Shutdown

Is anyone else here affected by the US federal government shutdown?

My husband is a federal employee - and the sole bread-winner right now since I am still at home with our youngest, who is in preschool. Today, we got our last check, for 2/3 the usual amount. There will be no more income coming in for us until the US government gets its head out of its you know what.

My budget is unbalanced and precarious enough already without this nonsense. I am borrowing money earmarked for my kids college funds to pay the bills. I hope to God we get back pay and I am able to pay it back.

Worst of all, my government is using my family and me as pawns in a giant game of chicken.

Aaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!!

(And, scarily enough, we are lucky in this situation - we have savings we can put our hands on and family and friends who will bail us out if and when we run dry. My heart aches for others who aren't so fortunate.)

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"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." -- Blaise Pascal

Both my husband and I are involved, but I have a different outlook that I won't discuss here as its political. It's rough, but there are others out there worse off. We at least have jobs to go back to.

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I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

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To my knowledge, the House sent the back pay bill to the Senate, where it is currently sitting, although the President said he will sign it.

We were given some info before this happened that included how to request financial aid from our credit union and employee association. After this was threatened last year, we started an emergency fund to hold us over if it did happen. We had experienced the one in 1995 and it was a pain in the ass then too.

Julie, Maryland's unemployment laws are different from Virginia, but those Fed employees forced out are entitled to unemployment benefits, since this is in effective a 'lock out'. I think in Maryland's you can apply immediately. In VA, we have to be out of pay for 5 working days first. Your husband can apply for it. The only thing is if we do get the back pay (which could take months) the unemployment benefits have to be paid back.

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I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

Julie, sorry to hear you are having such a hard time with the shut down, there in the States. I keep hoping that things will end quickly and then settle back down.

I have to admit I had never considered how this might affect the "ordinary" person. Best wishes to everyone who is affected.

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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

Julie, I know its hard. Nothing like having the govt screw up your life because they want to throw a tantrum likr a bunch of two year olds.

CW, don't even get me started. I could go on for days.

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I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers so far...

I know this will sound a bit political, but if the Tea Partiers and extremist (from both parties) would just crawl back under the rock they climbed out from under, then the moderates on both sides of the political spectrum could probably solve this problem in a manner that does not hurt the general public and within a day or two at most.

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Perspective Alters Reality