen.

In other words, millions are unemployed. The average unemployed person has been unemployed for many months. And whatever jobs are available aren’t enough to meet the demand for jobs. But thankfully, Congress recently passed a bill that extended unemployment benefits by 13 months for many of the unemployed.

So, knowing that there aren’t enough jobs available for everyone and knowing that unemployment benefits may run out someday, what will the average person do? The New York Times reports that one option for an increasing number of the unemployed is to become entrepreneurs. But caution is warranted here. Entrepreneurship is risky. The decision to become an entrepreneur should not be taken lightly. Some research should be done to find out what it takes to become one. Entrepreneurship also requires skills and education. Fortunately, the United States has a system of community colleges available for those who are interested in furthering their education.

Remember the lesson of the play, “Waiting for Godot.” In this economy, one cannot afford to be passive. Hoping to find a job or hoping for the economy to recover in time might not be enough.

Matthew5sixteen.

It’s that easy. Simply tell the entrepreneurs of the world how they can help you.

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