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I'm sure you all have heard of the tornadoes that have been tearing up the midwest.
A family I have known since birth lives in the area and one of the "kids" (who is a few years older than I) lost his home. Well, most of his home. The ground floor bathroom was the only room left in the two story house.
He has always been self employed, doing cabinets and construction. The last 3 years have been bad, and he has had almost no work for the last year. He has worked a bit here and there for other companies to help with a job here and there, but construction in their town and those nearby has been almost nonexistent.
To save money, he dropped his homeowners insurance about 3 months ago. It was paid for, and so he had no mortgage company to require he keep it. It was to the point, he either paid the $1200 a year premium on his home,or eat and have utilities. Last week, he lost his home. Also lost his car which had liability only on it. Right now, his car is under a pile or rubble, that was formally his home.
We have seen his home. Everything was ruined--broken into peices, rained and hailed on, and now molded. Ruined.
55 years old, no home, (still has the land it was sitting on, however), no possessions, no vehicle, no tools, nothing.
He has moved to his dads home.
Joking,he says the good news is, since 40% of the town was destroyed, there will be some construction jobs available in the next few months. Since he lost his work vehicle and tools, he will be on someone else s payroll.
At one time, he had a years worth in savings. He has done some odd jobs here and there, repairs, and worked some at fast food, to keep the lights on and his taxes paid. He isn't the lazy sort at all-has always worked, just isn't getting what he was trained to do, had the tools to do, and at a fraction of what he made years ago.
Can you think of starting over when you are starting to think of retirement?? It is scary!!
He is now "sorting" his home. Lumber that he can use to rebuild goes into one pile, ruined lumber and sheet rock go into another pile for the city crews to pick up. He even has a nail can that he is throwing nails into to reuse.
A family I have known since birth lives in the area and one of the "kids" (who is a few years older than I) lost his home. Well, most of his home. The ground floor bathroom was the only room left in the two story house.
He has always been self employed, doing cabinets and construction. The last 3 years have been bad, and he has had almost no work for the last year. He has worked a bit here and there for other companies to help with a job here and there, but construction in their town and those nearby has been almost nonexistent.
To save money, he dropped his homeowners insurance about 3 months ago. It was paid for, and so he had no mortgage company to require he keep it. It was to the point, he either paid the $1200 a year premium on his home,or eat and have utilities. Last week, he lost his home. Also lost his car which had liability only on it. Right now, his car is under a pile or rubble, that was formally his home.
We have seen his home. Everything was ruined--broken into peices, rained and hailed on, and now molded. Ruined.
55 years old, no home, (still has the land it was sitting on, however), no possessions, no vehicle, no tools, nothing.
He has moved to his dads home.
Joking,he says the good news is, since 40% of the town was destroyed, there will be some construction jobs available in the next few months. Since he lost his work vehicle and tools, he will be on someone else s payroll.
At one time, he had a years worth in savings. He has done some odd jobs here and there, repairs, and worked some at fast food, to keep the lights on and his taxes paid. He isn't the lazy sort at all-has always worked, just isn't getting what he was trained to do, had the tools to do, and at a fraction of what he made years ago.
Can you think of starting over when you are starting to think of retirement?? It is scary!!
He is now "sorting" his home. Lumber that he can use to rebuild goes into one pile, ruined lumber and sheet rock go into another pile for the city crews to pick up. He even has a nail can that he is throwing nails into to reuse.
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