Furloughs
Furlough days have started in July and will continue until the end of the fiscal year. Employees are mandated to be absent without pay, one day a week or two days per pay period for a total of 11 days. This reduction in pay will afflict employees hard and make some financially uncomfortable. Even with all the advance notice that this would be a real possibility, preparing for furlough days is not an easy undertaking. There is never a suitable time for pay reduction and in the summer when many take their families and themselves on vacation, a pay reduction means less funding in the family financial plan to travel and take trips.
The good news is that furloughs won`t be indefinitely and the furlough period is short. With only six pay periods affected, less than three months, monthly financial responsibilities should not suffer to badly. Summer time household expenses are normally less with warmer weather the furnace does not run so the use of heating oil, wood, coal and heating fuels and sources are at a minimum. The amount of daylight we have in the summer is at a maximum due to the longer summer days. This means we use much less electricity since the lights are off longer. Vacation time during furloughs means time to rethink longer trips for shorter trips and creative activities that are less costly, but provide the same rest and relaxation.
So what are you doing on your furlough day? I have heard many people say they have planned activities on their furlough day. Some of the activities I have heard are items that would normally require taking time off to accomplish. Some of these include getting vehicles into the garage for an oil change and other repairs, taking kids and family members and self to medical appointments; take care of motor vehicle registrations and city office business. While others have utilized this time to get chores done around the house and make house hold repairs. Get haircuts and do some shopping. Some plan camping trips and...