We are Shut Down! List of Things Federal Employees Might Want to Do

Reported to work this morning at the federal agency I work for.
We had a brief meeting about the Shutdown, did a few things to close out and now we are officially shut down.

Returned home & am now making list of things I need to accomplish.

Considering the facts that we have no idea when we will be recalled back to work,
that we have no guarantee that we will be paid for the time we are furloughed,
and that the bills still come in and must be paid, here are things federal employees who are furloughed from the Shutdown can consider doing now:

1)  Make list of things you'd like to accomplish during the Shutdown

2)  Revise/Update/Make a Budget considering your non-pay current status

3)  If you need to take a loan, you can get a 2% interest loan against your federal TSP (Thrift Savings Plan).
Go to the TSP website and print the forms, fill out loan application forms and sign them in presence of notary and have notary sign them.

Here is link to the TSP website where the loan forms and loan publications are found:

https://www.tsp.gov/forms/loans.shtml

4)  If conserving money is an important issue for you, consider cutting back expenses.
I called Optimum (now Charter) today and was able to lower my cable tv/internet/land phone triple package cost from $135.96 a month to $94.85 a month.

Expenses you could cut & Ways to Make Some Extra Cash:

1)  Food - cut back or eliminate eating out

2)  Food - Eat more meatless meals & eliminate luxury foods i.e. expensive foods.

3)  Use coupons and rebates for purchases.

4)  Buy items in bulk which in long run is cheaper than running to store every week.
I go to Big Lots in a city south of here, and stock up on food (they carry lots of bulk, cheap food), toiletries, etc.
I buy toilet paper, paper towells, cleaning supplies, etc. in bulk.
I stock up there on packaged milk which is sterilized in waxed paper rectangle-shaped box containers.  The milk doesn't need to be refrigerated until opened.

5)  Shop for cheapest gas before refueling your vehicle.
Gas Buddy is a website where you can enter your zipcode and find the cheapest places to get gas:

http://gasbuddy.com

6)   Cut back on home utility expenses.  Keep thermostat less hot/cool, use a/c less, close off rooms and heat/cool fewer rooms.  Use those twisty shaped lightbulbs that save energy to lower your electric bill.  Insulate your home, windows, etc. better to conserve energy.  Conserve use of water to lower water bill.

7)  Have a yard sale or put items for sale in a consignment shop to get some extra cash.

8)  If you have marketable skills you can make money at immediately, consider using those skills to earn money and work for yourself.  Such skills that could be used temporarily would be selling arts & crafts items you make, providing childcare/babysitting services, etc.

9)  If you itemize your taxes, and don't want to have a yardsale, etc. you could give donations of items to Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. and ask for receipt to use to lower your taxes when you itemize your taxes.

10)  If your spouse isn't working and is capable of working, perhaps they could find part-time or full-time work during the Shutdown to supplement your income, since you now don't have an income.

11)  As soon as possible, file an unemployment claim.  You can file online.  Here is link for Federal Employee information about filing for unemployment (the Department of Labor):

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp

State laws vary, but most require a one to two-week waiting period before you begin receiving unemployment checks.  A waiting period does not mean you must wait one or two weeks to file.  You should file immediately.

Here is the link to locate your state employment website to file for in your state:

http://www.servicelocator.org/OWSLinks.asp

I just filed for unemployment online at my state's website and it took me about 10 minutes to file.