Career Changes
Career Changes
During the first eight months of COVID-19, I worked as a board-certified behavior analyst. Unfortunately, like many others experienced, the challenges of COVID-19 caused my job to be more difficult than I could have ever imagined. While I adapted to the new way my position looked, I found the changes to be emotionally daunting. After several months, I began having trouble sleeping and seemed to be working 24/7 with the families I serviced. After several conversations, my husband and I decided it was best for me to temporarily step away from my position. We sat down and immediately looked at my income and how we were spending it. We then looked at expenses we could eliminate (like meal services and other subscription services) and instituted a tighter budget wherever we could (like groceries, travel, and entertainment activities). After determining what our new monthly expenses would look like, we set a timeframe in which we could financially afford me not to work. Ultimately, I did not work for four months and because of our smarter money choices, money wasn’t an issue. I also took a lesser paying job, as a dog trainer, and we continue to thrive on our dual income.
This is me with my own two dogs, Delilah and Leo. They have inspired me to take on my new career and are the best co-workers a girl can ask for!
MilSpouse Money
Mission Response:
You have the cutest co-workers around, thank you for sharing your employment experience with us Heather!
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many military families. Some families, like Heather’s, experienced changes in responsibilities and employment status. While the impact of the pandemic was felt around the world, unexpected events can happen to any of us anytime. The good news is that there are strategies you can put in place now to protect your financial life when the unexpected occurs.
First, finding employment as a milspouse can be difficult with frequent moves and family responsibilities. Check out these short videos from Lakesha, Caitlin and Thorunn for tips on how to find and maintain employment as a milspouse. One strategy is to base your family’s spending plan on your active-duty spouse’s income. This way, you will be able to cover all the essentials on one income and augment other financial goals as your income fluctuates. Next, it is very important to have a fully stocked emergency fund. Financial experts recommend keeping three to six months of living expenses saved in an easily accessible account, like a savings or money market account. Hopefully we don’t have to face something like the COVID-19 pandemic in the future, but with these tips, you’ll be ready when life throws you a curveball.
Visit MySECO and MyCAA to learn more about programs and resources that can help you achieve your professional goals.
