Managing with income loss

My husband told me yesterday that his employer is cutting the automotive plant where he works down to three days a week. This is the first time this company has ever had to do anything like this (they've never had lay-offs either). So far, it doesn't affect him because his department has work but I worry it is just a matter of time until it does affect him. It has to trickle down to his area in the plant eventually I'd think.

So, I can't sleep because now I am worried about keeping a roof over my kids' head, transportation, and paying all the other bills we have. Merry Christmas eh?

I would imagine bankruptcy is becoming a very real option for a lot of people right now in this economy. I've heard the new laws make it harder to file now though.

So, I am working out in my head what bills would have to be eliminated "just in case" (I'd have to sell my horse which would tear my heart out...my eyes tear up just thinking about it now and it's not a reality yet). I can pay her bills now with what I make but if my husband's work situation changes, having a horse and riding lessons for my daughter would have to move to the back burner because shelter, food, utilities, etc. have to take precedence.

Where does credit card debt fall in line? We have plenty of it and if my husband's job hours get reduced to part-time, we can't pay any of that because the necessary bills have to come first. *sigh* This economy crap stinks.

So, all these thoughts are whirling around in my noggin - thoughts of bankruptcy, food stamps, creditors coming after us, losing my girl, etc. I am "hoping" that reducing hours to part-time doesn't mean a loss in medical insurance. We shall see.

My husband's child support bill would stay the same. That bill gets paid regardless of what our household loses, what my own kids lose, unless hubby actually gets laid off. In that case (lay-off), then it'd be reduced per court order. Reducing hours isn't being laid off so we can forget about that expense being reduced. My kids' needs will take the hit on that one, like it always has, before the "first kids" needs do. First kids (two) are more important than the second ones (four) in the family court's eyes...unless I were to divorce their dad which would get the state government kick backs from the federal government so my kids would then become important to them. Stupid eh? Did I ever say how much I dislike Michigan's family court? Well, I do. We could lose our home and they wouldn't care. It'd probably give the ex a big laugh too.

Anyway, just some upbeat thoughts in my head to bring into the holiday season. Cripes!