Buffy Friedrich describes the loss of her second job in May after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as a devastating blow.
For several years, she worked two, sometimes three positions to provide for her family while her husband, Shawn Friedrich, 39, completed his bachelorâs degree.
One of her jobs contributed more than $26,000 to the family budget annually, offering security â until the economy turned.
âI wasnât sure if we would make it,â said Buffy, a Dubuque nurse. âYou think youâre good until youâre not good.â
The predicament spurred Buffy, 41, and Shawn to assess their spending habits in late spring.