Maybe I'll rant in here or something. I'm not sure. We'll see. Feel free to chirp in. Post your thoughts. Post a pic. Ask me a question.
Gray Matter
- Thread starter edgray
- Start date
That Guilty Feeling
So as many of you know, I've been unemployed for a few months. There really aren't any jobs around at all, it's quite worrying. I'm doing a little bit of cash work, but it's badly paid and sporadic, I can't rely on it very much.
Anyway, the welfare system in Spain I always thought was really quite fair. You get out what you put in. I've worked in Spain for 6 years and had accrued a total of 8 months "paro". Having used 4 months last year and 4 months this year, my "paro" has now dried up.
But, because of the financial crisis and the fact that even the local govt are admitting the economy is falling to pieces, the guys in Madrid have now introduced a new welfare plan for those who have run out of "paro". So today I received my first, essentially unpaid for, welfare cheque. It's only half of what my paro was, but it's just about enough to get by on after I recently moved in with a friend to cut down my living expenses.
I feel very guilty about this. And it's making me feel pretty worthless. I don't like taking what isn't mine.
So as many of you know, I've been unemployed for a few months. There really aren't any jobs around at all, it's quite worrying. I'm doing a little bit of cash work, but it's badly paid and sporadic, I can't rely on it very much.
Anyway, the welfare system in Spain I always thought was really quite fair. You get out what you put in. I've worked in Spain for 6 years and had accrued a total of 8 months "paro". Having used 4 months last year and 4 months this year, my "paro" has now dried up.
But, because of the financial crisis and the fact that even the local govt are admitting the economy is falling to pieces, the guys in Madrid have now introduced a new welfare plan for those who have run out of "paro". So today I received my first, essentially unpaid for, welfare cheque. It's only half of what my paro was, but it's just about enough to get by on after I recently moved in with a friend to cut down my living expenses.
I feel very guilty about this. And it's making me feel pretty worthless. I don't like taking what isn't mine.
I'm in pretty much the same situation, though I'm not collecting any type of assistance right now.
shit situation for many of us. How come you're not collecting any assistance? I'd like to not be.
I dunno, I don't even know how one would go about getting on it, my dad has been kind enough to let me stay with him while I'm looking for work, I feel SOOOO fucking worthless living with my parents right now.
I can relate with all the above posts. I do get unemployment at the moment
I had a job interview at Target today maybe that will lead somewhere :shrug:
I had a job interview at Target today maybe that will lead somewhere :shrug:
that's cool. I'm not particularly close to my family so can't really ask for assistance. Totally understand how you feel about it though.
I hope you find something soon and get back on your feet.
I hope you find something soon and get back on your feet.
I don't know what it wrong with me, in the entire time I've been unemployed only ONE place has given me an interview, my unemployment ran out earlier this year.
Fingers crossed for you Dex. I'd take anything right now.
I am in the same boat. I told them I'd push carts if I had to, I just want to feel productive
and thanks for the positive vibes
no worries. I'm in the same place, I'd happily do anything.
Tell me about it. I just turned down a free trip to Ohio. :ninja
you turned down a free trip?
I did.
what on earth for?
Similar reason to why you don't like being on welfare.
fair enough. Though if I was financially solvent, I'd never turn down a free trip. If you can actually afford to pay for things, free stuff feels like a bonus, rather than charity.
It's really bad in Spain. I mean, REALLY bad. The region I live in, Málaga, has over 30% unemployment and no sign of that changing at all.
That is rough.
You need to think of something that everyone needs or wants.... besides a job..... and see if you can start your own business of some sort.
Become a handyman..... offer to help shut-ins.... fix cars..... clean homes/yards.....
*sigh*
What everyone needs is a job! If only there was a way to sell them...
I thought of the handyman idea. I did some carpentry at college. But most of that 30% are construction workers that migrated here during the boom - that area of the market is completely saturated.
Besides that, no one has the money to pay for services like that. The value of labour has hit rock bottom. I'm doing bits of work, pretty technical stuff, that would ordinarily warrant a good fee. However, no one can afford to pay those rates any more, there simply isn't the money, so even technical skills are going really cheap now.
A good example: I got about 8€ per hour for a recent website I fixed for a company here. 2 years ago, that would've been 50€*per hour. Such is the current economic climate.