Is A Week’s Worth of Wages Worth A Shorter Vacation?

Last week I wrote about my impending layoff and my thoughts on forgoing a week of vacation so I can receive a week’s worth of wages instead of time off. My employer will pay out any accrued time, so if I don’t spend the time lounging poolside I’ll earn it back in my last paycheck. … Read more

Preparing for My Inevitable Layoff

As the weeks until my inevitable layoff dwindle I’ve begun hard core preparations for my soon-to-be life without a job. I’m a planner by nature so it certainly helped for me to put a plan in place and start checking off the list of things to do. First, I logged on to all of our … Read more

How Long Do I Intend to Stay Home?

I received an email this afternoon asking me how long I intend to stay home after the baby is born. The honest answer is that I’m not quite sure. My employer will provide me with a severance package that is set to begin right around the time the baby is born. (That’s one nice thing … Read more

The Transition to Staying at Home

I would absolutely love to hear from any of my readers who temporarily or permanently left their careers behind to stay home with a child. While I am thrilled beyond belief to stay home with our little one this fall I can’t remember a time in my life when I did not have a job. … Read more

Losing My Job: The Things I’m Most Concerned About

My biggest concerns about losing my job are losing really great health insurance and my current, flexible work arrangement. I can stay on COBRA for 18 months, but I’ve looked into the premium payments and they are unbelievably expensive. We were already looking at a increase with the addition of the little one. When my … Read more

Viewing my Layoff as a Blessing

Given that I just found out about my job elimination last week it’s fair to say that it has been the most pressing issue on my mind. I’ve run the gamut of emotions from sad, angry, happy, elated and utterly confused. My company’s restructuring initiatives have been going on for quite some time, but somehow … Read more

A Job Offer Complicates My Decision

So I thought the decision had been made for me. A recent restructure will leave me without a job right around the time my first child is due. While some people might be devastated by this news I decided to take an optimistic approach to my new found circumstances. I figured it was a sign … Read more

Sometimes Fate Chooses for You

My husband and I are expecting our first child this fall. Ever since I found out I was pregnant I’ve been torn about returning to work after only 10 to 12 weeks of maternity leave. I just can’t imagine leaving the little one after such a short period of time and while I know women … Read more

A Round Trip Commute in Half the Time

I drove to my new office location today. This morning’s commute took a whopping 22 minutes, this afternoon’s commute just over 30. I can’t stop smiling at the realization that I can now drive back and forth in the same amount of time it previously took me to drive just one way! At my old … Read more

The Long Drive Home

I left work at quarter after four today. I didn’t want to get stuck in traffic. I didn’t want to sit in my car for an hour and a half drive home, but I knew my fate the minute the last meeting of the day ran well over schedule. I gathered my belongings, rode the … Read more