Writer Buries Hopes, Dreams

I wrote this newspaper article some time ago for a spoof newspaper. It's based on a real person whose identity and some facts have been changed, but it has real information that I think is helpful... or at least interesting.

Renee Jacobs recently logged into her online banking account and winced as the red numbers appeared on the screen. She couldn't believe it; her account was in the negative again.

Jacobs is one of many full-time writers who are struggling to make ends meet. As the mother of three and wife of a local banker (she laughed when she told us that), she's found that balancing her dream and passion of writing with the day-to-day grind of living has become too much to handle.

"I'm always looking for a job," she said. "Besides the time I spend working on the few deadline oriented work that I have, I'm searching for a job that meets my qualifications and experiences and is something I'd love to do. Or I'm looking around the house for something to sell to make some extra money."

More than three years ago Jacob's husband was laid off. After a brief stint at a retail store, he accepted a job as personal financial representative for a bank because of the regular hours and the chance to spend time with his family. Those life-changing events put the couple, who have been married a few years, behind.

"It's gotten worse and worse everyday," said Jacobs who has three young children. With consumer debt looming, Jacobs is looking for a way out.

Financial advisor Christopher Randolph said layoffs and the changing of jobs can cause even the best of persons to be in the hole unless they plan ahead. "The best way to prepare for something of this nature is to accumulate a minimum of six months worth of expenses," said Randolph.

When the damage is already done, Randolph said there are only a few options. "In a situation such as this," he said speaking of Jacobs' case, "if there isn't enough income to cover expenses and debt then the person should consider bankruptcy. If there's only one income in the house then the other person should probably get a job."

So far, Jacobs said she hasn't found a job that would pay enough to not only cover the additional expenses of commuting, childcare and her debt as well as allow her to be there for her family obligations. Jacobs, who writes magazine articles and offers other editing and writing services, thinks her only option is to give up her freelance business and bury her dreams of being an author.

"It doesn't make sense to continue like we've been going," said Jacobs, 35. "Something drastic has to change and it might as well start with me. I want more out of life and I want more for my children. If we keep going like this then that will never happen."