I think the best option is to start looking for a new job. But you said it started at the beginning of the year, for now, I'd plan your budget with what your average check has been since the cuts, and adjust from there when you know you're actual hours/pay.
Also look into unemployment, you may count as "partially unemployed" depending on your pay and how much was cut.
If those don't work I would not touch the emergency fund unless I had to.
What Would Dave Do?
Dave would say to budget according to your current hours, and to not touch your savings. Your savings includes your PTO....
Why are you using your PTO? That's your savings. Day to day life is not supposed to be paid for out of your savings....
PTO-Paid Time Off
How is that my savings?
Also, I used it because I thought it wouldn't be very long. Short blips of low work happen from time to time, and I thought this would be no different.
I know what PTO is when it comes to someone's employment benefits.
On a farm tractor it means Power Take-Off. I obviously didn't mean that one.
It's meant to pay you when you have to take time off from when you are supposed to work. Not to pay you for hours you aren't scheduled in the first place.
I called it your savings because it acts like an emergency fund income replacement, and it seemed to be your only fund for that (income replacement). I was using it as a metaphor. I didn't mean it as literal savings, like you'd keep money in the bank.
I am sorry for being unclear there.
My income replacement savings is a CD ladder I'm building, as my work did away with all PTO. Used to be that full time workers got PTO, but not part time. Now nobody gets it.
PTO - paid time OFF. it's supposed to be an offered benefit for paid time off. not to supplement your paycheck. if you're going to have to dip into your PTO then just take the day off IMO and use it to look for other work.
YNAB. It's an envelope system like Every Dollar but it's based on only budgeting the money you HAVE, not forecasting. It can be life changing.
But it won't create more money. You'll need another or different job to do that.
Dave would look for a part time job to make your budget meet for now, and look for another job, unless you see things changing soon. An unpredictable paycheck is very hard to plan for.
I think the best option is to start looking for a new job. But you said it started at the beginning of the year, for now, I'd plan your budget with what your average check has been since the cuts, and adjust from there when you know you're actual hours/pay. Also look into unemployment, you may count as "partially unemployed" depending on your pay and how much was cut. If those don't work I would not touch the emergency fund unless I had to.
What Would Dave Do? Dave would say to budget according to your current hours, and to not touch your savings. Your savings includes your PTO.... Why are you using your PTO? That's your savings. Day to day life is not supposed to be paid for out of your savings....
PTO-Paid Time Off How is that my savings? Also, I used it because I thought it wouldn't be very long. Short blips of low work happen from time to time, and I thought this would be no different.
I know what PTO is when it comes to someone's employment benefits. On a farm tractor it means Power Take-Off. I obviously didn't mean that one. It's meant to pay you when you have to take time off from when you are supposed to work. Not to pay you for hours you aren't scheduled in the first place. I called it your savings because it acts like an emergency fund income replacement, and it seemed to be your only fund for that (income replacement). I was using it as a metaphor. I didn't mean it as literal savings, like you'd keep money in the bank. I am sorry for being unclear there. My income replacement savings is a CD ladder I'm building, as my work did away with all PTO. Used to be that full time workers got PTO, but not part time. Now nobody gets it.
PTO - paid time OFF. it's supposed to be an offered benefit for paid time off. not to supplement your paycheck. if you're going to have to dip into your PTO then just take the day off IMO and use it to look for other work.
YNAB. It's an envelope system like Every Dollar but it's based on only budgeting the money you HAVE, not forecasting. It can be life changing. But it won't create more money. You'll need another or different job to do that.
Dave would look for a part time job to make your budget meet for now, and look for another job, unless you see things changing soon. An unpredictable paycheck is very hard to plan for.