Wish me luck . . .

[flamin lib]

Actually, wish my wife luck.

She works in the legal department of Centex homes. Centex has just been bought by Pulte homes. Pulte will own 68% of the new entity. Pulte’s CEO says they expect $350 mil in cost savings, $100 from debt consolidation and $250 from corporate savings, i.e. layoffs.

Wife is 60 this year and her legal skills for Centex have become increasingly specialized. She’s put in 12-14 hours a day and worked most weekends for the last six months. She’s also the most highly paid non-lawyer in the legal department. She is the only thing between us and living under a bridge.

I lost my job to China eight years ago and at 61 the only work I’ve found is the graveyard shift at a convenience store, part time. My takehome is $18,000 a year, just about enough to make the hose payment and groceries. Nothing left over for car payments, insurance, utilities or anything else.

It's now officially a depression . . .

[MercutioATC]

1. You must have a really expensive hose...

Seriously, best of luck to you and your wife. I'm lucky, but I have a family members that are having a lot of trouble right now.

:hi:

[flamin lib]

3. Not really. 30 years old, 1800 sq ft in an old neighborhood.

Appraised at $125k. Insurance, taxes and P&I come to 'bout $1200. It's quite modest by local standards. My wife has done a wonderful job of keeping it updated and modernized as the years have gone by otherwise it would only be worth $90 or so.

edit to add:

Oh shit, I just got your joke! Spell check won't catch dropped letters doncha' know. Thanks for chuckle tho . . .

[MercutioATC]

4. Damn, even my weak attempt at humor failed.

"Hose" instead of "house".

I obviously suck.

[flamin lib]

7. No, you don't, I just re-read the post and edited my reply.

You're cool, the situation sucks . . .

[TahitiNut]

6. Wow. Mine's only 25ft ... but a lot newer.

:dunce:

[TBF]

2. Howdy,

It's just hitting Texas, these past few months, isn't it? My spouse is a real estate atty and feeling the crunch too. So far he still has a lot of work, but his firm has done layoffs.

I know how you feel, because I'm the spouse home with 2 small children. I could go back to work, if I could find something, but we'd end up losing money because my spouse's income is high. So, for right now we're sitting tight and hoping things pick up with all the stimulus money flooding the economy. But it doesn't look good - it's hard to think positively when reality is glaring back at you.

Hope everything turns out ok for you & your wife.

[Haole Girl]

5. Good luck!

I wish you & your family well.