Reply #27: My sister's family had to leave Michigan

[Rosemary2205]

They are doing fine in Georgia now. The hardships in moving to find employment are substantial. My brother-in-laws brother is still in Michigan. He is in his 50's and realized he would have to go back to school. Since he's really good with cars and Michigan's economy means people just won't be buying new cars, he decided to get certified and start small on the weekends fixing cars. They bought a little one bay garage. He lost his regular job 2 years ago but the car thing has mushroomed and he has 2 other mechanics and a receptionist. The wife does all the paperwork. It is a tough thing for them and the financial and mental transition from worker bee to owner bee was really challenging. I am not sure if he's part of the evil rich yet, but they are making enough to send the oldest to college - which they did not before at their worker bee jobs.

My other sister, still in Michigan worked for an animal hospital for about $12 an hour and they had to cut back on staff. She hot a certification and joined a couple of professional organizations and now runs her own pet sitting service. It's awful hours and she has to work every single holiday, but she says the money is better than what she made before, even with the tax penalties for being self employed.

I was out of work for 4 years. I was in a nearly fatal car accident and am now physically disabled. I had been very active in charity work previously and managed to get my current job through a contact of a contact of a contact so to speak. Once I started looking it took about 10 months to get this job - for which I am extremely grateful. But I am also working on building my own side business of hand made invitations and note cards. At this point I am only averaging about $300 a month profit on that but it's rolling slow but sure.

My husband's mom was widowed at 35 and did not remarry until 50. She worked 2 waitress jobs on the bus line and also took the bus to the rich side of town and cleaned houses - not for a company. She went house to house in the rich part of town looking to get hired.


Anyways - those are a few ideas to get you started. I know Michigan is rough and it takes a lot of creativity and flexibility to make a living there. Like I said, my sister decided to get out.