It was my husband’s birthday yesterday. He was born in 1974, at a time when the country was experiencing steep job losses. Apparently, job losses this November were the highest they’ve been since he entered this world. More than 600,000 jobs were lost according to the official number. And that doesn’t count everyone without jobs, including those who gave up the hunt long ago.

Never in my life have I worried about losing and finding a job until this year. At my first work holiday part in 1998, I remember some co-workers swapping tales about the horrible job market of the early 90’s and thinking to myself, “‘Hmmm…that’s so interesting that I’ve got to get back to the open bar.’”

This year, I’m wondering if anyone will mind if I stuff treats from the holiday dessert buffet in my purse?

Seriously though. Besides storing holiday sweets, what can workers do to prepare themselves?

In recent weeks, several people I know have lost their jobs. And a new survey found six in 10 CEOs plan layoffs in the next six months, almost double the number who said the same about jobs in the third quarter.

I’d have to be nuts to think that my job is secure.

My family has three months of bare minimum expenses saved. And with cable TV, a gym membership and a loose food budget, I know we could cut costs if necessary.

But should we be saving more cash instead of socking money away for retirement? Applying for a zero percent interest rate credit card? Cutting expenses now?

Let’s get a handy list going of things that either you have done or have thought of doing to secure your finances in case you lose your job. Maybe you already are laid off and can tell us what you’ve been doing to stay afloat.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm and is filed under economy, family finance, work. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.