When I graduated from college, it was tough finding a job. It’s hard for everyone, but having a disability put me at a disadvantage. I wasn’t discriminated against, but I can understand how a company may see me as a risky investment. I was advised to seek employment in the Government because they were more likely to hire people with disabilities.
Society assumes the Government takes care of people with disabilities, but that is not entirely true. Yes, we get some assistance through Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, but that doesn’t come close to covering everything. I need 24-hour care daily, but my benefits pay for approximately 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. The rest of my care is placed on my family, which is why my life goal is to pay for my own care. It would be hard to make that kind of money in a Government job even if I found one.
I’ve also found it funny how people view the security of Government jobs. Sure, jobs in the private sector come and go as well, but Government jobs can change or disappear after each election. Sometimes employees can’t even work because politicians won’t cooperate, so they shut everything down. I love my country, but I loathe the politics. While it is easy to blame a person or party for a shutdown, it is important to remember the current shutdown is not the first and it won’t be the last. I wish someone would remind politicians that it impossible to shake hands when you’re holding a shield and sword.
One shutdown from the previous administration will always stay in my mind because I actually saw some effects of it. We took my grandfather to the World War II Memorial in Fayetteville. His hand is one of the many statues at the memorial honoring North Carolinians who served in the war. The memorial is outside, so we were able to find his hand, but we were unable to go to the other museums in the area because of the shutdown. My grandfather has passed and I cherish every memory of him, but on that day I was thinking of the museum staff. These are not high paying jobs, so the employees probably live month to month. Were their families starving because politicians couldn’t work together?
I pray that nobody ever controls my life like that. To me, financial planning is so much more than watching the sunset from your beach house in your golden years. It is about financial independence! In both the private and public sectors, losing a job can be tragic for families. This is why an emergency fund is so important! It won’t solve the problem, but it may help you survive tough times like when you are sent home because politicians can’t get along. Financial independence is about maximizing your resources by finding a balance between enjoying the present and planning for future rainy days. I would be glad to help you!
