The axe has fallen

I am to be made redundant on the 29th May, two days before I turn 40. I was expecting this news for a while, and if anything it's good to know one way or the other what the situation is. I have been in my job 5 years so I will leave with quite a nice lump sum, which will cushion the blow somewhat. I will also be able to sign on for unemployment benefit which is EUR 200 per week, and we had the foresight to take out mortgage protection insurance when we bought our house. Also, if I don't find another job straight away, John will be able to claim some of my tax credits, if we tell the tax office that we want to be taxed as a married couple. This would be worth EUR 152 per month, not a lot, but every penny counts towards paying the bills.

For the past few weeks I have been trying to convince myself that unemployment won't be as bad for me as it was in the early 90's. I went through a stint of long term unemployment after graduating from Uni which was nothing short of soul destroying. I left college without a penny to my name, and moved to England to be with my boyfriend of the time. We lived in a crappy damp house with no central heating. The only TV we had was a black and white portable. We was poor, we was. We were also living in a town where I knew nobody, which was a very isolating experience. Living hand to mouth meant I had no money for clothes, which made the job hunting experience even more difficult, as I wasn't equipped with an appropriate work wardrobe, let alone a credible CV.

Whereas now I am a homeowner, and we have a very comfortable warm 4 bed house with a large back garden (well large by the standards of modern estates in Ireland!). I can drive and have my own car, which gives me a huge degree of independence. I have a few very good friends in the area or within driving distance who I can call into. I have a gym membership which I am definitely going to keep, job or no job, because that will be my reason for getting out of bed in the morning and will get the happy hormones going. I'm also going to use the opportunity to get my accountancy text books down out of the attic, and brush up on all I learned when I was studying for my CIMA membership. As for my CV, I have ten years experience with two large very well known organisations, which makes for a very strong work record, as well as a membership of an accountancy body. And above all, I have a supportive husband who will help me get through this bump on the road, and that is the most important thing of all.