I'm sorry about your hit. My company had its third round of layoffs last night, bringing the total number of employees from 160 around August 07 to about 50 as of yesterday. Last week, my wifes co. (commerical real estate dev.) laid off every employee outside of the like 5 people. We are blessed at this point. Salary reductions are way better than lay offs IMO. But you do have to keep employees motivated.
-One thing, your numbers probably aren't as bad as you think.
Say you make 100K and wifey made 50K prior to reductions, your total gross inc was 150K.
-Her income is reduced to 40K, but yours only to 95K. That brings your new total gross to 135K.
-So you have lost 15K and 10% of your income.
But if wifey makes 100K and you make 50K...total gross is still $150K. Your wife is now bringing home $80K, and you are now bringing home $47500..for a new total gross of $127,500. That is a loss of $22,500 or 15%.
-If you both made $50K, your gross total was $100K. Her new bring home is $40K, and yours is $47500. That is a new gross total of $87500. This would be a loss of $12,500 or 12.5%.
So only if she makes a hugely disproportionate amount than you do have you gotten close to 25%. Either way, you have to budget differently.
-I now try to limit my wife $150 per week for disposable income. And i'm around $50