Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...

Weren't you without a job for a while?

Just curious if you gave up any luxuries and if your priorities were straight.

Yup, and absolutely I did.
I changed my eating habits, I changed my electricity habits. I had my truck up for sale (took it off when I got a job). I sold several collectible items as well. I used my wife's car instead of my truck cause her car gets about 15 miles more per gallon. Completely drained and shut off the circuit breaker to my hot tub. We used to go out to eat 2 or 3 times a week, and we didn't go out at all. I also planned ahead for a rainy day, so I lasted several months without having to go all out crazy to afford to live. I also did not have insurance, I took the chance there and didn't expect a single soul to help me. It was my problem, and I handled it. I had to adjust my priorities to fit my lifestyle. Not once did I put my hand out.

ps- it's killing me I can't think of that program...I'll ask around tomorrow. Maybe it's just a New Mexico thing...not sure...but I know some of the people I work with will know the program. I'll post it here tomorrow.

Never heard of such a thing, I'd be interested to see something to back up this claim.

Like I said, I'll ask around...I'll come up with it, cause I have a buddy that did take advantage of it. He'll know what the name of it is.

Like I said, I'll ask around...I'll come up with it, cause I have a buddy that did take advantage of it. He'll know what the name of it is.

Just might be a reason people don't use this program. Tough to take advantage of it when you've never heard of it.

The department of labor was the ones who told me about it, but I can't find it online right now. I must not be looking in the right areas.

At worst, I'll call them tomorrow...they'll know.

Just might be a reason people don't use this program. Tough to take advantage of it when you've never heard of it.

valid point.

There's a huge difference between free tuition and going to college for free.

I just did a quick google on free college and found this article: More programs offer free tuition - US News and World Report (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060910/18free.htm)

Yup, and absolutely I did.
I changed my eating habits, I changed my electricity habits. I had my truck up for sale (took it off when I got a job). I sold several collectible items as well. I used my wife's car instead of my truck cause her car gets about 15 miles more per gallon. Completely drained and shut off the circuit breaker to my hot tub. We used to go out to eat 2 or 3 times a week, and we didn't go out at all. I also planned ahead for a rainy day, so I lasted several months without having to go all out crazy to afford to live. I also did not have insurance, I took the chance there and didn't expect a single soul to help me. It was my problem, and I handled it. I had to adjust my priorities to fit my lifestyle. Not once did I put my hand out.

ps- it's killing me I can't think of that program...I'll ask around tomorrow. Maybe it's just a New Mexico thing...not sure...but I know some of the people I work with will know the program. I'll post it here tomorrow.

What's scary is you have an advanced degree and here you were without a job. Think about people out there without a degree or meaningful experience in place to fall back on. So many people just jump from dead end job to another. Once you're in that cycle it's not easy to climb out.

What if your period of unemployment lasted longer? What if you started exhausting all of your resources, it's possible at some point you might have had to ask for some help. You're lucky you didn't get to that point I guess.

What's scary is you have an advanced degree and here you were without a job. Think about people out there without a degree or meaningful experience in place to fall back on. So many people just jump from dead end job to another. Once you're in that cycle it's not easy to climb out.

Well, out here is worse than in most parts of the country. There are very few specialty jobs, but a lot of labor jobs such as mining work. I would have caved eventually and took one of those underground jobs, but I'm glad I didn't have to.
It is scary to have such a good degree and it not be worth much to people. I am way over qualified for 95% of the jobs out here. Other states won't hire me because they don't want to pay the relocation costs.

What if your period of unemployment lasted longer? What if you started exhausting all of your resources, it's possible at some point you might have had to ask for some help. You're lucky you didn't get to that point I guess.

I would have had to accept a job that was something I didn't want to make ends meet. It came real close too.
Point being, I planned ahead, and I worked hard to get what I have. Sure, everyone will get kicked in the teeth at some point, you need to plan for it. I did. I suffered with horrible cars, a crappy apartment etc to save money and make it to where I am now. That's what people don't see. There is a lot more that went on behind the scenes.

Wait a minute, so you chose to stay unemployed vs. taking a job you didn't want??

There's a huge difference between free tuition and going to college for free.

I just did a quick google on free college and found this article: More programs offer free tuition - US News and World Report (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/060910/18free.htm)

Exactly! There is much more cost to going to college than just tuition.