The “Great Recession” of the 2000s has many couples struggling to come to grips with the reality of unemployment and marriage.
The high rate of jobless individuals, the rising price of food, gas and other commodities, and weak real estate and stock markets, is creating significant financial problems among families.
If you are among the many couples figuring out how to juggle unemployment and marriage, rest assured you are not alone!
My name is Charles and I am a guest blogger on Mort’s site. Keep reading the blog post below to discover how move on after the loss of a job.
The Impact of Joblessness on Marriage and Family Life
In a 2009 study entitled “Alone Together: How Marriage in America is Changing,” researcher Paul Amato revealed how financial strain can push marriages to the breaking point.
“In a recent study of 2,000 marriages, we asked spouses about changes in their financial status during the last three years,” he wrote in a recent article for the New York Times.
“Among spouses who reported that their finances had become worse, 27 percent were thinking about divorce.”
Other difficulties encountered while sorting through unemployment and marriage:
- Many couples cannot afford help, so stress in the home continues to build, pushing families to the brink.
- Roles are rapidly changing, with many women taking on breadwinning responsibilities and men picking up household duties.
- An unemployed spouse feels a lack of self-confidence, a loss of control, anxiety, depression, inadequacy and a disinterest in social activity.
- Families are forced to make considerable cutbacks in lifestyle choices from travel to everyday purchases.
Do these facts leave you feeling overwhelmed? Hopeless?
Fortunately, it is possible to carry on in the wake of economic instability.
How to Handle Unemployment and Marriage
Regardless of which spouse has been fired, downsized, or forced to resign, unemployment is a challenging – but not impossible – obstacle to overcome.
The following is a list of 8 ways to cope with job loss.
- If your spouse is unemployed:
1. Show emotional support and encouragement to your partner – Boost your spouse’s self-confidence by constantly reminding them of their value and abilities.
- If you are the one who is unemployed:
2. Take care of yourself – Don’t just sit around and mope. Maintain healthy habits by eating right, getting plenty of sleep and exercising regularly.
- What you can do together:
3. Be patient – You can take time to mourn the losses produced by unemployment and marriage, but eventually, you have to move on. Submit your resumes, follow-up and be persistent. A position WILL become available, but you need to be patient.
4. Network –As tempted as you might be to avoid social situations, bolstering existing friendships, and forging new relationships as a team can help you connect with potential employers and references.
5. Stay positive – Don’t focus on what you don’t have, but what you DO have. Count your blessings. Think of your unemployment as a temporary setback rather than the be-all-end-all.
6. Plan – Sit down together, and formulate a timeline and a budget. Set goals and cut back on expenses where you are able.
7. Use your time wisely – Use your time off to achieve a dream you’ve put on hold. Complete an unfinished project. Reconnect with your spouse or your kids. Freedom from work constraints can actually help you to refocus your priorities.
8. Get help – The best way to balance unemployment and marriage is to seek professional advice.
Sorting through money issues and the emotional devastation of job loss can be a frustrating and sensitive process.
A marriage coach or counselor can provide guidance for the unemployed, support for their partners and effective relationship-improving practices.
Marriage Fitness is a program designed to save couples in the midst of unemployment and other marriage crises, including:
- Infidelity
- Denial
- Addiction
- Destructive behaviors
- Emotional unfaithfulness
- Familial conflicts
- Verbal abuse
Marriage Fitness is the lifeline for couples drowning in money problems.
With this revolutionary course, you discover how to support a jobless spouse, make good use of your free time, infuse optimism into your relationship, and set achievable goals.
You can save your marriage, even if it seems impossible!
Make a resolution now to successfully manage unemployment and marriage. You can start by typing your name and e-mail address into the box above this blog post. I will send you my e-course, “7 Secrets to Fixing Your Marriage,” totally FREE.
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