+16 votes
by (270 points)
Thanks to my regular weekly unemployment and the extra weekly $600 I have paid off 2 credit cards within the last month! I have just under $300 left to pay on one more and then that means only 2 more cards until I am credit card debt free! I still owe some tuition even though I graduated in May of 2019 but that will be paid off by the end of May! I am so thankful that I have been able to find a positive in these scary times of not knowing when I will be back at work. Anyone else taking advantage of this time and getting their finances looking good? I am planning on moving out of my parents' house in September so I am saving up for an apartment with some friends as well. Not buying gas or fast food/coffee all the time has been such a big win for me.  
Thanks to my regular weekly unemployment and the extra weekly $600 I have paid off 2 credit cards wi

9 Answers

+12 votes
by (10.9k points)
Are you in MN too? That extra money each week has helped make up for my income I'm losing, yay we are getting things paid off too!  
by (270 points)
New Jersey! I'm actually making about double of what I was making when I was working 2 jobs. That is why I'm trying to be so proactive paying things off when I have this extra money coming in instead of just shopping
by (840 points)
@refit538 hey! Im from NJ too. I filed on 03/29. Started getting my benefits around 04/26. Still haven’t gotten any $600. When did you start getting them? Thanks!  
by (270 points)
@stringed I was laid off on 3/20 and I believe I got my first $600 on april 13th
+3 votes
by (230 points)
Yes! Unemployment has honestly helped me so much. I finally finished paying off 4 credit cards this week and now saving the rest for an apartment. Not sure when I’ll be going back to work but the extra $600 a week has been a blessing.  
by (270 points)
It's crazy that it took a pandemic for me to get my finances in order
+9 votes
by (5.8k points)
Keep in mind if you aren’t withholding the taxes on it now you’ll pay it when you file next year
by (270 points)
Yes! I am going to start a tax sinking fund after the final credit card is paid off!  
by (1.2k points)
@hampton9 So much yes to this! I’ve been telling people this exact thing but they are like “they said you won’t be taxed on the money. ” I’m like no, you will be taxed on your regular unemployment check. You will not be taxed on the $600. So many people are going to be hurting come next years tax season when they realize this.  
by (270 points)
@halfcocked556 From what I have read we are being taxed on the $600 as well.  
by (270 points)
Oh wait I just read NJ doesn't tax unemployment benefits
by (5.8k points)
@refit538 there’s state taxes & federal taxes. So NJ may not but your regular taxes will , it may also put you in a seperate income bracket
+12 votes
by (2.9k points)
Extra $600/week.  
+3 votes
by (2.8k points)
Yes! I start back to work tomorrow and I’m actually sad to lose the unemployment lol I’m a hairstylist and with all the new rules and guidelines I won’t be able to do as much clientele which means I won’t be making what I was before the pandemic, which has me kind of worried. With the stimulus check and the extra $600, though, I’ve been able to build a nice savings cushion to help cover the difference until it gets better. Once everything gets better, whatever I have leftover I’m throwing on my car (currently my only debt).  
by (270 points)
I am a preschool teacher and I work as a host/server at a restaurant on the weekends. I have a feeling I will go back to the preschool before my restaurant opens up again because it's family owned (by very wealthy people) so they are in no rush to reopen. I'll lost my unemployment and will be only making 2/3 of what I was making pre-covid
by (2.8k points)
@refit538 it really sucks. I feel you. I work in an all men’s salon and we do walk ins only. I usually do 20-25 haircuts each day. With all the new guidelines in my state I *might* be able to do 10-12. With most of my income being tips I’m worried about it. I’m a single mom with 3 kiddos and no outside help. I hate unknowns and not knowing what to expect.  
by (1.1k points)
If you're working part time when you typically work full time you should still qualify for the $600 until you're back to seeing your normal number of clients.  
by (2.8k points)
@politician even if I’m working the same amount of hours? Because my hours will be the same, it’s just by appointments only now and we have to schedule a certain amount of time between each client to deep clean the shop. So where I used to do a haircut in 15-20 minutes it’ll be every 45 minutes to an hour now.  
by (170 points)
@histoplasmosis70 if working normal hours then you will not qualify, from what I’ve read
by (1.1k points)
From what I've read if your income has been impacted you should qualify for the $600. So even though you're working the same number of hours you're not seeing the same amount of clients and not making the same amount of money.  
+12 votes
by (460 points)
I am in WI- and got the first extra $600 for last week but never received any back pay? Or for the waiting week we had beginning of April. and one else get back pay?  
by (270 points)
My second week of collecting I got two payments of $600
by (460 points)
@refit538 oh ok. hmm I wonder if we have to call and ask.  
by (460 points)
I only got one $600 payment
by (2.8k points)
@dahl97 when I first got the $600, I just got the $600 on that check. The 2nd week of the $600 I got back pay for the weeks I hadn’t gotten it except for the waiting week. I was told we don’t get it for the waiting week.  
by (460 points)
@histoplasmosis70 ok. My husband just went back to work this week so we won’t be filing anymore. but would think we should still get back pay to 4/4. I seen they were supposed to waive the waiting week but idk if it was paid at all or not
by (2.7k points)
@dahl97 there is no back pay. And PUA started first week of April
by (640 points)
@dahl97 I didn’t get back pay either. I heard EDD only covers from the day you sign up. If you didn’t sign up when you actually stop working. It does not count. ‍♀️
by (460 points)
@schach there should be back pay starting from 4/4
by (460 points)
@triumphal my husband is construction worker so has been getting the normal amount. He was supposed to go back on the 4th of @eanore9 but because of covid he couldn’t. so we should get back pay from when they started it on 4/4.  
by (2.7k points)
@dahl97 they aren’t doing it in Illinois. Maybe other states are
+14 votes
by (590 points)
Yes! Great job. I just paid off one now I have 2 to go. Snowballing is the best
+2 votes
by (14.3k points)
1099 in Ohio are still not allowed to file. It's becoming very frustrating
+6 votes
by (290 points)
Same here in NJ but work in NYC so luckily my unemployment came fast + the $600! I’m so grateful! Cash flowed a few things, added to savings and paid off 4 cards  
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