How long could you survive without your job?

[JonT]

After finishing uni two years ago and getting a job i've managed to save up a little bit of cash and badly want to buy myself another bike.

Problem is i'm wondering if I should actually be spending my savings given the current economic climate.

So what I want to ask people is.

How many months (expenses worth) of savings do you currently have?

How long do you think it would take you to get another job if you lost yours?

[True Blue]

Could probably last a year if I cut my cloth a bit, but I don't think it would take me more than a month to find work. The real worry would be if I injured myself and physically couldn't work.
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Past >>>> Honda NSR 125 >>>> Suzuki GSXR 600 K1 >>>> Suzuki GSXR 600 K4 >>>>Kawasaki Z1000 DAF >>>>Suzuki RMZ 250 >>>> Current >>>> KTM Superduke R 1290 >>>>

[instigator]

[benjami]

I could live on my savings for about two months..

But if I lost my job i'd be into a job agency within the same day

[MattHirst]

Well i am currently injured so can't work but i am still getting full pay.

If i hadn't bought myself loads of gadgets then i would have over £10k in savings. Take away paying my board etc then around £8k in savings.

So as it stands i could live for around 6 months, but i think it helps that i live with my parents. If i lost my job then the people i trained with would find me another job until finished my apprenticeship.
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It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, then it's bloody hilarious!!!

[mad4it028]

i had a fat belly before my current job ill have a fat belly after it
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always looking to buy bikes crashed ,unfinished projects,none runners pm me
currently riding kawasaki z1000 only bike ive ever loved

[hellkat]

Ah the unshakeable confidence of youth.

I have currently got a bit in the bank, although I fear its my last lump sum for quite some time, so if I lost my job it would probably last a while, although I'd be a damn sight more careful with it than I have with my last couple of lump sums.

I'd be eking it out a lot more, my family would find me a lot less generous than I have been in the last 8-10 years.

I, too, am more concerned about physical inability to work through loss of health, rather than losing a job because of the so-called tough financial climate. I fear the loss of independence caused by ill health rather than low finances. Personally I think the current situation is only tough because the media are talking people into it.

But I've got a job interview lined up in the new year anyway, dunno if I'll get it but ya gotta try ... otherwise I'll just stick where I am. Its turgid and boring but it puts money in the bank, and it has the relatively safe likelihood of being able to keeping this job throughout a recession.

If things went really pearshaped economically, I'd not particularly *want to* but I wouldn't have a problem going back to the "door-opening/telephone answering" job I was doing before I got back into office work. Boring, slightly dangerous, full of annoying and irritating people (male and female) ... but the cash wages make it worthwhile, even when they're shit. Cash talks. Huge balances in bank accounts can be lost in milliseconds.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[mooserx]

i have absolutely zero savings, so therefore live off my monthly wage.
but i have a very secure job, people will always be put in jail.

[Shaun]

26 days and still going strong!

[syl]

None, I'm several months in debt already.

If I didn't have another job (paying a similar wage) within a couple of months (I have enough debt availability to live for perhaps 2-3 months), I'd know I'd end up being declared bankrupt.
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Current bike: Kawasaki Z750S

[Fortuna]

[hellkat]

What's remedial work?
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[trevoriv]

I could probably manage a month or two but currently paying £1000 in tax and NI and £1000 in mortgage in bills i'd be struggling after a few months.
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Past: '96 Thundercat, '02 ZX636R (A1P), '58 KTM 690 SM LC4 Current: '06 ZX636R (C6F)
Mudskipper wrote: Someone just has to sig that...

[Shaun]

Whats surprised me (apart from how anal it is to find a job in the run up to xmas) is how much it actually costs to go to work!

During my 'time off' I've slipped in a 4 day trip to London, done 6 gigs, been to watch 2 gigs, bought presents for people, been drinking a few times and generally been a bit ignorant about my lack of income.

Yet I'm still going strong with funds and have enough to last a while despite not yet getting job seekers allowance, if I'd been going to work the petrol and lunch costs would've ensured I'd be skint by now.

[GhostRider]

Good thread topic

I've lived in and out of my overdraft to varying amounts since completing my undergraduate degree in 2005.

If I lost my job today, in my current economic situation i.e being right after christmas, I'd say that by cutting uneccesary expenses out and getting leniency from the folks with regards to rent etc, I could stretch out about 2-3 months, though thats doing absolutely nothing at all apart from existing, and staying indoors playing guitar and xbox (which, to be honest, sounds pretty cushy!).

I could probably get another job within a month or two, it would be quicker but in my line of work the recruitment process seems to take a while, although this wouldn't be in the same city at all since jobs in my sector are absolutely scarce, so wouldn't be ideal as I only have a desire to live in another country, not another city.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[KevTM]

Quit my full time job in June, had about 4 months saved before I 'needed' to make money. Self employed now but can get either one of two full time jobs back within a day or two.

[stinkwheel]

I reckon I could go three years, maybe four or five if I sold most of my vehicles and moved into a caravan.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Phoenix]

No idea exactly, I could survive a year if I cut costs right down, plenty of things i'm paying for that I never use (Sky TV etc). Anything beyond that would need calculating, thought obviously I could sell off assetts one by one to keep me going. It's large irregular expenses that really eat into your money like insurance, road tax and your winter heating bills etc..

I don't think i'd ever be out of work long thought, longest i've had is 3weeks before, i'd take any job until I found a proper replacement unlike a lot of people who will only do what they want otherwise it's the dole.

[JodieWodie]

I have no savings. I love buying crap If I had to quit I qould be alright but that is because OH is on a good wage. If I was alone I would not last a week.

If I had to find another job I reckon it would take me about a month, if that. If all else failed I would go to a temp agency I know which would get me work pretty much straight away.

Working sucks. I'm a slave. I feel sad now
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Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

[virus]

Well ive managed 9 weeks so far, going to be at least another 2 before im fit to work again.


Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[Sparks!]

At the moment I wouldn't last a week unless I sold off some of my stuff. If I sell stuff then could last a few years if I stay at home but where's the fun in that?
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[AJI]

If I wanted to avoid touching my savings, I'd last less than a month on my normal balance before going into the red. I currently earn just enough to pay for rent, my course, bills and fuel, food etc each month.
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You're gonna go far, kid

[benjami]

[colin1]

My expenses are ridiculously low. I tend to live very cheaply. I could probably live for 5-10 years without getting another job. In the past I have gone too long between jobs, convincing myself that there isnt anything wrong with taking a bit of time out.

I'm starting a new job in Jan, after the last one ending in July. I really should have got something else within 3 months, but if I had, I wouldnt have got this job which is much better than anything I could expect to get.

If this one ends, and I take a bit of time out before getting another job, it will be 3 months max, and I will make sure I spend a bit of cash by living a bit, rather than going into low expenses mode.

You are only here for a few decades, so although saving and spending little are good, you also need to live a bit too.

In the past my expectations of life have been too low, and I have been too happy to settle for less.

However I enjoy the security of not being forced to work due to debt. The security of having marketable skills that would get me another job instantly would be even better.

I probably need to conform to society a bit, and spend more on status things rather than toys. So if in my new job, I successfully make the transition from trainee to account manager, I may get a newish, slightly boring, conventional car which will feel like its costing a fortune in depreciation, but will be the right image.

Im not conforming just yet though, and will be getting to work by bicycle
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[The999Kid]

The only way i could lose my job is by committing gross misconduct and being struck off by the HPC... otherwise my job is safe!

Though i currently have pittence in the bank.... i need paying!
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