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I was raised by upper class parents who had worked very hard to get there, and imparted idealistic values to me that you should not focus on money in life. So I went forward with my life with a good college education but not perusing high-paying jobs. I have a strong work ethic and have typically worked long hours at jobs that gave me more than money.

After a string of layoffs and company closures in the technology sector I find myself burnt out and in a huge financial hole. Like your first guest, I found myself with a newborn and out of work, without health insurance, and my husband having recently lost his job as well. So much for waiting to have kids until our mid-30s so that we were secure in our careers.

I do not believe that the support systems for typical working Americans remain. Most of us are a diagnosis or accident away from financial ruin.

I was shocked how after 15+ years of working hard and contributing to unemployment that I was treated like a criminal by the unemployment department when I collected that benefit.

Employees below the CEO level are treated as disposable and often pay the price of this shrinking economy.

While I still stick to my ideals of focusing more on work I love than making a buck, the repercussions of making those decisions are stark compared to the life my parents were able to enjoy at my age.

posted 5 years ago
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